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PicoCricketReference Guide

ThePlayfulInventionCompany

PicoCricketReference Guide

Version1.2a

Credits

Design Team MitchelResnick BrianSilverman PaulaBontá RobbieBerg NatalieRusk

Industrial Design: SmartDesign

Graphic Design: BigBlueDot

Wewouldliketogivespecialthanksto:

PICOstaffmembersChadBurt,CatherineCournoyer,JackGeddes,MikeGillis,DannyLutz,DanielleHamel,andLaurelleMiciakfortheirinvaluableideas,help,andenthusiasm.

DianaGeeSilvermanfortheon-linehelp,DannyLutzforthesounds,andLawrenceShubertforguidingPICOthroughtheintricateaspectsofcompliancetestingandmanufacturability.

stafffromthePlayfulInventionandExploration(PIE)projectfordevelopingnewCricketactivities,particularlyKeithBraafladt,StephanieHunt,ChipLindsey,HidekiMori,KristenMurray,MikePetrich,MargaretPezalla-Granlund,NatalieRusk,MichaelSmith-Welch,KarenWilkinson,andDianeWillow.

MITresearchersandstudentswhocontributedtoCricketR&D,particularlyAndyBegel,RobbieBerg,RahulBhargava,RickBorovoy,FredMartin,BakhtiarMikhak,MitchelResnick,andBrianSilverman.

theLEGOCompanyforitscontinuingsupport,particularlyKjeldKirkKristiansen,LisbethValtherPallesen,JensMaibom,andErikHansen.

©2006-2008.ThePlayfulInventionCompanyInc.Allrightsreserved.Thismaterialmaynotbereproduced,displayed,modified,ordistributedwithouttheexpresspriorwrittenpermissionofthecopyrightholder.

Contents

Credits 2lntroduction 4PicoBlocks 8Blocks Summary 12Blocks - Detailed by Category 14Melody and Rhythm Editors 32Graphing Data 37The PicoBlocks Text Language 38Common Error Messages 52

PicoBlocks - Reference�

lntroduction

Welcome!ThisReferenceGuideprovidesanoverviewofthePicoCricketfamilyofpartsandthePicoBlockssoftwareusedtoprogramthePicoCricket.

IfyouarejustgettingstartedwiththePicoCricketandPicoBlocks,pleasegothroughtheSetupGuideandGettingStartedbookletfirst,togetanoverallintroduction.Ifyouwantmoredetailedinformation,thencomebacktothisReferenceGuide.

WearecontinuallyupdatingtheReferenceGuide.Youcandownloadthelatestversionfromwww.picocricket.com/support

PicoCricket Family

ThePicoCricketfamilyincludesthefollowingparts:

PicoCricket

ThePicoCricketisatinycomputerthatcancontrolthingsintheworld.ThePicoCrickethasfourportswhereyoucanpluginotherdevices,suchassensors,motors,andlights.Youcanpluganyofthesedevicesintoanyoftheports.

http://www.picocricket.com/support/

PicoBlocks - Reference �

ThePicoCrickethasthreetypesofindicatorlights:

Theon-off indicator lightturnson(orange)whenyouturnonthePicoCricket.Ifthebatteriesarelow,thelightflashesrapidlywhenyouturnonthePicoCricket.

Theprogram-running indicator lightturnson(green)whenthePicoCricketisrunningaprogram,anditchangescolortoamberwhenthePicoCricketisrunningtwoprogramsatthesametime.

TheIR-communication indicator lightsflash(yellow)whenthePicoCricketiscommunicatingthroughitsinfraredtransmitter.

IfyoupushthePicoCricketbuttonwhilethePicoCricketisrunningaprogram,theprogramwillstop.Ifyoupushthebuttonwhennoprogramisrunning,thePicoCricketwillre-runthelastprogramthatitran.

EvenwhenyouturnthePicoCricketoff,itremembersthelastprogramthatitran.Soifyourunaprogram,turnoffthePicoCricket,turnitbackonlater,andpushthebutton,thePicoCricketwillruntheprogramagain.

Beamer

TheBeamertransmitsinformation(viainfraredsignals)fromyourcomputertoyourPicoCricket.WhenyouwriteaprogramusingPicoBlockssoftwareonyourcomputer,yousendtheprogramtothePicoCricketviatheBeamer.

PicoBlocks - Reference�

ThePicoCricketKitincludesaUSB-serialcableforconnectingtheBeamertoaUSBportonyourcomputer.Alternatively,youcanconnecttheBeamertoaserialport,usingastandardserialcable(notincluded).

WhenyouaresendinginformationtothePicoCricket,makesurethattheantennasontheBeamerarefacingtowardstheantennasonthePicoCricket.WhiletheBeamerandPicoCricketarecommunicating,theindicatorlightsintheantennaswillflashyellow(onboththeBeamerandthePicoCricket).

TheBeamerhasarangeofabouta1meter.NotethataBeamercancommunicatewithonePicoCricketatatime.IfyouhavemultiplePicoCrickets,makesurethatonlyoneofthemisinrangeoftheBeameratanytime.

Actuators

Actuatorsaredevicesthatmakethingshappenintheworld.ThePicoCricketKitincludesfourtypesofactuators:coloredlights,soundbox,motor(withmotorboard),andnumericdisplay.

Name Description Programming Blocks Icon

Light Youcansetthecolorofthelightacrosstheentirerainbow,fromredtoviolet.Youcanalsosetthebrightnessofthelight.

SoundBox

Thesoundboxisasmallsynthesizerthatcanplaynotes,melodies,soundeffects,andrhythms.PicoBlockssoftwareincludesspecialeditorsforcreatingmelodiesandrhythms.Youcansetandchangewhichinstrumentwillplaynotesandmelodies.

note

Motorand

MotorBoard

ThemotorboardconnectstothePicoCricket,andtheLEGOmotorconnectstothemotorboard.Youcanturnthemotoronandoff,andsetitspoweranddirection.

DisplayThethree-digitdisplaycanshowanynumberbetween0and999.Itisespeciallyusefulfordisplayingsensorvalues.


Sensors

SensorsallowyourPicoCrickettorespondtosounds,lights,orotherchangesinitsenvironment.

Name Description Programming Blocks

Icon

LightSensor

Reportsthebrightnessoflight.Forexample,youcanusethelightsensortodetectwhensomeonecastsashadowwiththeirhand–orwhenthesunshinesthroughthewindow.

dark?

brightness

SoundSensor

Reportstheloudness(orvolume)ofsound.Forexample,youcanusethesoundsensortodetectwhensomeoneclapstheirhands–orwhensomeonesingsintothesensor.

loud?

loudness

TouchSensor

Reportsifthebuttonispressed.Forexample,youcanwriteaprogramthatmakessomethinghappen(amotorspinningoralightchangingcolor)whensomeonepressesthetouchsensor.

touch?

ResistanceSensor

Reportstheresistanceinthecircuitformedbythealligator-clipcables.Ifyouputdifferentmaterials(forexample,play-doughorabanana)betweenthealligatorclips,theresistancewillchange.Youcanalsousetheresistancesensortodetectwhenthealligatorclipsaretouchingeachother(orconnectedthroughaconductivematerial,suchasaluminumfoil).

connected?

resistance

Eachoftheprogrammingblockswillbedescribedfurtherinthefollowingpages.Forexamplesofhowtousetheactuatorsandsensors,see“MagicLantern”andothersampleprojectplacemats.

PicoCricket Care

1.RemembertoturnoffthePicoCricketwhenyouaren’tusingit.

2.Iftheorangeon-offindicatorlightflashes,itmeansthatyourPicoCricketisrunningoutofbatteries.Tochangethebatteries,followtheinstructionsintheSetupGuide.

3.Begentlewiththecableconnectors.Ifyoupushtheconnectorsupanddownwithtoomuchforce,theconnectorswillbreak.

4.KeepyourPicoCricketdevicesawayfromwaterandotherliquids.

5.IfyourPicoCricketismisbehaving,checktheTroubleshootingsectioninourwebsite:www.picocricket.com/troubleshooting

http://www.picocricket.com/project-ideas.html

http://www.picocricket.com/project-ideas.html

http://www.picocricket.com/troubleshooting/


PicoBlocks

Overview

PicoBlocksisaprogramminglanguagedesignedspecificallyforprogrammingyourPicoCricket.WithPicoBlocks,youcreateprogramsbysnappinggraphicalblockstogetherintostacks.

Tools

?? STOPUndo

2

Thetoolsareusedfortakingdifferentactionsontheblocks,suchascopyingblocks,deletingblocks,orsendingblockstothePicoCricket.Whenyouclickonatool,thecursorturnsintothattool.

