Event-Based Programming: Communication Among Blocks
Event-based programming
If your dog brings you his leash or sits by the door, he’s letting you know that he needs to go outside. In school, when your teacher asks a question and sees you raise your hand, she knows that you believe you know the answer and would like to answer the question. These behaviors are also known as “triggers.”
Your dog knows that bringing you his leash or sitting by the door is the trigger that lets you know he needs to go outside. So, when you see him sitting by the door with his leash, you react to the trigger by taking him outside. Raising your hand is the trigger that lets the teacher know you would like to answer her question. The teacher then reacts to the trigger by calling upon you.
Event-based programming in robotics is when certain robot behaviors trigger the robot to do certain things or react to certain triggers.
To learn more about event-based programming, watch our tutorial on events by clicking Tutorials in the toolbar and selecting the Events tutorial.
Controller: Clawbot Control
Now, you’re ready to download the example project and use the Controller to operate the Clawbot, its Arm, and its Claw, all at the same time!
The Builder in each group should get the hardware required. The Recorder should get the group’s engineering notebook. The Programmer should open VEXcode IQ.
| Quantity | Materials Needed |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Clawbot |
| 1 |
Charged Robot Battery |
| 1 |
VEX IQ Radio |
| 1 |
Controller |
| 1 |
Tether Cable |
| 1 |
VEXcode IQ |
| 1 |
USB Cable (if using a computer) |
| 1 |
Engineering Notebook |
Before you begin the activity...
Do you have each of these items ready? The Builder should check each of the following:
-
Are all the motors and sensors plugged into the correct port?
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Are the smart cables fully inserted into all of the motors and sensors?
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Is the Brain turned on?
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Is the battery charged?
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Is the Controller paired with the Robot Brain?