Dear Community,
I showed up today and didn't really feel like "working" although I had plenty to do. Our payroll system had double-paid one of us, a workers' compensation renewal needed attention, and the HVAC system was freezing some people while overheating others. Since it wasn't looking like a day I'd remember, I decided to make it one I wouldn't forget!
I grabbed a micro:bit 10th Anniversary Limited Edition GO Kit, a couple of micro servos and wheels, an I/O Edge Adapter for micro:bit, a box cutter, and some double-sided tape. No 3D printer, no CNC, no drawings — just an idea to make something fun with the micro:bit. I really like the GO Bundle's black box and the creative silkscreen on the module, too. This is about as simple of a robot as you can build, but it has potential for so much more with the wireless link, sensors, and sound built right into the micro:bit.
I thought about being a student and it reminded me of what I enjoyed most in school: metal shop, sandblasting glass, RadioShack after school, programming a Timex Sinclair computer, and music. Those were opportunities to make decisions, experiment, and create something of my own. Agency sticks, and you've heard the next part from me many times: these experiences can lead to productive and rewarding careers.
It had been a while since I'd worked in MakeCode, but I was really impressed by the additional blocks! I was able to code the LaserPing sensor and servos in just a few minutes, all from an iPad. Floating-point math, background processing, and calculations are easy in MakeCode. MakeCode's Bluetooth downloader with an iPad is really slick, especially when you're working on a project that wants to roll away every time you download new code.
It's basically these items:
- 10th Anniversary micro:bit GO Bundle Kit
- (2) Continuous Rotation Micro Servos and Wheels (Amazon)
- LaserPing
- I/O Edge for micro:bit
- Breadboard set
- Jumper wires, knife or box cutter, double-sided sticky tape, a 1-oz tin
Let me know if you'd like us to throw these parts in a box and offer it as a Limited Edition kit!
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
CEO
1 Comment
This is exactly the kind of project that makes me excited about the possibilities of the micro:bit!
What strikes me most isn’t necessarily the robot itself (although, let’s be honest, making a robot out of a cardboard box is pretty fantastic). It’s the reminder that meaningful making doesn’t require elaborate equipment, extensive preparation, or even a fully formed plan. Sometimes all you need is an idea, a few components, and the freedom to experiment.
I especially appreciate your connection to student agency. Those opportunities to tinker, make decisions, troubleshoot, and create something of our own are often the experiences that stick with us long after we’ve forgotten the individual skills we learned along the way.
I can definitely see the appeal of packaging this as a kit for teachers who want everything ready to go. But I also love the idea of teachers looking at this project and thinking about what they already have on hand that could be repurposed. A cardboard box, a few odds and ends, and the I/O Edge for micro:bit could be the starting point for all sorts of creations!
I’ve already loaded up a Parallax shopping cart.
Now excuse me while I inventory the contents of my house and see what kind of robot I can build!