Micro:bit for Mad Scientists

Micro:bit for Mad Scientists

by Simon Monk
Released September 2019
Publisher(s): No Starch Press
ISBN: 9781593279745

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Book description

The BBC micro:bit is a tiny, inexpensive, and surprisingly powerful computer that you can use to build cool things and experiment with code. The 30 simple projects and experiments in this book will show you how to use the micro:bit to build a secret science lab—complete with robots, door alarms, lie detectors, and more—as you learn basic coding and electronics skills.

Here are just some of the projects you’ll build:

•A light-controlled guitar you can play just by waving your hand
•A working lie detector
•A self-watering plant care system
•A two-wheeled robot
•A talking robotic head with moving eyes
•A door alarm made with magnets

Learn to code like a Mad Scientist!

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  6. ABOUT THE TECHNICAL REVIEWER
  7. BRIEF CONTENTS
  8. CONTENTS IN DETAIL
  9. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  10. INTRODUCTION
    1. About This Book
    2. Code and Resources
  11. 1 GETTING STARTED
    1. A Tour of the Micro:bit
    2. Hardware Essentials
    3. Programming the Micro:bit
    4. Programming Concepts
    5. Downloading the Code
    6. Summary
  12. 2 SUPER SONIC
    1. Connecting a Loudspeaker to a Micro:bit
    2. Experiment 1: Generating Sounds
    3. Experiment 2: It Speaks!
    4. Project: Musical Doorbell
    5. Project: Shout-O-Meter
    6. Summary
  13. 3 LUMINOUS LIGHT
    1. Experiment 3: Sensing Light
    2. Project: Automatic Night-Light
    3. Project: Light Guitar
    4. Project: Infinity Mirror
    5. Summary
  14. 4 MAGICAL MAGNETISM
    1. Project: Compass
    2. Experiment 4: Measuring Magnetic Fields
    3. Project: Magnetic Door Alarm
    4. Summary
  15. 5 AMAZING ACCELERATION
    1. Experiment 5: Gestures
    2. Experiment 6: Real-Time Acceleration Plotting
    3. Project: Toothbrushing Monitor
    4. Experiment 7: Logging Acceleration to a File
    5. Project: Acceleration Display
    6. Summary
  16. 6 MAD MOVEMENT
    1. Experiment 8: Making a Servomotor Move
    2. Project: Animatronic Head (Mike the Micro:bit Robot)
    3. Project: Robot Rover
    4. Summary
  17. 7 TIME TRAVEL
    1. Experiment 9: Keeping Time
    2. Project: Binary Clock
    3. Project: Talking Clock
    4. Summary
  18. 8 MAD SCIENTIST MIND GAMES
    1. Experiment 10: How Fast Are Your Nerves?
    2. Project: Lie Detector
    3. Summary
  19. 9 ENVIRONMENTAL MADNESS
    1. Experiment 11: Measuring Temperature
    2. Project: Temperature and Light Logger
    3. Project: Automatic Plant Waterer
    4. Summary
  20. 10 RADIO ACTIVITY
    1. Experiment 12: Finding the Radio Range
    2. Project: Wireless Doorbell
    3. Project: Micro:bit-Controlled Rover
    4. Summary
  21. APPENDIX: GET THE PARTS
    1. Useful Tools
    2. Common Parts
    3. Powering Your Micro:bit
    4. Micro:bit Accessories
    5. Miscellaneous

Product information

  • Title: Micro:bit for Mad Scientists
  • Author(s): Simon Monk
  • Release date: September 2019
  • Publisher(s): No Starch Press
  • ISBN: 9781593279745