Empowering Today’s Learners to Become Tomorrow’s Leaders
Launch into programming and robotics basics with this beginner-friendly tutorial series and the Scribbler 3 Robot. This series has been divided into three consecutive sections (described below) to guide you linearly through the tutorials whether you're in the classroom, or DIY-learning at home. We strongly recommend you follow these tutorials in order unless you're an experienced roboticist who is familiar with both BlocklyProp and the S3 Robot
Learn common programming concepts and techniques, made with BlocklyProp
Learn robot building through troubleshooting and on to project completion.
Build your knowledge to engage in projects that promote collaboration, critical thinking, and in-depth understanding
Install and setup BlocklyProp software programming environment
Build, calibrate, and verify hardware/software communications
Learn the basics of Blockly programming on the Scribbler 3.
Program the Scribbler 3 to perform maneuvers
With sensor circuits, program the robot to respond to its environment
Learn basic troubleshooting (circuits, code, power supply, etc)
Before you begin:
BlocklyProp Launcher Downloaded and Installed
BlocklyProp Solo program opened (No Registration or Login)
Open BlocklyProp Launcher on your desktop.
(Image to the left)
Click on BlocklyProp Solo button to launch a web browser or click here BlocklyProp Solo.
(Image to the right)
Connect the Cable to your computer and to the Scribbler S3 robot.
Please note the Red text indicate programs saved and place in your portfolio.
Connect the Cable to your computer and to the Scribbler S3 robot.
Hello World 1.1 - 1st program
**Your Turn!**
Hello World
Cloned Program
**Your Turn!**
Reset button
Add 2nd reset press for LED lights (Reset Press)
Make a Note (Add comments to all your programs)
Title
Name
Date
Try This
Bi-color LEDs
Continuous LED
Your Turn!
Flashes All LEDs
Cycles Each LED on all the Positions
Traffic Light LEDs
Uh Oh!
S3 Piano C Maj Scale
You Turn!
Ascending then to descending scale, A Maj Scale
TaDa!
Playing Beeps
Charge!
Shave & Hair Cut
Beethoven's 5th
Driving Basics - Drive and Rotate Blocks
Drive & Stop
Drive & Rotate
Your Turn
Eliminate that abrupt stop (Drive & Rotate 2)
Returns at a slower speed (Drive & Rotate 3)
Travel in circle (Drive & Rotate 4)
Drive There and Back Again - Using Speed Blocks
Blocks
Time Block
Non-Block Time
Wait Block
Try This
Reverse the program
Wait Block
Your Turn
Calculations for 2 Meters (2 Meters)
Drive Backwards (Backwards)
Spin (Spin)
Spin CW & CCW in taped square (Spin CW & CCW)
Going the Distance - Using the Drive Distance Block
Try This
Timed Distance
Use timer (Google or phone)
Your Turn
(Drive Distance #1)
Run-Time Calculations
Verify with stop watch (Timer)
(Drive Distance #2)
One full wheel circumference
Twice the wheel circumference
Smallest distance to drive
Turn Drive Block (Turing Using Drive Block)
Zero Turn Radius (Turing using a Rotate Block)
Different angles and speeds (Turing using Distance-Based Block) (Turing using Radius-Based Block)
ZTR (ZTR 360 Rotate Block)
Rotate 360 degrees one wheel (ZTR 360 Drive Speed)
Full circle using any radius (Full Circle Drive Turn or Drive Block)
Your Turn
Serpentine path forward and backward (Serpentine)
Square (Square)
Work Smarter (Loop)
Triangle (Triangle)
Loop
Figure 8 (Figure 8)
Drive, Speed & Drive
Simplify with a loop
Triangle with loop
Your Turn
Figure 8 with Rotate block (Figure-8_Rotate)
Use a loop (Figure-8_Loop)
Star
Draw a Star
Mystery Shape
Curved Star
add drive distances
Vari Different Star
Your Turn
Own Star design
Name or Initials
CADLAB
Avoiding Obstacles With Infrared
Obstacle Sensors with Feedback
Audio Feed Back
Add Movement blocks
Your Turn
In front, stop and rotate 180 degrees in a counterclockwise direction (Front R180)
left, make the robot stop and rotate 90 degrees in a clockwise direction (Left R90)
right, make the robot stop and rotate 90 degrees in a counterclockwise direction (Right R90)
Run and compare previous
New version with sound (Infrared w/Sound)
Light Sensing
Add Rotations
Light Sensing with drive blocks
Add Conditions
Light Brightness
Your Turn
Add Sound to above code (Visible w/Sound)
Add Obstacle avoidance and light following (Obstacle Avoid-Light)
Measuring Line reflective
Print out track. Click Here to Print Track
Create MS Excel/Google Sheets chart and record Line Sensor reflector Percentage Readings (See lesson of example)
Using Light Sensor Variables and Inserts with LED Feedback
Add Motors
Make this track
Here are some possible troubleshooting solutions:
Remove the stop driving block. Occasionally, the sensors read a "false positive." Removing this block can help.
