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Bearings are a mathematical way of working our where we are in relation to where we want to go. Explorers, navigators, airline pilots, ship captains, drones, even GPS make use of bearings to help plot courses and track theirs and our own whereabouts.
Click the link to visit a page which explains how bearings work.
Digital Compass
Digital Compass
We've all been lost before. The code below will help you turn a MicroBit into a really simple digital compass to help you navigate your way back home again.
When you have finished your script, test it. You should demonstrate your working four-point compass to your teacher to show your progress.
Initial Task
Initial Task
Screenshot your working code and create a detailed write-up, explaining how it works, the function of the block-code and how you overcame any problems.
You will notice that this script has been adapted to ensure that there are no 'overlaps' between the bearing variables. This is good practice as overlaps cause confusion within the script and can result in buggy behaviour.
Finished? Now try this....
Finished? Now try this....
It's a bit laggy this compass isn't it?
Extension 1 - Adjust the scroll speed of the display so that the compass reads quicker.
Extension 1 - Adjust the scroll speed of the display so that the compass reads quicker.
Add a screenshot of your adjusted code to your initial write-up and explain how and why it has improved the script.
Am I pointing north or am I pointing west? Why is my compass so confused?
Extension 2 - Create an eight point compass to improve the accuracy of the device.
Extension 2 - Create an eight point compass to improve the accuracy of the device.
Explain the limitations of the initial four-point compass script. Add a screenshot of the adapted code to your write-up and explain your changes.
All that code is getting really bulky and confusing! Isn't there a simpler way to show which way we are pointing?
Extension 3 - Adapt the script to display the current numerical bearing.
Extension 3 - Adapt the script to display the current numerical bearing.
Your friend is waving at you from another hilltop but you don't know which hilltop and in which direction. It's possible to use a MicroBit to share each other's bearing and work out which way you need to point to be facing each other.
Extension 4 - Adapt the script to share each others bearing and display a corrected bearing so that you can face each other.
Extension 4 - Adapt the script to share each others bearing and display a corrected bearing so that you can face each other.
Add a screenshot of the adapted code to your write-up and explain your changes.
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