Installation manual and usage instructions

Step 1 – connecting the moisture sensor to the hub

1a – Use a Torx T6 screwdriver to remove the two screws on the back of the LEGO® SPIKEPrime ultrasonic sensor. Then remove the white part.

1b – Insert the brickobotik shield and screw the Torx T6 screws back in.

1c – Connect the probe to the main part of the shield. Make sure the yellow cable is on the left as shown on the pictures.

Step 2 – getting the brickobotik library

2a – Open Google Chrome Browser on your PC or Laptop.

2b – Connect the LEGO® SPIKE Prime to the USB port of your device.

2c – If the LEGO® Education SPIKEapplication is running on your device, please close it.

2d – Use the brickobotik library tool to download our library onto your hub.

Step 3 – using the brickobotik shield

3a – In the LEGO® Education SPIKEApp use python for writing your program. You can now use all of the capacitive moisture sensor’s features as documented in the API below.

This shield’s source API

brickobotik shield: capacitive moisture sensor

    In order to use the moisture sensor you have to initialize it first.

    Example:

        from brickobotik import MoistureSensor

        # initializing the moisture sensor at port A
        my_moisture = MoistureSensor(‚A‘)

 

int get_moisture()

    Measures the moisture at the probe and returns a value from 0% to 100%.

    Example:

        # print the current moisture to the console
        print(my_moisture.get_moisture(), ‚%‘)

 

bool is_wet()

    Returns True if the moisture is >= 50%, else False.

    Example:

        # let the motor run when the robot is wet

        while True:

        if my_moisture.is_wet():
            # do something, for example, start a motor
        else:
            # do something, for example, stop a motor

 

wait_for_moisture(moisture)

    The program waits until the moisture of the probe reaches or
    overshoots the desired value for the first time.

    Example:

        # wait, for example, until a plant is watered
        my_moisture.wait_until_wet()
        # wait until the soil is dry
        my_moisture.wait_for_moisture(20)
        # do something, for example, water a plant again

 

wait_until_wet()

    The program waits until moisture of the probe is at least 50%.

   Example:

        # wait, for example, until a plant is watered
        my_moisture.wait_until_wet()
        # wait until the soil is dry
        my_moisture.wait_for_moisture(20)
        # do something, for example, water a plant again

 

wait_until_dry()

    Similar to wait_until_wet() but waits until the probe is dry.