13: Disk Mover

Learning Target

• Create a VEXcode blocks project
• Use sensors and iteration to complete a robotic task
• Understand absolute heading measurements

Background Info

• The Disk Mover playground occupies a square grid measuring 2000 mm by 2000 mm
• The VR Robot’s starting position is at the coordinate (-800, -800)
• Each square within the Disk Mover playground grid is 200 mm in size

• The standard VR Robot measures approximately 133 mm by 151 mm
• The wheels are 50mm in diameter
• It has an electromagnet to pick up or drop game elements
• It has two color sensors, one below it and one on its front.

Instructions

Step 1: 

Use this link to access the school's Premium License for VEXcode VR:

https://vr.vex.com?classcode=GZXJUX

Step 2:

Click the "Select Playground" button.

Choose the Disk Mover playground.

Step 3:

Your goal is to sort all of the colored disks into the correct locations:

• • as quickly as possible 
  • using the fewest number of code blocks

A disk is considered sorted once it is entirely contained within the correctly colored boundary and white floor surrounds the entire disk. 

Step 4:

You will make your code much shorter by using the repeat block:

You can automate your movement by driving until you see a disk:

You can stop when you get close to a wall using something like this:

And, you will need to pick up the disks using the electromagnet:

You can use this block to make sure your robot is pointed to a specific compass direction:

  This points the robot to the West (or to the left)

Step 5:

Once you get your code working:

• • How could you reduce the number of code blocks?
  • How can you reduce the time it takes to complete the challenge?

Step 6:

The formula for scoring is as follows:

Score = (Time to complete in seconds) x (Number of code blocks used)

Time stops when all disks are sorted and the following block is reached:

Like golf, lower scores are better.

Grading