Blogs

Updates

Robot_Blocky has been updated with the following improvements

1. New launch file
2. Self contained Python web server
3. Save to file ability
4. Load from file ability
5. Erle-Brain block status led control
6. Execution "Pause/Resume' ability

Explanation

New launch file and Python web server
The new Python web server allows Robot_Blockly to be self contained by launching its own server. The server creates the website directly from the source files located in /frontend.

The web server and the backend are now executed at the beginning of the execution. We use a new roslaunch file to execute both nodes at the same time. Nodes are created from pywebserver.py and robot_blockly_backend.py files.

Save to file / Load from file
Blockly workspace can be now saved or loaded using a XML file. This allows to share different block configurations among the community.

Erle-Brain block
New Erle-Brain block has been created with capabilities to control the orange and blue statusleds.

Execution 'Pause/Resume' ability
Code execution can be now paused and resumed. This allows the user to have a bigger control over performance.

Further improvements

Changes that are in development or will be developed soon:

1. ROS code obtainment and execution in backend. This will reduce web traffic and will allow developers to work in pure python code. It will also reduce debugging time significantly.
2. Sensor reading blocks. Sensor information will be usable to create more interesting block configurations.
3. Cancel the current execution. This will increase safety and control over the robots.

Contributors
The following github users helped the erle-robotics team with this the update.
Nickolaim, AndriyPt, awesomebytes

Source code
https://github.com/erlerobot/robot_blockly

https://github.com/erlerobot/blockly