Arrow

UsetheArrowtodragblocksfromtheBlocksPalettetotheWorkspace,orwithintheWorkspace.Tomoveanentirestack,dragfromthetopblock.Draggingablockfromthemiddleofastackwillalsomoveanyblocksattachedbeneaththeoneyouaredragging.

YoucangetridofblocksbydraggingthemoffoftheWorkspace,inanydirection.Ifyoudeleteblocksbymistake,clickUndo

ThisisyourWorkspaceDraganddropblockstocreateyourstacks

These are the tools

Click on the tabs to get different categories of blocks

This is a stack

BlocksPalette


Magic Wand

UsetheMagicWandtorunaprogram.WhenyouclickonablockorstackwiththeMagicWand,itsendstheprogramtothePicoCricketandtellsthePicoCrickettoruntheprogram.

chirp

foreversetlight color

brightness

YoucanusetheMagicWandtoclickonblocksintheBlocksPalette,thesamewayyouclickonblocksintheWorkspace.Thisfeatureisusefulfortestingoutablock.

Anotherwaytorunaprogramisbydouble-clickingwiththeArrow,insteadofsingle-clickingwiththeMagicWand.

Scissors

UsetheScissorstogetridofblocks.Clickingonablockinastackwillalsocutallblocksattachedbelowit.

Ifyoudeleteblocksbymistake,clickUndo .

YoucanalsogetridofblocksbydraggingthemoutoftheWorkspace.

waituntil

motoron

reverse

motoronfor

touch?

10

waituntil

motoron

touch?

Stamper

UsetheStampertocopyblocksandstacks.Clickoncetocopy,thenmovetoanewlocationandclickasecondtimetopaste.WhenyouclickonablockinastackwiththeStamper,italsocopiesallblocksattachedbelowit.

YoucanswitchtotheStampertemporarilyusingCtrl+ ,or + .

waituntil

motoron

reverse

motoronfor

touch?

10reverse

motoronfor 10

PicoBlocks - Reference 10

?? Help

UsetheHelptooltogetmoreinformation.IfyouclickonablockwiththeHelptool,awindowwithmoreinformationwillappear.

2 Second Wand

UsetheSecondWandtotellthePicoCrickettorunasecondstackatthesametimeasitisrunningsomethingelse.Toruntwostacks,clickononewiththeMagicWand,thentheotherwiththeSecondWand.

Forexample,youcanusetheSecondWandtostartbackgroundmusicordisplaysensorvalueswhileanotherprogramisrunning.

melody12

display

forever brightness2

Tags

UsetheTagstoolwhenyouwanttotelltwodevicesofthesametypetododifferentthings.Forexample,ifyouplugtwocoloredlightsintoaPicoCricket,andthensendasetlight-colorcommandtothePicoCricket,thePicoCricketwillchangethecolorofbothlights.Ifyouwanttoturneachlighttoadifferentcolor,youneedtouseTags.

setlightcolor

wait 10

setlightcolor

wait 10

??


EachofthefourportsonthePicoCricketislabelledwithadifferentnumberofdots.Ifyouwanttosendacommandtoaparticularport,thenyouneedto“tag”theblockwiththeappropriatenumberofdots.Forexample,ifyouplugcoloredlightsintoports and ,thenyoucansetthecolorofeachlightindividuallywiththefollowingblocks:

setlightcolor

setlightcolor

Totagablock,clickontheappropriatedotintheTagstool,thenclickontheblockthatyouwanttotag.

setlightcolor

Toremoveatagfromablock,clickinthecenteroftheTagstoolandthenclickontheblock.

setlightcolor

STOP Stop

ClickontheStopsigntostopallprogramsrunningonthePicoCricket.MakesurethatthePicoCricketis“insight”oftheBeamer.Alternatively,youcanstopprogramsonthePicoCricketbypressingthewhitebuttononthePicoCricket.NotethatstoppingprogramsonthePicoCricketdoesnotturnofflightsattachedtothePicoCricket.Ifyouwanttoturnoffthelights,slidetheon-offswitchintotheoffposition.

PicoBlocks - Reference12

Blocks Summary

ThislistshowsallofthebasicblocksinPicoBlocks.

setlight color setsthelight’scolor

setlight power setsthelight’spower

lightoff turnsthelightoff

displaydisplaysavalueonthedisplay

chirp makesthePicoCricketchirp

note playsanote(pitchandduration)

playsound

Kitten playsasound

setinst

Piano setsaninstrumentforthenextnoteormelody

settempo

set

volume

setsthetempoorvolumeforthenextnote,melodyorrhythm

motoron motor

off turnsmotoronoroff

motoronfor

turnsthemotoronforacertainperiodoftime

reverse reversesthemotor’sdirection

thisway that

way setsthemotor’sdirection

setpower setsthemotor’spower

touch?reportstrueifthetouchsensoris

pressed

brightness reportsavaluefromthelightsensor

dark? reportstrueifthelightsensordetectslittlelight

loud?reportstrueifthesoundsensor

detectsaloudsound

loudness reportsavaluefromthesoundsensor

connected? reportstrueiftheresistancesensordetectsaresistanceof0

resistance reportsavaluefromtheresistancesensor

beamIR beamsavaluetoanotherPicoCricket

IRreportsavaluebeamedby

infraredfromanotherPicoCricket

newIR? reportstrueifanotherPicoCrickethasbeamedanewvaluebyinfrared

timer reportsthePicoCricket’stimervaluein100thsofasecond

resettimer

setsthePicoCricket’stimerto0

clear erasesallthedata

collectstoresavalueinthePicoCricket’s

memory

rewind goesbacktothebeginningofthedata

next data reportsthevalueofthenextdatastoredinthePicoCricket’smemory

waitwaitsanumberofticks(where10

ticks=1second)

waituntil waitsuntiltheconditionistrue

foreverrepeatsablockorstack

forever

repeatrepeatsablockorstack

acertainnumberoftimes


Blocks Summary - Continued

if

then

runsablockorstackiftheconditionistrue

if

then else

ifconditionistrue,runonestack;ifnot,runtheotherstack

stopall stopseverything

stackstop stopsthisstack

createsspacebetweenblocks, sothattheydon’toverlaponeanother

number specifiesanumber(clicktohighlight,andthentypeinanumber)

+ - x / computesarithmeticoperations

r a n d o mpicksarandomvaluebetweenthetwonumbers

<>

makesacomparisonbetweentwonumbersandreportstrueorfalse

=

and reportstrueifbothconditionsaretrue

or reportstrueifeitherconditionistrue

not reportstheoppositeofacondition

sitsontopofstack,andallowsyoutotypeinnameforthestack

store inbox1 box1 setandreportvaluesforvariables

store inbox2 box2

PicoBlocks - Reference1�

Blocks - Detailed by Category

Light Blocks

setlight color

whichcolor

wait

setlight color

5

4

setlight color

turnsthelightblue

waitsfor4ticks

turnsthelightpink(color5)

SetstheLED’scolorandturnsiton.Youcansetthecolorbyusingthecolorslider,orchoosinganumberbetween0and100.Colorsarenumberedasfollows:

Defaultvalue:setlightcolor 0

setlight power

howbright

setlight power

wait 40

setlight power 100

setslighttohalfpowerandturnsiton

waitsfor40ticks

setslightbacktofullpower

setlightpowercantakenumbersbetween0(nolight)and100(fullpower).Youcansetthepowerbyusingtheslideroranumberblock.Defaultvalue:setlightpower 100

lightoff

wait

setlight color

15

lightoff

turnsthelightgreen

waitsfor15ticks

turnsthelightoff

lightoffturnsthelightoff.

pinkredyellowaqualightblueviolet020406080100

1030507090magentaorangegreencyanblue

PicoBlocks - Reference 1�

display

displaywhat

r a n d o m

display 15 95 displaysarandomnumber

Displaysavalueonthedisplay

Sound Blocks

TheSoundpalettestartswithsixbasicblocks(shownbelow).YoucancreateadditionalblockswiththeMelodyandRhythmeditors.Seepage32forinformationoncreatingmelodiesandrhythms.

chirp makesthePicoCricketchirponce

MakingthePicoCricketchirpisagoodwaytotestwhetheryourcomputeriscommunicatingproperlywiththePicoCricket.

note howhighanote

note5

50playsthenote50

for5ticks(halfasecond)

howlongnotecanplaynotesbetween0(lowest)and100(highest).YoucanplaynoteswiththePicoCricketspeakerorwiththeSoundBox(butitwillsoundmuchbetterwiththeSoundBox).Forcomposingmelodies,wesuggestusingtheMelodyEditorratherthanputtingindividualnoteblockstogether.Defaultvalue:note 50 2

playsound playsthissound(kitten)

playsound

Kitten

23playsound playssound23(horse)

Selectasoundwiththesliderorenteranumberbetween0and100.Thereare24soundsavailable(seetablebelow).


