Lego Mindstorms

4 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC Robocup Junior, Robotics

#Robotics Better Colour Detection by Converting RGB to HSI Values

David Meego - Click for blog homepageAccurately detecting colours without needing calibration has always been an issue with robots for both Robocup Junior Rescue Line and Rescue Maze competitions.

If the sensor can detect colours itself, it might have issues depending on the range of shades for each colour.  For example: Lego EV3 colour sensors are known for being bad at detecting shades of green other than Lego Dark Green.

Using the RGB (Red, Green and Blue) values from a colour sensor does allow the developer to interpret the values and decide which colour that represents. However, using HSI (Hue, Saturation and Intensity) makes this exercise simple and accurate.

Continue reading →

3 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC Robocup Junior, Robotics

#Robotics Programming a Self Calibrating Line Following Robot

David Meego - Click for blog homepageIt has been a while since I wrote an article for my robotics portal, so I thought I would write about a topic I have been mentoring a student recently.

This concept for this article is how to create a line following robot that is self calibrating. When a robot is self calibrating, the requirement for taking light readings and updating the code when changing venues or light conditions change is avoided.

Continue reading →

4 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC Development, EV3 Basic, Robotics, Small Basic

#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Heat Sensor and Charmed Labs PixyCam with EV3 Basic

David Meego - Click for blog homepageContinuing my series about robotics and using non Lego devices with EV3 Basic, here is an article which demonstrates how to use a camera and heat sensor.

The Robocup Junior Australia competition has introduced a new Rescue division this year (2017) for a Maze rescue. The Maze rescue challenge is much closer to a real life example of a how a rescue robot can save lives.

Maze rescue does not involve any line following, as real buildings don’t have lines on the ground marking paths to follow. The robot must navigate a building, represented by a maze, by identifying walls and working its way around the maze. It needs to explore every corridor and room to locate victims wearing Hi-Vis vests (represented by bright colours on the walls) and identify whether a victim is alive or dead (by looking for a heat source).

This seventh article covers using the Mindsensors IR Temperature Sensor for EV3 or NXT and Charmed Labs PixyCam (CMUcam5) for Lego with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

Continue reading →

7 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC Development, EV3 Basic, Robotics, Small Basic

#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Motor Multiplexer with EV3 Basic

David Meego - Click for blog homepageAs discussed before, I am continuing to mentor for the All Saints’ College Robotics club, even though both my sons are now at university. I am also the Rescue Advisor on the Robocup Junior West Australian Committee for 2017.

Having a hobby that allows me to play with Lego and write software that actually does something physical in the real world is awesome. I would recommend purchasing a Lego Mindstorms EV3 set for any boy or girl that wants to learn to code while having lots of fun.

This sixth article covers using the Mindsensors Multiplexer for NXT/EV3 Motors with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

Continue reading →

5 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC Development, EV3 Basic, Robotics, Small Basic

#EV3Basic Using the Mindsensors Sensor Multiplexer with EV3 Basic

David Meego - Click for blog homepagePreviously on this blog, I have mentioned that I mentor for the All Saints’ College Robotics club and volunteer on the Robocup Junior West Australian Committee.

Combining my childhood love of Lego with my career as a software developer has provided me with an exciting, fun filled hobby. Using my knowledge to mentor primary and secondary school students and help them find a love of robotics and software development is extremely fulfilling and a driving force behind why I do what I do.

This fifth article covers using the Mindsensors EV3 Sensor Multiplexer with the EV3 Basic extensions for Microsoft Small Basic.

Continue reading →

6 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC EV3 Basic, Robocup Junior, Robotics, Small Basic

#Robotics Using the EV3 Colour Sensor in RGB mode

David Meego - Click for blog homepageThis fourth article covers a really cool trick for working with the EV3 colour sensor. It resolves a couple of issues that I discovered when I first started working with Lego Mindstorms EV3.

The Robocup Junior Australia Rescue competition uses tiles to create the line following course. The starting point for the tiles is the Robocup Junior Rescue Field mat from Modern Teaching Aids which can be used whole or cut into 15 tiles.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by WinthropDC Robocup Junior, Robotics

#Robotics Designing and Building a Line Following Robot

David Meego - Click for blog homepageThis is my third article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. In this article I will be discussing how to design a line following robot including the positioning of the sensors.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.

Continue reading →

5 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC EV3 Basic, Robocup Junior, Robotics, Small Basic

#Robotics Programming a Line Following Robot – Part 2

David Meego - Click for blog homepageHere is my second article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. In this article I will be discussing how to make a robot follow a line with two sensors. I will be discussing some of the different methods and explain the pros and cons of each.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.

Continue reading →

4 Comments Posted on by WinthropDC EV3 Basic, Robocup Junior, Robotics, Small Basic

#Robotics Programming a Line Following Robot – Part 1

David Meego - Click for blog homepageWelcome to my first article in a series on robot design and programming techniques. I thought I would start with an article discussing how to make a robot follow a line with a single sensor. I will be discussing some of the different methods and explain the pros and cons of each.

Disclaimer: This article will use Robocup Junior Australia‘s Rescue (Line) Challenge with a Lego Mindstorms based robot as an example.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment Posted on by WinthropDC Development, EV3 Basic, Robocup Junior, Robotics, Small Basic

Welcome to the Robotics Portal

David Meego - Click for blog homepageI am pleased to announce the creation of the Robotics Portal on the Winthrop Development Consultants blog site.

As I publish more articles related to robotics and development using the EV3 Basic extensions to Microsoft Small Basic, I thought it would be useful to gather everything together into a portal.

Continue reading →