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Thinkpad Turtle (Python recipe) by Michael Grünewald
ActiveState Code (http://code.activestate.com/recipes/576985/)

A small program utilizing the ctypes and turtle modules. You can drive the little turtle by turning your Thinkpad (which must have APS).

Requirements:

You need a newer Thinkpad (T41, T42, T43, T6x, R5x, R6x or any newer) and need to have the Active Protection System drivers (now called Lenovo Airbag Protection) installed.

Python, 32 lines
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import ctypes
import time
import turtle

class SensorData(ctypes.Structure):
    _fields_ = [
        ('status', ctypes.c_int),
        ('raw_x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('raw_y', ctypes.c_short),
        ('x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('y', ctypes.c_short),
        ('temp', ctypes.c_byte),
        ('center_x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('center_y', ctypes.c_short),
    ]

def getXY():
    data = SensorData()
    ctypes.windll.Sensor.ShockproofGetAccelerometerData(ctypes.byref(data))
    return data.raw_x / 10.0, data.raw_y / 10.0

def main():
    centerx, centery = getXY()
    turtle.pensize(3)
    while 1:
        x, y = getXY()
        turtle.left(centery-y)
        turtle.forward(centerx-x)
        time.sleep(0.01)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()
Tags: ctypes, thinkpad, win32, windows

5 comments

Victor Noagbodji 13 years, 11 months ago  # | flag

please provide more information. i tried to run this program on my laptop and got an exception:

C:\labs>python thinkpad.py
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "thinkpad.py", line 32, in <module>
    main()
  File "thinkpad.py", line 23, in main
    centerx, centery = getXY()
  File "thinkpad.py", line 19, in getXY
    ctypes.windll.Sensor.ShockproofGetAccelerometerData(ctypes.byref(data))
  File "c:\python26\lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 423, in __getattr__
    dll = self._dlltype(name)
  File "c:\python26\lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 353, in __init__
    self._handle = _dlopen(self._name, mode)
WindowsError: [Error 126] The specified module could not be found
Michael Grünewald (author) 13 years, 11 months ago  # | flag

You probably don't have a newer Thinkpad (T41, T42, T43, T6x, R5x, R6x or any newer) or don't have the Active Protection System drivers (now called Lenovo Airbag Protection) installed.

Victor Noagbodji 13 years, 11 months ago  # | flag

ahh i don't even have thinkpad :)

Sridhar Ratnakumar 13 years, 11 months ago  # | flag

Linux version is here.

Denis Barmenkov 13 years, 11 months ago  # | flag

My Python 2.4 under windows denied to use turtle attributes, so I fix source for running in text mode:

import ctypes
import time
import turtle

class SensorData(ctypes.Structure):
    _fields_ = [
        ('status', ctypes.c_int),
        ('raw_x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('raw_y', ctypes.c_short),
        ('x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('y', ctypes.c_short),
        ('temp', ctypes.c_byte),
        ('center_x', ctypes.c_short),
        ('center_y', ctypes.c_short),
    ]

def getXY():
    data = SensorData()
    ctypes.windll.Sensor.ShockproofGetAccelerometerData(ctypes.byref(data))
    return data.raw_x / 10.0, data.raw_y / 10.0

def main():
    start = prev = getXY()
    while 1:
        current = getXY()
        if current <> prev:
            print start[0] - current[0], ' - ', start[1] - current[1]
            prev = current
        time.sleep(0.1)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()