# Sound # Sound # Sound

1 Piano 9 Claps 17 PicoCricket

2 Flute 10 Cowbell 18 Fairydust

3 Pizzicato 11 Maracas 19 HighQ

4 Strings 12 Slap 20 Dog

5 Trombone 13 Timbale 21 Rooster

6 Vibes 14 WoodBlock 22 Goose

7 Agogo 15 Guiro 23 Horse

8 Cabasa 16 Bloops 24 Kitten

AllthesesoundsrequiretheSoundBox.Sound0isthePicoCricketchirp.Fornumbersgreaterthan24,playsoundplaysthenextsoundinthelist:25playssound1,26playssound2,...andsoon.Defaultvalue:playsound 24 (kittten)

setinst setinstrumentwhichinstrument

5

16

setinst

Trombone

note

setsinstrumenttotrombone

playsnote16(onthetrombone)for5ticks(halfasecond)

Setstheinstrumenttobeusedforsubsequentnotesormelodies.Youcanselecttheinstrumentwiththesliderorattachanumberbetween0and100.setinstrument 0setsthenoteormelodywiththePicoCricket’sbeeper.Theinputsforsetinstrumentarethesameasforplaysound(shownintableabove).Youcanuseanysoundasaninstrument,buttheydon’tallworkwell.Defaultvalue:setinstrument 1 (piano)

settempo

melody1

settempo 100 setstempoto100(fastest)

playsmelody1atthefastesttempo

settempotakesvaluesbetween0(slowest)and100(fastest).Thefastesttempo(100)equalsto240bpm(beatsperminute),whiletheslowest(0)equalsto60bpm.Defaultvalue:settempo 50 (120bpm)


setvolume

30

5

50note

setvolume

setsthevolumeto30(quiet)

playsnote50for5ticks(halfasecond)

setvolumetakesvaluesbetween0(nosound)and100(loudest).SetvolumeonlyworkswiththeSoundBox.Defaultvalue:setvolume 80

Action Blocks

motoron

motoroff

motoron

motoroff

wait 20

turnsthemotoron

waitsfor20ticks(2seconds)

turnsthemotoroff

motoroffmakesthemotorcoasttoastop.Ifyouwantthemotortostopmoreabruptlyormoregently,tryusingthebrakeandcoastcommandsinthePicoBlocksTextLanguage.

motoronfor howlong

motoronfor 20 turnsonmotorfor20ticks(2seconds)

10ticks=1secondTurnsthemotoronforthespecifiednumberofticks,thenturnsitoff.motoronfordoesthesamethingasastackwithmotoron,thenwait,thenmotoroff.Defaultvalue:motoronfor 10

reverse

reverse

motoronfor 20

motoronfor 40

motorgoesonewayfor20ticks

changesdirection

goestheotherwayfor40ticks

reversecausesthemotortochangethedirectioninwhichitisspinning.reversedoesnotturnthemotoron,itonlychangesthedirection.


thisway

thatway

thisway

thatway

motoronfor 10

motoronfor 10

setsmotortoonedirection

turnsonfor10ticks

setsmotortotheoppositedirection

turnsonagainfor10ticks

thisway setsthemotorinonedirection,thatway setsitintheotherdirection.Whichdirectioniswhichdependsonhowthemotorispluggedin.thiswayandthatwaydonotturnonthemotor,theyonlysetthedirection.

setpower

setpower 10

motoron

setsmotorpowerto10

turnsthemotoron

setpowertakesvaluesbetween0(nopower)and100(strongestpower).setpowerdoesnotturnonthemotor,itonlysetsthepower.Defaultvalue:setpower 100

Sensors Blocks

touch? isthetouchsensor

if

then

forever touch?

chirp

beingpressed?

chirpsifthetouchsensorispressed

touch? reportstruewhenthetouchsensorisbeingpressed.TheexampleabovewillmakethePicoCricketchirpcontinuouslywhileyouarepressingthebuttononthetouchsensor.Ifyouwanttochirponlyonceeachtimeyoupushthebutton,youshouldmakeastacksimilartotheoneshownbelow:


foreverwaituntil touch?

touch?waituntil not

chirp

waitsuntilthetouch sensorisreleased

dark?

waituntil dark?

playsound

Dog

waitsuntilthelightsensordetects darkness

playsthissound(dog)

dark?reportstrueifthelightsensordetectsthebrighnesstobelessthan15.

brightness

brightnessdisplay displaysthenumberreportedbythelightsensor

brightnessreportsnumbersbetween0(nolight)and100(lotsoflight)

loud?

loud?

setlight color

waituntilwaitsuntilthesoundsensor

detectsasound

turnsthelightpink

loud?reportstrueifthesoundsensordetectsasoundwithloudnessgreaterthan60.

loudness

waituntil > loudness 30

setlight color

waitsuntilthesoundsensordetectsaclap

turnsthelightgreen

loudnessreportsnumbersbetween0(nosound)and100(loudsound).


connected?

foreverwaituntil connected?

chirp

waitsforresistancesensor todetectaconnection

whenaconnectionissensed,itchirps

connected? reportstrueiftheresistancesensordetectsaresistanceoflessthan50.

resistance

foreverdisplay resistance

displaysthenumberreported bytheresistancesensor

resistancereportsnumbersbetween0(noresistance)and100(lotsofresistance).Ifyouaregettingnumbersinaverynarrowrange,itisusefultoadjusttherangeandsensitivityoftheresistanceblock.Todothat,shiftclickontheblocktoaddsliders.Thenadjustthesliderslikethis:

resistance trythisifyouaren’tgettinglownumbers

resistancetrythisifyouaren’tgettinghighnumbers

Remembertousethemagicwandaftermovingthesliders

Slidersareusefulinsituationswhereyouwanttouseresistancevaluescontrolsomethinglikethecolorofalight:

forever resistancesetlight

color

Iftheresistanceischangingbyonlyasmallamount,youwillonlyseeanarrowrangeofcolors.Youcanusesliderstoextendtherangeofcolorsthatyouseeastheresistancechanges.

Toseehowthisworks,consideraspecificexample.Imaginethatyouconnectaresistancesensor,acoloredlightandadisplaytoyourPicoCricket.ThenconnectthealligatorclipsoftheresistancesensortoalumpofPlay-Doughandstarttheprogram:

forever resistancesetlight

color

display resistance


SupposeyoufindthatasyousqueezethePlay-Dough,thenumbersonthedisplayvaryoverthenarrowrangefrom40and80.Thecolorofthelightwillchangefromyellowtoblue/green.

Bymovingslidersintothepositionsshownbelow–withtheleftslideratthe40positionandtherightslideratthe80position,youwillexpandtherangeofnumbersonthedisplaytostretchallthefrom0to100,andthelightcolorwillvaryfromredthroughpurple.

foreversetlight color

display

resistance40 80

resistance40 80

beamIR

beamIRforever

wait 10

r a n d o m

0 100 beamsanumberbetween 0and100

beamIR beamsanumbertoanotherPicoCricketviainfrared(IR).Tousethiscommand,youneedtwoPicoCrickets:onebeamingtheIRsignal,theotherreceivingtheIRsignal.SeeexampleforIRblockbelow.Werecommendusingnumbersintherange0to100.Numbersoutsidethisrangemayproduceunexpectedresults.

newIR? IR

newIR?

IR

foreverwaituntil

10note

waitsforanewIRmessagefromanotherPicoCricket

playsanotebasedonthenumberreceived

IRstandsforInfraRed.newIR?reportstrueifanewinfrared(IR)signalhasbeenreceived.IRreportsthevalueofthelatestinfraredsignalreceived.


resettimer timer

resettimer

waituntil > timer 500

motoron

waitsuntilthetimer isgreaterthan500

turnsonmotor

100ticksofthetimerequals1second

Data Blocks

clear

collect

collect

clear

200repeat

brightness

wait 1

storethenumberreportedbythe lightsensorinthePicoCricket’smemory

wait1tick(1/10second)before collectingthenextdatapoint.

collectstoresadatapoint(anumberfrom0to100)inthePicoCricket’smemory.A

PicoCricketcancollectupto200datapoints.Clickon graph toseeagraphofthecollecteddata.

rewind next data

next data

rewind

200repeat

wait 1

setlight color

setthecolorofthelighttothevalueof thenextdatathathasbeenstoredinthe PicoCricket’smemory

wait1tick(1/10second)before playingbackthenextdatavalue

rewindpreparesthePicoCricketto“playback”collecteddata,startingwiththefirstdatapoint.

setstimerto0

eraseallthedataHowmanydatapointsdoyouwanttocollect?

gobacktothebeginningofthedata


nextdatareportsthevalueofthenextnumberstoredinthePicoCricket’smemory.Uponreachingtheendofthecollecteddata,nextdataloopsbacktothebeginningofthedata.

