PicoBricks Projects Page
Intersection with traffic lights.
Either use tape on table or tape on cardboard, LEDs, even the car to make it realistic. Group decides how to automate the traffic signals: timing, sequencing, etc. Micro:bit radio with signal strengths and group codes can be used for sending/receiving signal and traffic info.
[Related to EV trend. Group thinking, compromising, engineering decisions, sensors, communications, algorithms]
Build a car from scratch using components, program it to be controlled and driven. Part of the team can build, the others code. Or one team can build and another automate. Materials can be cardboard pieces, pizza boxes, cut up thin wood pieces, some DC motors or 360 servos. Will provide a huge compare and contrast if they had used the Cutebot Pro already.
[Huge collaboration opportunity, car build related decisions. ]
Sort of a Battle Ship, but much simpler
Have a group design a pattern on the micro:bit LED display. Then using the A and B buttons for yes and no, and radio for pixel number, communicate it to the other group.
Inquiring group would send pixel inquiries using numbers 1-25 over radio and responding group would respond yes no for pixel on/off for corresponding LED.
After 25 inquiries, receiving group would announce their result and compare. Ultimate prize for two groups totally automating the process without cheating.
[Communications, graphics, binary math]
Treasure Hunt using BLE radio signal strength
Try to find a hidden micro:bit using radio signal strength.
Might be cumbersome in a small area, but OK in a large space.
Target can be programmed to transmit a signal with low strength and a message (a number of a word)
Here, signal strength have to decided empirically, based on the setting. Check out the lowest and next few settings and see what distance they accomodate. That should determine the area that can be used.
Message can be broadcast over different radio channels/groups.
Radio Library "last signal strength" can be used to gauge distance: high negative numbers are FAR, low negative numbers are NEAR.
Radio channel / group can be used to separate groups, so they all can look for their own target; OR everyone can look for the same target without channels / groups.
Cutebot Pro car can be used to drive around and look for the hidden device.
[Communications, sensing, simple proximity determination, channel skimming for clues]
Sensors
Micro:bit Basic sensors library has a light sensor reading, based on the sensing done by the LED panel, and a magnetic field sensor.
Eg: magnetic field sensor can be used to locate magnets that are placed under a large cloth or paper covering on a table. Then participants can program their micro:bits to read display the field strength, while they are skimming the top of the covered space; and try to locate the magnet as accurately as possible.