Session Details

Week 1, Session 2 — Tue Mar 9

Reading

1. Zelle §1.3, 1.5-1.9, and 2.1-2.4
   (24 pages)

HW Due

1. HW 1

Topics

1. Introduction to functions: defining and calling
2. Basic program structure
3. Introduction to the Create robot
   • Hardware: actuators and sensors
   • UART, wireless communication
   • Programming with PyCreate

Outline

1. [5 min] Begin the process of getting robots from the lockers and checking them out. Continue this in parallel with the next few activities.
2. [5 min] Hand-back quizzes, discuss questions
3. [5 min] Show off animations from HW1
4. [5 min] Introduction to functions:
   • Defining a function
   • Invoking (calling) a function
   • Function parameters
5. [15 min] Basic program structure: chaos.py
   • Comments
   • The main function
   • The input, compute, output pattern
   • The input expression
   • print statements
   • Variables and assignment
   • for loops and loop bodies
6. [5 min] Break (but have pairs begin to connect to their laptop, per forthcoming activity)
7. [15 min] Robots! Introduction to the Create's hardware
   • Actuators (Create outputs)
   • Sensors (Create inputs)
8. [5 min] Robots! Communicating wirelessly between your laptop and the Create
   • The UART communication protocol
   • Serial ports
   • The BAM (Bluetooth Adapter Module) for wireless communication
   • The Create Open Interface (OI)
   • Sending commands in Python
9. [5 min] Connecting your Create robot to your laptop. Do this one pair at a time, in parallel with the next activity.
10. [15 min] Robots! Introduction to programming the Create with PyCreate
    • From Homework 1: instructions for installing PyCreate and its associated modules
    • From Homework 1: instructions for installing a Bluetooth driver (ONLY for laptops OLDER than 2009-2010)
    • Robot commands using the PyCreate library: firstCreateExample.py
      • Constructing a Create, making a connection, closing a connection
      • Making the robot go forward
      • Making the robot turn
      • Making the robot play notes
11. [5 min] Finish daily quiz
12. [20 min] Students work on their Song 'n' Dance project

Resources

1. Slides: Functions, Basic program structure, and an Introduction to the Create robots
2. The Pycreate.pdfPyCreate library API
3. The Create Open Interface (OI) specification
4. The Create Users Manual
5. The BAM (Bluetooth Adapter Module) for wireless communication

HW Assigned

1. HW 2