micro:bit Air House

What this kit teaches

Course outline

01 Getting to know the micro:bit Air House

Unit content

• Get to know the Air House parts: micro:bit, MbitBot, OLED, ESP-12F, DHT11, PMS3003, vibration sensor, and lithium battery

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 1

02 Assembling the Air House

Unit content

• Connect the modules to the expansion board by following the instructions

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 2

03 Getting started with MbitBot

Unit content

• Combine the micro:bit with the MbitBot and add the MbitBot extension blocks in MakeCode

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 3

04 OLED display setup, part 1

Unit content

• Use MakeCode blocks to set which sensor values the OLED screen shows when the Air House starts.
• Set the display of the PM1.0 and PM2.5 values read by the sensor

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 4

05 OLED display setup, part 2

Unit content

• Set the display of the PM10, temperature, and humidity values read by the sensor

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 5

06 ThingSpeak tutorial

Unit content

• Registering for and using ThingSpeak

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 6

07 Setting up ThingSpeak in MakeCode

Unit content

• Set up the Air House to upload its sensor values to ThingSpeak

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 7

08 Setting sensor value light colors and expressions

Unit content

• Set the OLED light color and the micro:bit expression that correspond to the PM2.5 reading

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 8

09 Using the micro:bit Air House in practice

Unit content

• Operate the air box in practice

Matching materials: CIRCUS Pi course outline “micro:bit Air House (MbitBot),” Unit 12

The course outline follows the official CIRCUS Pi course outline. Please contact us for the number of class periods, which depends on each school’s schedule. The outline follows the MbitBot version of the Air House and skips the units on sensor and Wi-Fi module setup that apply only to the older version. The Lite version uses the Logyun Wi-Fi module and a G3 PM2.5 sensor, so adjust the details to match your kit.

Lite version

MbitBot version

Hardware specifications

Development board	micro:bit V2
Expansion board	MbitBot Lite
Components and modules	• G3 PM2.5 sensor • Circus DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor module • Logyun Wi-Fi module • Circus 1.3-inch OLED display • Female Dupont wires + female header to Circus 4-pin • 18650 lithium battery • Micro USB cable • 5 V 2 A USB charger
Dimensions (mm)	136 x 87 x 120 (W x D x H)

Product features

The micro:bit Air House (MbitBot Lite) is a teaching kit that simulates an air quality monitoring station. Students assemble it themselves and write programs in MakeCode so that the PM2.5 and temperature and humidity sensors in the house can detect air quality. A Wi-Fi module then connects it to a wireless network, so users can check the air quality where the Air House is located from a computer or phone from anywhere. They can also upload the data to the cloud or retrieve it, which makes it well suited to students building IoT projects on environmental topics.

1. Expandable MbitBot Lite
MbitBot Lite has an 18650 battery holder and a function switch. For the special I2C function pins, it adds three extra connection points, leaving all pins available to the user for greater flexibility.

2. Circus 1.3-inch OLED display
The Circus 1.3-inch OLED display is monochrome (white) with fine image detail, and it can show the information the Air House detects.

3. Logyun Wi-Fi module for uploading and retrieving data
Logyun, the Wi-Fi module made in-house by iCShop, lets the Air House go online so you can check the air quality where it is located from a computer or phone, wherever you are. It also makes it easy to upload and retrieve data, including uploading to ThingSpeak or Google Sheets, and it supports MQTT.

4. Simple wiring
For the air quality sensor, the temperature and humidity sensor, the display, and the Logyun Wi-Fi module alike, the module end has a special keyed connector, and the MbitBot Lite end uses a female Dupont connector that plugs onto pin headers, which keeps wiring simple.

5. Protected sensors
The micro:bit Air House (MbitBot Lite) keeps every module inside the house so that outside contact cannot affect the sensor readings, and the house has openings around it for air circulation.

Video introduction

Lesson plan sharing

Ministry of Education K-12 Digital Learning Enhancement Program—Minzu Elementary School, East District, Chiayi City (Teacher Hong Qingsheng)—Maker Surge at the Century-Old East Market

Tutorial article

A complete walkthrough from assembly to programming:IoT Tutorial—The New micro:bit Air House (MbitBot Lite): Recording Air Quality Is Easier