Max:Bot 2: Smart Max:Bot

You may now possess a sense of fulfilment because Max:Bot can go to anywhere you want it to go. But have you feel a little bit more frustrated that there always has something to block its way, like a desk or a closet. Don’t worry, in this chapter, we will teach Max:Bot how to avoid these obstacles.

🔸 Goals:

1. How to use the Digital Crash Sensor?

2. How to use the “if then” function?

3. Diagram aided programming

🔸 Digital Modules

💜 2.1 The “shy” Max:Bot

Sometimes, when being touched, Max:Bot will become cute and shy. Yes, he can feel you.

🔸 Key information

🔸 Program

（1） Start a new project and name it as “the shy Max:Bot ”

（2） Find the “if then” function from “Logic” in the function area and place it into the “forever” loop.

If the logic statement to the right side of “if” is met, the function to the right of "then" should be executed, whereas the next function should be executed if the logic statement is not met. This is an either or thing.

（3） The “=” operator lies in the “Logic”.

Besides “=”, there are many other operators, like “>”, “

（4） How to control the digital crash sensor?

Anytime when Max:Bot is touched by others, he will immediately become a shy robot. Why he becomes so sensitive? Because we have connected digital crash sensors to it.

In this part, the “digital read” function will be applied to determine whether the digital crash sensors are touched or not. Connect one of the digital crash sensors to Pin13.

Do you have any idea about what response Max:Bot is going to make? The table below can be used as a reference.

（5） Make the heart beat

Once has being touched by others, Max:Bot will immediately become shy and with his heart speeds up. But how can we make his heart really beat? The function “show icon” does the job. You can find it in “Basic” of the function area.

As has shown in below image that there is a micro triangle lies at the top right of the “show icon”. Click it and choose the smaller heart icon.

To make it more like a real heartbeat, we need to add the “pause” function and another bigger heart icon. By putting together all the functions listed above, we will have the following program.

（6） Download the program to Max:Bot .

Now when you touch Max:Bot , he will then show you his heartbeat. What a cute robot!

🔸 Exercise

Needless to say, Max:Bot is a very nice companion. We have already created his heartbeat. Now we want to make him a smile face when he is untouched.

We will use the “if else” function to make him smile. You can also find it in “Logic” of the function area.

Compared with the “if then”, there is an additional “else” in the “if else”. What is it?

As we have learnt in previous part that, in the “if then” function, If the logic statement to the right side of “if” is met, the function to the right of "then" should be executed, whereas the next function should be executed if the logic statement is not met.

While in the “if else” function, if the logic statement on the right side of “if” is not met, the statement to the right of “else” should be executed.

💜 2.2 escape the maze

Since the digital crash sensor grows Max:Bot to a sensory robot, what if we place him in a maze? Will he himself find a way out?

🔸 Key information

🔸 Program

（1） Start a new program and name it as “escape the maze”

（2） Help Max:Bot to escape the maze

Before programming, we should first get to know what Max:Bot would do for avoiding obstacles.

If the left digital crash sensor is touched, Max:Bot will then turn to the right;

If the right digital crash sensor is touched, Max:Bot will then turn to the left.

The diagram below can be taking as a guidance:

（3） Some above learnt programs will be combined in this part to help

Max:Bot escape the maze. Such as: turn left, turn right, go straight, etc. By putting all the programs mentioned above together, we have the final program as below:

Please note: Different batteries output different voltages. So the value below in the “pause” function is just used for a reference. You have to try and adjust them based on the actual situation.

🔸 Exercise

Max:Bot , a really fast learner, now has made another step forward! Can you remember the “heartbeat” we made for him? How about to make him show us his direction when he is ready to turn.

💡Tips: You may need the help of the “show leds” function.