Welcome to the world of the Calliope Mini! This amazing development board, crafted in Germany, is perfect for primary school students and older learners. It's a souped - up version of the micro:bit, shaped like a beautiful star. The main chip on the Calliope Mini is the same nRF51822 as the micro:bit, allowing it to be programmed in a similar way for many tasks. But it comes with some great upgrades! Like the micro:bit, it has features such as the Nordic nRF51822 Multi - protocol Bluetooth® 4.0 low energy / 2.4GHz RF SoC with a 32 - bit ARM Cortex M0 processor, 16kB RAM, 256kB Flash, and Bluetooth low energy. It also has a 5x5 LED matrix display, USB Micro B connection, JST battery connector, 2 programmable buttons, PWM outputs, NXP KL26z chip, serial interface, 4 analog inputs, 8 - 11 Input / Output Connections, and SPI + I2C. However, the Calliope Mini has unique features. It has a circular star design with alligator pads on 6 corners for easy connection. It comes with a full 9 - degree - of - freedom IMU including an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. There's also a MEMS microphone for audio input, a DC motor driver to power a single DC motor or solenoid, a piezo speaker, an RGB LED, and 2 Grove connectors. If you love the micro:bit but want more built - in features, the Calliope Mini is a great choice. You can program it through Microsoft MakeCode, just like the micro:bit, for radio communications and LED matrix displays. It can also run micropython code. Visit its website for tons of classroom - friendly projects and experiments. With just a few clicks, turn your Calliope Mini into a robot, play music, send messages, and more!
Using the Calliope Mini is easy. First, connect it to your computer via the USB Micro B port for programming and power. You can use Microsoft MakeCode to program it, just like you would with the micro:bit. For radio communications and displaying on the 5x5 LED matrix, it's as simple as writing code in MakeCode. If you want to run micropython code, use the default micro:bit micropython build and treat the on - board accessories as if they were wired to a micro:bit on a breadboard. When using the battery, connect it through the JST battery connector. Make sure to handle the board gently as it has delicate components. Keep it away from water and extreme temperatures. To maintain it, just keep it clean and store it in a dry place. If you want to use the DC motor driver, follow the instructions carefully to avoid overloading. Have fun exploring all the projects you can do with your Calliope Mini!
