robot start
Picks which robot you have. Put it first, in on start, before any other robot block. Robot › robot … start.
robot.elecfreaksCuteBot.start()
AI robots: cheat sheet
AI robots · Find each block in the MakeCode toolbox (the category is at the end of each line).
Drive with a model
robot motor stop
Stops both wheels. End every move and every program that should finish with it.
robot.motorStop()
robot play tone
Plays a note on the robot's buzzer: a frequency (262 is middle C) for a time in milliseconds.
robot.playTone(262, 500)
show icon
Shows a ready-made picture. Basic › show icon; click the picture to choose another.
basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
show arrow
Shows an arrow pointing a direction. Basic › more › show arrow.
basic.showArrow(ArrowNames.West)
animation
Pictures inside forever repeat, in order. Each pause holds the picture before it.
basic.forever(function () {
basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
basic.pause(500)
basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallHeart)
basic.pause(500)
})
set variable
Puts a value in a variable, throwing the old value away. Make the variable in Variables first.
let count = 0
if
Runs the blocks inside only when the condition is true; does nothing when it is false. Logic.
if (condition) {
blocks
}
else if
Another question, asked only if the ones above were false. The first true one wins.
} else if (condition) {
radio send string
Sends a word to every other micro:bit in the group. Radio.
radio.sendString("hi")
running time
Milliseconds since the micro:bit switched on. Take one from a later one to time something. Input › more.
input.runningTime()
letter at
The letter at a place in a text. Places start at 0, as in a list. Text (char from … at).
message.charAt(0)
robot motor tank
Sets the left and right wheel speeds, from −100 to 100. Same speeds go straight, opposite speeds spin, different speeds curve. The robot keeps going until another motor block.
robot.motorTank(50, 50)
robot set color
Sets the robot's lights to a colour. Click the colour to choose another; black turns them off.
robot.setColor(0xff0000)
on logo pressed
Runs its blocks when you touch the gold logo on the front of the micro:bit (V2 only; on a V1, use on shake). Input › on logo pressed.
input.onLogoEvent(TouchButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
})
show string
Scrolls a word or message across the screen. Basic › show string.
basic.showString("Hello")
forever
Runs the blocks inside again and again. Blocks in on start run only once.
basic.forever(function () {
blocks
})
on button pressed
Runs the blocks inside every time the button is pressed. Choose A, B or A+B. Input.
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
blocks
})
on shake
Runs the blocks inside every time the micro:bit is shaken (or tilted, if you choose another gesture). Input.
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function () {
blocks
})
counter
Set the start value once, in on start. change adds to whatever the variable holds now.
let count = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
count += 1
basic.showNumber(count)
})
if else
Exactly one part runs: the first when the condition is true, else the second. Click + on an if block.
if (condition) {
blocks
} else {
blocks
}
radio set group
Picks a channel (0 to 255). Only micro:bits in the same group hear each other. Radio.
radio.setGroup(1)
on radio received string
Runs each time a word arrives; receivedString holds it. Radio.
radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
blocks
})
time it
Store running time at the start; later, running time − start is how long it took (ms).
start = input.runningTime()
basic.showNumber(input.runningTime() - start)
Costly mistakes
change variable
Adds to a variable's value. Change by -1 counts down. Variables.
count += 1
Final challenge: Delivery robot
robot obstacle distance
How far away the nearest thing in front is, in centimetres (up to 40; 40 means nothing in range). Read it again in forever to follow it.
robot.obstacleDistance()
true or false
A variable can hold true or false, to remember what is happening now. Logic.
waiting = true
show number
Shows a number; numbers above 9 scroll. Basic › show number.
basic.showNumber(0)
pause
Waits before the next block. 1000 ms is one second. Basic › pause.
basic.pause(500)
radio send value
Sends a name and a number by radio, such as bin and 1. Radio.
radio.sendValue("bin", 1)