Choosing a task or creating a field
task("name")- Open a task from the bundled set.
field(width=8, height=6)- Open a Robot field without tying it to a task.
For computer science teachers
Educational Robot simulator in Python
Robot is designed to teach programming fundamentals and helps develop algorithmic thinking. Students write small Python programs: they move the Robot across a grid, paint cells, and check for walls and already-painted cells. All of this is visible in the simulator window and runs locally.
Why Robot works well in class
Robot is aimed at school students who are just starting to program. Tasks are small problems on a clear field. Students write command sequences, loops, conditions, and functions while seeing the result of their code right away.
-
Clear tasks
Walls, marked cells, and the goal cell are visible from the start, so it is easier for students to see what the program should do.
-
Automatic checking
The result of the program is checked automatically. Students immediately see whether the solution passed and can fix the error themselves.
-
Multiple environments
Many tasks include several environments. One program has to pass every variant, so students need to devise a general algorithm for the task.
-
Preview environments first
Students can open each environment before writing code and see which cases their solution must handle.
-
Step-by-step execution
Programs can run one command at a time in the Robot window. This is useful for debugging and for explaining a solution on a projector.
-
Constraints that match the lesson
Some tasks limit commands or language constructs. The constraints help guide students toward the intended idea, such as a loop.
intro8: reach the house and paint every marked cell.Students can see when it passes
When all environments are passed successfully, a message about it is displayed in the Robot simulator window. Students do not have to wait for the teacher to check their work.
Look through environments before coding
The environment selector lets students inspect each field variant before they plan a solution that works everywhere.
Step through the program
Step mode shows what each command does. It is useful for self-checking and for walking through a solution with the class.
Constraints are visible in the UI
If a task has constraints, they are displayed in the Robot simulator window next to the task condition. Students can see which tools they are expected to use.
Browse Task Conditions
The separate task viewer opens the task catalog without running a student solution. A teacher can choose a topic, jump to a task number, read the condition, inspect every environment, and see the constraints. It is useful for lesson preparation and for showing a task on a projector.
What you can inspect
- topic and task number;
- task condition;
- all task environments;
- command and construct constraints;
if3).Using Robot in a lesson
After you introduce a topic, students work through tasks at their own pace. Automatic checking removes part of the routine review for teachers: you can see who needs help and who can already move on.
One possible lesson flow
- Introduce the topic: movement, loops, branching, or functions.
- Assign a task from the matching track, such as
for12orw25. - Students run
task("…")and improve their program until every environment passes. - Use step mode to discuss tricky bugs or walk through a solution together.
Task tracks
Tasks are grouped by topic, so they can fit into an existing course plan.
- First steps –
intro1…intro24 - Functions –
fun1…fun20 forloop –for1…for28for+ functions –forfun1…forfun9whileloop –w1…w51while+ functions –wfun1…wfun12if–if1…if14while+if–wif1…wif15if/else–ifelse1…ifelse10- Compound conditions –
compound1…compound11
Robot commands
You can import everything with from robot import * or import only the names you need.
Example
from robot import *
task("intro8")
move_down()
paint()
move_right()
paint()
move_up()
paint()
move_right()
paint()
move_down()Action commands
move_right()- One cell right.
move_left()- One cell left.
move_up()- One cell up.
move_down()- One cell down.
paint()- Paint the current cell.
printn(value)- Print an integer in the current cell.
Environment analysis
is_free_left()…is_free_down()- True if no wall in that direction.
is_wall_left()…is_wall_down()- True if there is a wall.
is_cell_painted()- True if the cell is painted.
is_cell_not_painted()- True if not painted.
pol()- Pollution value in the current cell (integer).
Localization
Task conditions, the Robot simulator window, and help text are available in the languages listed below. The language is selected automatically based on the operating system's interface language.
Supported languages
- English
- Čeština
- Deutsch
- Español
- Français
- Italiano
- Magyar
- Nederlands
- Polski
- Português
- Română
- Svenska
- Türkçe
- Беларуская
- Русский
- Українська
- Ελληνικά
- العربية
- اردو
- हिन्दी
- বাংলা
- 简体中文
- 繁體中文
- 日本語
- 한국어
Get started
- Download the module archive from GitHub Releases.
- Extract it into the student's working folder.
- Place the solution file next to the
robotmodule. You can start fromsample_solution.pyin the archive. - To choose another task, change the string passed to
task(). The task names are listed in the tracks above. - To browse task conditions without a solution, run
viewer/viewer.pyfrom the module archive.
Requirements: Python 3.7+ and the standard library. The Robot window uses tkinter. The tkinter module is included with most desktop Python installations.