A first program for the robot using Snap!Finch

Answer all of the questions on this page as you work with the robot.

Instructions

  1. Plug the robot's USB cable into the computer FIRST, then run the BirdbrainRobot Server.
  2. Start SNAP! for Finch. splash screen DO NOT CLOSE the Control Window. If this window appears, choose Level 4 snap level 4
  3. If you are having Internet trouble, check the box that says Open Snap! locally (no cloud storage)
  4. If you have Internet and want to save your projects online, signup to create an account with Snap! online create online account

Follow these directions

  

Answer these questions as you work
  1. snap first programIf this First Snap Program does not show up, create it using the blocks
 
  1. Using the first Snap program, answer these questions:
    1. How can you tell that the robot is getting power?
    2. How do you start and end the program?
    3. What should happen?
    4. Does it work?
      • Why or why not?
  1. Create the code below and add it to your program
first program blocks

Notice that:

  • YELLOW blocks come from CONTROL
  • PURPLE blocks come from LOOKS
  • BLUE blocks come from MOTION
 
  1. Answer these questions when you run the program:
    1. What color does the Finch's beak change to?
    2. How far does the Finch travel? (measure it)
    3. Does the Finch move in a straight line?
      • Why or why not?
  1. Change the wait block to say 3 seconds instead of 1 second. Run the program.

 
  1. How far does the robot go when you change the wait time to 3 seconds?
    • Is it exactly 3 times farther than it traveled at 1 second?
    • Why?
  1. Change the numbers in the MOVE block to say -60 instead of 60.
    Run the program.

  
  1. What happens if you change the MOVE block to say MOVE FINCH LEFT:-60 RIGHT: -60 using negative numbers?
  1. Remove the wait block altogether. Run the program.

 
  1. How far does the robot go if there is no wait block?
    • Why?
  1. Remove the STOP FINCH block. Run the program.



  2. RGB stands for Red-Green-Blue. You can create different colors by changing the numbers.
    100 means the color is on all the way
    0 means that color is turned off

    Modify your program so that the robot goes:

    forward for 2 seconds showing a BLUE light and then
    backwards for 2 seconds with a RED light.
    Demonstrate your program to the teacher.
 
  1. What happens if you don't use the STOP FINCH block?




  2. What numeric color code would you use to show purple?

Save the program as Program1YourNames.xml on your local drive (see directions below)

save buttons
export projectClick the paper file with the folded corner icon at the top left. :

  1. Choose Export Project.
    This option opens a new browser window containing an xml file containing the project's data. You must then use the browser's "Save Page" option to save the file with a .xml extension. (Control-S or Choose save from the file menu) This is the way to save your work on your computer for your teacher.
  2. Another option to save an extra copy is to choose Save As to save your Project in the Cloud.
    This option allows you to easily save and load projects , but requires an Internet connection as well as an account (which can be made by clicking the "cloud" button in the middle).

To load a project from the cloud, click on Open. To open a project from an xml file, click on Import and browse to the location of your xml file.

Copy and paste the questions above on the right in Word, fill in your answers, and also save as Program1YourNames