Whenarewindblockisfollowedbyacollectblock,thePicoCricketstartscollectingnewdata,permanentlyerasinganyolddata.

Flow Blocks

wait

wait 20

lightoff

setlight color turnsthelightpink

waitsfor20ticks(2seconds)

turnsthelightoff

10ticksequals1secondDefaultvalue:wait 10

waituntil

touch?

motoron

waituntil

motoroff

turnsonmotor

waitsuntilthetouchsensorispressed

turnsoffmotor

Waitsuntil theconditionistrue.


forever

motoronfor

wait 3

3forever

repeatthisforever

Tostoptheforever,pushthebuttononyourPicoCricketorclickon STOP

repeat

howmanytimes

10

motoronfor

repeat

4

reverse

repeatthis10times

if

then

ifthisistrue...

if

then

chirp

connected?forever

thiswillhappen

placeherewhateveryouwanttodoaftertheiffinishes

Iftheconditionreportstrue,thenthePicoCricketwillruntheblocksbelowtheword“then.”

placeherewhateveryouwanttodoaftertherepeatfinishes


if

then else isthistrue?

if

then else

motoron

motoroff

touch?forever

otherwisedothis iftrue,dothisIftheconditionreportstrue,thenruntheblocksundertheword“then”;ifnot,runtheblocksunder“else”.

stopall

if

then

forever

motoron

stopall

touch?

chirp

ifthisistrue...

everythingstops(includingthemotor)

Stopsallprogramsandmotors(butleaveslightson).stopallisequivalenttopressingthebuttononthePicoCricket.

stackstop

if

then

forever

stackstop

touch?

chirp

ifthisistrue...

thisstackstops

stopstack stopsonlythecurrentstack.Youcanusethisblocktostoponestackwhilecontinuinganotherstack.


Forexample:

colorswillstopwhenthetouchif

then

stackstop

setlight color

brightness

colors

colors

lightoff

melody1

touch?forever

sensorispressed,yettheotherstackwillcontinue.Thelightwillbeturnedoffandmelody1willbeplayed.

VerticalSpacer

WithoutSpacers WithSpacers

motoronfor

repeat

reversemotoronfor

4

10

4

repeat 10

4

4

reverse

motoronfor

motoronfor

Usespacerstokeeptheblocksfromoverlapping.(Addingspacersdoesnotchangethewaytheprogramruns.)

HorizontalSpacer

WithoutSpacers WithSpacers

motoronfor

repeat

reversemotoronfor

4

10

4

repeat 10

4

4 reversemotoronfor

motoronfor

Usespacerstokeeptheblocksfromoverlapping.(Addingspacersdoesnotchangethewaytheprogramruns.)


Numbers Blocks

number

setpower 50

motoronfor 20

setsmotorpowerto50(halfpower)

turnsonmotorfor20ticks(2seconds)

Clickon totypeinanumber. acceptsnegativenumbers.DefaultValue:10NumbersinPicoBlocksarelimitedtointegersbetween-32768and+32767.

+ addstwovaluesthisplusthat

motoronfor 10 + brightness

Turnsonmotorfor10plusthevalueofthebrightnesssensor(forexample,ifthebrightnesssensoris30,motorturnsonfor40ticks).

- subtractstwovalues thisminusthat

setlight power - brightness100

Turnsonlightwithapowerof100minusthevalueofthebrightnesssensor(forexample,ifthebrightnesssensoris60,lightpowerwillbe40).

x multipliestwovalues thismultipliedbythat

r a n d o m

0 10setlight color x 10

Setsthelight’scolortoarandomnumbermultipliedby10(forexample,iftherandomnumberis7,setsthecolorto70whichiscyan).

/ dividesthefirstvaluebythesecondvalue thisdividedbythat

/motor

onfor 10 brightness

Turnsonmotorforthevalueofbrightnesssensordividedby10(forexample,ifthebrightnesssensoris50,motorturnsonfor5).


r a n d o m

reportsarandomnumberbetweenthisandthat

motoronfor

r a n d o m

10 50turnsonmotorforarandomnumberof

ticks(inthiscaseitcouldbe10,or50,or anythinginbetween...)Defaultvalue: random 0 100

> ifthisisgreaterthanthat...

>brightness 50if

then

forever

chirp thiswillhappen

number1>number2reportstrueifnumber1isgreaterthannumber2.

<ifthisislessthanthat...

<brightness 60if

then

forever

chirp

thiswillhappen

number1<number2reportstrueifnumber1islessthannumber2.

=ifthisisequalsthat...

=brightness 50if

then

forever

chirp

thiswillhappen

number1=number2reportstrueifthetwonumbersareequal.


and waitsuntilthisandthatarebothtrue...

waituntil and

chirp

touch? loud?

then,thiswillhappen

andreportstrueiftheresultofthefirstcondition(touch?)andthesecondcondition(loud?)arebothtrue.

orifthisorthatistrue...

orif

then

forever

chirp

touch? loud?

thiswillhappen

orreportstrueiftheresultofthefirstcondition(touch?)orthesecondcondition(loud?)istrue.

not

waituntil

motoron

motoroff

waituntil not

touch?

touch? waitsuntilthetouchsensorisnotpressed

not reportstrueiftheconditionisfalse.notreportsfalseiftheconditionistrue.


My Blocks

Youcanusethisblocktogiveanametoastackofblocks–andcreateanew blockthatdoesthesamethingastheentirestack.Here’show:

1.Attachtheblockatthetopofthestackyouwanttoname.

chirp

chirp

2.Clickandtypeaname.3.Anewblockwiththatnameappearsin .

4.Useitinotherstacks.

2chirps

4repeat

chirps8times

store inbox1 box1

store inbox2 box2 Usetheseblocksforsettingand

retrievingthevaluesofvariables.

Use store inbox1

tostoreavalue,anduse box1 toretrieveit.

store inbox1

r a n d o m

30 49

box1setlightcolor

setlightcolor

wait

box1

5

box1storesa randomnumber

turnsalightthatrandomcolor

waitsfor5ticks

turnsasecondlightthesamecolor


Tochangethenameofavariable,dragitintotheworkspace,clickonit,andtypeinthenewname.

store inbox1

box1setlight color

10

store inmy-color

my-colorsetlight color

10

Whenbox1isrenamedintheworkspace,theblocksinthepaletteareautomaticallyupdated.

renametheblock


Melody and Rhythm Editors

PicoBlockshastwoeditorsforcreatingmusic:aMelodyEditorandaRhythmEditor.

Tocreateanewmelodyorrhythm(ortoeditanexistingone),firstclickontheSoundtab.AtthebottomofSoundpalettearetwobuttons,oneforopeningtheMelodyEditor,theotherforopeningtheRhythmEditor.

Afteryoucreateanewmelodyorrhythm,itwillappearasanewblockintheSoundpalette.Youcandragthesemusicblocksintotheworkspace,andconnectthemtostacks,justasyouwouldwithanyotherblockinPicoBlocks.

TheseblockswerecreatedusingtheMelodyEditorandRhythmEditor.

OpenstheMelodyEditor

OpenstheRhythmEditor


Melody Editor

Clickon toopentheMelodyEditor.

Ifthisisyourfirstmelody,youwillseeablankMelodyWorkspaceforcreatingyourmelody.Ifyouhavepreviouslycreatedmelodies,youwillseeoneofyourexistingmelodiesintheMelodyWorkspace.Youcaneditthismelody–orselectoneofyourotherexistingmelodiestoedit(byclickingonablockinthepaletteontheleftside)–orcreateanewmelody(byclickingonthe“Create”buttonatthetop-left).

Toaddnotestoyourmelody,eitherclickonthekeyboard,orclickdirectlyintheMelodyWorkspace.

Whenyouarefinishedcreatingyourmelody,click OK toturnyourmelodyintoablockandexittheMelodyEditor.

Playorstop

Insertionpoint:thenextnotepressedonthekeyboardwillstarthere

MiddleC clickheretoinsertarestDragheretomaketheMelodyWorkspacebiggerorsmaller

Tocreateanewnote,clickonthekeyboardordirectlyintheMelodyWorkspace

Changeinstrument,volume,ortempo

Selecttheduration

ClickheretosavethemelodyasablockandexittheMelodyEditor

Clickheretocreateanewmelody

MelodyWorkspace

Youcanimportandexportmelodyfileswithextension.pbm

Dragthisendtochangelengthofnote


Dragonthebackgroundtoselectnotes.Movetheselectednotesbydraggingthemtootherlocation.

