Educational BoosterPack MK-II
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After the hugely popular Educational BoosterPack, this new version pushes the boundaries even further.
At first sight, the new Educational BoosterPack MK-II looks like a game console! |
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The new Educational BoosterPack MK-II keepts...
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The new Educational BoosterPack MK-II adds...
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Hardware
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This new version leverages the extended XL-BoosterPack 40-pin connectors that comes standard in the latest LaunchPads, like the Tiva C Series TM4C123 LaunchPad or the MSP430F5529 LaunchPad.
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The left side includes the joystick and the microphone.
The joystick is a X-Y and also Z when clicking on it. |
On top of the screen, the temperature sensor and the ambient light sensor.
On the left of the screen, the analog accelerometer and the RGB LED. |
The right side of the BosoterPack includes the buzzer, the two buttons, the accelerometer , the RGB LED and the output for servo motor.
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The screen features 128x128 pixels in 16-bit colours, is connected through SPI and is driven by the LCD controller is the HX8353E from HiMax.
I developed a specific driver for the screen based on the LCD_screen Library Suite. The library and examples are included in the Energia release, under the Example/EducationalBP-MKII folder. The library provides all the graphics primitives —point, line, rectangle, triangle, circle— and three sizes of fonts —6x8, 8x12 and 12x16. |
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As for the first Educational BoosterPack, the second revision also features alligator holes.
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Ready-to-Use Libraries
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The Educational BoosterPack can be programmed with Energia, an easy-to-use Processing-based Wiring-derived Arduino-like IDE, and embedXcode, a template for Xcode.
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The Educational BoosterPack MK-II comes with a full set of ready-to-use libraries and examples. For even greater ease of use, they are included in the Energia distribution.
This is perhaps the major and most anticipated improvement over the previous Educational BoosterPack. The wide choice of sensors allows to explore the main protocols used in embedded computing:
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However, I strongly recommend downloading the specification sheets and reading them. Otherwise, you miss the educational part of the BoosterPack!
You'll find all the useful links on the right. |
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Book
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The Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad written by the very developers of the Educational BoosterPack provides a great step-by-step introduction to embedded computing and the the different protocols with hands-on projects.
However, the book was specifically designed for the first edition of the Educational BoosterPack. Could we expect a revision for the new Educational BoosterPack Mark-II? |
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Pins Map
Conclusion
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I really liked the first version of the Educational BoosterPack and this new one is even better, with more sensors, more actuators and more possibilities.
The sensors and actuators —joystick, buttons, buzzer, screen— makes it perfect as a platform for games, consistent with game console form factor! Make sure to use a LaunchPad with an 40-pin XL-BoosterPack connector, like the Tiva C Series TM4C123 LaunchPad or the MSP430F5529 LaunchPad, both at USD13. I've used it with Energia and ran my first project in just a couple of minutes, thanks to the supplied libraries and examples, Together with a LaunchPad and the book Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad, this BoosterPack provides the perfect introduction to the embedded computing world! |
The Educational BoosterPack MK-II running the life game in 128x128
on the 120 MHz Connected LaunchPad |
Pros
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Cons
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Wrap-Up
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Useful Links
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Specification Sheets
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