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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
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micro:bit DIY Compass -- The Learning Circuit 57

 

 

Along with many other features, the BBC micro:bit has a built-in compass. The built-in magnetometer can sense the magnetic poles of the Earth. Navigational compasses usually have a piece of metal that is attracted to either the north or south pole of the Earth so that its arrow always points North. Watch as Karen shows how to make a more technical compass that can display not only arrows, but also the name of the direction being faced.

 

Bill of Material:

 

Product NameManufacturerQuantityBuy KitBuy Kit
BBC micro:bit go + 3V battery holder, USBBBC MICRO:BIT1Buy NowBuy Now
MAGNET, 1.6X1.6X12.7, H-31-MAGNETHamlin1Buy NowBuy Now
Attachments:
TLC_57_Code.zip
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  • The display is a bit limited but you could perhaps create a treasure map type game where you create a starting location e.g. garden tree and then have to 'walk 10 paces North, walk 5 paces East, etc.' and X finally marks the spot. Digging is optional but not always appreciated...

     

    The display could perhaps be enhanced by adding a ring of 36 LEDs around the micro:bit (high density addressable pixel LED strip formed into a ring ?) which would then give you 10degree intervals. North could be indicated by a steady red LED and then optionally a desired heading indicated by another colour or a flashing LED. A series of waypoints could be stored and recalled, with the LED matrix on the micro:bit scrolling text messages. 

     

    Could also perhaps add an OLED display to get a higher resolution display for the compass needle.

     

    Logging of data is one advantage over a traditional compass so perhaps the compass combined with an accelerometer used as a pedometer could give you a log of direction and number of steps which could allow you to map out areas where GPS is ineffective, e.g. wooded areas.

Comment

  • The display is a bit limited but you could perhaps create a treasure map type game where you create a starting location e.g. garden tree and then have to 'walk 10 paces North, walk 5 paces East, etc.' and X finally marks the spot. Digging is optional but not always appreciated...

     

    The display could perhaps be enhanced by adding a ring of 36 LEDs around the micro:bit (high density addressable pixel LED strip formed into a ring ?) which would then give you 10degree intervals. North could be indicated by a steady red LED and then optionally a desired heading indicated by another colour or a flashing LED. A series of waypoints could be stored and recalled, with the LED matrix on the micro:bit scrolling text messages. 

     

    Could also perhaps add an OLED display to get a higher resolution display for the compass needle.

     

    Logging of data is one advantage over a traditional compass so perhaps the compass combined with an accelerometer used as a pedometer could give you a log of direction and number of steps which could allow you to map out areas where GPS is ineffective, e.g. wooded areas.

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