1. Graphical Programming Languages Lecture 19: Supporting Material Dr Kathryn Merrick Thursday 21 st May, 2009

3. Overview Graphical programming languages: Variables, types, values, operators Flow of control Built-in functions Strengths and limitations

4. Lego Mindstorms NXT: Programmable Robots Programmable Brick

5. The NXT Programming Environment The programming window

6. Built-in Functions ‘Move’ functions connected up like Lego bricks Input parameters set here

7. Loops Loop connected up like a Lego brick Exit condition (can behave like a for loop or a while loop) Instructions to be repeated will be dragged into here

8. Selection Selection connected up like a Lego brick Conditions set here What to do will be dragged into here

9. A Complete Program

10. Demo 1: Programming a Lego scorpion

11. Variables Variable brick

12. Maths Operators Maths operator brick

13. Boolean Operators Boolean operator brick

14. Complete Program

15. Demo 2: Programming a Lego scorpion

16. Summary After today’s lecture you should be able to: Identify the key programming tools we used in MATLAB in the NXT graphical language Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of graphical languages