Educational Robotics and Tangible Devices for Promoting Computational Thinking

Recently, efforts have been made to add programming activities to the curriculum that promote computational thinking and foster 21st-century digital skills. One of the programming modalities is the use of Tangible Programming Languages (TPL), used in activities with 4+ year old children. In this review, we analyze solutions proposed for TPL in different contexts crossing them with non-TPL solutions, like Graphical Programming Languages (GPL). We start to characterize features of language interaction, their use, and what learning activities are associated with them. Then, in a diagram, we show a relation between the complexity of the languages with factors such as target age and output device types. We provide an analysis considering the type of input (e.g., TPL versus GPL) and output devices (e.g., physical robot versus graphical simulation) and evaluate their contribution to further insights about the general trends with respect to educational robotic systems. Finally, we discuss the opportunities to extend and improve TPLs based on the different solutions identified.

Subsystem of sample processing of active and reactive power of transformer substation

Purpose. Apply statistical analysis to the volumetric samples of electricity consumption parameters to reduce the amount of network node capacity that will be stored. Methodology. Using the statistical data methods processing in the graphical programming system LabVIEW. Findings. Electricity is one of the energy types, the generation volume, transportation, distribution and use of which is constantly growing. At all these stages, the control of the change rate parameters of electrical energy – power occurs. Power is characterized by certain parameters that are subject to continuous monitoring. The change capacity in the conditions of industrial enterprises has a complex character with certain stochastic components. The need to record detailed information causes an increase in the data amount to be stored. As a result, there is a processing data problem on electric energy volumes and electric power parameters with reduction data volume and informativeness preservation. Based on the statistical normal distribution concept, in the graphical programming environment the data processing subsystem on sampling intervals of active and reactive powers of low voltage section the step-down substation is constructed. Using the indicators of the characteristics of the normal distribution of active and reactive power, the analysis of their semi-daily samples was performed. Selected intervals at which the indicators of normal distribution differ significantly, which allowed to form conclusions about the presence of modes close to idling Originality. It is established that due to the difficulty covering long time periods under the fixing condition data on electric power parameters, there is a dilemma regarding the resulting information amount and its detailing, to avoid information loss, a procedure based on the law of normal data sampling is the resulting data to be stored, with the possibility recording significant deviations in terms of excess and sample asymmetry. Practical value. Applying the proposed method in the monitoring system for long-term monitoring electrical power parameters, it is possible to reduce significantly the amount of data during the transmission basic information, power level and range, and, if necessary, use additional information about changes in observation intervals expressed through excess and asymmetry.

Creating and controlling visual environments using BonVision

Real-time rendering of closed-loop visual environments is important for next-generation understanding of brain function and behaviour, but is often prohibitively difficult for non-experts to implement and is limited to few laboratories worldwide. We developed BonVision as an easy-to-use open-source software for the display of virtual or augmented reality, as well as standard visual stimuli. BonVision has been tested on humans and mice, and is capable of supporting new experimental designs in other animal models of vision. As the architecture is based on the open-source Bonsai graphical programming language, BonVision benefits from native integration with experimental hardware. BonVision therefore enables easy implementation of closed-loop experiments, including real-time interaction with deep neural networks, and communication with behavioural and physiological measurement and manipulation devices.

Synthesis of the process of training of technological commands and auxiliary operations of cyclic electro-automatics when programming multipurpose equipment in the complex of operating systems CNC and PLC

A method for preparing technological conditions for programming and elements for implementing control programs of multipurpose technological equipment in the complex of operating systems of the CNC and PLC are proposed. The subject solution effectively combines the elements of parametric and graphical programming in the development of both CNC and PLC subprograms. Keywords: control program, algorithmic programming, G-code, numerical control device, programmable logic controller, electroautomatics, technological equipment, CNC machine. [email protected]