Sound Sensor

PROJECT 0 - basic sampling and plotting

Aim: Sample readings from sound sensor, plotted on screen

First things first - basic sampling and plotting. Instructions below - aimed at beginners and up (so skip steps you don't need).

To do this yourself :

1. Connect your BBC micro:bit to your host device (e.g. PC) via USB.
2. Connect your BBC micro:bit to the sensor (see below).
3. Ensure you have installed the wonderful Mu editor by @ntoll (see Resources below).
4. Click "New" to create a new BBC micro:bit MicroPython project, then copy and paste the code below into your Mu editor session.
5. Click "Check" (sometimes need to press twice) and amend code as required for any warnings/errors reported.
6. Click "REPL" to enable a data connection between the BBC micro:bit and host device and which displays any prints sent through it.
7. Click "Plotter" to enable plotting of any numeric output in the REPL window
   • e.g. (50, 500) will draw 2 data lines.
   • e.g. (45,100,75) will draw 3 data lines etc.
   • Plotter allocates colours automatically to each data feed / line, i.e. 1. blue, 2. green, 3. orange, 4. purple etc.
   • Plotter dynamically scales vertical axis according to range of data currently on display.
8. Click "Flash" to transfer your MicroPython code to the BBC micro:bit which will start once loaded (or display any syntax errors).
   • If syntax errors are reported, click "Check" to identify them and fix before repeating "Flash".
   • Once the micro:bit is recognised (typically within 5-10 seconds) a file window may appear displaying the micro:bit's file contents. Simply minimise / close this to enable you to view the REPL and Plotter panels clearly.
9. Speak into the sound sensor and watch the readings appear in the REPL and Plotter panels.
   • The sensitivity potentiometer (POT) may need adjustment clockwise/anti-clockwise between always on, a middle point (the "sweet spot" where your voice displays as peaks in the graph) and always off. With a little careful adjustment, you will find the right setting.
10. Clicking "Plotter" a second time closes that panel - without ending the REPL session/connection.
11. Clicking "REPL" a second time closes that panel and stops the display of any data from the BBC micro:bit.
12. To run your code again, start from the step above 'Click "REPL" to enable a data connection...'.

BBC micro:bit setup - HARDWARE

SENSOR

BBC micro:bit setup - CODE

Courtesy of Online syntax highlighter (vs): http://hilite.me/

results

RESOURCES AND references

Coding

• Mu Beta 15, March 2018 code editor with live data Plotter feature to graph live REPL data
• http://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
• http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-FC-04-Sound-Sensor-Demo/

Advanced

• More advanced ways to process the sound signal more clearly
• Pushing-the-FC-04-Sound-Sensor-to-Its-Limits - Creates an LED light show driven by the level of signal from the sound sensor, entertainingly done using assorted loud music tracks. Effect is a dynamic scale light show.

Sound sensor

• http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-FC-04-Sound-Sensor-Demo/