Micro:bit v2 bluetooth (ExCITE)

[connochaetes]

Hi,

I am successfully using the ExCITE software with a micro:bit v1.3B connected via bluetooth:

Excite Low Cost Kit Snap!

The institution, I am working at, purchased many micro:bits v2 for the students. It would be helpful, if this model would be supported. It was announced in spring 2024 that there were efforts to realize this. It would be helpful, if someone could give me some further information regarding this topic.

Perhaps there is another approach to this. There may be some kind of integration in "Snap!".

Any suggestions are welcome. Feel free to ask for further details.

Thank you for the work. Best regards.

[cymplecy]

@connochaetes

excite . techlit . org / snap / useSnap . html

To save others time and effort - the link is https://excite.techlit.org/snap/useSnap.html

[connochaetes]

@cymplecy Thanks for the help. In the past, I had problems with links in this forum. Obviously, this is no longer relevant.

[cymplecy]

It's just new users can't post links until they've been active for a while
It's a spam prevention measure

[petermathijssen]

The easiest way to use a micro:bit with Snap! is by using MicroBlocks.

Here you can find some examples.

Snap! and MicroBlocks using BLE

A test of the upcoming Snap! blocks making it possible to work with microcontrollers programmed with MicroBlocks. [Snap!, MicroBlocks and BLE]

[connochaetes]

@petermathijssen Thanks for the recommendation. I know and like MicroBlocks. But in this particular case, I am looking for a straightforward way to use bluetooth. (I think, it's not - or at least not directly - possible with MicroBlocks.)

[petermathijssen]

Can you tell me what you mean by directly? Snap can directly connect to, for instance, the microbit using BLE and MicroBlocks is able to do that too using BLE, even at the same time.

There has to be some program on the micro:bit to make it work, so that you can send and receive commands and data from the micro:bit. You could use MicroBlocks for that to make it possible. Then you can use Snap to talk to the micro:bit using BLE and the MicroBlocks library.

[connochaetes]

@petermathijssen I just saw your examples here: Snap! and MicroBlocks using BLE - #4 by petermathijssen Well done. This looks promising and in parts new to me.

Additionally, I just recognized that "Snap!" v10 was released yesterday. It offers the library "MicroBlocks".

Sadly, I cannot find a documentation. I guess, I need some help here.

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I'm not sure, if the new functionalities of "Snap!" and MicroBlocks fulfill my needs. Here's what I intend to do:

It's an educational project for students on a beginner's level. It would be helpful, if it would work "out of the box" without having to build my own "Print 'hello world'" block. Here are the blocks of the ExCITE project - which (sadly) just works with a micro:bit v1.3 (and not v2).

It would be helpful, if the programming itself would work via BLE. This would make it possible to do physical computing without the need to plug/unplug a USB cable.

It would be neat, if it could be a "Snap!"-only solution that empowers my students to interact with all of the micro:bit's actors and sensors. I imagine a "Snap!" library with all the blocks mentioned above. (... but feel free to let me know how "Snap!" and MicroBlocks interact.)

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Is there a way yet? Or do I have to wait for "ExCITE for micro:bit v2"?

[petermathijssen]

All or a lot of the blocks that you want are in the Signada library

I am also trying to make the microblocks blocks in Snap! I am still learning Snap! so that will take some time, and my time is very limited . I guess there are really smart people on the community that could make the conversion really fast so maybe there are some user willing to help. I am using the idea of MicroBlocks Client for Snap! - 夜行人 It is not using the current MicroBlocks library so that is why am trying to convert it.

[petermathijssen]

I played a bit with this block, changed it a bit and used the broadcast block

I just have to find/make a bin to dec converter and than it would send the right code.

[bh]

@petermathijssen

I just have to find/make a bin to dec converter

You can find sample code here:

No such thing as "decimal to binary" or "binary to decimal" conversion

There is no such thing as converting binary to decimal, or vice versa. First, a couple of definitions. A number is, you know, how much or how many of something. Three bananas, or three computers, or three Snap! projects: all of those are part of what three means. A numeral is the representation of a number as text. Usually that means positional notation in some base: decimal or binary or hexadecimal or something else. But it can also be Roman numerals, or Cuneiform, or whatever. Now we ha…

[petermathijssen]

Yes, I found that, thank you. I will have to find some time this weekend to implement it. Else I will be able to work on it during Snap!Shot

[dardoro]

@petermathijssen

I just have to find/make a bin to dec

It's just Horner's schema for polynomial evaluation where $$x=2$$ and $$a_n$$ coefficients are bit values

[connochaetes]

Thanks for the insights. Am I right, that at the moment, it's still "work in progress"?

[connochaetes]

My goal is still to control a micro:bit v2 in "Snap!" via BLE.

As a workaround, I am using:
https://microblocks.fun/run-pilot/
Here, I can connect the board via BLE:

But again: I would prefer to use "Snap!". This is what I got so far... (The following documentation of first steps could be helpful for someone.)

As mentioned above, I am using "Snap!" v10.0.0 like this:

The micro:bit has to be prepared via MicroBlocks like this:

---> It would be nice, if there were Microblocks and "Snap!" files in order to use all the actors and sensors out of the box.

(I am quite aware, that both systems are open, so that I am free to create these file myself...)

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Finally, I would thank both the "Snap!" and the MicroBit community for their work.

[petermathijssen]

Thank you,

Used it here