Popular_Science_Australia_November_2016

10 POPULAR SCIENCE

DIY ELECTRONICS

GETS BLUETOOTH

(AND MORE)

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by ANTHONY FORDHAM

WE LOOKED AT LITTLEBITS’

musician-focused synth kit

last issue, and mentioned that
other bundles in the innovative
startup’s catalogue are pitched
more to kids and schools,

tinkerers and prototypers.
Well, those inventors just
got a functionality boost with
version two of the popular

Gadgets and Gizmos kit. This
top-tier kit includes a lot of bits
including, now, two Bluetooth
modules for wireless control.

The first edition of the kit
had two “WiFi” bits, which were
actually a remote control radio
transmitter and receiver. It

was possible to select different
channels but overall options

were pretty basic.

Thesebitsarenowreplaced

by two Bluetooth modules.

As well as enabling control of

one contraption with another

(a simple remote controlled

car,forinstance),it’snowalso

possiblytocontrolacreation

viaanapponasmartphone.

One of the examples

provided by littleBits is the

BitBot which can be steered

over Blueooth by tilting a

connected phone or tablet.

As with all littleBits kits,

there are dozens of suggested

projects online or via the app,

and keener creators can order

additional bits - including

exotics like logic gates and

MIDI controllers - from Aussie

distributor TNS Connect.

by

ANTHONY

FORDHAM

There’s also an Arduino littleBits kit which

includes a handful of useful bits and a

custom Arduino bit based on the Leonardo.

Sure, Leonardo might have been retired by

Arduino itself, but it’s still a useful board for

many simple projects. We used the Arduino

bit with the KORG Synth kit (see last issue)

to create an arpeggiator. It was as easy

as plugging the Arduino bit into a PC via

USB, uploading a sketch - a small Arduino

program - and then clicking the bit into the

Synth. Instant effects! The Arduino kit can

take littleBits creations to the next level of

sophistication, but hopefully an upgrade

will come along soon based on a more

current design, such as the Arduino ZERO.

AUDACIOUS ARDUINO

-Bargraph

2x Bluetooth

-Low Energy (BLE)

-Buzzer

-2x DC motors

-Fan

-Light sensor

-Power

-Servo

-2x Slide dimmer

-Split

-Wire

BITS IN THE BOX

-Arduino Leonardo

-Bargraph

-Button

-2x Dimmer

-Fork

-Power

-Servo

PRICE: $

WEB: ww.tnsconnect.com.auw

BITS IN THE BOX

PRICE: $

WEB: ww.tnsconnect.com.auw