This project uses touch pin inputs. See how the micro:bit detects a press at a pin or on something connected to a pin in this video:
Project: Radio project
For this project, students should work in pairs to design a project that incorporates radio communication to send and receive data in some way. Some projects may have two separate programs: One that receives data, and one that sends data. Students might each choose to submit one program in that case.
In other cases, a pair of students might submit one program that has both sending and receiving code in it, and the same code is uploaded to two or more micro:bits.
Project Ideas
Stop, thief!
Design an alarm system for your bedroom that alerts you with a screen animation when someone opens your door. You can mount one micro:bit on your door and use the accelerometer to send a signal over the radio when it is being moved.
Interactive art
Create a piece of interactive artwork that receives something as input over the radio from another micro:bit, and displays something based on that as output.
3-Note keyboard
This is a simple three-note keyboard that uses wooden paint stirrers and copper tape to make a connection to each of the three pins on the micro:bit.
Keyboard with copper tape connections
When a key is pressed, it sends a number over the radio to a second micro:bit that plays the appropriate tone over a set of earbuds. This allows you to use each of the three pins on the first micro:bit to play a different tone.
Second micro:bit that plays the notes
3-Note keyboard program
let sound = 0
radio.onReceivedNumber(function (receivedNumber) {
if (receivedNumber == 0) {
sound = 349
music.playTone(sound, music.beat(BeatFraction.Half))
} else if (receivedNumber == 1) {
sound = 392
music.playTone(sound, music.beat(BeatFraction.Half))
} else if (receivedNumber == 2) {
sound = 440
music.playTone(sound, music.beat(BeatFraction.Half))
}
})
input.onPinPressed(TouchPin.P0, () => {
sound = 0
radio.sendNumber(sound)
basic.showLeds(`
. . # . .
. # . # .
. # . # .
. # . # .
. . # . .
`)
basic.pause(500)
basic.clearScreen()
})
input.onPinPressed(TouchPin.P1, () => {
sound = 1
radio.sendNumber(sound)
basic.showLeds(`
. . # . .
. # # . .
. . # . .
. . # . .
. # # # .
`)
basic.pause(500)
basic.clearScreen()
})
input.onPinPressed(TouchPin.P2, () => {
sound = 2
radio.sendNumber(sound)
basic.showLeds(`
. # # # .
# . . # .
. . # . .
. # . . .
# # # # .
`)
basic.pause(500)
basic.clearScreen()
})
basic.showLeds(`
# # # # #
# # # # #
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
`)
basic.clearScreen()
Radio tennis
In this project, the tennis racquets alternate displaying a ball on the micro:bit LED screen. When you swing the racquet, the ball disappears from one micro:bit display and shows up on the other micro:bit’s display.
Radio Tennis racquets (made from cardboard)
Reflection
Have students write a reflection of about 150–300 words, addressing the following points:
- What kind of Project did you do? How did you decide what to pick?
- How does your project use radio communication?
- Are there separate programs for the Sender and the Receiver micro:bits? Or 1 program for both?
- Describe something in your project that you are proud of.
- Describe a difficult point in the process of designing this program, and explain how you resolved it.
- What feedback did your beta testers give you? How did that help you improve your design?
Assessment
Competency scores: 4, 3, 2, 1
Radio
4 = Effectively uses the Radio to send and receive data, with meaningful actions and responses for each.
3 = Effectively uses the Radio to send or receive data, with meaningful actions and responses for each.
2 = Use of Radio is incomplete or non-functional and/or tangential to operation of program.
1 = No working and/or meaningful use of Radio.
micro:bit program
4 = micro:bit program:
*
Uses Radio blocks in a way that is integral to the program
*
Compiles and runs as intended
*
Meaningful comments in code
3 = micro:bit program lacks 1 of the required elements.
2 = micro:bit program lacks 2 of the required elements.
1 = micro:bit program lacks all of the required elements.
Collaboration reflection
4 = Reflection piece addresses all prompts.
3 = Reflection piece lacks 1 of the required elements.
2 = Reflection piece lacks 2 of the required elements.
1 = Reflection piece lacks 3 of the required elements.
radio