Release 2012.11.28.00

Download and install the latest ARC robot programming software to experience these updates.

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This is a small release regarding Random features of your robot. There was a recent discussion about what "random" really means in programming. Random() is a common function used in computers making unpredictable decisions. However, if you wish to write your own routines for random behavior, perhaps Random() isn't optimized.

As a disclaimer: We encourage people to use the Personality Generator, which uses an algorithm based on trending - not random.

So, the solution? After a bit of brain storming, I came up with a new Random function called GetRandomUnique(). This new function tries to make the returned value unique from the last. This is not a Personality Generator replacement, but it will make your robot much better behaved.

Changes:
- EZ-Script controls can be resized
- New EZ-Script command: GetRandomUnique()
- EZ-Script compiler optimizations

Here is an Example Project displaying the differences between Random() and GetRandomUnique(): Example-Script-RandomNumberFunctions.EZB

User-inserted image
#1  
You are SO the son I never had. God bless you!
#2  
ROFL!
@ DJ - I don't know how you do it without losing your mind, there was a huge argument last year with a bunch of programmers over the randomness of random, and let's just say there wasn't enough alcohol in the world at the time....

Thank you for the update


BTW would this be a bad time to ask about SendSerial text string issues?:)
#3  
Nice job once again. I was looking to create a full keyboard control for my robot but I can't find how to assign the different keys to control different script or mutli-script simultaneously. Is this something not yet implemented? The only thing I can use on the keyboard is the movement panel.
PRO
Synthiam
#4  
@Louis, Select Add Control->Scripts->Key Control

Press configure on the control and add the keys and their respective scripts
#6  
DJ. will try that. thank you:)
Canada
#7  
AWESOME! thank you for the update. I was wondering why the Program Generator was not really random..BUT you did say it was a "Quasi-random". ........Thanks for your amazing effort!
#8  
Thanks again DJ.
This will keep my robot from repeating the same thing too often and still mix things up a bit.
Canada
#9  
I understand the varibles are numeric but can they also be strings with the examples given. I realize this thread is not about programming but a simple yes or no can send " my hounds in the right direction" . Thanks in advance.
Canada
#10  
@irobot58 you could pre-assign strings with variables that correspond within the numerical range that you set in the GetRandomUnique()

I was playing around with different spoken words and phrases before this new command... that worked fine, and now it is even better:)

Here is a simple example... My coding abilities are 30+ years out of date:P

Code:


# Randomly choose 10 numbers 
# and say numbers out loud.
#-------------------------------

$y = 0

:Start
$y = ($y + 1)

$x = GetRandomUnique(1, 10)

Print ($x)

if ($x = 1)
Say("One")

if ($x = 2)
Say("two")

if ($x = 3)
Say("Three")

if ($x = 4)
Say("Four")

if ($x = 5)
Say("Five")

if ($x = 6)
Say("Six")

if ($x = 7)
Say("Seven")

if ($x = 8)
Say("Eight")

if ($x = 9)
Say("Nine")

if ($x = 10)
Say("Ten")

If ($y = 10)
Goto(end)

Goto (Start)

:End
PRO
Synthiam
#11  
Oh that's a good one gunner. I expanded on your example with this:)

Project File: Example-Script-RandomSpeech.EZB

Code:


$nounInt = GetRandom(1, 6)
$adjInt = GetRandom(1, 6)
$verbInt = GetRandom(1, 6)

if ($nounInt = 1)
  $noun = "resistors"
if ($nounInt = 2)
  $noun = "transistors"
if ($nounInt = 3)
  $noun = "microchips"
if ($nounInt = 4)
  $noun = "diodes"
if ($nounInt = 5)
  $noun = "circuits"

if ($adjInt = 1)
  $adj = "burnt"
if ($adjInt = 2)
  $adj = "brand new"
if ($adjInt = 3)
  $adj = "solid state"
if ($adjInt = 4)
  $adj = "high resistance"
if ($adjInt = 5)
  $adj = "low resistance"

if ($verbInt = 1)
  $verb = "eat"
if ($verbInt = 2)
  $verb = "hate"
if ($verbInt = 3)
  $verb = "love"
if ($verbInt = 4)
  $verb = "destroy"
if ($verbInt = 5)
  $verb = "use"

speakStop()
say("I $verb $adj $noun")
print("I $verb $adj $noun")
Canada
#12  
I like it:) Funny and much better use of variables and code layout... I'll relearn eventually:P
#13  
@DJ, I just tried the SendSerial tonight with the latest release, it's working without locking up, and I can now send complete sentences without any problems.

