[PictoBloxExtension]

Display (Quarky)

Extension Description

Controls the 7 x 5 RGB LED display.

Available in: Block Coding, Python Coding
Mode: Stage Mode
WiFi Required: No
Compatible Hardware in Block Coding: Quarky
Compatible Hardware in Python: Quarky
Object Declaration in Python: quarky = Quarky()
Extension Catergory: Quarky

Introduction

The extension allows the user to control the RGB LED display of Quarky.

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:

First, connect Quarky to your laptop using a USB cable.
Next, open PictoBlox on your desktop.
After that, select Block or Python Coding as your coding environment.
Then, click the Board button in the toolbar and select board as Quarky.
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.

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mobile

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

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

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Stage Mode

Stage mode is one of the two modes you can write your programs in Pictoblox. In this mode, you can write scripts for the sprite and boards to interact with sprites in real-time. If you disconnect the board with Pictoblox, you cannot interact with the board anymore. In this mode, you can make games and animation interacting with Quarky.

You can toggle between the upload mode and stage mode using the button on the top right side of Pictoblox.

Note: You have to upload the firmware into the device before interacting with it. Please refer this doc: https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/updating-quarky-firmaware-with-pictoblox/

In Python Coding Environment, use the following object declaration to use Python functions in Stage Mode:

quarky = Quarky()

Upload Mode

Upload mode is one of the two modes you can write your programs in Pictoblox. This mode allows you to write scripts and upload them to the board so that you can use them even when it is not connected to your computer, for example, you need to upload a script for making moving robots.

In this case, Quarky will run offline according to the program and it can not interact with the stage.

In Python Coding Environment, use the following object declaration to use Python functions in Upload Mode:

from quarky import *

PictoBlox Blocks

The block activates the RFID sensor to read any nearby RFID tags for the specified time. Once identified, the value of the reading is stored in the local system which can be used from the other blocks. The block also reports whether the operation is completed or not. If any RFID tag is scanned the block returns 1, else it returns 0.

The block reports the selected field data from the last read request from ThingSpeak.

The block resets the timer running for the oscillator to 0.

The block executes the oscillator according to stored parameters for the servo motor and the current angle specified in the block.

The block sets the Gripper Robot’s gripper servo motor angle for the open or the close position to the specified value.

This block defines the angles at which the gripper of the robotic arm will open and close. The block ensures that the robotic arm will open and close the gripper at the specified angles.

The block returns the value of “hours”, “minutes”, “seconds”, “date”, “month”, “year” or “weekday” from evive’s RTC.

This block opens and closes the gripper of the robotic arm by setting the gripper servo motor the opening angle and the closing angle set by the user using set gripper open angle to () & close angle to () block.

The block checks to see if its sprite is touching the edge of the screen with the move steps block — and if it is, the sprite will point in a direction that mirrors the direction from which it is coming. It uses a line perpendicular to the edge to determine the reflection angle.

This block resets all 7 graphic effects.

The block will report a specified value of the specified sprite or the Stage.

The block reports how many characters the given string contains.

The block checks if any items in the specified list are equal to the given text—if at least one of them is, the block returns true; if none of them are, it returns false. The item must contain the exact text; for example, “abc” would not work if the item contained “abcde”. This block is case-sensitive.

This block is used to check if the input image belongs to one of the classes previously defined. The class to be checked with can be set using the drop down menu.

The blocks add a force to the sprite with the defined value in the specified direction.

The block reports the data stored from the last RFID scan.

The block makes the specified type of HTTP request (GET, POST, or DELETE) on the specified URL. The request can have a body or not.

The block reports the time passed from the reset for the oscillator.

The block executes the oscillator for the complete cycle for the specified cycle times. The cycle time is the maximum time period assigned for the oscillator for the individual servo motors.

This block sets the angle of the robot’s gripper servo motor to a value you specify.

This block is used to open and close the gripper on a robotic arm by setting the gripper servo motor to specific opening and closing angles set by the user.

The block gives the value of the voltage sensed on the sensing ports of evive. There are 2 ports red (voltage range -30 to 30V) and blue (voltage range -5 to 5V).

This block reports the value of the angle of the selected servo of the robotic arm.

The block changes the Rotation Style of the sprite in-project. Regardless of the style, the variable direction will still change.

If the block’s sprite is hidden, it will show the sprite. If the sprite is already showing, nothing will change.

It reports either the current local year, month, date, day of the week, hour, minutes, or seconds, depending on the argument. The block gets the data based on the user’s computer’s clock and set in 24-hour clock.

The block reports the remainder of the division when the first value is divided by the second. For example, when 10 is put in the first input and 3 in the second, the block will report 1; 10 divided by 3 gives a remainder of 1.

The block shows the specified list’s Stage monitor.

This block is used to get the class of the input face detected from the analysis.

The block adds a spin force to the sprite with the specified value.

All articles loaded

No more articles to load

Block Coding Examples

There are no block coding examples for the extension to show.

Python Functions

There are no python functions for the extension to show.

Python Coding Examples

There are no python examples for the extension to show.

Display (Quarky)

Introduction

Connecting Quarky with PictoBlox

Desktop

Mobile

Stage Mode

Upload Mode

PictoBlox Blocks

Block Coding Examples

Python Functions

Python Coding Examples

Company

Community

Products

School Programs

Impact Programs

Learning Resources

Product Documentation

Get in Touch

Follow Us

PictoBlox - Block & Python Coding for Kids

Dabble App - One App. Infinite Control.