pxt-ev3/docs/tutorials/line-following.md
Peli de Halleux 6f2fe212df
Tutorial updates (#551)
* updated line following, added simulator step

* full screen

* resizing some images
2018-05-01 21:53:28 -07:00

3.8 KiB

Line Following

Introduction @fullscreen

Make a program to follow a line using the Color sensor and reflected light. Let's test reflected light to see if it's white or black (on the line), and drive our robot accordingly.

Brick with color sensors tracking a yellow line

Step 1

In the ||logic:Logic|| Toolbox drawer under the Conditionals section, drag out an ||logic:If then else|| block onto the Workspace, and drop it into the ||loops:forever|| loop.

forever(function () {
    if (true) {

    } else {

    }
})

Step 2

Open the ||logic:Logic|| Toolbox drawer again. From the Comparison section, drag out ||logic:0 < 0|| comparison block and drop it into the ||logic:if then else|| block, replacing true.

forever(function () {
    if (0 < 0) {

    } else {

    }
})

Step 3

Open the ||sensors:Sensors|| Toolbox drawer. From the Color Sensor section, drag out a ||sensors:color sensor light|| value block and drop it into the second slot of the ||logic:0 < 0|| comparison block, replacing the 0.

forever(function () {
    if (0 < sensors.color3.light(LightIntensityMode.Reflected)) {

    } else {

    }
})

Step 4

If the value of the reflected light is greater than 40% (white or very light), our robot is outside the line, so steer to the left. In the ||logic:0 < 0|| comparison block change the compared value to 40 replacing 0.

forever(function () {
    if (40 < sensors.color3.light(LightIntensityMode.Reflected)) {

    } else {

    }
})

Step 5

Open the ||motors:Motors|| Toolbox drawer. Drag out 2 ||motors:tank large motors|| blocks and drop one of them into the ||logic:if|| part, and the other into the ||logic:else|| part of the ||logic:if then else|| block.

forever(function () {
    if (40 < sensors.color3.light(LightIntensityMode.Reflected)) {
        motors.largeBC.tank(50, 50)
    } else {
        motors.largeBC.tank(50, 50)
    }
})

Step 6

In the first ||motors:tank large motors|| block in the ||logic:if|| clause, change the speed values of the motors from 50%, 50% to 5%, 15%. This slows down the robot, and steers it to the left (because the C motor is driving faster than the B motor).

forever(function () {
    if (40 < sensors.color3.light(LightIntensityMode.Reflected)) {
        motors.largeBC.tank(5, 15)
    } else {
        motors.largeBC.tank(50, 50)
    }
})

Step 7

In the second ||motors:tank large motors|| block in the ||logic:else|| clause, change the speed values of the motors from 50%, 50% to 15%, 5%. This slows down the robot, and steers it to the right (because the B motor is driving faster than the C motor).

forever(function () {
    if (40 < sensors.color3.light(LightIntensityMode.Reflected)) {
        motors.largeBC.tank(5, 15)
    } else {
        motors.largeBC.tank(15, 5)
    }
})

Step 8 @fullscreen

Use the EV3 simulator to try out your code.

Brick with color sensors tracking a yellow line

Move the slider under the Color Sensor to change the reflected light and check that motors are moving as you would expect!

Step 9

Plug your EV3 Brick into the computer with the USB cable, and click the Download button at the bottom of your screen. Follow the directions to save your program to the brick.

Attach a Color Sensor to Port 3 of your brick, and attach your brick to a driving base with large motors attached to Ports B and C. See the instructions for building a Driving Base with Color Sensor Down. Test your program by positioning your robot to the right of a dark, thick line and then let it drive!