Is a tile-based visual programming language, which is an excellent first language for children to learn. We are providing a helper app that allows you to use Scratch 2.0 with Finch and Hummingbird.
Table of Contents. Video Tutorials This playlist of videos takes you through launching Scratch, describes the Hummingbird Scratch blocks, and demonstrates how to create several Hummingbird Scratch programs: Installation Step 1: BirdBrain Robot Server for Windows/Mac or Hummingbird Connection App for Chromebooks In order to connect Scratch 2.0 with Hummingbird or Finch, you will need to install a helper application, the 'BirdBrain Robot Server'. Follow the instructions for your OS: Windows and double click on it. Follow the instructions in the installer. Once installation is complete, a short cut to BirdBrain Robot Server will appear on your desktop. Mac and double click on it to mount the disk image and open the installation folder.
Drag the 'BirdBrainRobotServer' lightbulb icon into the 'Applications' directory. To run it, go to Applications and double click on BirdBrainRobotServer. Chromebook Visit the Chrome webstore to install the.
Important note 1: Projects saved on a Chromebook will not work with the BirdBrain Robot server used on Windows or Mac. If this is an issue, you can also install the Hummingbird Connection Chrome app on Windows or Mac. Important note 2: If using the Chrome app on a Macbook running Mac OS 10.9 or later, keep some part of the Hummingbird Connection App visible on the desktop to prevent app nap. Step 2: Install Scratch 2.0 Offline Editor Hummingbird's Scratch library currently only works with Scratch 2.0's offline editor. You do not need to install Scratch 2.0 offline if using a Chromebook, as we use the website instead. Launching Scratch with Hummingbird - Windows or Mac. Plug in a Hummingbird.
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Start the BirdBrain Robot Server helper application. It should show that the Hummingbird is connected. If you have a Duo in Arduino mode, the BirdBrain Robot server will indicate this and will ask you to press reset to revert to tethered mode. Start Scratch 2.0 by pressing the Open Scratch button on the BirdBrain Robot Server. In Windows/Mac, the Hummingbird Scratch blocks should be pre-loaded under the More Blocks category: Loading Hummingbird Blocks Manually:. the zip file containing the Finch and Hummingbird extensions, as well as a few example programs.
Import the Hummingbird Extension file (hummingbird.s2e). Hold down the Shift key and click on File at the top left hand corner of the page. You should see the following: 3. Now click on More Blocks to see the Hummingbird blocks! Launching Scratch with Hummingbird - Chromebook Plug in the Hummingbird, then launch the Hummingbird Connection App from your Apps launcher page. The following window should appear: Click the Open Scratch button on the app to automatically load a ScratchX page with the Hummingbird blocks loaded. Click Enable Flash if needed. If the ScratchX interface with Hummingbird blocks doesn't load, click Open Extension URL and then enter the URL for the Hummingbird: Hummingbird Block Descriptions Motor Commands.
HB servo:Sets servos 1 through 4 to a value from 0 to 180 degrees. HB motor: Sets motor port 1 or 2 to a value from -100 to 100. HB vibration. Sets vibration motor 1 or 2 to an intensity value from 0 to 100. LED Commands.
HB LED: Sets the intensity of light on a single color LED on ports 1 through 4. Intensity ranges from 0 to 100. HB triLED R G B: Sets the full color LED at port 1 or 2.
The R, G, and B arguments control the intensity of the red, green, and blue elements in the tri-color LED. Range is 0 to 100 for each color. Sensors All sensing commands allow the user to specify a number corresponding to the port the sensor is on. For example, a distance sensor on port three would be read by Hummingbird distance on port 3.
HB temperature: Returns the value in Celcius of a temperature probe. HB sound: Returns the value of a sound sensor, range is 0 to 100.
HB rotary: Returns the value of the hummingbird's knob; range is 0 to 100. HB light sensor: Returns the value of a light sensor, range is 0 to 100.
HB distance sensor: Returns the distance to an object from a distance sensor in centimeters. The range is 8 to 80 cm with the kit's range sensor (a value greater than 60 cm should be considered as not seeing an object).
