session01 - nsbejrFire/microbitRobot GitHub Wiki

Programming Session 01

Welcome to Micro:Bit programming with python! The first session is all about getting familiar with the Micro:Bit programming board and basic python programming. We also cover some background about robotics in general.

Robotics Background

You can learn about several early examples of "robots" here. Some robotics professionals call these early robots, while others say they are better classified as automatons, puppets, or clockwork mechanisms. What do you think?

Robots are also a common feature in literature.

You can read more about the history of robotics in literature and in reality in this article by Wired. This IEEE Robotics page has a great summary of many notable robots.

Program Code

All the programming exercises can be found here:

First we wrote a Hello World program as example 01
Then we wrote a program with two different instructions as example 02
Next we learned how to repeat an instruction with while True: in example 03
Finally we used some new instructions to blink an LED on the display in example 04

Challenges for next week

Find a tutorial on this page that interests you and try it out!
Use the display to show some pre-made images as explained on this page.
Make your own image to show on the display as discussed here. Can you make a ghost shape or a vampire face?
An animation is a sequence of images that give the appearance of motion. This page talks about how to make your own animation.
- Can you make an animation of a face sticking its tongue in and out of its mouth?
- Can you make an animation of raindrops falling?
- Can you come up with a different animation idea?

You can upload a video of your favorite animation. Uploading video will make you eligible to win a special end of season prize!