MoonCar (micro:bit)

What this kit teaches

Course outline

01 Exploring MoonCar features (1 class period)

Unit content

• MoonCar (the micro:bit car) power source
• Sending and receiving messages
• Making sounds
• Magic color lights
• Following a line

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 1: Exploring MoonCar Features

02 Walking on the Moon (1 class period)

Unit content

• MoonCar programming

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 2: Walking on the Moon

03 Magic colors (1 class period)

Unit content

• Tips
• Basic programming
• Advanced programming

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 3: Magic Colors

04 Path navigation: line-following sensor (1 class period)

Unit content

• MoonCar tips
• MakeCode programming
• micro:bit car program explanation

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 4: Path Navigation, Line-Following Sensor

05 Exploring the unknown: ultrasonic distance sensor (1 class period)

Unit content

• Ultrasonic function tips
• micro:bit MoonCar hardware upgrade
• micro:bit MoonCar programming
• micro:bit MoonCar summary

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 5: Exploring the Unknown, Ultrasonic Distance Sensor

06 Message sensing: buzzer (1 class period)

Unit content

• Buzzer tips
• micro:bit MoonCar programming
• micro:bit MoonCar summary

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 6: Message Sensing, Buzzer

07 Wireless messaging: infrared remote control (1 class period)

Unit content

• Receiving remote control messages
• Sending messages

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 7: Wireless Messaging, Infrared Remote Control

08 Color recognition: color sensor (1 class period)

Unit content

• Tips
• Program function explanation
• Programming

Matching articles: micro:bit Self-Driving Car Moon Mission, Unit 8: Color Recognition, Color Sensor

The course outline follows existing CIRCUS Pi tutorial articles. The number of class periods is an estimate, and the actual schedule can be adjusted for each class.

18650 version

Lithium battery version

Hardware specifications

Front and back

01. I/O expansion header	05. Ultrasonic sensor slot	09. Battery level indicator	13. Magic RGB LED ×8	17. 1:100 micro metal motor
02. I/O expansion header	06. IR transmitter	10. Button	14. 3.7 V lithium battery socket	18. IR line-following sensor ×2
03. Selector switch	07. IR receiver	11. Power switch	15. USB power port	19. Color sensor (with fill light)
04. I2C expansion socket	08. I/O power selection switch	12. Expansion 3.7 V lithium battery socket	16. micro:bit / Web:bit slot / 7697:bit breakout	20. Caster wheel

Product features

● MoonCar supports multiple main boards:

• micro:bit
• LinkIt 7697
• web:bit

● Sensors:
Infrared transmit and receive

• Color recognition
• Ultrasonic sensing
• Line-following sensing

● Features ●

• Surrounding magic RGB LEDs
• Battery expansion module
• AI vision recognition module
• Cloud computing service support

▼ Color recognition

▼ Light sensing

▼ Line-following sensing

• Surrounding magic RGB LEDs
• Battery expansion module
• AI vision recognition module
• Cloud computing service support

Functions:
MoonCar uses two micro metal motors and one caster wheel, which offer better quality and durability than motors paired with plastic gearboxes.
The caster wheel is made of a non-metal material to reduce the noise caused by knocking against the ground while driving.

Sending and receiving messages:
The front of MoonCar has a pair of infrared transmitters and receivers, so it can be commanded with a standard infrared remote control.
The infrared transmitter can also send messages to communicate with other MoonCars, which adds more ways to play.

Making sounds:
On the right side of MoonCar is a passive buzzer that can make different sounds through code, such as an electronic keyboard, an alarm, or a phone ringtone. You can also write your own phrases from different notes and rests so that MoonCar sounds as if it is speaking.