Edison is a cute little orange robot, aimed at schools and STEM programs. I bought one for my daughter and she fiddled around with it for a bit, but it’s been in my drawer for a while. Until I have some (lockdown) time.
Mission
Send the robot - with a GoPro streaming video on the top - from my study into the lounge to check if the fire is still going or if it needs more wood; and then come back.
Programming
There are three ways to program an Edison, and I’m using EdPy, as it’s Python.
You write your code and then check it for errors. You then click the Program Edison button, and a dialog appears. Turn the Edison on (power switch on bottom) and it will sit there flashing it’s lights. Now click the round button once to record (lights stay on), then click the Program Edison button on the dialog. You’ll hear the noise - oh, so reminiscent of programming a ZX81 40 years ago - and then a little trill when it’s done.
Now push the triangle button on Edison to make it run. Pick it up, and push the square button to stop it.
Challenges
Precision
How precise are it’s movements ? From my study it will have to follow a path shaped like an S : out of my study, left, left again into the hall, right and then right again and then turn to face the fire.
Further challenges are rugs, which it will need to navigate around. So I need to make sure it’s precise, and can follow a given path exactly.
Test 1 : there and back again
Test - Move forward 1m, spin around 180, back 1m, spin around 180; you should be back at your exact starting point.
Outcome - Reasonably close - probably 10-20mm.
Test 2 : lounge
Test - Having measured distances, follow a zig-zag course from my study to the lounge.
Outcome - It did pretty well … unless it was carrying the GoPro. It doesn’t have a front wheel, it has a hard plastic lump which skids along the ground, and with the extra weight it didn’t turn nearly effectively enough.