Youcanalsocopy ,cut

andplay theselection.

Youcanalsoplaytheselectionbydoubleclickingonit.

AllofyourmelodiesappearattheleftoftheMelodyEditor.Clickonthemelodythatyouwanttoedit.

Tochangethenameofamelody,clickontheblockandtypeanewname.

Use tomakeacopyofamelody.Use todeletemelodies.

twinkle

twinkle


Rhythm editor

Clickon toopentheRhythmEditor.

Ifthisisyourfirstrhythm,youwillseeablankRhythmWorkspaceforcreatingyourrhythm.Ifyouhavepreviouslycreatedrhythms,youwillseeoneofyourexistingrhythmsintheRhythmWorkspace.Youcaneditthisrhythm–orselectoneofyourotherexistingrhythmstoedit(byclickingonablockinthepaletteontheleftside)–orcreateanewrhythm(byclickingonthe“NewRhythm”buttonatthetop-left).

Whenyouarefinishedcreatingyourrhythm,click OK toturnyourrhythmintoablockandexittheRhythmEditor.

Changevolume,ortempo

Loop,playorstop

ClickheretosavetherhythmasablockandexittheRhythmEditor

DragheretomaketheRhythmWorkspacebiggerorsmaller

Clickordragheretocreateanote

Clickheretocreateanewrhythm

Youcanimportandexportrhythmfileswithextension.pbr


AllofyourrhythmsappearattheleftoftheRhythmEditor.Clickontherhythmthatyouwanttoedit.

Tochangethenameofarhythm,clickontheblockandtypeanewname.

Use tomakeacopyofarhythm.Use todeleterhythms.


Graphing Data

TheGraphingToolletsyouviewagraphofdatathatyouhavecollectedonyourPicoCricket.

ToopentheGraphingTool,firstclickontheDatatab,thenclickonthegraph buttonatthebottomoftheDatapalette.

Toseeagraphofthecollecteddata,turnonyourPicoCricketandaimit

attheBeamer,thenclickonthe Upload and Graph buttonatthebottomoftheGraphingTool.

Youcancollectandviewupto200datapoints,whereeachdatapointisanumberfrom0to100.

OpenstheGraphingTool

Saveanimageofthegraph

Agraphofyourcollecteddata

Savethecollecteddataasalistofnumbersinatextfile

Thenumberofdatapointscollected

Beamdatatothecomputerandgraphit

ExittheGraphingTool


The PicoBlocks Text Language

Overview

PicoBlocksletsyouconstructcomputerprogramsbysnappingdifferentblockstogether,likepiecesofapuzzle.Thisapproachmakesiteasytogetstarted;differentkindsofblockshavedifferentshapesandcanonlysnaptogetherincertainways.Theshapesofthepiecesprovidealotofguidanceastohowstructureyourprograms,helpingyoubuildprogramsthatworkthewayyouwantthemtowork.Butifyoutrytowritelongerprogramsyoumayfindthatusingtheblockscangetcumbersome.Forexample,allofyourstacksmaynolongerfitathescreenatthesametime.Also,therearesomeadvancedprogrammingfeaturesthatarenotavailableusingtheblocks.Asyourprogramsbecomelongerandmorecomplex,youmaywanttoconsiderusingtheTextLanguagethatisavailablefromwithinthePicoBlockssoftware.ThePicoBlocksTextLanguageissimilartothecomputerlanguageLogo.(FormoreinformationonLogoseewww.logofoundation.org.)TobeginwritingprogramsintheTextLanguage,clickonthetexticonlocatedinthelowerlefthandcornerofthePicoBlocksWorkspace.TheTextLanguageWorkspace,showninthefigurebelow,willappear.

ClickonthetexticontoswitchtothetextlanguageWorkspaces

ClickheretoswitchbackandforthbetweentheTextandtheBlocksWorkspaces

ProcedureAreaDefinenewwordshere

CommandCenterTypecommandshereand

thenpressEnter

http://www.logofoundation.org


TrytypingthefollowingcommandsintheCommandCenter.(PresstheEnterkeytoruneachline.) chirp The PicoCricket chirps! chirpwait2chirp The PicoCricket chirps twice.

Note that spaces are very important in the Text Language; they are used to determine where words start and end. For example, if you leave out the space between wait and 2 in the last example you will get an error message that says “I don’t know how to wait2”. This is because PicoBlocks does not understand the wordwait2.

EachblockinPicoBlockshasanassociatedwordinthetextlanguage.Thegeneralruleforfindingthenameofthewordinthetextlanguagethatisassociatedwithaparticularblockisaverysimpleone1:

Justcopywhat’swrittenontheblock,leavingoutaspaceifthereisone.

Forexample,plugalightintoyourPicoCricketandtypethefollowingintheCommandCenter:

setlightcolor20ThelightturnsredNotethattherearenospacesinthewordsetlightcolor.

NowtrytypingthefollowinglineintheCommandCenter:

repeat5[chirpwait2]

IntheTextLanguagesquarebracketsareusedtoenclosethelistofwordsthataretoberepeated.Youcangetguidanceabouthowthetextwordcorrespondingtoaparticularblockismeanttobeusedbyclickingonthatblock,whichyoucanfindonthelefthandsideoftheTextLanguageWorkspace.Forexampleifyouclickonthe“repeat”blockthefollowingtextwillappearintheCommandCenter:

repeat10[WHATEVER]Inthismessage“WHATEVER”ismeantasaplaceholderforthelistofcommandsthatyouwantrepeated.

Other Examples

Pluginatouchsensorandasoundboxandtype:

waituntil[touch?]playsound24Youshouldheara“meow”whenyoupressthetouchsensoronthetouchsensor.

Ifyoutype:forever[waituntil[touch?]playsound24]youshouldnowhearthe“meow”eachtimeyoupressthetouchsensor.Intheselasttwoexamplesyouwillneedtomakesureyoutypethesquarebracketsintheproperplaces.

Pluginadisplayandtype:display7*9+6

TheTextlanguageusesparenthesestodeterminetheorderofinwhichthingsaredone.Comparetheaboveresulttowhatyougetifyoutype:

display7*(9+6)

1 Exceptionstothisruleoccurforthecasesoftheifandifelsewords;sincethetextworddoesnotinclude“then”.Foracompletelistoftheblocksandcorrespondingtextwords,seetheSummaryofTextLanguageWordschartattheendofthissection.

PicoBlocks - Reference�0

Procedures

Youcan“teach”yourPicoCrickettounderstandnewwordsbydefiningproceduresintheProceduresAreaoftheTextLanguageWorkspace.Proceduresaredefinedusingthefollowinggeneralform: toprocedure-name procedure-body end

Theproceduredefinitionstartswiththekeywordto,followedbythenameoftheprocedure.Nextcomesthebodyoftheprocedure,whichisalistofwordsthatdescribewhattheprocedureistodo.Thekeywordendisusedtocompletetheproceduredefinition.

Forexample,intheProcedureAreatype: tochirp-twice chirpwait5chirp end

You’venowtaughtyourPicoCricketanewword;ifyoutypethewordchirp–twiceintheCommandCenter,thePicoCricketwillchirptwice.

Procedures with Inputs and Outputs

Youcancreateproceduresthattakeinputsorproduceanoutput.Forexample,youcancreateaprocedurenamedchirpsthattakesaninputthatisusedasthecounterinarepeatloop.Notethatthenameoftheinputmustbeginwithacolon.: tochirps:num repeat:num[chirpwait5] end

Typing chirps10intheCommandCenterwillcausethePicoCrickettochirp10times.

Youcancreateaprocedurethattakestwoinputsthatwilldetermineboththenumberofchirpsandthedurationofthepausebetweenchirps:

tochirps2:num:pause repeat:num[chirpwait:pause] end

Typing chirps2103intheCommandCenterwillcausethePicoCrickettochirp10times,withapauseof3tenthsofasecondbetweenchirps.

Proceduresmayreturnvaluesusingtheoutputcommand.Forexample,youcandefineaprocedurecalledhalfby:

tohalf outputbrightness/2 end

PicoBlocks - Reference �1

Then,withadisplayandalightsensorpluggedin,trytypingintheCommandCenter:

displayhalf

Or,youcandefineaprocedurecalleddark?thatreturnsatrueoffalseresult:

todark? output(brightness<20) end

NowifyoutrytypingintheCommandCenter:

forever[ifdark?[chirp]]yourPicoCricketshouldchirpwhenitisdarkenough.

Make Your Own BlocksYoucanusetheTextLanguagetomakedifferentkindsofblocks,whichyoucanthenusetobuildprogramsinthePicoBlocksWorkspace.ThisfeatureallowsyoutocontinuedoingmuchofyourprogrammingusingtheBlocksLanguage,withtheTextLanguagebeingusedasasupplementwhenitsadvancedfeaturesareneeded.