Eliminate the gaps by trimming the paper, or by filling these gaps using a Sharpie® or black masking tape.
Improve your program by making it more tolerant of gaps in the line or by programming it to find the line again. Such a solution would allow you to use unmodified line following tracks like page 7 from the pdf resource.
Try the first two solutions outlined above, in order.
Run tests and observe how your S3 performs on the line following track for each. How did the solutions work? Which did you prefer?
Using your code as a starting point, try a different block from the ACTIONS > MOTORS category for the left and right functions. Can you make the S3 move more smoothly? What did you do?
Your Turn
Add Obstacle Sensor Blocks (Obstacle Sensor)
Make a custom line path (New Line Path)
Remove the stop driving block.
Occasionally, the sensors read a "false positive." Removing this block can help.
3-pin cable
220 ohm resistor (red-red-brown)
Yellow LED
tape, such as masking tape or electrical tape
LED (HACKER PORT > PINS)
(Blinking Light)
Rear Bumper
(1) 3-pin cable
1 large paperclip
1 piece of aluminum, tin, or copper foil (approximately 1/2 inch wide by 6 inches long)
2 jumper wires
1 10 kohm or larger resistor (brown-black-orange)
masking or duct tape
(Rear Bumper)
Check PIN (HACKER PORT > PINS)
Try This
Try using the obstacle sensors in addition to the rear bumper to make your Scribbler robot roam around a room completely on its own. (On it's Own)
Build Rotate Servo
Your Turn
45 and 135 degrees with LED (45 & 135 LED)
Use a loop (x times) block to program the servo to move from 0° to 180° back and forth continuously with an appropriate delay between the moves - ten times - with LED feedback. Disable the servo at the end. (Loop)
Parts List
S3 Robot
Parallax Standard Servo (#900-00005)
1/2" by 1 1/2” piece of double-sided foam tape or similarly sized Command® Strips
3/4” wide clear tape (clear, double sided tape will not be strong enough)
Pen that fits in the S3 - Sharpie® or whiteboard marker
Scissors
Phillips-head screwdriver
Diagonal cutters or tin snips (or hand saw and clamps)
Safety glasses (always a good idea, but use every time when cutting things!)
Cable tie or twist tie
Create Pen Lifter
Use 3D Printed Horn instead of cutting Horn
Pen Down Test
Pen Down and Up Test
Add Speed Variable, and Drive Speed Block to above.
Add Stop Driving Block making Dotted Line (Dotted Line)
Your Turn
Add Wait Variable
Modify Draw Shape Program to make it Dotted
Open up Square and make a dotted (Dotted Square)
Check out this BlocklyProp program (created by Parallax-friend Whit Stodghill)
Use the Save As button on the above program. Test it! (S3)
Did your S3 do what you expected? If not, check out the Youtube Video of this program in action here.
Parts List
(1) - PING))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (#28015)
(1) - 3-Pin Signal-Power-Ground Cable Extension (8") (#800-00080)
S3 robot with programming cable.
A means of mounting the PING))) sensor (ideas are listed below)
Sensor Test (HACKER PORT > SENSORS)
Sensor Test Display with Another Unit
Your Turn
Modify to different row of pins
Modify to display different unit of measurement
Play a tone and turn your S3. (Play Tones & Turn)
Orient the connector so that the black wire is connected to the Ground column, the red wire is connected to the middle (5V), and the white signal connector is on the pin column - all along the row marked P0.
The Sony Remote Value Block
Setup Remote (Test & Receive Terminal)
Build Sony IR Remote
Light Pattern with remote
Your Turn
Mute to turn off lights (Mute)
Simple remote driving
Your Turn
Add (LED & Sound)
Advanced Driving
1 - Turn Forward Left
2 - Forward Straight
3 - Turn Forward Right
4 - Rotate CCW
5 - Blink 3 LEDs
6 - Rotate CW
7 - Turn Backward Left
8 - Backward Straight
9 - Turn Backward Right
0 - Play Ta Da! Sound
Your turn
Modify code so that it continues to drive even when the button is not pressed, and make button 5 a stop driving function. (Button 5 Stop)
Hacker Port
Add IR Sensor
Your Turn