My DevCat Studios Portfolio

This is my portfolio showcasing my projects and skills.

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Table of Contents

Blocks

Hat Block

  • Name: Hat Block
  • Shape/Type: Hat shape (rounded top, notch on the bottom)
  • What It Does: Starts a script when a specific event triggers it. It always goes at the very top of a stack of blocks.
  • Example: when started

Stack / Command Block

  • Name: Stack / Command Block
  • Shape/Type: Rectangular with a notch on top and a bump on the bottom
  • What It Does: Tells the robot to do a single action. It stacks top-to-bottom with other commands.
  • Example: drive [forward] for [200] mm

C-Block

  • Name: C-Block (Control Block)
  • Shape/Type: Shaped like the letter “C”
  • What It Does: Holds other blocks inside its loop to repeat them or run them conditionally.
  • Example: repeat [4] or if < > then

Reporter / Oval Block

  • Name: Reporter Block
  • Shape/Type: Oval with rounded ends
  • What It Does: Stores or measures a value (like numbers or sensor readings) and drops into inputs on other blocks.
  • Example: distance from [Distance Sensor] in mm

Boolean / Hexagonal Block

  • Name: Boolean Block
  • Shape/Type: Hexagonal with pointed sides
  • What It Does: Checks a condition and returns either TRUE or FALSE. Fits inside hexagonal slots on control blocks.
  • Example: <Bumper Pressed?>

Repeat Block

  • Name: Repeat Block
  • Shape/Type: C-shaped control block
  • What It Does: Runs any blocks placed inside it for a set number of times.
  • Example: repeat [4] to draw a square or repeat a sequence.

Wait Until Block

  • Name: Wait Until Block
  • Shape/Type: Stack block with a hexagonal input slot
  • What It Does: Pauses the program on that exact line until its Boolean condition turns TRUE.
  • Example: wait until <Bumper Pressed?>

If Then Block

  • Name: If Then Block
  • Shape/Type: C-shaped control block (with a hexagonal slot for a condition)
  • What It Does: Checks a condition. If it is TRUE, it runs the code inside. If FALSE, it skips right past it.
  • Example: if <Distance in mm < 200> then [turn right 90 deg]

Forever Block

  • Name: Forever Block
  • Shape/Type: C-shaped block without a bottom notch
  • What It Does: Loops the code inside continuously until the project is manually stopped.
  • Example: forever checking sensor inputs to keep from bumping walls.

Concepts

Sequence

  • What It Means: The specific top-to-bottom order in which commands run.
  • In My Own Words: If you change the order of your blocks, the robot will do steps out of order and miss its goal.
  • Example: Driving forward then turning right gets you to a totally different spot than turning right first and then driving.

Parameters

  • What It Means: Values or settings passed into a block to change how it behaves.
  • In My Own Words: The adjustable numbers or drop-down choices inside a block that control speed, distance, or angle.
  • Example: Changing the number in drive for [200] mm to 500 changes how far the robot moves.

Loops / Iteration

  • What It Means: Repeating a block of code multiple times.
  • In My Own Words: Running a set of instructions over and over without having to duplicate blocks in your workspace.
  • Example: Wrapping a drive and turn block inside a repeat [4] loop instead of snapping eight blocks together.

Sensors

  • What It Means: Hardware that reads physical information from the environment.
  • In My Own Words: The robot’s eyes and touch tools that let it react to the world around it.
  • Example: A Bumper Sensor detecting when the robot physically contacts a wall.

Booleans & Conditions

  • What It Means: A True/False evaluation used to make decisions in code.
  • In My Own Words: Asking a basic yes-or-no question so the program knows what branch of code to execute.
  • Example: Checking if <Bumper Pressed?> returns TRUE (pressed) or FALSE (not pressed).

Sense → Think → Act

  • What It Means: The standard robotics loop where a robot reads data, decides what to do, and executes a physical movement.
  • In My Own Words: Read sensors (Sense), run code logic (Think), move motors (Act).
  • Example: Eye sensor spots a wall (Sense) -> program evaluates distance < 50 mm (Think) -> motors stop driving (Act).

Comparisons

  • What It Means: Comparing two numerical values using math symbols like < or >.
  • In My Own Words: Checking which number is larger or smaller to generate a TRUE or FALSE output.
  • Example: < (Distance in mm) < (100) > outputs TRUE as soon as an obstacle gets closer than 100 mm.

Coordinates

  • What It Means: An X and Y grid system used to mark exact positions on a map.
  • In My Own Words: X handles side-to-side positioning and Y handles up-and-down positioning on the playground field.
  • Example: Driving the robot directly to position (X: 0 mm, Y: 400 mm).