NewblocksaredefinedbytypingintheProceduresArea.Theblockdefinitionsbeginwiththekeywordblock.Forexample:blockchirp1chirpwait3chirpend

chirp1

Makesablockthatchirpstwice.

Blocksthatyouhavedefinedwillautomaticallybecreatedandplacedinthe“MyBlocks”area.Youcancreateblockswithuptothreeinputs.Forexample,tocreateablockwithoneinput:blockchirp2:numrepeat:num[chirpwait3]end

chirp2

Makesablockthatchirpsanumberoftimes.

Tocreateablockwithtwoinputs:

blockchirp3:num:pauserepeat:num[chirpwait:pause]end

chirp3

Makesablockthatchirpsanumberoftimes,withtheabilitytovarythelengthofthepausebetweenchirps.

Whenyoudefineablockthatoutputsanumber,PicoBlockswillautomaticallycreateanumber–shapedreporterblock:blockbright2output2*brightnessend

bright2

Reportsanumbertwiceasbigasthebrightnessmeasuredbythelightsensor.


Usethekeywordbblockwhenyouwanttomakeablockthatoutputstheresultofatrue/falsecondition:

bblockquiet?outputloudness<5end

quiet?

Using Tags in the Text Language

PicoBlocks“tags”areusedwhenyouareplugginginmorethanoneofthesamekindofpart,twolightsortwomotorsforexample,andyouwantthesepartstoactdifferently.(SeetheprevioussectiononTagsonpages10and11.)InprogramswrittenintheTextLanguage,awordwithoutatagwilladdressallpartsofthesametype.Forexample,iftwolightsarepluggedintoyourPicoCricket,thecommand

setlightcolor90 willturnbothlightsblue.

Ifyouwanttoreferonlytothelightpluggedintothe port,addaperiodtotheendoftheword,withoutaspace:

setlightcolor.90

Similarly,toreferonlytothelightpluggedintothe port,addtwoperiodstotheendoftheword,withoutspaces:

setlightcolor..90

Toreferonlytothelightpluggedintotheport,addaperiodandacolontotheendoftheword,withoutspaces:

setlightcolor.:90

Toreferonlytothelightpluggedintotheportjustaddtwocolonstotheendoftheword,withoutspaces:

setlightcolor::90

Thismethodoftaggingtextwordswillworkwithotherwords2.Forexample

display.:57willdisplaythenumber57onadisplaypluggedintotheportand

forever[iftouch?..[chirp]]willcausethePicoCrickettochirpifatouchsensorthatispluggedintothe portispressed.

Global Variables

Inthe“MyBlocks”tabyouwillfindblocksforstoringnumbersintwodifferent“globalvariables”calledbox1andbox2.IntheTextLanguageyoucanusethekeywordglobal:tocreateuptofiveadditionalglobalvariables.Forexample,byincludingtheline: global:times,pause

Note:Tagswillnotworkwithwordsrelatedtothesoundbox.2


intheProceduresAreayouwillcreatetwonewglobalvariablescalledtimesandpause.Now,trytypingthefollowinginthecommandcenter:

storeintimes5storeinpause3 repeattimes[chirpwaitpause]

ThePicoCricketshouldchirp5times,withpausesof3tenthsofasecondbetweenchirps.

IfyouclickontheMyBlockstabyouwillalsofindthatnewblockscorrespondingtothenewvariablestimesandpausehavebeencreated.

Local Variables

Thewordmakeallowsyoutochangethevalueofaninputtoaprocedure.Forexample,ifyoudefineaprocedurecalledrainbowby:

torainbow:a repeat30[setlightcolor:amake“a:a+1wait2] end

then,withalightpluggedintoyourPicoCricket,typing

rainbow20intheCommandCenterwillcausecolors20through49toflash.

Variablesofthiskindarecalled“localvariables”becausetheyareonlyavailableforusebytheprocedureinwhichtheyaredefined.BecausePicoBlockshasaverylimitednumberofglobalvariables(7),localvariablescanbehelpfulbecausetheydonotuseanyoftheglobalvariableslots.

Data Memory

APicoCrickethas200bytesofmemoryusedforstoringcollecteddata.Thesememorylocationscanbeaccessedsequentiallyusingthecollectandnextdatablocks,asexplainedonpage22.

Alternatively,datamemorylocationscanberandomlyaccessedusingreaddataandwritedataasfollows:

readataaddress-reportsthevalueoftheone-bytenumberthathasbeenstoredataparticularaddressindatamemory.writedataaddressnumber-storesaone-bytenumberataparticularaddressindatamemory.

Forexample,typing:writedata14775storesthenumber75ataddress147indatamemory.Toverifythis,plugadisplayintoyourPicoCricket,andtype:

displayreaddata147Thenumber75shouldappearonthedisplay.

PicoBlocks - Reference��

Tool Not Available in the Text LanguageThe“secondwand”isnotavailableintheTextLanguage.

Summary of Text Language WordsThefollowingtableshowsthetextwordthatcorrespondstoeachPicoBlocksblockandgivesanexampleofhowthewordcanbeused.

LightBlock Word Example Usage

setlight color setlightcolornumber

Setlightcolortakesaninputfrom0to100.setlightcolor70Thelightchangestocyanandturnson.

setlight power setlightpowernumber

Setlightpowertakesaninputfrom0to100.setlightpower50Thelightturnsonathalfpower.

lightoff

lightoff lightoffThelightturnsoff.

display displaynumberDisplaysavalueonthedigitdisplay:display709Thedisplayshowsthenumber709.

Textonly

setrgbnumbernumbernumber

Setsthecolorofthelight.Setrgbtakes3inputs(red,green,andblue),eachwitharangefrom0to100.Thethreeinputsmixtogiveoneparticularlightcolor.setrgb0100100Thelightturnscyan.

SoundBlock Word Example Usage

chirpchirp chirpwait3chirp

ThePicoCricketchirpstwice.

note notenumbernumber

Notetakestwoinputs.Thefirstinput(anumberbetween0and100)determinesthepitchofthenoteandthesecondinputdeterminesthedurationofthenote(intenthsofasecond).note365Thesoundboxplaysanoteforhalfasecond.

playsound playsoundnumber

Playsasoundonthesoundboard.Playsoundtakesanynumberbetween0and100.Thereare24built-insounds.Playsoundrepeatsthelistinsequencefornumbersgreaterthan24.playsound24Thesoundboxmeows.

PicoBlocks - Reference ��

SoundBlock Word Example Usage

setinst setinstrumentnumber

Setstheinstrumentforthenextnote,ormelodytobeplayedonthesoundboard.Setinstrumenttakesanynumberbetween0and100:setinstrument4note365Thesoundboxplaysviolinnote.

settempo

settemponumber

Setsthetempoatwhichthenextrhythmormelodywillbeplayedonthesoundboard.Settempotakesanynumberbetween0-lowestpace-and100-fastestpace.settempo50melody1Thesoundboxplaysamelodyatthestandardtempo.

setvolume

setvolumenumber Setsthevolumeatwhichthenextnote,sound,rhythmormelodywillbeplayedonthesoundboard.Setvolumetakesanynumberbetween0-lowestvolume-and100-highestvolume:setvolume30playsound24setvolume100playsound24Thesoundboxmeowssoftly,thenloudly.

InadditiontotheblocksabovecanaddyourownblockstotheSoundtabbycreatingmelodiesand/orrhythmsintheirrespectiveeditors.Themelodyorrhythmnamebecomesatextwordthatyoucanuse.

ActionBlock Word Example Usage

motoron

motoroff

motoronmotoroff

Turnsamotoronoroff.motoronwait10motoroffThemotorspinsfor1second.

motoronfor

motoronfornumberTurnsthemotoronforasetperiodoftime(intenthsofasecond).motoronfor10Themotorspinsfor1second.

reversereverse Changethedirectioninwhichthemotorspins.

repeat6[motoronfor3reverse]Themotorwigglesbackandforth.

thisway

thatway

thiswaythatway

Setthemotortospininaspecificdirection.thiswaymotoronfor10thatwaymotoronfor10Themotorspinsonewayfor1second,thentheotherwayfor1second.

setpower

setpowernumber Setpowertakesaninputfrom0to100.setpower100motoronfor10Themotorspinsquickly.setpower30motoronfor10Themotorspinsslowly.


