After several delays, BBC is now giving free Micro:Bit Bluetooth LE enabled boards to UK students with the goal of getting them interested in coding and electronics in a way that’s even easier and cheaper than using a Raspberry Pi board.
Micro:bit specifications:
- MCU – Nordic nRF51822 Bluetooth SoC based on Cortex M0 core @ 16MHz with 16KB RAM
- 2x user buttons, 1x reset button
- 25x red user LEDs in a 5×5 matrix
- Connectivity – Bluetooth LE
- Sensors – Compass, magnetometer, accelerometer
- USB – 1x micro USB port for port and programming
- Expansion – 20-pin edge connector, 5x “rings” for 3V, GND, and 3 digital/analog I/Os
- Power – 5V via USB or battery port to connect two AAA batteries
- Dimensions – 4cm x 5cm
There are four ways to “code” the board: Code Kingdoms JavaScript graphical ‘drag and drop’ and text-based programming, Microsoft Block Editor graphical, drag and drop code editor, Microsoft Touch Developer text-based programming language, and Python. I was unclear on how they’d use the rings, until I found this picture showing crocodile clips connected to the board, and Kitronic has made add-ons boards and kits using the 20-pin edge connector.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
There is micropython for it:
http://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.org/en/latest/tutorials/hello.html
… and Espruino Java Script, including an IDE connected over Web Bluetooth:
http://www.espruino.com/MicroBit
@Zoobab
impressive that they can squeeze it in 16KB of RAM
but they have to flash the runtime and the python script each time (uflash).
nRF51822 have 128kB flash + 16kB RAM
Do banana plugs also fit in the holes? Oshw? Any clones? Are the ide licenses tied to a hardware id?
@baoboa
Why? Can’t you just send the script to the runtime and have it self-program reserved flash pages?
This SOC has some breakout boards on Aliexpress for 6usd.
They are not the same as the microbit, but they could be a good start to make an open hardware clone of the microbit.
Seems popular “Farnell element.14 has begun to ship 65,000 micro:bit computers to schools in Denmark as part of an order from Boarding on behalf of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
The three-year ‘ultra:bit’ programme, will use the micro:bit in the classroom to help transform Danish Year 4 students from passive technology consumers to digital pioneers.”