What is a micro:bit?

Micro:bit

Micro:bit

Micro:bit features

• 2 buttons
• 25 LEDs
• edge connector
• radio
• compass
• accelerometer
• USB port
• reset button
• battery socket

My Story

My Story

• In 2015 micro:bits were given to all UK years 7s
• I was in year 8
• I went to PyCon UK
• Micro:bits were being given out to attendes
• My dad and I got a micro:bit each
• I made a calulator that send answers to the other micro:bit
• I gave a lightenting talk about the project

My Story

• I made a game of conenct 3
• I added a colour display on a raspberry pi with a sense hat
• I gave a talk at PyCon UK the next year about the project

Mu

Nicholas Tollervey

Mu

“a simple Python editor for beginner programmers”

Mu

• Simple text editor
• Easy to use
• No bloat
• Built for the micro:bit

Mu's Features

• Python Editor
• Built in micro:bit flasher
• REPL
• Built in plotter
• Built in debugger

codewith.mu

How does this work?

First non-micro:bit program

  print("Hello, World!")
            

  Hello, World!
            

First micro:bit program

  from microbit import *
  display.scroll("Hello, World!")
            

“If the micro:bit is so great, why do I need a robotic arm?”

The same benefits but more

• You're moving a physical object
• You wrote the code to make it move
• More relatable to future applications

Demos

• Micro:bit is small
• Robotic arm is bigger
• Visual and Dramatic

Equipment

Equipment

Code

Code: Setup

from microbit import *

servos = [pin0, pin1, pin2, pin16]
min_angles = [5, 50, 5, 5]
max_angles = [180, 130, 145, 180]

states = [5, 50, 5, 5]  # position of each servo

s = 0  # current servo
d = 5  # angle increment
        

Code: Loop

while True:
  if button_a.is_pressed():
    states[s] += d
    if states[s] > max_angles[s] or states[s] < min_angles[s]:
      states[servo] -= d
      d *= -1  # start moving in the other direction
    servos[s].write_analog(states[s])
    sleep(100)  # wait 100ms before checking for press

  if button_b.was_pressed():
    s += 1
    if s == 4:
      s = 0
    d = 5

        

Live Demo...

Other Projects

LEDs

from microbit import *

while True:
  pin1.write_digital(1)
  sleep(500)
  pin1.write_digital(0)
  sleep(500)
          

LEDs & Touch

from microbit import *

while True:
    if pin0.is_touched():
        pin1.write_digital(1)
    else:
        pin1.write_digital(0)
          

LEDs & Touch

Connect 3

Hacking the L-Light

Morse Code

from microbit import *
import music

lookup = {'.-': 'A', '-...': 'B', '-.-.': 'C', ...}

u = 75  # one time unit in ms
last = running_time()  # records last press
                       # (for detecting end of letter)
code = []  # current morsecode input
          

Morse Code

def handler(symbol, duration):
  if running_time() - last > 3*u:  # morse code letters
                                   # have 3 unit gap inbetween
    code = []
  display.show(symbol)
  code.append(symbol)

  music.pitch(300, duration, wait=True)
  last = running_time()
  sleep(u)
          

Morse Code

while True:
  if button_a.is_pressed():
    handler(".", u)
  elif button_b.is_pressed():
    handler("-", 3*u)
  else:
    if running_time() - last > 3*u:
      v = lookup.get("".join(code), " ")  # show nothing if
                                          # input is invalid MC
      display.show(v)