Component: Formula Flowcode (Robotics): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:37, 13 July 2026

Author	Matrix Ltd
Version	2.0
Category	Robotics

Formula Flowcode component

A component to allow all the features of the Formula Flowcode robot to be investigated. Fully simulated component which can interact with simulated objects on the panel as well as control the real hardware.

Component Source Code

Please click here to download the component source project: FC_Comp_Source_FormulaFlowcode.fcfx

Please click here to view the component source code (Beta): FC_Comp_Source_FormulaFlowcode.fcfx

Detailed description

No detailed description exists yet for this component

Examples

Importing from v5

The Formula Flowcode component in Flowcode v6 has a new Initialise macro which will need to be added to your program before any other calls to the component are made.

Line Following

Line following example using the Formula Flowcode, works with objects on the simulation panel and on the real hardware. FF-Line

Maze Solving

Wall following example using the Formula Flowcode, works with a randomly generated maze on the simulation panel and on the real hardware. FF-Maze

Macro reference

CheckIR

	CheckIR
Checks to see if a IR sensor is within the master threshold distance.
- BYTE	Sensor

- BYTE	Return

Forward

	Forward
Drives both motors of the formula flowcode forwards with the power specified.
- BYTE	Power

- VOID	Return

Initialise

	Initialise
Starts up the formula flowcode PWM for motor control and performs the wait for button press
- VOID	Return

LEDOff

	LEDOff
Switches off a single LED on the front of the Formula Flowcode.
- BYTE	LED

- VOID	Return

LEDOn

	LEDOn
Switches on a single LED on the front of the Formula Flowcode.
- BYTE	LED

- VOID	Return

PlayNote

	PlayNote
Outputs a single tone from the onboard speaker for the period specified
- BYTE	Note

- UINT	Delay_ms

- VOID	Return

ReadIRSensor

	ReadIRSensor
Reads the analogue value from the specified IR distance sensor.
- BYTE	Sensor

- UINT	Return

ReadLDR

	ReadLDR
Reads the current audio signal level from the on-board light sensor.
- INT	Return

ReadLineSensor

	ReadLineSensor
Returns the digital value from the line sensor specified.
- BYTE	Sensor

- BYTE	Return

ReadMic

	ReadMic
Reads the current audio signal level from the on-board microphone.
- INT	Return

ReadSwitch

	ReadSwitch
Reads the value of one of the switches from the front of the Formula Flowcode.
- BYTE	Switch

- BYTE	Return

Reverse

	Reverse
Drives both motors of the formula flowcode backwards with the power specified.
- BYTE	Power

- VOID	Return

SetMotors

	SetMotors
Sets the speed and direction of the Formula Flowcode motors.
- INT	Left_Power
Valid Range = -255 to 255
- INT	Right_Power
Valid Range = -255 to 255
- VOID	Return

SpinLeft

	SpinLeft
Spins the formula flowcode on the spot in an anticlockwise direction as seen from above.
- BYTE	Power

- VOID	Return

SpinRight

	SpinRight
Spins the formula flowcode on the spot in a clockwise direction as seen from above.
- BYTE	Power

- VOID	Return

Stop

	Stop
Stops both motors
- VOID	Return

WaitForSwitch

	WaitForSwitch
Waits for the specified switch to be pressed.
- BYTE	Switch

- VOID	Return

WriteLEDs

	WriteLEDs
Allows control of all 8-LEDs on the front of the Formula Flowcode.
- BYTE	LED_Byte

- VOID	Return

Property reference

	Properties
	Wait For Button
Determines if the program will automatically wait for one of the front switches to be pressed before executing the program.
	IR Sensitivity
InfraRed read mode - 8-bit or 10-bit
	Motor Balance (-100 - 100)
Motor balance, way of modifying the relative speeds of the motors to allow mismatched motors to work together better.
	IR Thresholds (CheckIR macro)
	Left
IR Threshold used with the CheckIR macro
	Front
IR Threshold used with the CheckIR macro
	Right
IR Threshold used with the CheckIR macro
	Simulation Parameters
	Sim Speed (1 - 100)
Sets the simulated amount of movement relative to the speed of the formula flowcode
	Smooth Animation
Selects if the simulation has additional smoothing going on in between iterations
	Manual Redraw
Sets if the animation forces it's own redraws or waits for the system to perform a redraw
	Timer Interval (ms)
Interval in ms between each iteration of the formula flowcode simulated movement
	IR Sensor Iterations
Number of times to repeat the IR sensor tests and therefore how far the simulated IR sensors can sense.
	IR Sensor Resolution
The amount of distance to travel for each iteration of the IR sensor
	Collision Method
Sets whether the sensors on the formula flowcode interact with everything on the panel or just a specific group.