ActionBlock Word Example Usage

textonly brake Causesthemotortostopimmediately.Thisisslightlydifferentfrommotoroff,whichdoesashortbrakefollowedbyacoast.motoronwait10brakeThemotorspinsfor1second,thenimmediatelycomestorest.

textonly coast Turnsoffthepowertothemotorbutdoesnotbrakeit,sothatthemotorslowlycomestorest.motoronwait10coastThemotorspinsfor1second,thenslowlycomestorest.

SensorsBlock Word Example Usage

touch? touch?

Reportstrueifthetouchsensorispressed.waituntil[touch?]chirpThePicoCricketwaitsuntilthetouchsensorispressedbeforechirping.

dark? dark?

Reportstrueifthevaluemeasuredbythelightsensorislessthan15.waituntil[dark?]chirpThePicoCricketwillchirpafterthelightsensordetectslittlelight.

brightness brightness

Reportsthevaluemeasuredbythelightsensorasanumberfrom0to100.forever[displaybrightnesswait1]Thedisplayshows,andcontinuallyupdates,thelightlevelmeasuredbythelightsensor.

loud?loud?

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthevaluemeasuredbythesoundsensorisgreaterthan60.waituntil[loud?]chirpThePicoCricketwillchirpafterthesoundsensordetectsaloudsound.

loudness loudness

Reportsthevaluemeasuredbythesoundsensorasanumberfrom0to100.forever[displayloudness]Thedisplayshows,andcontinuallyupdates,thesoundlevelmeasuredbythesoundsensor.

connected? connected?

Reportstrueifthevaluemeasuredbytheresistancesensorislessthan50.waituntil[connected?]chirpThePicoCricketwaitsuntilthealligatorclipsontheresistancesensorconnectbeforechirping.


SensorsBlock Word Example Usage

resistance resistanceReportsanumberfrom0to100.forever[displayresistancewait1]Thedisplayshows,andcontinuallyupdates,theelectricalresistancemeasuredbytheresistancesensor.

textonly rawresistanceReportsthevaluemeasurebytheresistancesensorasanumberbetween0and1023;rawresistanceprovidesfinerresolutionthanresistance.forever[displayrawresistancewait1]Thedisplayshows,andcontinuallyupdates,theelectricalresistancemeasuredbytheresistancesensoronascaleof0to1023.(Numbersof1000orgreaterappearasdashes.)

textonly rawrange

Rawrangeisusedtoadjustthesensitivityoftheresistancesensor.Ittakesasaninputeitherthenumber0,1,or2.Aninputof0resultsinthehighestsensitivityandshouldbeusedwhenmeasuringresistancesof1000ohmsorless.Aninputof1ismediumsensitivityandisthedefaultsetting.Itworksbestforresistancesofabout10,000ohms.2isthelowestsensitivityandshouldbeusedtomeasureresistancesof100,000ohmsormore.rawrange0displayrawresistance

beamIRbeamirnumber BeamsanumberfromthePicoCricket’sinfraredtransmitter.

beamir4

newIR? newir?Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthePicoCricket’sinfraredreceiverhasreceivedanewvalue.waituntil[newir?]chirpThePicoCricketchirpswhenanewnumberisbeamedtoit.

IR ir

ReportsthevalueofthemostrecentnumberbeamedtothePicoCricket.totestwaituntil[newir?]ifir=20[chirp]endThePicoCricketchirpsifthenumberbeamedtoitisequalto20.

resettimer

resett ResetstozerothevalueofthePicoCricket’sinternaltimer.Seenextexample.

timer timer

ReportsthePicoCricket’stimervalue.Timermeasurestimeinhundrethsofasecond.totestresettchirpwaituntil[touch?]displaytimerend

ThedisplayshowstheamountoftimethathaselapsedbetweenwhenthePicoCricketchirpsandwhenthetouchsensorispressed.


DataBlock Word Example Usage

clearclear

Permanentlyerasesallcollecteddata.Useclearbeforestartingtocollectnewdata.Seenextexample.

collectcollectnumber

Storesadatapoint(anumberfrom0to100)inthePicoCricket’smemory.clearrepeat200[collectloudness]

rewindrewind

PreparesthePicoCricketto“playback”collecteddata,startingwiththefirstdatapoint.rewindrepeat200[displaynextdatawait5]

next data nextdataReportsthevalueofthenextnumberstoredinthePicoCricket’smemory.rewindrepeat200[displaynextdatawait5]

textonly datalengthReportsthetotalnumberofdatapointsthathavebeencollected.displaydatalength

textonly writedataaddressnumber

Storesaone-bytenumberataparticularaddressinthedatamemory.writedata4775

textonly readdataaddressReportsthevalueoftheone-bytenumberstoredataparticularaddressinthedatamemory.displayreaddata47

FlowBlock Word Example Usage

wait waitnumberWaitsacertainamountoftime(intenthsofasecond).chirpwait10chirpThePicoCricketpausesforasecondbetweenthetwochirps.

textonly mwaitnumberWaitsacertainamountoftime(inmilliseconds).setlightcolor20mwait10lightoffThelightflashesverybriefly.

textonly no-opDoesnothingforabout40microseconds.repeat10[no-op]ThePicoCricketwaitsfor400microseconds.

waituntil waituntil[condition]

Waitsuntiltheconditionistrue.waituntil[touch?]chirpThePicoCricketwaitsuntilyoupressthetouchsensorbeforechirping.


FlowBlock Word Example Usage

foreverforever[list] Repeatsalistofinstructionsforever.

forever[chirpwait3]ThePicoCricketchirpscontinuously.

repeat repeatnumber[list]

Repeatsalistofinstructionsasetnumberoftimes.repeat5[chirpwait2]ThePicoCricketchirpsfivetimes.

if

thenifcondition[list]

Runsalistofinstructionsifacertainconditionismet.forever[iftouch?[chirpwait1]]ThePicoCricketchirpsifyoupressthetouchsensorandisquietifyoudonotpressit.

if

then else

ifelsecondition[list1][list2]

Runsthefirstlistofinstructionsifacertainconditionismetandthesecondlistifitisnot.totestforever[ifelsetouch?[setlightcolorrandom099][lightoff]]endThelightflashesrandomcolorsifyoupressthetouchsensorandturnsoffifityoudonotpressit.

stopall stopall

Stopseverything:programs,motors,etc.StopallisequivalenttopressingthebuttononthePicoCricket.totestmotoronforever[iftouch?[stopall]setlightcolorrandom099]endThelightsandmotorsstopwhenyoupressthebutton.

stackstop stopstack

Terminatesexecutionofaprocedure,returningcontroltothecallingprocedure.totestforever[iftouch?[stopstack]setlightcolorrandom099]end

Thereisnoneedforspacersinthetextlanguage.

Thereisnoneedforspacersinthetextlanguage.


NumbersBlock Word Example Usage

number numberReportsanumber.NumbersinPicoBlocksarelimitedtointegersbetween-32768and+32767.display7Thedisplayshowsthenumber7.

+ number+number Reportsthesumoftwonumbers.display7+4Thedisplayshowsthenumber11.

- number-number Reportsthedifferenceoftwonumbers.display7-4Thedisplayshowsthenumber3

x number*number Reportstheproductoftwonumbers.display7*4Thedisplayshowsthenumber28.

/ number/numberReportsthequotientoftwonumbers,roundeddowntothenearestinteger.display7/4Thedisplayshowsthenumber1.

textonly %Reportstheremainderwhentwonumbersaredivided.display7%4Thedisplayshowsthenumber3.

r a n d o m randomnumbernumber

Reportarandomnumber,thetwoinputsdeterminingthelowerandupperlimits.displayrandom010Thedisplayshowsarandomnumberfrom0to10.

< number>number

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthevalueofthefirstinputisgreaterthanthevalueofthesecondinput.totestforever[ifbrightness>30[chirp]]endThePicoCricketchirpsifthelightsensormeasuresavaluegreaterthan30.

> number<number

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthevalueofthefirstinputislessthanthevalueofthesecondinput.totestforever[ifbrightness<30[chirp]]endThePicoCricketchirpsifthelightsensormeasuresavaluelessthan30.

=number=number

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthevalueofthefirstinputisequalthevalueofthesecondinput.forever[ifbrightness=30[chirp]]ThePicoCricketchirpsifthelightsensormeasuresavalueexactlyequalto30.


NumbersBlock Word Example Usage

andconditionandcondition

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthefirstandsecondconditionsarebothtrue.totestforever[if(brightness<30)andtouch?[chirp]]end

ThePicoCricketchirpsifthelightsensormeasuresavaluelessthan30andthetouchsensorisalsopressed.

orconditionorcondition

Reportstrue(thenumber1)ifthefirstorthesecondconditionsarebothtrue.totestforever[if(brightness<30)ortouch?[chirp]]endThePicoCricketchirpsifthelightsensormeasuresavaluelessthan30orthetouchsensorispressed.

not

notcondition Reportstrue(thenumber1)iftheresultoftheconditionisfalse(number0).totestforever[ifnottouch?[chirp]]endThePicoCricketchirpsifthetouchsensorisnotpressed.

