How to program a robot on Scratch

Introduction

Programming a robot may sound more like advanced or something only experts can do, but with Scratch, of course it’s easy and fun! Through block-based coding language that’s perfect for beginners, especially kids. It lets you control robots and create awesome interactive projects using simple drag-and-drop blocks. 

By the end of this article, you will be able to clearly understand how to program a robot using Scratch in a way that’s simple to understand, even if you’re just starting out.

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a free coding platform where you use blocks to create stories, games, and animations. Designed especially for kids so that the journey to code is easy and fun. But did you know Scratch can also be used to control real robots?

With the help of Scratch extensions and robot kits, you can make robots move, turn, light up, and even interact with the environment. It can range from a LEGO WeDo, mBot, or another robot, Scratch can be your starting point for learning how to program robots.

Step 1: Getting Started with Your Robot and Scratch

Here are the basic things you will need to have in order to start with your robot and scratch.

1. A Robot Kit: Some popular beginner-friendly robot kits that work with Scratch include LEGO WeDo, mBot, and Edison. These robots come with motors, sensors, and wheels that you can control through coding.
2. Scratch Software: You can use the online version of Scratch from the website or even install the app.
3. Scratch Extensions: To connect your robot to Scratch, you’ll first need to add an extension that enables Scratch to communicate with your robot.

Step 2: Adding a Scratch Extension for Your Robot

Here’s how to add an extension in Scratch:

1. Click the “Extensions” button at the bottom left of the screen.
2. Search for your robot’s extension. If you’re using LEGO WeDo, select the “LEGO WeDo 2.0″ extension. For mBot, choose the “mBot extension”, and so on.

Step 3: Moving Your Robot

Now that your robot is connected, let’s start programming! One of the simplest things you can do is make your robot move.

Let’s say you want your robot to move forward. In Scratch, you’d use a block like this:

This block tells the robot to move forward when you press the green flag, which is the start button in Scratch.

You can also control how far the robot moves by adding a number to the block:

This command will make the robot move forward for 2 seconds and then stop.

Step 4: Turning Your Robot

Besides moving forward, you might want your robot to turn left or right. Here’s how you can program that in Scratch:

Step 5: Using Sensors to Make the Robot Smarter

Many robots come with sensors that help them detect obstacles, follow lines, or respond to light. With Scratch, you can program your robot to use these sensors.

For example, if your robot has a distance sensor, you can program it to stop when it detects an object in front of it:

This block tells the robot to stop moving if something comes closer than 10 units (which could be centimeters or inches, depending on your robot).

You can also use sensors to make the robot respond to light, sound, or touch.

Step 6: Adding Loops for Repeated Actions

What if you want your robot to keep moving in a loop, like driving around continuously? You can use loops in Scratch to repeat actions.

Here’s an example of a loop that makes the robot move forward and then turn repeatedly:

This block will make the robot keep moving forward and turning in a loop forever, or until you stop it.

Step 7: Programming Interactive Behavior

One of the most fun parts of programming robots is making them respond to their environment. You can program your robot to react to different events.

For example, you can program the robot to make a sound when it bumps into something:

This makes the robot stop and play a sound when it gets close to an object.

Step 8: Creating a Complete Robot Program

Now that you’ve learned the basics, you can put everything together into a complete program. For example, you could make a robot that moves forward, turns, avoids obstacles, and plays sounds.

Here’s a simple program for a robot that explores a space while avoiding walls:

This program makes the robot move forward, and if it detects an object (like a wall) within 10 units, it stops and turns right before continuing.

Conclusion

Programming your robot using Scratch is a fantastic way to learn coding and robotics, even From moving and turning to using sensors and creating loops, you now know the basics to get started. With practice, you can create even more advanced and exciting projects where your robot performs all sorts of cool tasks!

Jump right on to fun coding camps, where your kids learn to adapt to the digital world of coding through simple and fun learning experiences! Let them join their first trial class today!

Encourage learning everywhere you go and have fun with your coding journey!