Course Overview –

As part of this development track we will explore the world of robotics using the Robit Smart Car and the BBC micro:bit. As you follow through the tutorials in this development track you will learn how to –

1. Assemble the Robit Smart Car robot
2. Play music using the Robit Smart Car robot
3. Code the robot and get it to move
4. Write programs to get your robot to navigate around a track
5. Learn how to light up your robot in different colors
6. Control the robot remotely
7. Sense light and write programs to perform different actions.

Here’s a list of tutorials that cover use of the components included in the kit.

1. Assembling the robot
2. Learning to detect obstacles and navigating around them using the ultrasonic sensor
3. Learning to detect edges using the line following sensor
4. Learning to navigate around a track using the line following sensor
5. Playing music and sounds using the onboard speaker
6. Learning to use the light sensor and LED’s to create visual effects
7. Controlling the robot remotely over bluetooth and infrared

Prerequisites –

1. BBC micro:bit –
   1. This development track makes extensive use of the BBC micro:bit.
   2. If you haven’t purchased a BBC micro:bit yet you might want to head over to OzToyLib and pick one up now.
   3. We would recommend that you pick up the BBC micro:bit kit which comes with a battery pack, usb cable and the real micro:bit.
   4. We will be using the official online python editor to write code for all our tutorials. No investment required here.
2. Robit Smart Cart and STEM Education Robot –
   1. You can purchase the Robit Smart Car robot through the OzToyLib store – Robit STEM Education Robot
   2. Please note that the BBC micro:bit needs to be purchased separately from the Robit STEM Education Robot
   3. You can purchase the Robit STEM Education Robot at OzToyLib.
3. You can also look up each of these products at your local electronics hobby store.

Recommended Prior Learning –

This is an advanced micro:bit track with a focus on exploring robotics using the Robit STEM Education Robot robot.

We would highly recommend that you complete the following tracks before you start off with this track.

1. Introduction to coding concepts with Scratch I
2. Introduction to coding concepts with Scratch II
3. Exploring Coding Concepts Using the BBC micro:bit I
4. Exploring Coding Concepts Using the BBC micro:bit II
5. Exploring Coding Concepts Using the BBC micro:bit III
6. Design Interactive Games Using the BBC micro:bit
7. Introduction To Electronics Using The BBC micro:bit – I

About the Robit STEM Education Robot –

The micro:bit Robit offers educators, parents and kids a great opportunity to build on their existing coding skills and take the knowledge of coding, robotics and electronics to a higher level. If you are just starting with coding and robotics then you might want to program the micro:bit Robit using the BBC micro:bit Makecode Block based programming language. If you are an experienced developer and have some prior experience working with electronics, robotics then you can program micro:bit Robit using Javascript or even using MicroPython. The Ring:bit micro:bit STEM education robot is recommended for kids 8+ years and older. The micro:bit Robit is really easy to assemble and can be put together in less than an hour. You can use the micro:bit Robit to introduce you child to the world of STEM and get them going with coding introducing them to the world of robotics using the micro:bit. micro:bit Robit is a great way to get started with the basics of coding and robotics using a flexible, affordable and easy to work with robotic platform.

About BBC micro:bit –

The Micro Bit (also referred to as BBC Micro Bit, stylised as micro:bit) is an ARM-based embedded system designed by the BBC for use in computer education in the UK. The board is 4 cm × 5 cm and has an ARM Cortex-M0 processor, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a display consisting of 25 LEDs, two programmable buttons, and can be powered by either USB or an external battery pack. The device inputs and outputs are through five ring connectors that are part of the 23-pin edge connector at the bottom of the board. The micro:bit can be programmed using the Microsoft Block code program editor which is similar to the block based language Scratch ideal for 7-12 year olds. The micro:bit can also be programmed using the Makecode editor in Javascript and Python which allows for older kids to learn the Javascript and Python programming language using the micro:bit.

You can read more about the BBC micro:bit at the microbit website. Also see Kitronik’s resources here – Parents Complete Guide To The BBC micro:bit.