My BlocksBlock Word Example Usage

blocknameblock-definitionend

Youcanusethetextlanguagetomakeyourownblocks.(SeesectionMakeYourOwnBlocksabove.)

store inbox1 storeinbox1number

Storesanumberintheglobalvariablecalledbox1.storeinbox157displaybox1Thedisplayshowsthenumber57.

box1 box1Reportsthenumberstoredintheglobalvariablecalledbox1.storeinbox157

textonly global: Youcanusethetextlanguagetocreatenewglobalvariables.(SeesectionGlobalVariablesabove.)

textonly make“namevalue Makeallowsyoutochangethevalueofalocalvariable.(SeesectionLocalVariablesabove.)


Common Error Messages

Error Message Explanation

TheBeamercannotseethePicoCricket

TheBeamerissending,butnoPicoCricketisresponding.

Solution:MakesurethePicoCricketisturnedon,andthatthePicoCricketandtheBeamerarefacingeachother.Formoreinformation,seewww.picocricket.com/troubleshooting

Can’tfindtheBeamer PicoBlockswasn’tabletoopenthecommunicationport.

Solution:MakesuretheBeamerisproperlyconnectedtoyourcomputer.IfyouareusingWindows,makesureonlyonecopyofPicoBlocksisrunning.Formoreinformation,see:www.picocricket.com/support

Can’tsaveanemptyscore Youtriedtoexportamelodyorrhythmthatisempty.

Solution:Makesuretheblockcontainsnotes,thenclickExportagain.

Can’tuse____asaname PicoBlocksdoesnotallowthatwordasaname.Numbers,namesstartingwith%or[,andexistingwordsareconsideredinvalid.

Solution:Typeanothername.

Communicationproblem TherewasacommunicationproblemwhilePicoBlockswasdownloadingdatatoyourPicoCricket.

Solution:MakesurethattheBeamerandthePicoCricketarefacingeachother,thentryagain.IfthePicoCricket’syellowantennalightskeepflashingevenwhenyouarenotdownloading,thePicoCricketisprobablyreceivinginfraredinterferencefromamonitororotherdevice.ShieldthePicoCricketfromthemonitor.Formoreinformation,seewww.picocricket.com/troubleshooting

Missinginputto_______ One(ormore)oftheblocksrequiresinput.

Solution:Checkthateveryblockhassomethingattachedonitsrightsidewhenrequired.(Youcantellbytheshapeofablockwhetherittakesaninput.)

Forexample,displayneedsanumber(orothervalue)attachedasaninput:

display 100

Repeatrequiresanumbervalueatthetopright.Italsorequiresplusoneormoreblocksunderits“arm”torepeat:

repeat

chirp

10

Tip:Tocheckifablockneedsinputs,clickontheblockwiththe

Helptool ??

www.picocricket.com/troubleshooting/

http://www.picocricket.com/support/





Idon’tknowhowto______ PicoBlockstriedtorunanamethatdoesn’texist.

Solution:Ifyounameastack,thenPicoBlockscreatesablockwiththatname.Toruntheblock,youneedtokeepthenamedstackintheWorkspace,soPicoBlocksknowswhattodo.

Thename____alreadyexists Thereisalreadyanexistingblockwiththesamename.

Solution:Typeanothername.

Numberblockdoesn’tlike_____

Youtypedaninvalidcharacterin

Solution:Typeonlynumbers.

Projectcontainstoomanyblocks

Yourprojectcontainstoomanyblocks.

Solution:Deleteallstacks,melodiesandrhythmsthatarenotbeingused.

Toomanyblocksinthestack Thestackcontainstoomanyblocks(andusesuptoomuchmemory).

Solution:Usearepeattodomorewithfewerblocks.Or,placea onthetopofthestack,andclickonittotypeinaname.

Toomanymusicblocks:Limitof24

Youhavemademorethanthemaximumnumberofmusicblocks.Themaximumnumberofmelodiesandrhythmsis24blocks.

Solution:Deletesomeofthemelodyorrhythmblockssothattheprojecthasnomorethan24total.

Toomanynotesforonemusicblock

Thecurrentmelodyorrhythmistoolong.

Solution:Dividethemelodyorrhythmintotwoblocks.Todothis,firstcopythecurrentmusicblock.Inthisblock,deletethesecondhalfofthenotes.Intheotherblock,deletethefirsthalfofthenotes.Nowyoucanusethesetwoblockstogethertoplaytheentiresequence.

waituntilneedsinput Thewaituntilblockneedsaninputblockthatfits.

Solution:Attachablockthatfitsontotherightsideofthewaituntilblock.

Examples:

waituntil loud?

or >waituntil 50 brightness



Youcan’tcopyanemptymusicblock

Youtriedtocopyamelodyorrhythmthatisempty.

Solution:Addnotes,thencopytheblock.

Youcan’tnameastack______

Thenametypedonthe containsinvalidcharacters.Itcannotcontainthefollowingcharacters:.%“+-*/][oraspace.Numberscanonlybeusedincombinationwithletters.

Solution:Typelettersonthe

Youdon’tsaywhattodowith________

PicoBlockstriedtorunablockthatreturnsavalue,buttherewasnoblockattachedtoreceivethatvalue.

Solution:Attachablockthatwillfitthatshape(andreceivethevalue).Forexample:

touch?waituntil

Text-Only Error Messages ThefollowingerrormessagesonlyappearwhenusingthePicoBlocksTextLanguage.


_______:ablockcan’thavemorethan3inputs

Youcan’tmakeablockwithmorethan3inputs.

Solution:Storetheothervaluesasglobalvariables,andusethenamesofthesevariablesinyourprogram.Formoreinformation,seeGlobalVariablesinthePicoBlocksTextLanguagesectionofthisreferenceguide.

______hasnovalue PicoBlockscouldnotfindavalueforthespecifiedname.

Solution:IntheTextArea,checkthatyouhavecorrectlytypedthenameoftheinput.Inputsshouldhaveacolonprecedingthem,butglobalvariablesshouldnot.

_______:outputblockcanonlyhave1input

Ablockthatoutputscanonlyhave1input.

Solution:Storetheothervaluesasglobalvariables,andusethenamesofthesevariablesinyourprogram.Formoreinformation,seeGlobalVariablesinthePicoBlocksTextLanguagesectionofthisreferenceguide.

()error

misplaced)

Aparenthesisismissingormisplaced.

Solution:Checkthatthereareanequalnumberofopenandclosedparenthesis(),andthattheyarecorrectlyplaced.



Can’tnameaglobal_______ Youneedtotypeinadifferentnamefortheglobalvariable.

Solution:Useonlylettersandnumbersasnamesforglobalvariables.SeeGlobalVariablesinthePicoBlocksTextLanguagesectionofthisreferenceguideformoreinformation.

Can’tuse_____asnameofaninput

PicoBlocksdoesn’tlikenumbersasthenameofaninput.

Solution:Youneedtotypeinadifferentnamefortheinput.Avoidusingnumbersasinput.Also,makesuretoputacolonbeforethenameoftheinput.

Forexample:blockmydance:turnsrepeat:turns[motoronfor10reverse]end

Missing[Missing]

Thereisamissingbracket:]or[.

Solution:Makesurethereareanequalnumberofopenandclosedbrackets.

MissingnameaftertoMissingnameafterblockMissingnameafterbblock

Solution:Thewordsto,block,andbblockneedtobefollowedbyavalidname.Forexample:blockmylightssetlightcolor60wait10lightoffend

Nooutputfrom_____ Thewordorblockindicateddoesnotprovideoutput.

Solution:Makesureeveryblockhassomethingattachedonitsrightsidewhenrequired.SeethePicoBlocksTextLanguagesectionformoreonhowtouseoutput.

Toomanyglobals Therearetoomanyglobalvariablesintheproject.Themaximumnumberofvariablesis7(includingbox1andbox2).

Solution:Deletesomeoftheglobalvariablessothattheprojecthasnomorethan7total.

waituntilneedsalistasinput. waituntilneedsalistasinput.

Solution:Addalistinbracketsafterwaituntil

Forexample: waituntil[touch?] chirp



make needsalocalvariable Makeneedstobefollowedbythenameforalocalvariable.

Solution:Checkthatthewordaftermakehasaquotationmarkbeforeit,andisalocalvariable.

Forexample:blockfastlight:nsetlightcolor:nmake“n:n/10wait:nlightoffend

picocricket reference guidepicocricket.com/pdfs/reference_guide_v1_2a.pdf · picocricket reference...

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