Build, Code & Battle Your Own Micro:Bit Battle Bot Will Your Bot Be a Champion?

In this class we will use the incredible Micro:Bit electronics and coding platform to build our very own autonomous vehcile. Our Micro:bit car will be able to recognize obstacles and drive autonomously around the house or inside our class battle arena. As students learn how to program their Micro:Bit vehicles to learn new skills, they will write code that will autonomously pilot one of the two Micro:Bits in my classroom arena. The "arena" is a 4 x 2 foot small animal enclosure equipped a webcam so students can view the action live during class. Students will watch over our Zoom meeting as their programs lead their Micro:Bits to attempt to disarm their opponents by knocking off a set of Lego pins attached to each side of our bot. Students will use their own Micro:Bit vehicles to dream up interesting maneuvers to outsmart their rivals. No prior experience is required, just a creative mind and willingness to learn a new set of inventing skills. 

No two Micro:Bit creations in this class will be the same. Although we will all learn the same code and hardware, each student will be designing their own unique code to have their Micro:Bits follow in the arena.  For our Micro:Bit car we will use the Yahboom vehicle kit(available on Amazon). Students will only need the single Micro:Bit and car module kit since they will be training their personal vehicle to perform with the same code as the bots in the arena. As we complete each step of the design process we will put our vehicles through a series of "road tests" where we have the opportunity to put our code to the test and problem solve the inevitable challenges that arise. 

Our Class Agenda
Day 1
We will get to know the Micro:Bit device and the Yahboom Micro:Bit car. We will waste no time and get right into coding our vehicle to follow one of several different patterns. Right from day one we will be refining our code to improve accuracy and speed and debugging any issues along the way.
Day 2
We will put our vehicles through their first road test where it will follow a program we set and need to complete "laps" across the room. We will work together to refine our code to increase our speed and accuracy. Students will be grouped into two teams to brainstorm how the on-board sensors of the Micro:Bit and Yahboom car can work together to help it evade and engage rival bots in the arena. Students will share their code with me in the classroom leading to our first team Micro:Bit battle. 
Day 3
We will  begin to implement the on-board ultra-sonic sensor of the car which will allow it to recognize obstacles such as books, walls and even feet and correct its course before a collision takes place. Our goal will be make our vehicle as autonomous as possible which will require significant brainstorming and problem solving. We will conclude the day with our Micro:Bit team battle. 
Day 4-5
We will enter a final series of battles with students further refining their code. Over these final two days we will either continue team based battle or switch to a round-robin individual battle tournament based upon the class size and group's vote. 

Class Supplies
1 Micro:Bit
1 Yahboom Car Kit
See Purchasing Options Below
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Supply Ordering Options
Option 1: Amazon currently has a few of the Micro:Bit Vehicles in stock. If they are showing up as Out Of Stock please use the direct Manufacturer link in Option 2
https://www.amazon.com/Yahboom-Micro-Programmable-Education-Cost-Effective/dp/B08F9R4JQC/

Option 2: Order Directly From The Manufacturer: In Stock
Important:  If Amazon has run low on their stock of Tiny:Bit vehicle. The company that makes the vehicle has assured me that they will be able to deliver Tiny:Bit orders within 5 business days. Here is the link for the Tiny:Bit. You do not need any the add-on parts except the Micro:Bit if you do not have one already. The Tiny:Bit should be $27.90 and if needed the Micro:Bit should be less than $30. I will update this page if the Amazon link is back in stock. 
https://category.yahboom.net/products/tinybit