The Crickit can be programmed from MakeCode,
Circuit Python, and Arduino. The MakeCode
support is still in beta but is available through
makecode.adafruit.com/beta, using the Advanced
Extensions block and searching for Crickit. This
allows you to drag and drop controls to the motors,
servos, signals, and touch. Circuit Python and
Arduino support comes via the SeeSaw library,
which handles the I^2 C interface between the CPX
and the various peripherals.
When we originally tested the CPX, we were
impressed by the wide range of peripherals on
board, and the way it ‘just worked’ for a wide range
of things. The Crickit brings this same approach to
controlling physical hardware. Sure, you probably
won’t need all the connections in one project, but
you might need most of them at some point in the
next few projects, and having them all in one place
makes it easier to get started quickly.
The one big caveat with the CPX and Crickit
combination is that there’s currently no easy way
of communicating with it via WiFi or Bluetooth.
Fear not, though. The Crickit is coming soon to
the Feather line of boards which includes a wide
range of different microcontrollers and numerous
connection options (this is expected shortly after
this magazine goes to press and might be available
A cracking board
for adding a
wide range
of hardware
capabilities to
your CPX9 / 10
VERDICT
by the time you read this). There’s also a planned
version for the Raspberry Pi.
Overall, if you’re looking for a board that works
with a wide range of input and output options, it’s
going to be hard to beat the Crickit. It’s a generalist
board for all us tinkerers who never quite know
where the project is going when it starts – with all
those output options, you’re bound to be able to add
on the extra feature that you didn’t think of when
you started, but now absolutely need.SEESAW
SeeSaw is a framework developed by Adafruit to use a microcontroller as a coprocessor
to another microcontroller via I^2 C to add more peripheral options. This only uses the two
pins necessary for the I^2 C protocol, and you can connect multiple I^2 C devices to a single
I^2 C bus, so it allows you to add a lot of peripherals without taking many resources from
the original microcontroller.
On the Crickit, there’s an ATSAMD21 microcontroller that handles all the extra
hardware. This means that the processor on the CPX doesn’t get bogged down with the
details of sending signals to the servos, motors, etc. It just sends a signal to the Crickit
telling it what should happen and the Crickit handles the rest. You can think of it a little like
a super-powerful I^2 C port expander.
The Crickit isn’t the first board to use SeeSaw. The Adafruit SeeSaw board
(hsmag.cc/XIlrnR) connects via I^2 C and has analogue, digital, and PWM GPIOs. This
board works with Android-compatible boards, Circuit Python, and even Python on the
Raspberry Pi.FIELD TEST