Projects

Each person should have the following (about $40 per person.  Alternatively the cost is $26 without the servo):

1. 1.  Microbit v2 Go Bundle with a battery pack and short USB data cable    $20

   2. Translucent snap-on case   $3

   3. 4' USB-A to micro USB data cable (not just a power cable)  $3   

   4. Elecfreaks Basic:bit IO Expansion board  $4

   5. Micro servo motor, preferably high-power with metal gear, such as the Towerpro MG90D (or here), the Towerpro MG92B or something similar.    $10

Using Built-in Sensors

Each micro:bit comes with sensors for Light, Sound, Temperature, Motion, Radio, Compass, Touch, and the ability to record sensor data using Data Logging.

• Getting Started, using LED array, buttons, accelerometer, radio 

• Control LED lights

  1. Light up specific LEDs

  2. Have LEDs respond to sound

  3. Light up center LED and have it move as you tilt

• Using the accelerometer for a Step Counter or get fancy and use it as a sport sensor,   * detecting types of motion, mechanics of a swing, or embed it in a ball. 

• Displaying and recording sensor data:  First display data on LEDs, then log data for use in a spreadsheet.
  See https://microbit.org/get-started/user-guide/data-logging/   Log temperature, or motion.  

• Radio

  1. Find your partner: You are given the same radio group (0..255) as someone else in the room.  Using the microbit radio, can you establish communication with them?

  2. Hide-and-go-seek proximity detector (see class notes, video): Display the radio signal strength on a dedicated channel between you and your partner.  One person secretly hides their microbit, and the other has to find it (am I getting closer?) using their microbit radio strength indicator.

  3. Remote control: Baby Penguin: program a unique sound, that triggers from only the partner's microbit using a custom radio signal.

  4. Lottery winner: A group of microbits all register themselves, then a random "winner" gets selected.  

• Compass Treasure Hunt (see class notes): Create a treasure hunt (or multiple hunts) microbit program using the compass settings.  Groups must follow the treasure hunt and take a final picture facing in the correct direction.  (This can be set up using google maps!)

• Group Games: Microbit Orchestra to play Happy Birthday    *
  
  

Additional Sensors and Devices

1. Servo motors. 
   Though not required, it helps to use a breakout board rather than alligator clips.  Open a window based on temperature or humidity, adjust the flaps on a radio-controlled airplane, or set a ball into motion, as part of a  class-wide Rube-Goldberg machine (see a sample  * , and collection of devices). Radio control multiple servos to choreograph a dance (see class notes and video  * ).  Use with an aluminum foil switch.

2. Radio control a car.  Line-following car using optical sensors

3. Program a Neopixel ring or strip.  For instance you could have LEDs respond to sound, such as in this example.  Neopixel rings come in different sizes, and can also be strips.
   (For Neopixel strips, you will likely also need a 1000 µF, 6.3V capacitor on the power supply and a 300 to 500 Ohm resistor on the data line.  See the Adafruit NeoPixel Überguide .)

4. Moisture sensor auto-watering a plant.  Or get fancy with a water pump.

5. Clap light: turn on some power source using sound, light, or motion sensor, using an IOT Relay on the Resources page.