@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''CheckIR'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''CheckIR'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Checks to see if a IR sensor is within the master threshold distance.&nbsp;
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''Forward'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''Forward'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Drives both motors of the formula flowcode forwards with the power specified.&nbsp;
@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''Initialise'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''Initialise'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Starts up the formula flowcode PWM for motor control and performs the wait for button press&nbsp;
@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''LEDOff'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''LEDOff'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Switches off a single LED on the front of the Formula Flowcode.&nbsp;
@@ Line 160: / Line 160: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''LEDOn'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''LEDOn'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Switches on a single LED on the front of the Formula Flowcode.&nbsp;
@@ Line 179: / Line 179: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''PlayNote'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''PlayNote'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Outputs a single tone from the onboard speaker for the period specified&nbsp;
@@ Line 203: / Line 203: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''ReadIRSensor'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''ReadIRSensor'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Reads the analogue value from the specified IR distance sensor.&nbsp;
@@ Line 222: / Line 222: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''ReadLDR'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''ReadLDR'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Reads the current audio signal level from the on-board light sensor.&nbsp;
@@ Line 236: / Line 236: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''ReadLineSensor'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''ReadLineSensor'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Returns the digital value from the line sensor specified.&nbsp;
@@ Line 255: / Line 255: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''ReadMic'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''ReadMic'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Reads the current audio signal level from the on-board microphone.&nbsp;
@@ Line 269: / Line 269: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''ReadSwitch'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''ReadSwitch'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Reads the value of one of the switches from the front of the Formula Flowcode.&nbsp;
@@ Line 288: / Line 288: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''Reverse'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''Reverse'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Drives both motors of the formula flowcode backwards with the power specified.&nbsp;
@@ Line 307: / Line 307: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''SetMotors'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''SetMotors'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Sets the speed and direction of the Formula Flowcode motors.&nbsp;
@@ Line 331: / Line 331: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''SpinLeft'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''SpinLeft'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Spins the formula flowcode on the spot in an anticlockwise direction as seen from above.&nbsp;
@@ Line 350: / Line 350: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''SpinRight'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''SpinRight'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Spins the formula flowcode on the spot in a clockwise direction as seen from above.&nbsp;
@@ Line 369: / Line 369: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''Stop'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''Stop'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Stops both motors&nbsp;
@@ Line 383: / Line 383: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''WaitForSwitch'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''WaitForSwitch'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Waits for the specified switch to be pressed.&nbsp;
@@ Line 402: / Line 402: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" align="center" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-comp-macro.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''WriteLEDs'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''WriteLEDs'''
 |-
 | colspan="2" | Allows control of all 8-LEDs on the front of the Formula Flowcode.&nbsp;
@@ Line 422: / Line 422: @@
 {| class="mtx-class-macrotable wikitable"
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#D8C9D8;" | [[File:Fc9-prop-icon.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | [[File:Fc9-prop-icon.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#D8C9D8; color:#4B008D;" | '''Properties'''
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-macrohead" | '''Properties'''
 |-
 |-
@@ Line 441: / Line 441: @@
 | colspan="2" | Motor balance, way of modifying the relative speeds of the motors to allow mismatched motors to work together better.&nbsp;
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#EAE1EA;" | [[File:Fc9-conn-icon.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-propfolder" | [[File:Fc9-conn-icon.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#EAE1EA; color:#4B008D;" | IR Thresholds (CheckIR macro)
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-propfolder" | IR Thresholds (CheckIR macro)
 |-
 |-
@@ Line 460: / Line 460: @@
 | colspan="2" | IR Threshold used with the CheckIR macro&nbsp;
 |-
-| width="10%" align="center" style="background-color:#EAE1EA;" | [[File:Fc9-conn-icon.png]]
+| width="10%" align="center" class="mtx-class-propfolder" | [[File:Fc9-conn-icon.png]]
-| width="90%" style="background-color:#EAE1EA; color:#4B008D;" | Simulation Parameters
+| width="90%" class="mtx-class-propfolder" | Simulation Parameters
 |-
 |-

SteveT (talk | contribs)