Dabble [back to School ?]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Prompted by SpeedyBuilder’s concurrent topic … I have just been looking at this:

https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/dabble-app/

The App is available here:

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/dabble-bluetooth-controller/id1472734455

and I think might be useful to those of us needing to catch-up !

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Example:

https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/pictoblox/arduino-uno-with-pictoblox/interface-dabble-project-making-app-with-arduino-using-pictoblox/

MichaelG.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Thanks Michael, looks interesting. Had my first dabble and it is a great improvement from the DSD TECH application even some documentation and examples. One of the building blocks includes an oscillascope to look at what is happening on your Arduino / ESP 32 pins.

Bob

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Rather humbling, isn’t it Bob

… I have a lot of catching-up to do !

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Just an aside …

I picked-up an apparently-unused Logitech ‘Ultrathin Keyboard mini’ in the Charity Shop yesterday, for £5

My iPhone 12 lies nicely on it, and makes a very compact unit for use with Apps like this.

MichaelG.

[with fumbling arthritic fingers]

.

Edit: __ an interesting [short] academic paper about PictoBlox

https://its-conf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/16.3-02.pdf

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

For info.

Although PictoBlox is available on the AppStore, for iPhone/iPad, this appears to be a cut-down version.

I have just installed v7.1 of the MacOS version on my M1 Mac mini and this includes the facility to produce Python scripts.

Be warned though: the download was 2.51GB

MichaelG.

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Ref. https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/pictoblox/pictoblox-tutorials/getting-started-with-python-in-pictoblox/

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Noting that Dabble on iOS/iPadOS prefers to communicate with HM-10 BLE

here are a couple of useful links:

https://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/PIC32/uart/HM10/DSD%20TECH%20HM-10%20datasheet.pdf

https://www.martyncurrey.com/quick-links/#hm10

MichaelG.

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

Rather humbling, isn’t it Bob

… I have a lot of catching-up to do !

MichaelG.

Me too!    My initial reaction was dismissive because it’s based on a drag-and-drop educational language called Scratch, aimed at teaching programming principles to school-children.   Not popular for professional use because educational systems tend to have glass ceiling restrictions – not general purpose – and because anyone familiar with a language can probably type programs faster than they can be dragged and dropped.  Actually more complicated than that:  most program development is done with a text editor running inside a graphical Integrated Development Environment, an arrangement that gets the best of both worlds!

Looking closer at Dabble and PictoBlox revealed things have moved on considerably.   Whilst STEMpedia is a learning platform, it supports AI, Machine Learning, and Robotics – advanced stuff!   It’s Bluetooth capability comes from the Robotics section.

Older Model Engineers sometimes assume modern yoof aren’t interested in technology because they aren’t taught traditional metalworking skills at school or college.   Unlikely to have seen a Super7 let alone sharpened an HSS cutter for one!   Actually, technically minded youngsters are into other things like Battlebots.   Technically far more advanced than a model steam locomotive.

Would be fun to enter a steam robot into the competition, with the control system developed with STEMpedia tooling.  Unfortunately I guess a steam robot would last about 30 seconds!  Steam may not be allowed, because any damage to the boiler could cause a dangerous explosion, during or after the fight.

Those sparks are caused by violent contact between the two robots, and yes, the green-wheeled machine has been flung into the air.

Dave

 

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