gamebit

TODO: To use this package, go to https://pxt.microbit.org, click Add package and search for gamerbit.

~ hint

Not currently integrated into pxt. It must be manually added. This package is still under development and subject to changes.

Usage

The package adds support for the gamer:bit add-on board from SparkFun.

• Button pins are named to function.
• Provides button state detection block.
• Runs user code on button changed events.
• Configures pins to pull-up.

Pin names

The micro:bit pins are named to match gamepad functions:

• P0 -- D-PAD up
• P1 -- D-PAD left
• P2 -- D-PAD right
• P8 -- D-PAD down
• P12 -- Y button (right-hand, left button)
• P16 -- X button (right-hand, right button)
• P5 -- A button (micro:bit, left button)
• P11 -- B button (micro:bit, right button)

The button pins are automatically configured as pull-up when using the package.

Reading button states

Use the logical plug-in blocks to read if the button is pressed.

if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P0)) {
    led.plot(0, 0)
} else {
    led.unplot(0, 0)
}

Example turns on LED when button is pressed

Button events

Custom code can be run when a button event happens.

They can be triggered on:

• down (pressed)
• up (released)
• clicked (pressed then released)

gamerbit.onEvent(GamerBitPin.P0, GamerBitEvent.Down, () => {
    led.plot(0, 0)
})
gamerbit.onEvent(GamerBitPin.P0, GamerBitEvent.Up, () => {
    led.unplot(0, 0)
})

Example turns on LED when button is pressed

Examples

Example: Remote controlled a microservo

This program uses the left, right, up buttons and sends the servo angle over radio.

// gamer:bit code
gamerbit.onEvent(GamerBitPin.P0, GamerBitEvent.Down, () => {
    // go straight
    radio.sendNumber(90)
});
gamerbit.onEvent(GamerBitPin.P1, GamerBitEvent.Down, () => {
    // turn left
    radio.sendNumber(45)
});
gamerbit.onEvent(GamerBitPin.P2, GamerBitEvent.Down, () => {
    // turn right
    radio.sendNumber(135)
});

// robot code
radio.onDataPacketReceived( ({ receivedNumber }) =>  {
    pins.servoWritePin(AnalogPin.P0, receivedNumber)
})

Example: Sending a packet of data over wireless

The following program assembles a string that reflects the states of the buttons and ships it out over the air.

TODO: Rework this example to use the gamer:bit blocks.

let packet = ""
basic.forever(() => {
    packet = ""
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P0)) {
        led.plot(1, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(1, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P1)) {
        led.plot(0, 1)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(0, 1)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P2)) {
        led.plot(2, 1)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(2, 1)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P8)) {
        led.plot(1, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(1, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P12)) {
        led.plot(3, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(3, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P16)) {
        led.plot(4, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(4, 2)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P5)) {
        led.plot(3, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(3, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    if (gamerbit.isPressed(GamerBitPin.P11)) {
        led.plot(4, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "1"
    } else {
        led.unplot(4, 0)
        packet = "" + packet + "0"
    }
    radio.sendString(packet)
})
radio.setGroup(13)

License

MIT

Supported targets

• for PXT/microbit