HB voltage: Returns the raw analog voltage reading at the sensor port, range is 0.00 to 5.00. Speak Block The 'speak' block will cause the computer to say whatever text is placed in the box. Examples We have created six step by step examples that demonstrate how to create Scratch and Hummingbird projects. Check them out: Name Description Difficulty Build a working traffic light out of LEDs Beginner Flash LEDs and vibrate when someone gets too close Beginner Make a tri-color LED fade through the colors of the rainbow Intermediate Control a servo and LED with a rotation sensor Intermediate Make the cat bigger or smaller with the distance sensor Intermediate Utilize variables and procedures to make the Hummingbird turn a servo when someone enters the correct combination Advanced The includes nine Hummingbird example files. They are: GraphKnob - This program graphs the value of a knob sensor (will also work with a light sensor on the same port). Hummingbird Pong - Uses the knob to control a paddle in a simplified pong game. SlowMotionServo - Slowly sweeps a servo through its full range.
Example-1-traffic-light.sb2 - This program is used in the traffic light example example-2-burglar-alarm.sb2 - This is the program for the burglar alarm example example-3-rainbow-led.sb2 - This is the program for the rainbow LED example example-4-dimmer-led-and-servo.sb2 - This is the program for the dimmer LED example example-5-cat-sizer.sb2 - This program uses a distance sensor to change the size of the cat sprite. Example-6-combination-lock.sb2 - This is the program for the combination lock example. These examples will not work on Chromebooks, but you can use the step by step examples to construct our examples on the Chrome platform. Many of our examples, such as the burglar alarm or combination lock, combine Scratch animations and games with Hummingbird electronics.
Watch the students at present their creations for an idea of how to implement this type of project in the classroom: Known Issues and Troubleshooting. If the Hummingbird blocks do not pre-load when you click Open Scratch, click on Open Scratch again with Scratch already open. If this does not work or if Scratch does not open, use the.
If you are running an older version of the Birdbrain Robot Server (downloaded prior to May 2017), the sensor values may update very slowly. This is caused by App Nap putting the BirdBrain Robot Server to sleep.
We recommend that you uninstall the Birdbrain Robot Server and install the most recent version. To manually disable App Nap on the BirdBrain Robot Server, CTRL-click on the BirdBrain Robot Server application and select Get Info in the resulting menu. In the Info window, check the box for Prevent App Nap:. In Mac, if both Finch and Hummingbird are plugged in, you may see a 5-10 second delay after you try closing the server, and you may get an error message on close. In Mac, occasionally the application will not quit when you try to close the window - end the process with force quit. If the robot seems to stop responding for any reason, there is no need to close Scratch.
Close the BirdBrain Robot Server application instead and re-open it. In Mac, the Hummingbird board must be plugged in before starting the BirdBrain Robot Server. On a Mac, if you revert a Hummingbird Duo from Arduino mode to tethered mode, you must then close/reopen the BirdBrain Robot Server. Sometimes loops with just Finch/Hummingbird command blocks seem to run just once instead of looping. Add a non Finch/Hummingbird block into the loop to make the loop work (a good dummy block is a 'Wait 0').
The Hummingbird Connection App for Chrome must stay visible on the desktop if using it with a Macbook running OS 10.9 or later. If the app is minimized, sensor values will stop updating and output commands will be sent very slowly.
Time tracking just got a whole lot easier, with Finch. Finch is a time tracking application that monitors what windows are active on the screen at any given time. Using the application's tagging system allows for detailed reports of how much time is spent working on different projects.
Finch monitors not only the open application, but which window has focus. Set it, and forget it Starting with Finch is as simple as running it, and then proceeding with your work. Finch will quietly sit on your Mac OS menu bar until the end of the day. No messy configuration, just turn the app on and let it go! Export to CSV On the reports view, specify your filter preferences and you can export straight to CSV. Get control of your data (it's yours after all) Privacy Competing apps have a habit of uploading your content to their servers. Touch Studios will never have your data as it is stored locally on your own machine.
Finch does not require an internet connection and is completely private. Added grouping and assigning by Application Fixed several bugs and performance issues related to viewing reports Added option to start at login Idle time no longer reported as part of the total time spent in an app Unassigned items no longer show on the report Added option to automatically tag items with identical titles Fixed multiple memory leaks Added ability to delete records by pressing the delete/backspace key Added option to enable/disable the Dock icon Fixed a bug that would cause the currently active window to show as untagged, even if it was being auto-tagged. 1.0 Aug 10, 2011.