Lab Notes

Magnetic switches are popular peripherals you can even find at your local hardware store. Whether you're making a DIY security system, trying to count how many times a door is opened during a day, or building the notorious fridge alarm, this project will show you the way!

Check out the demo video at: https://youtu.be/ks6JoeQ71Zg

Just in time for the Holidays, turn your micro:bit and an old kitchen thermometer probe into an accurate and versatile digital thermometer. Python powered kitchen science is the best! As an added bonus, you'll be cooking with Logarithms, so get your math on and have some fun as we code this up in CodeSpace!

Check out the video at: https://youtu.be/di33GfSoQWc

Ready for some fast-paced, precision input controls for your micro:bit? Joysticks are great for gaming, but there are SO many other applications for them in the world of Physical Computing! 

Whether you're creating musical instruments of the future, or building a telerobotic manipulator, you can learn how to make it happen with Python and CodeSpace in this post!

Check out the demo video here: https://youtu.be/CaD89i2Naoc

The micro:bit's NeoPixel library makes it a snap to add these super-bright and colorful components to your next project.

Check out the demonstration video here: https://youtu.be/OlSojuhayOY

Coding at the speed of sound! You can't beat the HC-SR04 sensor for a low-cost way to do experiment with some really cool physical science. How does the speed of sound change as the temperature changes? Write a little Python code then do an experiment to find out! 

Check out the video for a demonstration of this amazing sensor project: https://youtu.be/LsB9CdQZ2aI

A potentiometer is a great way to improve control in your micro:bit projects. Whether you're using it as a game controller, to select options from an on-screen menu, or controlling musical tempo and pitch, there are so many potential uses!

Witness the power and simplicity of Python with potentiometers in our demo video!

Want to connect an external push-button or switch to your micro:bit? It's easy to do, and Python gives you complete control over digital input pins!

Despite their simplicity, there are some interesting nuances when dealing with buttons and switches. Check it out!

Take a look at our external switch demo video here: https://youtu.be/jnnBvcvTxic

Positional servos are the next stop on our tour of micro:bit peripherals in Python. We tested this one out at GaETC 2019, so we can confirm it's a crowd pleaser!

Check out the video demo of this, taken live at GaETC 2019: https://youtu.be/wAPUyItqpRs

Controlling external discrete LEDs with Python and the micro:bit is a breeze!  Todd  is back in our second No Blocks November installment to walk you through it with CodeSpace and a little bit of Python.

Check out the demo video!

See how easy it is to control servos with Python and the micro:bit! Firia Labs Engineer Todd Beales takes you through the fundamentals of servos, and shows you how to spin 'em up with CodeSpace and a little bit of Python.

Check out the 60-second intro video!