Laboratory Exercise: Using the Scribbler 2

Goals

The goal of this lab is to introduce the Scribbler 2 robot to students.

Getting Started with the Scribbler 2

In this lab, you will experiment with the Scribbler 2 robot's sound capabilities, as well as practice writing and compiling programs that use the robot.

For every program using the Scribbler 2 robot, you first must connect to the robot. At the end of the program, you will disconnect from the robot. The command to connect to the robot is rConnect("/dev/rfcomm0"); . This opens a connection to the robot using the port /dev/rfcomm0 . Later in the lab, you will experiment with what happens when the port is not included. The command to disconnect from the robot is rDisconnect(); . Here, you do not need to state any port.
Hint: Don't forget to include the library MyroC.h at the beginning of every program.

1. Connecting to and disconnecting from the robot.

   In this exercise, you will download the code for a program that connects to the Scribbler, beeps once, and then disconnects from the Scribbler. Read the program and its annotations to further understand what is happening. You will then copy the program to your emacs file and compile the program on your terminal. Finally you will run the program.
   Here are the steps to do these:

   1. Open a terminal window and move to the directory you are using for this course.
   2. Start emacs with the command:

        emacs scribblerlab.c & 

   3. Copy the linked program scribblerlab.c to your emacs window. Don't forget to save it every time before you compile.
   4. Compile the program by typing in the terminal:

        gcc -lMyroC -o scribblerlab scribblerlab.c 

   5. Run it in your terminal by typing:

      ./scribblerlab 

2. Experimenting with Connections

   1. In the program scribblerlab.c , delete the /dev/rfcomm0  port that is in rConnect . What happens when you compile and run? Now type hello  into the port. What happens when you compile and run? Do the same for the null string "" . Replace the port when you are done and save the program.
   2. Delete the include statement. What happens when you try to compile? Replace the include statement and save.
   
   

3. Sound

   1. Again, in the original program scribblerlab.c , copy the beep statement and change the frequency to 600, 700, 900, 400, 15000 and 200. Experiment with frequencies. Which frequencies are audible?
   2. This time, vary the length of the beeps. Copy the beep statement again and this time change the 1 to 0.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.1, and 4. Listen to what happens.
   
   

4. Write your own program: Music

   Write a program that connects to the robot, makes it beep out a short tune that sounds good to you, and disconnects from the robot.

   Hint: The pitches for various notes can be found using Wikipedia or in the example programs for today.

Reminder: Complete Evaluation Form

When you have finished this lab, be sure to fill out its evaluation form in the "Lab Evaluation" section for CSC 161 on Pioneer Web.

This document is available on the World Wide Web as

     http://www.walker.cs.grinnell.edu/courses/161.fa11/modules/module-getting-started/scribblerlab.shtml

created 13 July 2011 by Dilan Ustek & April O'Neill last full revision 18 July 2011 by Dilan Ustek & April O'Neill minor editing 22 August 2011 by Henry M. Waker
For more information, please contact Henry M. Walker at walker@cs.grinnell.edu.