New Micro:bit Version 2 - Out Now

The new Micro:bit version 2 is now on sale.

While this Version 2 board is backwardly compatible with the previous Micro:bit board there are many new features and capabilities to help us create a wider range of software and hardware projects.

Here's a list of the Version 2 changes and additions:
• 4x Faster 64MHz Arm Cortex-M4 + FPU processor
• Larger 512KB Flash storage on board
• Larger 128KB RAM
• On-board MEMS Microphone with LED indicator
• On-board Speaker
• Touch sensitive logo "button"
• Sleep/off mode with LED indicator (for Battery saving)
• Up to 200mA of current for external accessories
• Bluetooth 5.0 radio allowing micro:bits to talk to each other
• Notched edge connector (easier crocodile clips connection)

All this is mounted on the same sized board while retaining all the original capabilities. Plus the MicroPython language will be fully compatible with these new features.

And, amazingly, it's available for the same low low price!

Anton's LEGO® Construction Projects

The web contains many sources of information on LEGO® programmable hub/brick technologies and the associated construction kits. One of these is from a guy called Anton.

Anton has a blog containing How-To tutorials which explain the steps required construct and program LEGO® robot projects, like the ones show in his videos.

For example, Anton has a Bluetooth wireless remote control of the EV3 hub/brick post which involves LEGO® SPIKE Prime, the MicroPython language and the PyBricks module.

Anton also has a large collection of inspirational LEGO® project videos going back over 10 years and covering various products including LEGO® NXT, LEGO® Technic, LEGO® Mindstorms and LEGO® SPIKE.

LEGO® and Python and PyBricks

Over the 20 years LEGO® have created a number of intelligent programmable hub/brick technologies for LEGO® MINDSTORMS, LEGO® TECHNIC, LEGO® CITY, LEGO® BOOST and most recently LEGO® SPIKE.

However, the ability to use the Python programming language for coding LEGO® hub/bricks is a more recent innovation. One of the Python coding options is a module called PyBricks.

PyBricks has a number of advantages:
• It is Open Source with source code on GitHub
• It is based on the popular MicroPython language
• You can run your code directly on the hub/brick
• There's an app to write MicroPython scripts
• You can send scipts to the hub/brick via Bluetooth
• It offers precise motor control
• It is compatible with all official sensors and motors

PyBricks version 2.0 was a little limited in hub/brick support. But now, with PyBricks 3.0 Beta, there's support many more LEGO® platforms, including LEGO® BOOST, LEGO® TECHNIC Control+ and LEGO® City Trains.

LEGO® SPIKE™ and MicroPython

LEGO® SPIKE™ is an education-level product from the LEGO® intelligent programmable hub/brick family.

LEGO® SPIKE™ simplifies the connection of motors and sensors - such as touch, distance-ultrasonic, and color/light - and provides a programming interface via the popular Scratch coding language.

LEGO® SPIKE™ brick/hub has six ports, a speaker, a 5x5 light matrix, a 6-axis gyroscope, Bluetooth wireless communication and a rechargeable battery.
The LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime kit adds motors, sensors and 525 technic-style bricks to create a rapid robotics development environment.

Interestingly, internally this intelligent brick/hub runs MicroPython. And, you can open a connection to a REPL session and enter commands to control the SPIKE™ brick/hub - as shown on the instructables website.

And now, with version the Education SPIKE™ 1.3 app update, LEGO® officially provide full language support for the Python Knowledge Base coding, as shown by the message below taken from a LEGO® SPIKE™ webpage.

LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime lets your students dip their toes into text-based coding with a beginner-friendly Python experience. Python is a coding language widely used in robotics and it lays a strong foundation for tackling more advanced topics like algorithms, data structures, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

CircuitPython, Adafruit and MicroPython

CircuitPython is a variant of the python language specifically aimed at the popular range of maker-style board products from AdaFruit Industries.

Digging under the covers the CircuitPython language is actually a fork of the popular MicroPython language. Consequently when there's a MicroPython update the CircuitPython language is also updated to accommodate any new features and functionality.

However, MicroPython is designed to support a much wider range of boards from many different manufacturers. As a result coding in CircuitPython is going to be a little different in places, so using a MicroPython reference manual isn’t always going to work.

Also note that CircuitPython only has a single file module download to the target board. While his means it isn't as flexible as MicroPython, it does make it considerably simpler to implement and debug.

Free micro:bit MicroPython Coding Tutorials

Updated Mu Python/MicroPython Editor

Previously, in my micro:bit MicroPython Coding Tutorials I introduced a easy-to-use coding editor, with full micro:bit MicroPython support, called Mu.

Now there's an updated version of Mu available for download for the Raspberry Pi, plus devices running the Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems.

One of the most important additions to Mu is an extended set of coding modes including:
• Python 3 coding
• MicroPython micro:bit coding
• Pygame Zero game coding
• Adafruit Circuit board support

Try My Free Python Coding Tutorials