Robots!

Lesson Aims:
*Make a robot react to 3 different event triggers.
*Identify how the design of a robot can affects its performance.

A	M	S	Learning Aims (what the learner will be able to do)
/			Can explain how precede and mutex commands work in NXC
/			Identify the order of execution in NxC
/			Write readable code
/			Write quality code
	/		Design ideas for robot
		/	Understand the requirements for U14 A2 and U24 A3

Hello! 

I am merging yesterday's blog with today simple because the aims and objectives are identical. As for yesterday, we worked and messed with the NXC robots in order to get a better understanding of it as well as looking at what needs to be done over these last two joint units for U14 and U24.

As for today, the starter was a game John introduced to us. It is essentially a game where we control where the robot goes in order to light up all the ties within a specific amount of instructions. This became challenging, but it was fun and I managed to get my head around it. A strength was being logical as everything is procedural. The game can be found here. In addition to this, John also showed us a bunch of links and examples of how automated systems and sensor-machines are used in everyday life and in the industries. A particular video of a car being constructed purely by robots was the most interesting of all. We have also been filling in a document of the top 10 tips we have learnt for NXC programming throughout the day - this is a good area to put my reminders.

For the rest of the day, we continued to program our assigned robots to react to three different event triggers: sound, ultrasonic and impact. At the beginning, the code was tough to understand but it became easier as I practices and re-used working code, finding the structure easier to dissect. A strength was managing to complete the code by experimenting with it as well as making it readable by including indentation, comments and more. By the end of the day, I managed to repeatedly test my robot into reacting to three different sensors with a good difference in reaction. I then recorded myself talking about the three sensors and how it works - particularly with the sound as analogue is converted to digital as a signal. 

As for reflection, I find these units somewhat challenging but I am focusing on doing as best I can to achieve the specific grade I would like. As of now I am up to date with work. On Monday I will complete any unfinished work, including the edit of the video I recorded. Additionally, I will also be seeing Adam with other peers after lunch to help him with his lesson/work.

Below is a section of the code I have recorded today:

Snippet of my code for the NXC robot