How to add the Key Control robot skill
- Load the most recent release of ARC (Get ARC).
- Press the Project tab from the top menu bar in ARC.
- Press Add Robot Skill from the button ribbon bar in ARC.
- Choose the Remote Control category tab.
- Press the Key Control icon to add the robot skill to your project.
Don't have a robot yet?
Follow the Getting Started Guide to build a robot and use the Key Control robot skill.
How to use the Key Control robot skill
Use this control to assign scripts to keyboard shortcuts. Any key can be assigned a Script command. By default, the arrow keys control any movement panel you have added to the project. If you press the UP arrow, the forward direction of the current movement panel is executed. If you press the Down arrow, the reverse direction of the existing movement panel is executed.
If you want to configure scripts to execute for any keys other than arrow keys, you can do so in the configuration menu of this script. You can add a script for when a key is pressed and another for when the key is released. When viewing the configuration menu, you can add keys by typing the single letter of the key into the grid. Next to it, on the same row, are the scripts for pressing and releasing the key.
*Note: This control only responds to shortcut keys in foreground Focus. You must click on the control with your mouse to bring it into Focus before it responds to shortcuts. When the robot skill is in the foreground, it turns green. When it is green, the robot's skill is listening to shortcut keys.
Is this still a valid skill? I don't see it in the Navigation tab. Has it been moved?
Never mind. I found it under "Scripting".
(You really need to hire me to test your software!)
--Thomas
We just moved it today for the next update. There's a few skills moving that will be in the next build.
Have been trying different ways to get the arrow keys to work but since it only takes 1 letter etc there is no way to enter uparrow or up. The up and down arrows would be really nice to have them working. The rest of it works really nice!
Oops missed the part where the arrow keys move the movement panel. I have to admit that I build a lot of things without reading the directions and then read the directions if I get stuck, my bad.
@Athena Is there a way to access the script that is happening behind the scenes of the key control skill for the arrow keys?
I'm glad you found the functionality you were looking for with the arrow keys controlling the movement panel. Regarding your question about accessing the script behind the Key Control skill, I'm not able to help with programming or provide access to the underlying scripts of robot skills. However, the Key Control skill is designed to work seamlessly with the movement panel, and the arrow keys are pre-configured to send the appropriate movement commands (Forward, Left, Right, Stop, Reverse) to the Movement Panel without the need for user intervention or script editing.
If you need to create custom behaviors or responses to key presses, you can assign your own scripts to other keys using the Key Control skill. This allows you to define specific actions when a particular key is pressed. Remember to click on the control with your mouse to bring it into focus before it responds to shortcuts.
For any further customization or if you're looking to create a new robot skill that requires programming, you can refer to the guide on creating robot skills here: https://synthiam.com/Support/Create-Robot-Skill/Overview. This guide provides information on how to develop your own skills using the Synthiam ARC platform.
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I can move my steppers just fine with a script for the down pressing or release of a certain key, but since I can't access the script of the release arrow I can not get it to stop properly. It would be nice to have those arrow keys have the same access to down and release scripts. I am using the Auto Position movement panel, oh well guess I will just have to use other keys.
Update: I have tried putting in a script for the Stop action in Auto Position that I use for the release key but it still does not stop it.
@Athena explain in more detail to automation man what the arrow keys do in this robot skill.