Our mission at BirdBrain Technologies is to inspire deep and joyful learning in all students through creative robotics. We are excited that you are joining us in making robotics accessible to all students through this course!
Before we begin to program our Hummingbird Robotics Kit*, it may be helpful to ask yourself…
What is a robot?
We define a robot as a machine that senses its environment, thinks about it, and then reacts. Can you think of some sensing, thinking, acting machines that you have interacted with today?
*Please note that this course is for Hummingbird Bit. Hummingbird Duo users can also use BirdBlox with the purchase of an upgrade bundle. Email support@birdbraintechnologies.com with questions.
You can purchase a Hummingbird Robotics Kit from our online store.
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BirdBlox is a block-based coding language developed at BirdBrain Technologies. It is very similar to Scratch. One key advantage to programming in BirdBlox is that the code can be updated while it is running. In some other programming languages, the code needs to be downloaded every time you make a change. BirdBlox, by contrast, is always in contact with the Hummingbird Bit, making the code “tinkerable.”
BirdBlox can run on most tablets and smartphones. In order to connect the Hummingbird Bit to your device, you will need to download the BirdBlox application. You will also need to download a specific .hex file onto your micro:bit. This .hex file will allow the Hummingbird Bit to connect with BirdBlox. In order to download the hex file, you will need to use a computer with a USB port.
As you are plugging in your single color LED, make sure the colored wire (green, red, or yellow) is plugged into the + side of the port, and the black wire is plugged into the – side of the port. As you are coding, double check to make sure the port number on the screen matches the port on the Hummingbird controller where you plugged in your LED.
Once you get your LED blinking, what in your code will need to change to get that LED blinking faster?
Now that you know how to get an LED to blink, what can you do with it? A blinking LED needs your creative design before it can become a robot. Watch this video for a creative tip to use with your LED.
The same pattern you used to blink a single color LED will also allow a tri-color LED to blink between its different colors: red, green, and blue.
Now that you can program the individual colors, can you mix those colors to create colors like purple, turquoise, and yellow?
You can better mix and diffuse the LED light with a translucent material, for example with a packing peanut or a styrofoam ball. Even a white napkin or a piece of cloth would do the trick! This is a great time to experiment not only with your code, but with some of the translucent materials you have around your classroom.
It is important to remember that when programming a position servo motor, the angle is constant. In other words, if you program your position servo to go to 90°, the servo will move to 90°, then stop. The position servo will not move again until you instruct it to go to a new angle.
Remember how you gave the single color LED two commands to alternate between 0% and 100%? Similarly, you must give the position servo at least 2 commands. Pick your favorite angles between 0° and 180°.
The servo horn is the little piece of plastic that fits on the servo shaft. Don’t be afraid to hot glue items onto it! When you add a unique design to the servo horn (a robot arm, a sail boat, an eyeball, etc.), it quickly transforms from a servo into your personal robot.
When learning the Hummingbird Bit, a lot of time is dedicated to programming and connecting components, but knowing how to build and engineer with craft materials is just as important. Our build pages were designed for you to get started with simple designs, but also to help you take your simple designs a bit further.
Simple Robots has moved to our new Projects page!
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Remember, a robot is a machine that senses, thinks, and acts, so a sensor is a critical component within any robot. When plugged into a Hummingbird Bit, a sensor is constantly gathering data, and the trick is to put that data to work. In this video, we show you a few ways to use and visualize sensor data.
Program a sensor using these easy-to-follow video instructions
View/modify the programs that were used in this video:
Adding a sensor will make the most simple projects more interactive. This interaction will also allow students to better demonstrate their knowledge of a range of subjects, such as mathematics, social studies, and science.
This course was designed to teach you what you needed to know to get started with the Hummingbird Bit in your classroom. There is so much more you can do with the Hummingbird and so many more resources we can offer to help you go further!
Program an LED screen using these easy-to-follow video instructions
Program a rotation servo using these easy-to-follow video instructions
Program a buzzer using these easy-to-follow video instructions
Program buttons using these easy-to-follow video instructions
Program an accelerometer screen using these easy-to-follow video instructions
Program a compass using these easy-to-follow video instructions
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Now that you can program with BirdBlox and you have some building skills, what can you teach with the Hummingbird? Maybe more important, how can you teach with the Hummingbird?
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Why are you teaching robotics in your class? Maybe it’s for student creativity. Maybe it’s to develop 21st century skills. Maybe it’s for student equity. Whatever your reason, it is important that we, as teachers, connect to this reason for ourselves.
Why teach robotics with Hummingbird?
- It is flexible: As you saw in these videos, you can create anything you can imagine with the Hummingbird in any classroom and any subject. Additionally, the Hummingbird can be used with any device, with or without an internet connection. This kit can also be used with both entry-level programming languages (BirdBlox, Snap, or MakeCode) and with advanced languages (Java, Python).
- You can use craft materials: Craft materials are familiar to most students, which allows for barriers to be removed. These types of materials are also already being used in a wide range of classroom projects, making it easy to imagine where a Hummingbird project can fit into the curriculum. And best of all, craft materials are often free!
- Support through free learning materials: BirdBrain Technologies has created a wide range of student and teacher-facing support materials designed to make getting started easy. Our learning materials also make it possible to take a dive deep into computer science concepts.
Email us at support@birdbraintechnologies.com with additional questions.
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