Nodebots with CubanTech (NYJS ;)

These slides: slides.cuban.tech/nodebots.html

Wifi Info

Network: cubantech

Password: meet-ups

If you haven't already, install Node

Download Node

Download Node from LAN

This workshop is based heavily on a workshop by NY-Javascript (see bit.ly/nyjs-nodebots)
... which is based heavily on a workshop by Francis Gulotta and Rick Waldron
You can find the slides for that workshop at gul.ly/3tjj
You can sign up for one of their workshops on the Nodebots NYC Meetup page

Our community guidelines

Be excellent to each other

Upcoming CubanTech Events

CubanTech meetups
Docker Cuba meetups
Blockstack Cuba meetups
SciPyLA 2019

Huge thanks to our host

What are Nodebots?

JavaScript + Robots = Nodebots

Let's get started!

Our hardware

Kits may be missing equipment

If you have trouble finding a component, let us know and we'll get you a replacement

Not working?

Probably hardware!

Components We're Covering

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Buttons
Servos

Feel free to select the components you like most and complete the challenges that most interest you

Getting started

--

Install Node if you haven't already

Download Node from the Internet

Download Node from LAN

--

Make project directory

mkdir nodebots
cd nodebots

--

Install Johnny Five

npm install johnny-five

Getting started

... with ...

--

TODO : Document Docker install

Standard Firmata

Allows Johnny-Five to communicate with the Arduino over USB
Most of the Arduinos already have Standard Firmata installed from previous workshops
Let's check to make sure your Arduino already has Standard Firmata installed!

Connect the arduino

Create the file

Go to your nodebots directory
Create a file called test.js
Copy the code below to it and save

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var led = new five.Led(13);

  led.blink(500);
});

Run the code

node test.js

This LED should be blinking every .5 seconds

If it works, continue on! →

If not, press ↓ for instructions on flashing your Arduino with Standard Firmata

--

How to flash your Arduino with Standard Firmata (Plus)

Download the Arduino IDE
Make sure your Arduino is connected via USB
Open the Arduino IDE
Select: File > Examples > Firmata > StandardFirmataPlus
Select: Tools > Board > Arduino/Genuino Uno
Select: Tools > Port > <your Arduino>
Click the Upload Button
Retry making that LED blink

Components We're Covering

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Buttons
Servos

LEDs

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

Identifying LED Pins

Long pin is positive (and goes to power)
Short pin is negative (and goes to ground)

Build This

Save this to a file and run it

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var led = new five.Led(11);

  // "blink" the led in 500ms on-off phase periods
  led.blink(500);
});

node blinky.js

If successful, you should see this

Changing the Blink Rate

You probably noticed the light blinks about every .5 seconds
Change the code to blink at a different rate and then rerun it to make sure it works
If you're stuck, press ↓ to see a potential solution

--

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var led = new five.Led(11);

  // "blink" the led in 3000ms on-off phase periods
  led.blink(3000);
});

node blinky.js

The REPL

Stands for Read Evaluate Print Loop
Allows us to type code in our terminal and see it affect our robots

Write and run this. Then, go on to the next slide.

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);

  this.repl.inject({
    led: led
  });
});

node led-boss.js

Type these commands in the REPL and watch how the LED changes

> led.on();

> led.off();

> led.blink();

> led.stop();

> led.pulse();

REPL Inject

The reason we're able to access the led object in the REPL is because of this bit of code in the previous example. It exposes the led object to our REPL session.

this.repl.inject({
  led: led
});

Breadboards: Solderless wiring

Breadboards allow us to quickly wire components together for prototyping

Breadboards: Electrical Connections

Here you can see how the different rows and columns are connected.
If unclear, don't hesitate to do some Googling or ask a volunteer to explain them further.

Use your breadboard and a couple of wires (color doesn't matter) to build this

Now run one of your programs from before and make sure the LED still blinks

LED Challenges

Now that you've got the basics of LEDs, you can either move on to the next component, or work on some LED challenges

Press → to move on to the next component
Press ↓ to scroll through the LED challenges

--

LED Challenges

Try to solve them yourself before looking at the solution!

Press ↓ to scroll through the following challenges (and potential solutions)

Multiple Lights
Holiday Lights
Binary Counter

--

1. Multiple Lights

Have 2 (or more) lights alternate blinking

--

Potential Multiple Lights Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Multiple Lights Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var led1 = new five.Led(10);
  var led2 = new five.Led(11);
  var flag = false;

  setInterval(function() {
    if (flag) {
      led1.on();
      led2.off();
    } else {
      led1.off();
      led2.on();
    }

    flag = !flag;
  }, 500);
});

--

2. Holiday Lights

Make an LED (or multiple LEDs) go through different settings like some holiday lights do. It should change the setting every few seconds. Below are some example settings. You can see an example on the next slide.