Conditionals

  • What It Means: Code structures (like if-then) that execute actions only when conditions are met.
  • In My Own Words: Decision blocks—”If this sensor sees something, then perform this move.”
  • Example: if <Eye Sensor sees Red> then [stop drivetrain].

Patterns

  • What It Means: Spotting repeated steps or behaviors to make code cleaner.
  • In My Own Words: Finding actions that happen over and over so you can replace them with a loop.
  • Example: Seeing that navigating a maze consists of repeating “drive, turn right” four times in a row.

Vocabulary

1. VR Robot + Playground **Definition:** A VR Robot is a virtual robot programmed in a simulation. A Playground is the 3D virtual field where the VR Robot runs. **In My Own Words:** The VR Robot is the digital bot you program, and the Playground is the map or arena it moves around in. **Example:** Opening the "Grid Map" Playground to test your robot's pathfinding code.
2. Programming Language + Project **Definition:** A Programming Language is the syntax and rules used to give instructions to a computer. A Project is the saved file containing your organized code. **In My Own Words:** The language is how you communicate with the robot (like VEXcode blocks), and the project is your saved code file. **Example:** Saving your VEXcode Blocks project before running it in the simulator.
3. Behavior + Command **Definition:** A Behavior is an overall action done by the robot. A Command is an individual instruction block that tells the robot what to do. **In My Own Words:** A command is one single block, while a behavior is the bigger result you see when those commands run together. **Example:** `turn right 90 degrees` is a command; weaving through an obstacle course is a behavior.
4. Drivetrain **Definition:** The system of motors, wheels, and gears that allows a robot to drive and turn. **In My Own Words:** The wheels and motors that control how the robot moves across the ground. **Example:** Configuring the Drivetrain settings in VEXcode to match wheel size and width.
5. Loop + Iteration **Definition:** A Loop is a structure that repeats code. An Iteration is one complete pass through that loop. **In My Own Words:** The loop is the container block, and an iteration is counting each single turn through it. **Example:** In a `repeat [4]` block, driving each side of a square counts as one iteration.
6. Sensor + Bumper Sensor **Definition:** A Sensor gathers data from the environment. A Bumper Sensor is a physical switch that detects contact when bumped. **In My Own Words:** A sensor reads surroundings, and a bumper sensor specifically detects physical crashes into objects. **Example:** A Bumper Sensor signaling the robot to stop the instant it hits a wall.
7. Boolean + Condition + TRUE/FALSE **Definition:** A Boolean is a data type with only two possible values: TRUE or FALSE. A Condition is a statement checked by code that outputs a Boolean. **In My Own Words:** A condition asks a question, and the Boolean is the TRUE or FALSE answer that comes back. **Example:** Checking `<Bumper Pressed?>`: if pressed it returns TRUE, otherwise FALSE.
8. Distance Sensor + Threshold **Definition:** A Distance Sensor uses light/ultrasonic waves to report how far away an object is. A Threshold is a set target value used to trigger an action when crossed. **In My Own Words:** The sensor measures distance, and the threshold is the specific cutoff distance where your robot reacts. **Example:** Setting a threshold of 150 mm so the robot turns whenever the distance sensor reads less than 150 mm.
9. Coordinate Plane + X/Y Coordinates **Definition:** A Coordinate Plane is a 2D grid mapping positions. X and Y coordinates pinpoint exact locations using horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) axes. **In My Own Words:** A grid map where X tracks left/right movement and Y tracks up/down movement. **Example:** The center of the VR playground grid sits at `(X: 0 mm, Y: 0 mm)`.
10. Location Sensor **Definition:** A sensor that reads the robot's exact X and Y position and heading angle on the grid. **In My Own Words:** The robot's built-in GPS that reports its exact spot on the map. **Example:** Checking the Location Sensor to see if `X < 500 mm` before turning a corner.
11. Comment **Definition:** A note added inside code to explain what sections do; it is completely ignored when the robot executes the program. **In My Own Words:** Notes you leave in your project to remind yourself or partners how your code works. **Example:** Placing a comment saying `// Search for green disk` above a search algorithm block.
12. Eye Sensor **Definition:** An optical sensor that detects if an object is present and identifies colors like Red, Green, Blue, or Black. **In My Own Words:** A color sensor that tells the robot what color object or line it is looking at. **Example:** Using the Down Eye Sensor to stop driving when the robot sees a red line on the playground floor.
13. Conditional Statement **Definition:** A programming structure (like `if-then` or `if-then-else`) that executes different actions depending on whether a condition is TRUE or FALSE. **In My Own Words:** A block that lets your code make decisions based on changing conditions. **Example:** Using an `if-then-else` statement to drive forward if the path is clear, or turn if an obstacle is in the way.