Getting Started with the Pi Supply micro:bit bit:buggy
Pi Supply bit:buggy car is a DIY smart car which is based on the BBC micro:bit board and the Pi Supply bit:buggy. The bit:buggy has extended 3 channels of GPIO, among which 2 channels are used for driving the two servos and one channel of GPIO is undefined.
bit:buggy is a simple module based kit on the micro:bit. It can breakout out 3 IO connectors, power connectors, ground connectors from the micro:bit board. On this module, we have transformed P0/P1/P2 into general connectors for GVS electric modules. Among them, we have extended P2 to a GVS connector with multiple usages. There is a slide switch on the board. Slide the switch to “S”, then you can connect SR and SL2(digital signal modules) at the same time. Slide to “P2”, you can connect digital module or simulating module but only one of them. This module adopts 3 No. 7 batteries for power supply. It is very simple, easy and practical to use. With this module, you can drive all kinds of GVS modules like servos, line-hunting modules and LED modules.
Whats in the Box?
- Acrylic car chassis
- bit:buggy breakout board
- 2x Servo motors
- Bit:buggy user guide
- Philips screwdriver
- Ball bearing (front wheel)
- Assembly screws
Assembling your bit:buggy Car
Step 1 – First use the tapping screw to fix the servo motor to the side board. Then use the screw to fix the wheels to the servo motor.
Step 2 – Now take the rivets and use them to install the castor wheels to the main chassis.
Step 3 – Assemble the front board and back board to the two side chassis, bringing them together adding the bottom caster too.
Step 4 – Use the binding post to fix all components together in place.
Step 5 – Now use the remaining screws to fix the micro:bit board to the bit:buggy breakout board.
Step 6 – Connect the wires as shown below.
Step 7 – Your Pi Supply bit:buggy should now be fully assembled as in the image below.
Programming your bit:buggy
The bit:buggy just like the micro:bit can be programmed in many languages using a variety of platforms. In the examples we provide with out kit, we program the bit:buggy using Microsoft Make Code, which is a block based programming language.
To make things easy we have created a simple Make Code extension to allow you to drag and drop simple commands for the motors to drive the bit:buggy.
Add new extensions
Step 1 – Go to https://makecode.microbit.org/ and create a new project
Step 2 – Click on “Advanced” in the Code Drawer to see more code sections and look at the bottom of the Code Drawer for “Extensions”.
Step 3 – Search for “bit buggy” and click on the bit:buggy car package to add it to your project. (As below picture)
Step 4 – Click on the extension to add it to Microsoft Make Code. In the menu on the left hand side you should see the extension.
Bit:Buggy Code Blocks
Pre-coding, we need to use the block to name the left wheel and the right wheel.
Above block is for the car goes straight at full speed.
Above block is for the car reverses at full speed.
Above block is for the car turns left at full speed.
Above block is for the car turns right at full speed.
Above block is for the car brakes.
Above block is for setting the rotate speed for the left wheel and the right wheel of the car.
This block can be used to judge the line follow status after you expands the line follow module.
This block can be used to receive the ultrasonic’s distance after you expands the ultrasonic distance module.