Blog 5: What can "UCreate" with a Micro:bit and a Rasperry Pi 1 (Minecraft Pi and Micro:bit TNT roulette )

Last summer I created some resources to use with Micro:bit/s for CPC and over the next few months and I will try and share the best bits with the kind permission of CPC. 

You can go and buy a Micro:bit project kit from here: http://cpc.farnell.com/bbc-micro-bit-kits


This project uses the Micro:bit serial connection with the Pi to randomly send 1 or 0 through the serial connection to tell the Pi based python script whether or not to lay an active TNT block or inactive TNT block. Thus it is called TNT roulette. :)

Picture of set up of Micro:bit plugged into the Pi

Instructions

You will need to have a Raspberry Pi and Micro:bit for this to work. You will need to install MU on the Raspberry Pi to flash the micro python script. You will need to keep the Micro:bit plugged into the Pi usb port. 

Here is the micro python script for the Micro:bit: 

#Written by David Whale and Martin O’Hanlon edited by Chris Penn

from microbit import*

import random

REFRESH = 500

BlockID = 46

ActiveValues = [0,1] # 0 = off

def get_data():

    a, b = button_a.was_pressed(), button_b.was_pressed()

    Active  = random.choice(ActiveValues)

    print(a, b, BlockID,Active)

def run():

    while True:

        sleep(REFRESH)

        get_data()

display.show('M')

run()

Python code to go on the Raspberry Pi

N.b. This needs to be run in Python 2.7

""" Code written by Martin O'Hanlon in the following blog post: http://www.stuffaboutcode.com/2016/03/microbit-get-data-from-usb.html I have added a few bits on top """ import serial from mcpi.minecraft import Minecraft from time import sleep from mcpi import block as block import random PORT = "/dev/ttyACM0" BAUD = 115200 s = serial.Serial(PORT) s.baudrate = BAUD s.parity   = serial.PARITY_NONE s.databits = serial.EIGHTBITS s.stopbits = serial.STOPBITS_ONE #read the first line and flush any bad data s.readline() def read_microbit_data():     #read a line from the microbit,     data = s.readline()     #split the microbit data into x, y, z, a, b     data_s = data.rstrip().split(" ")     a = True if data_s[0] == "True" else False     b = True if data_s[1] == "True" else False     BlockID = int(data_s[2])     Active = int(data_s[3])     return a,b,BlockID,Active mc = Minecraft.create() try:     playerPos = mc.player.getTilePos()      while True:         a,b,BlockID, Active = read_microbit_data()         if a == True:             pos = mc.player.getPos()             msg = "Button pressed = ",str(a),"+ Block ID = ",BlockID," + ", "Active=",Active             mc.postToChat(msg)             mc.setBlock(pos.x,pos.y,pos.z,BlockID,Active)            finally:     sleep(1)     s.close()

Instructions 

1. Having flashed your Micro:bit script and leaving your Micro:bit plugged into your Pi.

2. Open Minecraft, create a new world, ensure you can see the character like in the picture above, minimise the screen. 

3. Run the Python code in 2.7 from above. 

4. Press the A button on the Micro:bit, look at Minecraft and you should see a TNT block has been dropped. Whack it to see if it is active or not!

Enjoy!