This following video illustrates 3 programming options for DREAM Systems on Chromebooks, using a Sensor Throughput test program:
- R+Block - a Block-based IDE
- R+Task - a Menu-based IDE
- Standard Python via Linux and Thonny IDE.
TASK had the fastest data throughput rate, next the Python Thonny IDE, last is the R+Block IDE.
If you are interested in this topic area, please refer to this book “Programming Guide for ROBOTIS DREAM with R+Block, R+Task & Python”, available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999391887.
This book uses a unique approach in developing the same 8 DREAM II robot projects in three ways (R+BLOCK, R+TASK and Python+TASK):
1.R+BLOCK uses a Graphical Block Programming IDE suitable for young beginning programmers, and it accesses the robot’s actuators and sensors directly from the Chromebook at runtime.
2.R+TASK uses a Menu-driven IDE which lets the user choose various commands to interact with the robot’s actuators and sensors, via a compiled program which operates on the robot’s Controller CM-150/151 at runtime.
3.The Python+TASK interface uses the Linux Virtual Environment of the Chromebook to develop and run Standard Python programs via a “helper” Python module named “CNT_Block.py”. This module contains Utility Functions that have a one-to-one match with the R+BLOCK commands that access the robot hardware. This feature is designed to help R+BLOCK programmers transition to Python usage. This Python module is designed to work with a companion TASK code (CNT_Block.tskx/tsk3) that works as an “open” extension of the CM-150/151 Firmware by using Remocon Packets.