Understanding HDMI: Cable Types, Pitfalls, and more
HDMI 1.4, 2.1, standard, high speed, ultra-high-speed, how do you keep up with all these new changes and versions? This guide will teach you some of the basics of HDMI, the different connectors involved, and lastly, demonstrate the common pitfalls.
UART Communication Between Two CircuitPython Boards
Establish communications between two CircuitPython boards via UART/Serial communication.
Adafruit LTR390 UV Sensor
The LTR390 is one of the few low-cost UV sensors available, and it's a pretty nice one! With both ambient light and UVA sensing with a peak spectral response between 300 and 350nm. You can use it for measuring how much sun you can get before needing to covering up.
Desktop Dumpster Fire
Smash that button and your desktop dumpster erupts into flames. A Circuit Playground Express board paired with one servo and one DC motor make this dumpster spring to life, and is easily reprogrammed in MakeCode to take on different functions. A great beginner project, no soldering required!
Adafruit PCT2075 Temperature Sensor
The PCT2075 by NXP is a pin compatible drop in replacement for a very common I2C temperature sensor, the LM75. Compared to the LM75 however, the 11-bit ADC in the PCT2075 provides more precise measurements when compared to the LM75's 9-bit ADC. Additionally because the PCT2075 allows the address pins to work in three states (high, low, floating), you can have 27 PCT2075s on the same bus as opposed to the LM75's 8!
Otherwise the two sensors are the same. The PCT2075 will report temperature and allow you to a set a high temperature threshold that the sensor
will compare to the current temperature and raise an alert when the current temperature exceeds the threshold. There are also a few (metaphorical) knobs to twist to change the alerting and measurement behavior.
The PCT2075 is a handy and inexpensive temperature sensor that does one thing well. Try adding on to your project and have it keep an eye on the temperature and let you know when things get hot.
Capacitive Touch Pulsing Heart
Hold this heart in your hand and it automatically detects your heart rate and begins to glow, pulsing in time with your heart. A Circuit Playground Express tucked away inside a 3D printed anatomical heart model uses its onboard light sensor to determine your heartbeat and illuminate a strip of neopixels to match it.
Anatomical 3D Printed Beating Heart with MakeCode
This 3D printed heart beats rhythmically, powered by a servo motor and Circuit Playground Express. This spooky installation is ready to freak out your next guests!
Sound Activated Shark Mask
This DIY cardboard shark helmet is equipped with a Circuit Playground Express and a servo motor, enabling it to detect sound and start moving its jaw in response! Fun beginner coding project, great for shark week or Halloween!
Tilt Controlled Marble Maze
This project uses the accelerometer on Circuit Playground Express to control the x and y axes of a maze, allowing the user to guide a marble through the maze by simply tilting the Circuit Playground Express board. This project is constructed using only cardboard, hot glue, and a couple screws.
Trash-Built Robotic Fish
This fish is built using scrap recyclable materials integrated with Circuit Playground Express and a servo motor to animate the fish and control a strip of NeoPixels. This fish makes an excellent chandelier, swimming peacefully through the air.
Archimedes' Boat
The Archimedean screw has been used to pump and lift water since antiquity. In this project the water screw is used to propel a boat, and can be programmed to go forward, reverse, turn right or left using MakeCode. This project uses easily available household materials and serves as a great introduction to block-based programming.
Tappy Robotic Hand
This DIY robotic hand has fingers that tap out a pattern based on the position of slats you set in a rotating drum. This project uses Circuit Playground Express and MakeCode to control a continuous rotation servo motor.
Buttermilk Boat with Circuit Playground Express
This simple milk carton boat is a quick and easy toy for playing with in a bathtub or pool to learn about electronics and programming. This project uses the Circuit Playground Express and MakeCode to control a servo motor, and demonstrates basic techniques for safeguarding your electronics against water.
Interactive Map with Circuit Playground Express
This project uses conductive paint to highlight areas on a map and trigger Circuit Playground Express to play informational audio clips when they are touched.
Trash Panda
An animal panda you can build out of a scrap Amazon box. Demonstrates how to use CRICKIT paired with Circuit Playground Express to control multiple motors at once.