Signaling Socks

Difficulty Level: Advanced

Materials

BBC micro:bits device
micro:bit battery holder
Computer or laptop with a working Internet connection
Knee high socks (preferably in a dark color to hide the cables better)
Hot glue
Felt
Scissors
Markers or pencils

Soldering tools

Dual Heat Soldering Iron Station
24 AWG Electrical Wire or Silicone Jacketed Wire (GroovyNoodle)
Soldering Wire
Flux
Water (to soak sponge)
Snip Pliers or Needle Nose pliers (regular pliers would work too)
Breakout board (look for the pimoroni pin:bit in your kit)
6 Dupont Male-to-Female Jumper Ribbon Cable
RGB addressable light strip (called neopixel or stripxel)

CODE INSTRUCTIONS

For best viewing quality, please watch the video on full screen mode

Signaling Socks - Code.mp4

This code requires the use of functions, which were not covered in the coding basics video. However, functions are not that scary! Rather than duplicating the same instructions over and over, a function will hold several instructions in one place that you get to call whenever you need it. Using functions also allow you to write more efficient code that is easier to understand as you do increasingly more difficult projects

This image was created with Fritzing

CIRCUIT

For this project we need one AA battery holder to power to micro:bit with 3V, and two more battery holders connected in series to supply the LED strips with 6V. Once those are set up, all you need to connect is the middle data pin on each LED strip to a pin on the micro:bit, that way you can control the whole thing from the micro:bit.

ASSEMBLING THE SOCKS

Make sure that you are soldering in a well ventilated area to avoid inhaling the fumes and watch the soldering tutorial video a few times before attempting this project.

Get help from a parent or a guardian when working with a soldering iron.

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Music courtesy of Pyrosion

Signaling Socks - ASSEMBLY - DONE V2.mp4

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