Boson Starter Kit for micro: bit

1. Introduction

Boson Starter Kit for micro: bit Overview micro: bit is a pocket-sized microcontroller designed for kids and beginners to learn coding and electronics, letting them easily bring ideas into DIY digital games, interactive projects and robotics. Boson Kit has been awarded Five Stars in the 2018 Teach Primary Resource Awards. To explore even more possibilities with micro:bit, we have now combined it with DFRobot’s Boson modules, a set of modularized electronic blocks, suitable for every child to start their hands-on journeys of creation. DFRobot’s Boson starter kit for micro:bit includes 8 well-selected modules, covering the most popular digital and analog sensors and actuators, supporting sound, light, and motion interaction. Modules communicate to micro: bit via 3-Pin interface and are perfectly compatible with Microsoft MakeCode JavaScript online Editor and Python Editor.

micro:bit

Different Version Of the micro:bit Expansion Board for Boson

To get more information about the expansion board ,please check here.

Features

Specification

2. Introduction to Teaching Contents and Projects

Start Kit for micro:bit Tutorial is a micro:bit-based programming course designed for kids in early primary school. It aims to introduce the basics of electronics and programming to students. The 13 coding-free BOSON modules used in the course allow students to transit from physical programming to real coding learning, laying the foundation of electronic basics for future study and enhancing their understanding of conditional statement and logic calculation. PBL teaching method is mainly used in the course. Students will learn by working together to build projects like automatic doors, speed adjustable fans, etc., by which to improve their problem-solving ability.

Refer to CSTA curriculum standard, the course catalog and field distribution are shown below:

2.1 Project Introduction

Project Project Description
Before getting into coding, we should first know some tools that help turn our ideas into reality. So this
project mainly introduces Mind+ platform, micro:bit, micro: bit expansion board and how to use them.
The controller is the core of programming projects. So in this project, we will control the on-board 25
LEDs of micro:bit to be on/off by programming to display various patterns.
Light up LEDs: In this project, we will light up LED and keep it on through programming.
Flash the LED Light: In the last project, we learned how to light up LED and keep it on. And in this one,
we will let the LED repeatedly keep on for 1 second and keep off for 1 second.
Control LED by Push Button: We made a button-controlled lamp in the non-programming project.
And in this one, we will try controlling a LED via push button by programming. Press the push button,
the LED turns ON, and release it, the LED goes OFF.

Control LED by Knob: Sometimes, the light is too bright and we want to dim it. By programming,
we can use a knob to control LED brightness. For example, when the knob is turned clockwise,
the LED brightness will increase, and when turned counterclockwise, LED brightness will reduce.
Push-button Fan: The push button can be used as input module to control a fan besides LEDs.
This project will realize the effect like this by programming: when the button is pressed, this command
will be executed and the fan starts to rotate; Release the button, the fan stops rotating.

Set the fan running at different speed: Commonly, fans in the market can run at different speeds.
By programming, we will use the knob module to control the rotating speed of the fan in this project.
Detect the sound strength: If we want to know the volume of our voice, how to design the project?
In this project, the sound is graded as 1 and 2. When the analog value of sound intensity is less than 80,
we set the on-board LED to display the figure “1”, which means that the sound is low and intensity is
grade 1; when the analog value is over 80, the on-board LED display figure “2”, which means the sound
intensity is grade 2.
micro: bit Candle: This project shows how to make an electronic candle. After programming, when the
analog value of sound sensor is less than the preset value of 80, the LED keeps on, otherwise, blow it like
a candle, when the sound intensity is over 80, the LED keeps off for 2 seconds.
Control Servo with Push Button: In previous projects, we learned how to use push button to control LEDs
and fan. And in this one, we will use it to control the servo by programming. For example, when we press
the button and the servo rotates 100°; release the button, the servo rotates 0°.

Control the Servo with Motion Sensor: There are automatic doors in many public places, if we want to
realize the effect of automatic doors, how to do that? In this project, we can use a motion sensor to
detect human motion. By programming, the servo rotates 100° if someone passed, otherwise rotates 0°.
Play Music: In this project, we will connect micro: bit board to computer with USB cable, plug the
earphone into the earphone jack, then write music melody into micro:bit on Mind+.

Smart Music Box: If we want to make a music box that plays music when someone is moving closer,
how to design it? In this project, we can use motion sensor to detect if anyone is approaching, if so,
it will play the song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Turn on the RGB LED strip: WS2812 RGB LED strip can be lit and shine like a rainbow. In this project,
we will program to light up the LED strip and make it display a seven-color light effect.

Turn on the rainbow LEDs: WS2812 RGB LED strip consists of 7 LEDs. In this project, we will light ON 1
LED every second using Variables.

RGB LED strip controlled by a sound sensor: Control the RGB LED strip with a sound sensor.
light ON 1 LED every time when making sound, after all 7 LEDs are lighted, light OFF all LEDs
and repeat lighting ON one by one again.
Sometimes I hold my cell phone horizontally in my hand, but when my hand turns to the left, the sreen
content page magically turns to the right. Why? In this project, we will explore this magic function!
Through the accelerator on the micro:bit, we can make a servo keep pointing upright regardless of
how we tilt the board.
In this project, we will use a knob module and RGB LED strip to make a DJ panel. The objective is to
play different music and make the LED strip flash different colors by rotating the knob at different angles!
If I want to hear the knock on my front door even though I'm in my bedroom. How to design it? In this
project, we can use the micro:bit with wireless transmission function to make a remote-control doorbell.
Do you like playing games with your friends? In this project, we will make the game Bomb. When we
start to play the game Bomb, the LEDs enter the countdown mode. When all LEDs are OFF, which
means the countdown is over, the bomb will explode immediately. If we want to defuse the bomb
before it explodes, we need to tilt the micro: bit board in the direction that the LED indicates,
if the 20 actions are finished before all the LEDs go out, then the bomb is defused successfully.

3. Documents

Click to view online tutorial BOSON Coding Starter Kit tutorial-Programming project
Click to download the tutorial 1.English Tutorial (code with Mindplus)
2.English Tutorial (code with Makecode)
3.English Tutorial (code with Mindplus) Updates
4.Japanese Tutorial (code with Makecode)
5.Spanish Tutorial (code with Makecode)
Click to download the Project card New Project Cards
Product pictures TOY0086 product pictures.rar

4. Product List

BOS0002-R
Red Push Button *1
BOS0017-R
Red LED Module *1
BOS0021
Fan Module *1
SER0045
Boson:9g Metal Gear Micro Servo *1
FIT0656
WS2812 RGB Full Color LED Strip (7 LED Beads) *1
Others
BOS0001
Rotation Sensor *1
BOS0013
Motion Sensor *1
BOS0009
Sound Sensor *1
DFR0521
Boson micro:bit Mainboard *1
Boson Micro USB Cable *1
10cm Sensor Cable *4
5cm Sensor Cable *4
20cm Sensor Cable *4
Quick Start guide *1

More about BOSON

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FAQ

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