You must of done something or is it me?


Thanks
PRO
Synthiam
#14  
@charleybot nothing was changed. glad to hear it works for what ever magical reason:)
Canada
#15  
Those sneaky little Roboticist elves working away at night again;)
#16  
Hi all,

Yep after 4 years I'm finally getting to the point where I'm working in random routine responses into my robot. I ran into an odd occurrence with my scripting so I dug up this old thread talking about this function.

Anyway, I've written a script that will randomly choose a sound clip from a randomly chosen actor. In the actual script, each actor is divided into their own subsection. In this actor's section are commands to play sound files that will be randomly chosen. Clear as mud? :)

The problem is if I have a list of choices the last on in the list will never get picked. This happens with either the GetRandomUnique() or the GetRandom() command.

For example if I've written $response = GetRandomUnique(1,4) the 4th number will never generate.

I just had a thought; Is it the way I'm starting my numbering system? Do I need to start with 0?

Here's my code so far. Works pretty good except I can never get the last choice on the list to get picked. Any ideas? Thanks.

Code:


# Choose a random actor and speak a phrase before going to their subsection.
$response = GetRandomUnique(1,3)

# Response depending on random number
if ($response = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_61)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(Dr_Smith)
ELSEif ($response = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_72)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(R2D2)
ELSEif ($response = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_77)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(Will)
endif

  # -----------------------------------------
:Dr_Smith
# Speak a random phrase from 1 to 10
$DRresponse = GetRandomUnique(1,10)

# Response depending on random number
if ($DRresponse = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_62)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_63)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_64)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 4)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_65)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 5)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_66)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 6)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_67)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 7)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_68)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 8)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_69)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 9)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_70)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 10)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_71)
endif
Halt()
#------------------------------------------------------------------

:R2D2
# Speak a random phrase from 1 to 4
$SWresponse = GetRandomUnique(1,4)

# Response depending on random number
if ($SWresponse = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_73)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_74)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_75)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 4)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_76)
endif
Halt()
#------------------------------------------------------------------

:Will
ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_78)
Halt()
PRO
Synthiam
#17  
As per Random() functions in programming of all languages that I am aware of, the range of return values includes minValue but not maxValue.

So, to randomly get a number between 1 and 4, you would use GetRandomUnique(1,5)

Code:


# Choose a random actor and speak a phrase before going to their subsection.
$response = GetRandomUnique(1,4)

# Response depending on random number
if ($response = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_61)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(Dr_Smith)
ELSEif ($response = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_72)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(R2D2)
ELSEif ($response = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_77)
  Sleep(2000)
  Goto(Will)
endif

  # -----------------------------------------
:Dr_Smith
# Speak a random phrase from 1 to 10
$DRresponse = GetRandomUnique(1,11)

# Response depending on random number
if ($DRresponse = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_62)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_63)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_64)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 4)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_65)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 5)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_66)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 6)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_67)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 7)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_68)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 8)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_69)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 9)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_70)
ELSEif ($DRresponse = 10)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_71)
endif
Halt()
#------------------------------------------------------------------

:R2D2
# Speak a random phrase from 1 to 4
$SWresponse = GetRandomUnique(1,5)

# Response depending on random number
if ($SWresponse = 1)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_73)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 2)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_74)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 3)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_75)
ELSEif ($SWresponse = 4)
  ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_76)
endif
Halt()
#------------------------------------------------------------------

:Will
ControlCommand("Soundboard v4", Track_78)
Halt()
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