What are we going to do?
In this activity we are going to learn a bit more bout micro:bit's radio communication
- Objectives
- Understand how to use the Radio blocks to send and receive data between micro:bits
- Understand the specific types of data that can be sent over the Radio
At the end of this activity, we'll be able to send and receive data via radio between two micro:bit boards. We'll use morse code to send data, so first we'll have a look at the morse code.
Materials
micro:bit board
The micro:bit was designed to be classroom-friendly from day one. More approachable than just coding, it's a great way to achieve fun, practical results with motivated students. Buy from here starter kit (recommended) or board only.
micro USB cable
If your micro:bit board didn't came with a USB cable, any microUSB cable should do the trick
Computer
The code editor is web based, so any computer with a web browser (and Internet connectivity) will do
Instructions
1 Open editor
Once you've opened the editor, pick a name for your project. Remember that it should be something that easily identifies it. To create a program, you just have to select some blocks from the left side of your page and drag and drop them to your workspace.
3 Upload to the board
When the program is ready and you click "Download", an HEX file will be downloaded to your computer (normally to your download folder). If download succeeded, a message will appear on your screen. Click "done".
Now, connect your micro:bit board to your computer using the micro USB cable. Your computer should now detect your micro:bit just as if it was an external drive. Search the HEX file you just downloaded and drag and drop them on your micro:bit drive. On windows you can right button on the HEX file and click send to MICROBIT.
4 Final result
After a few seconds, your program should start on your micro:bit board.
Congratulations, you're on the right path to be a maker!, now continue with the following challenges! 🙂
Now it's your turn!
Now it's time to start using this awesome code to send some secret messages! Do you accept this challenge?
- To send a secret message, first choose your words. Keep it short and simple, you don't need to form a full sentence. Here you have some examples:
- Question: doing? Answer: Fine
- Question: color? Answer: Red
- Question: Name? Answer: Peter
- Now translate it to morse code. Here you have an example:
- Normal - Question: color? Answer: Red
- Morse code - Question: −°−°Π−−−Π°−°°Π−−−Π°−° Answer: °−°Π°Π−°°
- Finally, send it using A and B buttons on your micro:bit board
What else?
Now that you know how to communicate via radio, you can send some messages with morse code!
IMPORTANT! If you're working in pairs, each pair has to have a different "radio group". For example radio group 1 for pair one, radio group 2 for pair two... Both components of the group need same radio group id but different to other pairs.
And finally, as I know you liked the dodge ball game from last activity very much, here you have another game, the snake game!! You just have to download it and send it to your micro:bit board.
To play:
Press B to turn right and A to turn left. Try to catch as many apples (dots) as you can without crashing!