Communicating Between Devices
There are a bunch of different MakeCode Devices for the various MakeCode platforms. The devices can often communicate with other devices of the same type but not always with devices of different types. This guide will explain different methods.
As well as devices communicating with each other, some devices can also sense the environment around it such as temperature, brightness and loudness (the BBC micro:bit is particularly good for this).
Finally, there is always the possibility of using a human to do the communicating between your devices. It's slow but usually reliable!
Classes of device
There are a number of common classes of device that offer a particular set of capabilities.
Sensor platform with radio
This class of device provides a capability for multiple devices to communicate wirelessly.
The humble BBC micro:bit is likely to be the backbone of your escape rooms because it is relatively low cost, provides a number of sensors and offers wireless radio communications. The BBC micro:bit version 2 extends the number of sensors even further.
An alternative option to the BBC micro:bit is the Circuit Playground Express. These are more expensive than the BBC micro:bit and provide a ring of NeoPixels rather than the 5 x 5 grid of red LEDs. The Circuit Playground Express has more crocodile clip friendly input/output pins.
Sadly, the wireless communications of the BBC micro:bit and Circuit Playground Express are not interchangeable so can only communicate with other identical devices.
MakeCode Arcade with Radio
This is typically a BBC micro:bit with a MakeCode Arcade adapter which offers all the capabilities of a BBC micro:bit with the addition of a 160 x 120 pixel screen and additional buttons.
There are multiple different arcade shields available for the BBC micro:bit. Where possible, I recommended using one that continues to make the pins from the edge connector accessible in order to maximise the flexibility of the device.
MakeCode Arcade with Pins
There are many devices that fit into this category. They all expose pins in one form or another which can then be controlled programmatically. Because these devices are compatible with the MakeCode Arcade, they provide a 160 x 120 pixel screen, 8 buttons and a speaker. Typical examples are:
- Arcade with Edge Connector, such as the KittenBot MeowBit.
- Arcade with Feather Connector, such as the Adafruit PyBadge
- Depending on which MakeCode Arcade adapter is used for a BBC micro:bit, pins may also be available.
MakeCode Maker with Pins
All MakeCode Make boards provide access to pins.
Methods
| From | To | Input/Output | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environment | BBC micro:bit | Input | Brightness |
| Environment | BBC micro:bit | Input | Sound (v2 micro:bit only) |
| Environment | BBC micro:bit | Input | Temperature |
| Human | BBC micro:bit | Input | Buttons |
| Human | BBC micro:bit | Input | Gestures |
| Human | Arcade | Input | Buttons |
| BBC micro:bit | Human | Output | Screen |
| BBC micro:bit | Human | Output | Speaker (v2 micro:bit only) |
| Arcade | Human | Output | Screen |
| Arcade | Human | Output | Speaker (v2 micro:bit only) |
| BBC micro:bit | BBC micro:bit | Input and Output | Radio |
| BBC micro:bit | BBC micro:bit | Input and Output | 1-wire |
| BBC micro:bit | Arcade with Radio | Input and Output | Radio |
| BBC micro:bit | Arcade with Pins | Input and Output | 1-wire |
| Arcade with Radio | Arcade with Radio | Input and Output | Radio |
| Arcade with Pins | Arcade with Pins | Input and Output | 1-wire |