Programming the Humanoid with Block Coding in PictoBlox

Introduction

Quarky’s humanoid robot kit is a perfect way for students to learn about robot mechanisms, their control, and AI-based applications. With 6 DOF and stability features, it can be programmed to perform complex tasks with precision.

The robot is programmable with PictoBlox. PictoBlox is coding education software using graphical block-based coding and Python programming.

With PictoBlox, you can program the Humanoid to walk, dance, and make other cool moves! You can also create your own actions with special servo motors and servo oscillators.

If you haven’t installed PictoBlox, please follow the instructions:

Windows Installer (.exe)

STEP 1: Download the Pictoblox Installer (.exe) for Windows 7 and above (Release Notes).

Windows Installer 64-bit

Windows Installer 32-bit

STEP 2: Run the .exe file.

Some of the device gives the warning popup. You don’t have to worry, this software is harmless. Click on More info and then click on Run anyway.

STEP 3: Rest of the installation is straight forward, you can follow the popup and check on the option appropriate for your need.

 

Your software is now installed!

macOS Installer

STEP 1: Download the Pictoblox Installer (.dmg).

macOS Installer

STEP 2: Run the .dmg file.

Mobile App Installer

STEP 1: Open Google Play Store on your Smartphone and and search for PictoBlox or visit the link here to head over to the Google Play Store. You can even scan the QR Code below from your Smartphone to head to the PictoBlox App.

Mobile App Installer

STEP 2: Install the PictoBlox App.

Connecting Quarky with PictoBlox

Let’s begin by first connecting Quarky to PictoBlox. Select your preferred type of device i.e. either the desktop/laptop or your smartphone and follow the instructions.

Desktop

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

1. First, connect Quarky to your laptop using a USB cable.
2. Next, open PictoBlox on your desktop.
3. After that, select Block as your coding environment.
4. Then, click the Board button in the toolbar and select board as Quarky.
   
5. Next, select the appropriate Serial port if the Quarky is connected via USB or the Bluetooth Port if you want to connect Quarky via Bluetooth and press Connect.
   
6. Click on the Upload Firmware button. This will upload the latest firmware in Quarky.
   
   Note: If your device already has the latest firmware, then PictoBlox will show the message – Firmware is already updated. For learning more you can refer to this tutorial: https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/quarky/quarky-toubleshooting/updating-quarky-firmaware-with-pictoblox/
7. Once the firmware is uploaded, Quarky starts the Getting Started program. This runs only for the first time. Run through it.

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mobile

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

1. First, power ON Quarky.
2. Open PictoBlox on your smartphone. Go to My Space and make a new project by clicking the ‘+(plus)’ button in the bottom-right corner.
   
3. Then, tap the Board button in the top-right corner of the toolbar.
   Select board as Quarky.
   
4. Next, tap the Connect button:
   Select your device from the list.
   

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Quadruped Extension

The Quadruped extension in PictoBlox allows you to control the robot. It has blocks for specific applications. To add the Quadruped extension follow the instructions:

1. Click on the Add Extension button and add the Quarky Quadruped extension.
2. You can find the Quarky Quadruped blocks available in the project.

PictoBlox Blocks for Humanoid

The following blocks are available for the Humanoid:

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_wrapper_link" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/wrapper-link.php on line 194

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_wrapper_link_enable" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/wrapper-link.php on line 196

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_custom_cursor_icon" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/custom-cursor.php on line 350

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_custom_cursor_text" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/custom-cursor.php on line 351

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_custom_cursor_target" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/custom-cursor.php on line 352

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_custom_cursor_css_selector" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/custom-cursor.php on line 353

Warning: Undefined array key "pp_custom_cursor_enable" in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/powerpack-elements/extensions/custom-cursor.php on line 355

The block performs the selected action for the quadruped. The action runs for the specified times and at the specified speed.

The block reports the current time.

The block performs the selected motion for the humanoid. The motion runs for the specified times and at the specified speed.

The block stops all the motors of the robot.

The Block makes a request to ChatGPT to define the text specified in it. The response of ChatGPT is then stored in PictoBlox and can be accessed using the get AI response block.

