BrailleBot MakeCode Extension

This is the official MakeCode extension for the BrailleBot robot, designed to work with micro:bit and G-Cube-based tracing and manipulation robots.

BrailleBot is a robot developed to provide coding and robotics education for students with visual impairments. By integrating tactile feedback and line-tracing functions, it enables inclusive learning experiences.

This extension provides blocks for movement, color detection, PID line tracking, gripper control, melody playback, and more.

🧩 Blocks Overview

🚗 Movement Blocks

Move forward $distance cm with speed: $speed % Move the robot forward by a given distance and speed.
Rotate $degree degree with speed: $speed % Rotates the robot by a specified angle and speed.
Set motor speed Left: $left % and Right: $right % Directly control each motor’s speed.
Stop Immediately stops both motors.
Turn Left / Turn Right / U turn Predefined turning blocks with alignment to the next line.

🎨 Color Blocks

Read Color Sensor Reads color values from the VEML6040 sensor.
Colorkey Returns the currently detected color key (mapped internally).
Show Color with $colorNumber Displays an LED color corresponding to the detected color.

📈 Line Tracking Blocks

Line tracking to next color Follows the line until the robot detects the next color.
Line tracking while skipping adjacent colors Ignores nearby colors briefly and then begins tracking to the next color.

🦾 Gripper Control Blocks

Gripper Close $mode Closes the servo-based gripper. Mode can be simple or full (move + close).
Gripper Open $mode Opens the gripper. Mode can be simple or full (move + open).

🎵 Melody and Icon Blocks

Play tones 1st: $note1, 2nd: $note2, Mode: $mode Plays two tones depending on robot action or stop status.
Set Echo ON Enables melody mode.
showIcon $icon Displays predefined motion-related icons (e.g., forward, stop, U-turn, etc.)

⚙️ Setup Block

Setup braille bot Initializes pins, sensor, white balance, and robot connection.

🧪 Color Codes

Internally, the robot uses the following codes for color identification:

1: RED
2: GREEN
3: BLUE
4: CYAN
5: MAGENTA
6: YELLOW
7: ORANGE
8: PINK
9: BLACK
10: WHITE

🛠️ Dependencies

micro:bit v2
G-Cube communication over UART
VEML6040 I2C Color Sensor

📦 Installation

To add this extension in MakeCode:

Go to the Advanced section in the MakeCode editor
Click Extensions
Search for braillebot or paste the GitHub repository URL

BrailleBot MakeCode Extension

This extension provides blocks to control the BrailleBot robot with line tracing, gripper control, color detection, and melody features using the micro:bit.

API Reference

`setupBrailleBot()`

Block: Initialize Braille bot
Initializes all robot systems, including color sensor, servos, communication ports, and calibration.

`moveBraillebot(speed: number, distance: number)`

Block: Move forward $distance cm with speed: $speed %
Moves the robot forward or backward a given distance at the specified speed.

`rotateBraillebot(speed: number, degree: number)`

Block: Rotate $degree degree with speed: $speed %
Rotates the robot left or right by a specified degree at the given speed.

`setMotorSpeed(left: number, right: number)`

Block: Set motor speed Left: $left % and Right: $right %
Sets the speed of the left and right motors directly.

`stop()`

Block: Stop
Stops all motor movement immediately.

`uTurn()`

Block: U turn
Executes a U-turn maneuver using forward and rotational movements.

`turnRight()`

Block: Turn Right
Turns the robot right by a predefined angle.

`turnLeft()`

Block: Turn Left
Turns the robot left by a predefined angle.

`lineTrackingToNextColor()`

Block: Line tracking to the next color
Follows the line until a new color is detected using the color sensor.

`lineTrackingSkipAndNextColor()`

Block: Line tracking while skipping adjacent colors
Skips immediately detected color and continues line tracing until the next color.

`readColorSensor()`

Block: Read Color Sensor
Reads the current color using the VEML6040 sensor and stores the result.

`getColorKey(): number`

Block: Colorkey
Returns the currently detected color key (e.g., RED_KEY, GREEN_KEY, etc.).

`showColorKey(colorNumber: number)`

Block: Display LED color with $colorNumber
Shows an RGB LED color on the robot based on the provided color key number.

`gripperOpenBlock(mode: Opening)`

Block: Gripper Open $mode
Opens the gripper. If mode is MovingOpen, the robot moves forward and then opens the gripper.

`gripperCloseBlock(mode: Closing)`

Block: Gripper Close $mode
Closes the gripper. If mode is MovingClose, the robot moves forward before closing the gripper.

`playTwoNotes(note1: Note, note2: Note, mode: Action)`

Block: Play two tones 1st: $note1, 2nd: $note2, Mode: $mode
Plays two musical notes. In Stop mode, the melody plays only once when robot is idle.

`setEchoOn()`

Block: Set Echo ON
Enables melody playing mode for playTwoNotes.

`showIcon(icon: Icons)`

Block: showIcon $icon
Displays a motion icon (e.g., forward, turn, stop) on the LED matrix.

Enums

Note: Musical notes (Do, Re, Mi, etc.)
Action: Playback trigger mode (Action, Stop)
Icons: Motion symbols to display on LED
Opening: Gripper open mode (JustOpen, MovingOpen)
Closing: Gripper close mode (JustClose, MovingClose)
Checking: Color skipping mode (None, Skip)

Setup

Install this extension in MakeCode via:

🧑‍💻 License

MIT License

Created by Robo Risen For support or inquiries, contact: qna@roborisen.com