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Get the hardware required, your engineering notebook, and open VEXcode V5.

Materials Required:
Quantity Materials Needed
1

VEX V5 Classroom Starter Kit

1

VEXcode V5 (latest version, Windows, macOS, Chromebook)

1

Engineering Notebook

1

Configuring a Vision Sensor (Tutorial)

1

Tuning the Vision Sensor (Tutorial)

1

Detecting Objects (Vision) example project

This activity will give you the tools to use the Vision Sensor.

You can use the Help information inside of VEXcode V5 to learn about the blocks. For guidance in using the Help feature, see the Using Help tutorial.

Toolbar in VEXcode V5 with a red arrow pointing to the Tutorials icon. The toolbar shows, from left to right, the V5 logo, a globe icon, File, then Tutorials.

 

Step 1: Open an Example Project.

VEXcode V5 contains many different example projects. You’ll use one of them in this exploration. For help and tips on using example projects, check out the Using Examples and Templates tutorial.

Toolbar in VEXcode V5 with a red arrow pointing to the Tutorials icon. The toolbar shows, from left to right, the V5 logo, a globe icon, File, then Tutorials.

Then, open the Detecting Objects (Vision) example project by completing the following steps:

  • Open the File menu.
  • Select Open Examples.
  • VEXcode V5 Toolbar with the File menu open and Open Examples highlighted in a red box. Open Examples is the fourth menu item beneath New Blocks Project, New Text Project, and Open.
  • Use the filter bar at the top of the application and select "Sensing."

Example Projects in VEXcode V5 with All selected from the Filter and several example projects shown.

Select and open the Detecting Objects (Vision) example project.

Example project icon reads Detecting Objects Vision at the bottom and shows a robot icon with a sensor to the left and a sketch indicating detection to the right.

Save your project as Detecting Objects.

  • Check to make sure the project name Detecting Objects is now in the window in the center of the toolbar.

Project name dialog box in the VEXcode V5 Toolbar. Slot 1 is selected and the project name reads Detecting Objects.

  • For addition help, view the Use Example Projects and Templates tutorial video.

VEXcode V5 Toolbar with Tutorials highlighted with a red arrow. The Toolbar shows, from left to right, the V5 logo, a globe icon, File, and Tutorials.

 

Step 2: Configuring and Using the Vision Sensor

  • Begin by watching the Configuring a Vision Sensor tutorial video.
  • Next, configure the Vision Sensor for three colored objects: red, green, and blue.

Vision Sensor configuration window shows an image of a hand holding a red cube to the left, with an overlay on the cube and the words REDBOX and W142 H142 above it. To the right, 3 Color signatures are set for BlueBox, Redbox, and Greenbox.

Open the previously saved Detecting Objects (Vision) example project.

Example project icon reads Detecting Objects Vision with a diagram of a sensor detecting an object.

How is the Vision Sensor being used in this project? Predict what will happen when the project is run and write down the predictions in your engineering notebook.

Detecting Object Vision Example Project open in VEXcode V5. The note in the center of the project reads This project will detect three different colored objects and display when each object is found on the V5 Brain's screen.

Download and Run the project. Place different colored objects in front of the Vision Sensor and observe the robot's behavior. Record in your engineering notebook how your prediction was different or correct compared to what you actually observed from the project.

For additional help, view the Download and Run a Project tutorial video.

Toolbar in VEXcode V5 with a red arrow pointing to the Tutorials icon. The toolbar shows, from left to right, the V5 logo, a globe icon, File, then Tutorials.

 

Step 3: Tuning the Vision Sensor

Often times an object is configured to be recognized by the Vision Sensor in one environment, for example, in a classroom. When the Vision Sensor is then taken into a different environment such as a competition setting, the object may not be recognized by the Vision Sensor. This is often due to a change in lighting after the Vision Sensor has already been configured. To solve this problem, you may have to tune your Vision Sensor.

  • Begin by watching the Tuning the Vision Sensor tutorial video.
  • Next, Tune the Vision Sensor for the three colored objects: red, green, and blue.

Vision Sensor configuration window with a hand holding a red cube with an overlay over the cube and text reading redbox and x84 y 28 then w 158 h 166. To the right Bluebox, Redbox, and Greenbox color signatures are set with a slider highlighted in a red box with the dial set to 4.4.

Open the previously saved Detecting Objects (Vision) example project.

Example Project icon reads Detecting Objects Vision at the bottom and shows a diagram of a sensor detecting an object above.

How will tuning the Vision Sensor affect how well it can detect objects? Take the Clawbot to a different part of the room with more or less light.

V5 Clawbot with its claw around a purple cube on a Field.

Download and Run the project. Place different colored objects in front of the Vision Sensor and observe the robot's behavior. Document in your engineering notebook how well the Vision Sensor detects objects. Does the Vision Sensor need tuned after it changed locations?

For additional help, view the Download and Run a Project tutorial video.

Toolbar in VEXcode V5 with a red arrow pointing to the tutorials icon. From left to right the Toolbar shows the V5 logo, a globe icon, File, then Tutorials.

Tune the Vision Sensor as necessary. Test the Vision Sensor after it has been tuned to determine if it can detect objects better and make adjustments as needed.