This block sets the output of a selected PWM pin of an Arduino Uno, Arduino Mega, or Arduino Nano board to a value from 0 to 255. When set to 128, the output will be high for half the time, and low for the other half. This allows users to control the voltage output to an attached device.

This block writes a specific text, such as “Hello, World!”, onto an LCD display. It is useful for creating simple text-based user interfaces for electronic projects or devices.

This block resets all the servo motors of the robotic arm to their default angle which is commonly referred to as the ‘home’ position.

This block allows you to adjust the robot’s turning speed.

Starts the script whnever a message of specific color is recieved.

Moves the sprite a specified number of grid squares down.

Increases the sprite’s size.

Stop all the sprites’s scripts.

This block enables setting the instrument for the upcoming musical note.

This clears all the input from stage such as pen and stamp.

After connection is established, rotates the quarky a specified number of step to the right .

Shows a specified static emotion on the quarky LED display.

Detects and identifies the facial expression within a view captured by camera

Detects and identifies signs made by hand within a view captured by camera.

After connection is established, moves the wizbot a specified number of step Back.

After connection is established, rotates the wizbot a specified degree of angle to the left.

This block is used to write text on evive’s TFT display.

evive has two potentiometers whose analog outputs can be varied by turning the knob clockwise or anti-clockwise. This block returns the analog output of either of the potentiometer (from 0-1023).

There are 10 digital buttons in the gamepad module, whose data is sent to the device when they are pressed or released. The block reports whether the button is currently pressed on the gamepad or not. If the chosen button is pressed, then it returns true, else it returns false. 

The block set the relay connected to the specified digital pin to ON or OFF.

This block is used to set the angles at which the gripper of the robotic arm opens and closes. You need to use this block every time, you open or close the gripper as this block defines at which angles the gripper claw is opened and at which it is closed.

This block should be included every time you work with the humanoid robot for the first time as it calibrates the angles of all the four servo motors of the arm(2 servos of shoulder + 2 servos of hands) and saves it in the memory of evive.

The block points its sprite towards the mouse-pointer or another sprite depending on its costume center; this changes the sprite’s direction and rotates the sprite.

The block changes its sprite’s costume to a specified one.

All articles loaded

No more articles to load

Activity 1: Calibrating Humanoid Robot

In this activity, we are going to calibrate the humanoid robot. Due to some mechanical assembly errors, there may be some misalignment of the servos which can be handled with calibrate left hip () right hip () left foot () right foot () block and calibrate left hand () right hand () block.

Follow the steps:

1. Open a new project in PictoBlox.
2. Connect Quarky to PictoBlox.
3. Click on the Add Extension button and add the Quarky Humanoid extension.
4. Make the following code:

Run the code with Green Flag. Now you have to make sure that the robot has the following orientation:

If you find any twist of angle in the robot, edit the value of the servo motor in the calibrate left hip () right hip () left foot () right foot () block and calibrate left hand () right hand () block. If this step is not done properly, your robot may move in an incorrect manner.

Note: This has to be done only once as the offset values are stored in the memory of the robot.

Activity 2: Control Humanoid Predefined Motions

In this project, we will explain how to run predefined motions in PictoBlox for the Humanoid. The predefined motions allow users to make the robot move forward, backward, left, and right.

Follow the steps:

1. Open a new project in PictoBlox.
2. Connect Quarky to PictoBlox.
3. Click on the Add Extension button and add the Quarky Humanoid extension.
4. There are four predefined motions for Quarky in PictoBlox which can be accessed through do () motion () times at () speed Using the do () motion () times at () speed block, we can control the number of times the motion has to be executed. Motions: Forward, Backward, Left, and Right.
5. Make the following code:
6. Click on the green flag to run the motion sequence.
7. Try running the robot at different speeds and try other actions.

Note:  If you feel that your robot is not running well, make sure to calibrate it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Quarky‘s humanoid robot kit is an excellent resource to learn about robot mechanisms, their control, and AI–based applications. With PictoBlox, users can program the robot to perform a variety of motions and actions with ease, as well as create their own custom movements with special servo motors and servo oscillators. By following the steps outlined in this lesson, users can easily install PictoBlox and connect Quarky to the software, as well as calibrate the robot and program it to move in different directions.