Goals

• Coding and electronics is an expertise built up over time and multiple contexts; learning these these through programming physical device(Physical Computing)  is an effective way to learn.

The goals of this unit on Microbit robotics and Physical Computing include:

• To understand what a microcontroller is, and how it can be used to sense, think, and act on its environment

• To learn to program the MicroBit microcontroller using MakeCode, a block-based programming environment which uses a drag-and-drop interface and onscreen simulator; or, optionally MicroPython, a text-based language. 

• To learn to read the built-in sensors in the Microbit, such as pushbuttons, tilt sensors, sound, light, temperature, and compass, as well as external sensors such as ultrasound sonar, and to

• Use these to control outputs, such as sound, built-in LED lights, Neopixels and motors

• To understand how to use bluetooth radio to control a Microbit remotely

• To learn to construct a basic robotic vehicle from components, including the Microbit, batteries, motors, and motor controller

• To learn to use electronic components, such as breakouts, breadboards, Dupont wires, battery packs, standoffs, and motor controllers

• To learn how to use logic and pulse-width modulation signals sent from the Microbit to the motor controller to control the speed and behavior of the vehicle

• To program the vehicle to autonomously have behaviors, such as collision avoidance, line following, and route finding

• To use both built-in displays and external devices such as Neopixels to indicate the vehicle state

• To Combine radio control and built-in behaviors such as collision avoidance to create a robot under supervisory control