Programming your Robot
The Gizmo student processor controls the operations of most of the peripherals that you will utilize in building your robot. These include the motors, servos, and analog and digital sensors.
A program is uploaded to the student processor PICO to control these functions. The program also collects information from the system processor about the state of the Logitech F130 controller sticks and buttons. It can then act on that information to take action with a peripheral.
There are multiple languages and tools available to program the Gizmo student processor. It is a Raspberry Pi PICO module and really any available programming options for the PICO will work. For BEST Robotics, we are supporting the following languages and programming tools:
- Model-based design using Mathworks MATLAB/Simulink
- C/C++ using Arduino Integrated Design Environment (IDE)
- Circuit Python using the Mu editor (or your favorite text editor)
- Micro Blocks using the MicroBlocks web-based interface.
Mathworks MATLAB/Simulink
Coming Fall 2024.
Arduino C/C++
- Open source programming environment for hobbyists, makers, education.
- Popular IDE
- Lots of libraries
- Autocomplete
- Autoformatting
- Debugging capabilities
- Gizmo library for easy port references
Circuit Python
Circuit Python is an open-source Python variant from the folks at Adafruit targeting microcontrollers.
- No downloads, text editor only
- No compiling
- Lots of libraries
- Gizmo library for easy port references
- Live feedback
- Beginner friendly
MicroBlocks
MicroBlocks is a free, Scratch-like blocks programming language for learning physical computing with educational microcontroller boards.
- No downloads/installs
- Web browser & USB port only
- Beginner’s playground
- Gizmo library enhances use
- Interactive/ Live Code Execution
- Uploads as you write code
- Portable blocks