Off
Solid
Blinking
Pulsing (fading in and out)
Different speeds of blinking, pulsing, or alternating
Alternating which lights are on

--

2. Holiday Lights

--

Potential Holiday Lights Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Holiday Lights Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);
  var setting = 0;

  setInterval(function() {
    led.stop();  // If we call pulse, we need to stop it
    switch (setting) {
      case 0:
        led.pulse();
        break;
      case 1:
        led.off();
        break;
      case 2:
        led.on();
        break;
    }
    setting = (setting + 1) % 3;
  }, 3000);
});

--

2. Holiday Lights (Bonuses)

Expose a function to the REPL that allows you to switch to the next setting from the REPL
Add a button that when pressed will go to the next setting (N.B: you should complete the Button Component slides before attempting this)

--

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 1 Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 1 Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);
  var setting = 0;

  function changeSetting() {
    led.stop();  // If we call pulse, we need to stop it
    switch (setting) {
      case 0:
        led.pulse();
        break;
      case 1:
        led.off();
        break;
      case 2:
        led.on();
        break;
    }
    setting = (setting + 1) % 3;
  }

  this.repl.inject({
    cs: changeSetting  // Now we can call cs() from the REPL
  });
});

--

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 2 Solution

You're on your own for this one!

--

3. Binary Counter

Using 3 LEDs, count from 0 to 7 in binary as shown below. On represents 1 and off repesents 0.

--

Potential Binary Counter Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Binary Counter Solution (alt 1) - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led1 = new five.Led(9);
  var led2 = new five.Led(10);
  var led3 = new five.Led(11);
  var num = 0;

  setInterval(function() {
    var binary = (num).toString(2);

    binary.slice(-1)     === "1" ? led1.on() : led1.off();
    binary.slice(-2, -1) === "1" ? led2.on() : led2.off();
    binary.slice(-3, -2) === "1" ? led3.on() : led3.off();

    num = (num + 1) % 8;
  }, 1000);
});

--

Potential Binary Counter Solution (alt 2) - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var leds = [new five.Led(9), new five.Led(10), new five.Led(11)];
  var num = 0;

  setInterval(function() {
    var mask = 1;

    for (var i = 0; i < leds.length; ++i, mask <<= 1) {
      var led = led[i];
      num & mask? led.on() : led.off();
    }

    num = (num + 1) % 8;
  }, 1000);
});

--

3. Binary Counter (Bonus)

Allow the user to enter a number through the REPL and display it in binary on the LEDs

--

Potential Binary Counter Bonus Solution

You're on your own for this one!

Components We're Covering

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Buttons
Servos

Buttons

Build This

Save this to a file and run it

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var button = new five.Button(2);

  button.on("press", function() {
    console.log("Button Pressed!");
  });

  button.on("hold", function() {
    console.log("Button Held!");
  });

  button.on("release", function() {
    console.log("Button Released!");
  });
});

node button.js

Try pressing, releasing, and holding the button

You should see some output like this in the REPL


>> Button Pressed!
Button Released!
Button Pressed!
Button Released!
Button Pressed!
Button Held!
Button Held!
Button Released!

Let's add an LED!

Save this to a file and run it

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);
  var button = new five.Button(2);

  button.on("press", function() {
    led.on();
  });

  button.on("hold", function() {
    led.blink(50);
  });

  button.on("release", function() {
    led.stop().off();
  });
});

node button_led.js

The LED should go on when you press, off when you release, and blink when you hold

Button Challenges

Now that you've got the basics of buttons, you can either move on to the next component, or work on some button challenges

Press → to move on to the next component
Press ↓ to scroll through the button challenges

--

Button Challenges

Try to solve them yourself before looking at the solution!

Press ↓ to scroll through the following challenges (and potential solutions)

Light Switch
Passcode
Holiday Lights

--

1. Light Switch

Have pressing a button alternate turning an LED on and off

--

Potential Light Switch Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Light Switch Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);
  var button = new five.Button(2);
  var on = false;

  button.on("press", function() {
    if (on) {
      led.off();
    } else {
      led.on();
    }

    on = !on;
  });
});

--

2. Passcode

Have 2 buttons and 1 LED. Make it so you have to press the buttons in a certain order to turn the LED on.

--

Potential Passcode Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Passcode Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var led = new five.Led(11);
  var button1 = new five.Button(2);
  var button2 = new five.Button(4);

  var passcode = "12112";
  var presses = "";

  button1.on("press", function() {
    presses += "1";
    if (presses.indexOf(passcode) > -1) {
      led.on();
    }
  });

  button2.on("press", function() {
    presses += "2";
    if (presses.indexOf(passcode) > -1) {
      led.on();
    }
  });
});

--

3. Holiday Lights

Make an LED (or multiple LEDs) go through different settings like some holiday lights do. It should change the setting every time the button is pressed. Below are some example settings.

Off
Solid
Blinking
Pulsing (fading in and out)
Different speeds of blinking, pulsing, or alternating
Alternating which lights are on

--

Potential Holiday Lights Solution

You're on your own for this one!

