App

Our smartphone app manages the content displayed on the TFT screen, the RGB LED bars, and pre-recorded sounds. The app also serves as the primary control interface for the robot's movement, though it can also be connected to a bluetooth controller for a more traditional gaming experience.

The app includes a built-in coding environment where players can program their robot’s actions in response to sensor inputs. This allows for strategic preprogramming that can give players an edge in battles.

Players can also create custom movement controls within the app, which can trigger a sequence of actions. For example, with the press of a button, the robot could move backward, then forward, and activate the arm to create momentum for a wheelie. Not only does this add a cool visual effect, but it also provides a competitive advantage during battles.

Examples of How to Program the Robot for Competitive Advantage

If your robot tends to drift slightly off course when driving straight, you can use the gyro as a guiding vector to automatically adjust the motors and keep it on track.
Program the robot's sensors to detect when it’s in an unstable position, such as when it's about to be flipped. The robot can then quickly reposition itself or activate its flipping arm to regain balance.
Motor speed can be fine-tuned for different situations. For instance, reducing the speed provides greater precision but makes the robot easier to catch. You could set a lower yaw speed for controlled turns while maintaining full speed for forward and backward movements. Alternatively, you could program a slower overall speed but add a “temporarily activated boost” button for quick escapes.
Advanced users can leverage the camera to detect the opponent’s movements and program the robot to react accordingly.

Examples of Creating a Custom Robot Personality

LEDs

Customize the color and blinking patterns of the LEDs to make your robot easily identifiable during battles.
Implement a health indicator system using LEDs, where the color changes based on the robot’s condition—green for full health, yellow for medium health, and red for low health—depending on the number of flips the robot has endured.

TFT Display

Customization: Upload custom images or animations to the TFT screen, such as team logos, funny faces, or animated eyes, to give your robot a unique personality.
Flip Count Tracking: Utilize the gyro and accelerometer to detect and count successful flips, displaying the real-time score on the TFT screen and updating it in the smartphone app.
Health Points: Create a health point system where each flip reduces the robot's health, and display health bars on the TFT screen to monitor the robot's status.

Loudspeaker

Sound Effects: Enhance the gameplay experience by adding custom sound effects for actions like flipping or getting flipped. For example, if the accelerometer detects a hit, the speaker could say "Ouch." If the robot accelerates forward, it might play a revving engine sound.
Battery Alerts: When the battery is low, the robot can announce, "I’m running on fumes here." All sounds can be pre-recorded using a smartphone and assigned to specific scenarios, making the robot feel more alive and engaging.