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Mars Rover - Blocks, Python Functions, Projects | PictoBlox Extension
[PictoBloxExtension]
PictoBlox Extension

Mars Rover

Mars rover extension graphics
Extension Description
Control the Mars Rover Robot with Quarky.
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Available in: Block Coding, Python Coding
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Mode: Stage Mode, Upload Mode
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 WiFi Required: No
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Compatible Hardware in Block Coding: Quarky
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Compatible Hardware in Python: Quarky
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Object Declaration in Python: Not Applicable
  • STEMpedia-Rocket-800x800 Extension Catergory:

Introduction

Mars is a fascinating planet. It’s icy cold and covered in reddish dust and dirt. Like Earth, it has volcanoes, gullies, and flat plains. Scientists can also see channels that look like they were carved by rivers and streams a long, long time ago. Over the years, NASA has sent five robotic vehicles, called rovers, to Mars. The names of the five rovers are Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance.

STEMpedia has created a miniature version of the Mars Rover to educate students about the different aspects of the Mars Rover in a more practical way.

The Mars Rover is programmable with PictoBlox in both modes – Block Coding and Python Coding.

Motor and Servo Motor

In our Mars rover, there are a total of 6 motors and 5 servo motors. 

The motors provide rotation to the wheels which helps the rover to attain motion in both forward and backward directions.  All the left side motors (3 motors) are connected to the left motor port of Quarky and all the right side motors (3 motors) are connected to the right motor port of Quarky using a 3 port wire. This means that to control the Mars rover we have to control only 2 motors – Left and Right. Also, there are 2 parameters to control – Direction (Forward or Backward) and Speed. With this control, the Mars rover can do all the desired motions.

The servo motors help in providing rotation to the complete wheel assembly so that the rover can change its wheel alignments and so its path. These play a major role in turning cases of the mars rover. The front two and the back two-wheel assemblies are connected with one servo motor each. Some important turns:

  1. Turning left on the same point:
  2. Turning right on the same point:
  3. Turning left on a circle:
  4. Turning right on a circle:
Note:  The middle wheel assemblies on either side are not connected to servo motors.

The fifth servo motor is connected to the head portion of the Mars rover so that the rover can rotate its head to detect obstacles. 

Connecting Mars Rover 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.
    Power Quarky
  2. Next, open PictoBlox on your desktop.
  3. After that, select Block or Python Coding 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.
    COM Port

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.
    PictoBlox in Mobile Phone
  3. Then, tap the Board button in the top-right corner of the toolbar.
    PictoBlox BoardSelect board as Quarky.
  4. Next, tap the Connect button:
    PictoBlox ConnectSelect your device from the list.

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mars Rover Extension in Block Coding

Click on the Add Extension button and add the Mars Rover extension.

Once loaded, you will find the fresh blocks of Mars Rover in the block palette.

 

Mars Rover Extension in Python Coding

Click on the Add Modules/Libraries button and add the Mars Rover extension.

To access the library functions, you have to add the object declaration.

quarky = Quarky()
rover = MarsRover(4, 1, 7, 2, 6)
Read More

PictoBlox Blocks

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This block is used to move the robotic arm from its current position to a specific X, Y, and Z coordinate position over a specified period of time. This block first moves in the X axis, then the Y axis, and lastly Z axis to reach the desired point.
This block is designed to program the robotic arm to move in a circle in the specified Y plane over a period of time. The user must specify the circle’s center position along the X and Z axes, as well as the radius of the circle. The robot arm then calculates all the points it needs to travel in the XYZ coordinates and travels to them one by one.
Set the pins for the left, middle, and right IR sensors to enable line following. Note: For 3 IR Sensors, the threshold is set by the potentiometers on the sensors as they work with digital value.
Changes the speed of the sprite movement. Speed can be set as slow, normal and fast.
Changes the current costume of the sprite to the next one.
Stops all the movement and actions of the quarky.
Turns off all the LED of the quarky display.
Changes the speed of the wizbot. Speed can be set as slow, normal and fast.
Stops any sound or music playing from the script.
This block is used to draw the outline or a filled rectangle with rounded corners. It takes the following parameters as input: fill/draw, starting coordinates, width, height, the radius at corners and color. It draws a rectangle rounded at edges where the radius is input by the user.
The block returns the value of analog pins available in the connected hardware. Analog reading is of 10-bit resolution, hence the range of value is 0 to 1023. This range is mapped to the voltage of the pin (normally 0 to 5V). If the value received is 512, the voltage value will be around 2.5V.
enable motor control
The block allows the user to control actuators such as DC motors and servo motors from the Motor control module of the Dabble app.
go to in line block
This block moves the robotic arm’s end-effector to the specified X, Y, and Z position in a line in the specified time. Whenever we use this block, the robotic arm breaks the line from one position to another position in smaller lines and follow them.
This block is to assign custom leg actions and movements to our Humanoid Robot.
The block glides sprite to the specified X and Y position in the specified duration. This block has animation in its movement.
The block changes the backdrop to the next in the list of backdrops, but if the current backdrop is the last in the list, the block will loop to the first.
The block sets its sprite’s volume to the specified amount. It only affects the sprite (or the Stage) that the block is in.
It activates in a clone when it gets created.
The block checks if the computer mouse’s primary button is activated (being clicked).
The block returns the number of objects identified with the specified object class.
The block subtracts the second value from the first and reports the result.
The block can delete the item inputted from the specified list.
This block is used to analyze the image received as input from the camera, for human hand detection.
The () recognition result block reports the landmark and the image description identified in the image.
The get () of face () block reports the following attributes of the face: x position, y position, width and height.
The block returns whether the specified signal is detected in the analysis or not.
The function returns the time data of the location when data capture, sunrise, or sunset happens.
The block reports the project’s tempo. This block can be displayed as a Stage monitor. As this block holds how long drums and notes will be played, it is useful in music projects where they must sense how long an instrument will be playing.
The block sets the Pen Size to the given number. The pen draws a trail of circles. The diameter of the circle, in pixels, is equal to the pen size.
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