Components We're Covering

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)
Buttons
Servos

SERVOS

Take your servo and add one of the attachments to it

Build This

Save this to a file and run it

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var servo = new five.Servo(11);

  this.repl.inject({
    servo: servo
  });
});

node servo.js

Type these commands in the REPL and watch how the servo reacts

> servo.to(10);   // Move to 10 degrees

> servo.to(200);  // Move to 200 degrees

> servo.value;    // Get current position

> servo.min();

> servo.max();

> servo.range;

> servo.center();

> servo.sweep();

Servo Challenges

Now that you've got the basics of servos, you can either move on to the next component, or work on some servo challenges

Press → to move on to the next component Press ↓ to scroll through the servo challenges

--

Servo Challenges

Try to solve them yourself before looking at the solution!

Press ↓ to scroll through the following challenges (and potential solutions)

Sprinkler
Arrows
Button

--

1. Sprinkler

Make the servo rotate back and forth like a sprinkler

--

Potential Sprinkler Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Sprinkler Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var servo = new five.Servo(11);
  var min = servo.range[0];
  var max = servo.range[1];
  var value = min;

  function step() {
    servo.to(value);
    value = (value + 45) % max;
    setTimeout(step, 500);
  }

  step();
});

--

2. Arrows

Make pressing the left arrow button rotate the servo one way and pressing the right arrow button rotate the other way

--

Potential Arrows Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Arrows Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var keypress = require("keypress");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {

  var servo = new five.Servo(11);

  process.stdin.on("keypress", function(ch, key) {
    if (key && key.name === "left") {
      servo.min();
    } else if (key && key.name === "right") {
      servo.max();
    }
  });

  process.stdin.setRawMode(true);
  process.stdin.resume();
});

--

3. Button

Have the servo sweep while a button is held down

--

Potential Button Solution - Hardware

--

Potential Button Solution - Code

var five = require("johnny-five");
var board = new five.Board();

board.on("ready", function() {
  var servo = new five.Servo(11);
  var button = new five.Button(2);

  button.on("press", function() {
    servo.sweep();
  });

  button.on("release", function() {
    servo.stop();
  });
});

Uh oh! We ran out of slides! Feel free to try out some of the other components in your kit while we add more!

Wrapping Up

Thank you for coming!
We'd love your feedback: bit.ly/nodebots-feedback
Please put away kits (you can buy your own here)

Files

nodebots.md

Latest commit

History

nodebots.md

File metadata and controls

Nodebots with CubanTech (NYJS ;)

These slides: slides.cuban.tech/nodebots.html

Wifi Info

If you haven't already, install Node

Download Node

Download Node from LAN

Our community guidelines

Huge thanks to our host

What are Nodebots?

JavaScript + Robots = Nodebots

Let's get started!

Our hardware

Our hardware

Kits may be missing equipment

Not working?

Probably hardware!

Components We're Covering

Getting started

Install Node if you haven't already

Make project directory

Install Johnny Five

Getting started

Standard Firmata

Connect the arduino

This LED should be blinking every .5 seconds

How to flash your Arduino with Standard Firmata (Plus)

Components We're Covering

LEDs

LIGHT EMITTING DIODES

Identifying LED Pins

Build This

If successful, you should see this

Changing the Blink Rate

The REPL

Write and run this. Then, go on to the next slide.

Type these commands in the REPL and watch how the LED changes

REPL Inject

Breadboards: Solderless wiring

Breadboards allow us to quickly wire components together for prototyping

Breadboards: Electrical Connections

Here you can see how the different rows and columns are connected.

If unclear, don't hesitate to do some Googling or ask a volunteer to explain them further.

Use your breadboard and a couple of wires (color doesn't matter) to build this

LED Challenges

LED Challenges

1. Multiple Lights

Potential Multiple Lights Solution - Hardware

Potential Multiple Lights Solution - Code

2. Holiday Lights

Make an LED (or multiple LEDs) go through different settings like some holiday lights do. It should change the setting every few seconds. Below are some example settings. You can see an example on the next slide.

2. Holiday Lights

Potential Holiday Lights Solution - Hardware

Potential Holiday Lights Solution - Code

2. Holiday Lights (Bonuses)

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 1 Solution - Hardware

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 1 Solution - Code

Potential Holiday Lights Bonus 2 Solution

3. Binary Counter

Potential Binary Counter Solution - Hardware

Potential Binary Counter Solution (alt 1) - Code

Potential Binary Counter Solution (alt 2) - Code

3. Binary Counter (Bonus)

Potential Binary Counter Bonus Solution

Components We're Covering

Buttons

Build This

Save this to a file and run it

Let's add an LED!

Save this to a file and run it

Button Challenges

Button Challenges

1. Light Switch

Potential Light Switch Solution - Hardware

Potential Light Switch Solution - Code