Robots and Physical Computing

I have recently been teaching a module on Internet Programming on a MSc Computing programme (see related links), and was looking for a way to introduce a little bit of physical computing to finish of the module - micro:bits offer a route. So a bit of context; most of the students on the module had first degrees in either networking or software engineering; so before they start the module they are competent in programming with Javascript, HTML, CSS and PHP. Therefore the module looked to develop new areas such as introductory blockchain ,  virtual reality via the web (e.g. WebVR), using social media sources; but lastly looking at physical computing leading to an insight into the Internet of Things (IoT). As part of this last topic gaining some experience of programming and very simple networking was looked at using the micro:bit. An activity was produced where: they, in pairs, initially replicate some code and work out how it worked; they then took the code and experim...

Finally got around to building add playing with the Kitronik :Move  https://www.kitronik.co.uk/5624-move-mini-buggy-kit-excl-microbit.html  (see below - I decided to put the green sides on the outside - just to be different). One of its features is a vertical set of holes for a pen to be placed in. Add the blocks (found at  https://github.com/KitronikLtd/pxt-kitronik-servo-lite ) in blocks editor ( https://makecode.microbit.org/ )  to control the motors. You can do the same thing with writing to the pins,  t hose instructions come with the build instructions, but using the extra blocks  is a little easier to understand. Also add the package for neopixels (type in neopixels  in the search box to find them). Two very good tutorials I found useful to start with can be found at: Neopixels on the robot  in blocks - https://www.kitronik.co.uk/blog/using-kitronik-zip-leds-bbc-microbit/ Servos on the robot in blocks -  ht...