Microbot Activity
Estimated Time: 1 Hour
01-Some description of the lab and what they will learn
Step 0: The Basics
- Micro::Bit Coding Options
- [Click here to code with JavaScript/Blocks] (https://makecode.microbit.org)
- Click here to code with MicroPython
- Microbot Basics
- 02-include some references here about remote control/microbots that are short and sweet
Step 1: Gather Materials
- Micro::Bit (1 per person / 2 per team)
- Micro-USB Cable
- Battery Pack (Equivalent to two AA batteries)
- Microbot
Step 2: Get Familiar With Microbots
03-talk about the most important remote control concept they need to know about super concisely
04-include the most absolute most basic code example you can think of
Step 3: Download The Files
-
Download (click on) the following file to get started: 05-include directory here (called MicrobotLab.zip)
-
Unzip MicrobotLab.zip (right click on the MicrobotLab.zip and select "extract all". Then, just pick where you want to save your copy of these files). Notice there are three folders/directories in MicrobotLab:
- HexFiles: This folder/directory holds all of the .hex files, or files that are ready to be run on a Micro::Bit.
- JavaScript: This folder/directory holds all of the JavaScript code for the labs. This includes base code and completed code. The base code is code that you can start with instead of creating new projects from scratch. Completed code is code that members of the CEDAR lab completed that you can look at if you get stuck.
- Python: This folder/directory holds all of the Python code for the labs. This also includes base code and completed code.
Step 4: Open your editor.
- For JavaScript/Blocks, you will use the Micro::Bit online editor: MakeCode. Here, you can switch back and forth between JavaScript and Blocks by clicking on the button/slider in the top center of the screen.
- For Python, you can use Mu (click here to see Mu) or the online editor (click here to get to the online editor).
06-Show how to import Microbot Library in each editor
Step 6: Programming!
- Partner up
- Open the robot base code by: 1.
- Complete the robot code. Add:
1.
#. Set the radio group to your assigned group - Generate your robot .hex file
- Open the the controller base code
- Complete the controller robot code. Add:
1.
#. Set the radio group to your assigned group - Generate your controller .hex file
- Flash the robot hex file to one Micro::Bit and the controller hex file to the other. 1.
- Test your code. Your robot should: 1.
- Now try to intercept other robots
Step 7: Further Exploration
08-2 or 3 thoughts for other things they could further their work with
The GenCyber Wyoming COWPOKES program is supported by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation through Award #H98230-18-1-0095. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, or the U.S. government.