BBC micro:bit

Learn

What you’ll learn

• What’s on a BBC micro:bit
• How to program it with MakeCode blocks or Python
• How it’s used in robots

On the board

Feature	Details
Display	5 × 5 red LEDs
Inputs	Buttons A and B; on V2 also a touch-sensitive logo and a microphone
Sensors	Accelerometer, compass, light (via the LEDs), temperature
Outputs	LED display; on V2 a built-in speaker
Radio	micro:bit-to-micro:bit radio and Bluetooth
Connectors	Edge connector with pins 0, 1, 2, 3V and GND (more via a breakout)

Programming it

• MakeCode: blocks, JavaScript or Python in the browser, with a built-in simulator.
• MicroPython: via the online Python editor at python.microbit.org.
• Download the program and copy it onto the micro:bit (it appears as a USB drive), or pair it with WebUSB from the browser.

In robots

Many robot car kits are built around the micro:bit: it plugs into a base board that has a motor driver, line sensors and an ultrasonic sensor. Its radio is great for remote control (one micro:bit as the controller, one in the robot).

Examples

Example: shake detector (MakeCode JavaScript)

input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function () {
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Surprised)
})

Example: radio remote control

Controller:

radio.setGroup(7)
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => radio.sendString("L"))
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => radio.sendString("R"))

Robot:

radio.setGroup(7)
radio.onReceivedString(function (cmd) {
    basic.showString(cmd)    // replace with motor commands for your robot kit
})

Practice

Try it

MakeCode for micro:bitOpen full screen ↗

Start simulator

Runs on Microsoft MakeCode, free, no account needed.

DiceEasy

When shaken, show a random number from 1 to 6. input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => basic.showNumber(randint(1, 6)))

Spirit levelMedium

Show an arrow pointing to whichever side is lower, using the accelerometer’s x reading. input.acceleration(Dimension.X) is negative when tilted one way and positive the other.

Night lightHard

Light all LEDs when the light level is below 30, and clear them otherwise.

Show an answer

basic.forever(function () {
    if (input.lightLevel() < 30) basic.showLeds(`
        # # # # #
        # # # # #
        # # # # #
        # # # # #
        # # # # #`)
    else basic.clearScreen()
})

Quick check

1. How big is the micro:bit’s LED display?

3 × 35 × 58 × 816 × 2

2. Which editor offers blocks, JavaScript and Python for micro:bit?

MakeCodeArduino IDE onlyPhotoshopNone

3. What feature makes micro:bit good for remote control?

Its radioIts weightIts colourIts USB cable

Check my answers