BBC Micro:bit in Practice

Develop real-world interactive physical computing applications using the Micro:bit with more than 100 MicroPython examples with circuit diagrams

Key Features

• Explore hardware programming and leverage the power of the BBC Micro:bit and MicroPython
• Build real-life creative projects step by step with each chapter increasing in complexity and interactivity
• Learn the features of the Micro:bit and how to interface it with electronic components through circuits and code examples

Book Description

This book is a one-stop guide for learning BBC Micro:bit with MicroPython, exploring many hardware components and programming techniques to provide detailed insights into developing practical applications with the Micro:bit. It will also show you how hardware components can be manipulated using a combination of Micro:bit and MicroPython for developing practical projects. BBC Micro:bit in Practice will help you gain a holistic understanding of the BBC Micro:bit platform and MicroPython programming, guiding you through mini projects aimed at developing practical knowledge of circuit design and writing programs. You’ll learn how to write programs for working with built-in LEDs and buttons, interfacing external LEDs, buttons, motors, buzzers, and much more. You’ll also work with built-in radio, speakers, accelerometer, and a compass. You’ll dive into concepts related to the Micro:bit filesystem, interfacing external displays, and working with libraries in detail before exploring sewable circuits and wearable technology.

After reading this Micro:bit book, you’ll understand how to apply principles in electronics and MicroPython to create interesting real-life projects from scratch.

What you will learn

• Explore the essentials of the BBC Micro:bit, its hardware specifications, and versions
• Program built-in and external LEDs and buttons
• Program external LED-based displays, buzzers, and stepper motors
• Use analog input and pulse width modulation to drive a servo motor
• Detect gestures with internal sensors such as accelerometer, compass, and magnetometer
• Work on projects with built-in features such as music, speech, radio, and filesystem
• Explore the advanced features of the Micro:bit

Who this book is for

This book is for anyone who wants to use the combination of MicroPython and the BBC Micro:bit for building exciting real-life projects. Engineers, researchers, hobbyists, and technology instructors working in areas such as embedded systems, electronics, software development, IoT, robotics, teaching, and training will find this book useful for building projects. Prior experience with building basic electronic circuits and any programming language, not necessarily MicroPython, will be helpful.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the BBC Micro:bit
2. Setting Up the Micro:bit and Using Code Editors
3. Python Programming Essentials
4. Advanced Python
5. Built-in LED Matrix Display and Push Buttons
6. Interfacing External LEDs
7. Programming External Push Buttons, Buzzers, and Stepper Motors
8. Exploring the Filesystem
9. Working with Analog Input and PWM
10. Working with Acceleration and Direction
11. Working with NeoPixels and a MAX7219 Display
12. Producing Music and Speech
13. Networking and Radio
14. Advanced Features of the Micro:bit
15. Wearable Computing and More Programming Environments

Ashwin Pajankar is an author, a YouTuber, and an instructor. He graduated from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, with an MTech in Computer Science and Engineering. He has been writing programs for over two and a half decades. He is proficient in Linux, Unix shell scripting, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, PowerShell, Golang, HTML, and assembly language. He has worked on single-board computers such as Raspberry Pi and Banana Pro. He is also proficient with microcontroller boards such as Arduino and the BBC Micro:bit. He is currently self-employed and teaches on Udemy and YouTube. He also organizes programming boot camps for working professionals and software companies.

Abhishek Sharma completed his BE in Electronics Engineering from Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India, and his PhD in engineering from the University of Genoa, Italy. He is presently working as an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at the LNM Institute of Information and Technology, Jaipur, India. He is the coordinator of the ARM University Partner Program, Texas Instruments Lab, and Intel Intelligent Lab at the LNM Institute of Information and Technology and the center lead of LNMIIT-Center of Smart Technology (L-CST). His research interests are real-time systems and emerging technologies.

Sandeep Saini works as an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at the LNM Institute of Information and Technology, Jaipur, India. He has taught robotics and electronics subjects at the university level in India and abroad for over a decade. He has taught more than 8,000 students online and offline during this time. He received a BTech and MS in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India. He received his PhD from Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, India. He has written 6 books and published 35 peer-reviewed journals and conference papers.