The BBC micro:bit is a tiny 4cm x 5cm programmable device that is designed specifically around ease of use. It comes equipped with 2 programmable buttons, a 5 x 5 LED array, a compass/accelerometer sensor, and a BLE wireless module. It has an edge connector that can be used to plug it into a whole host of adapter boards for applications like robotics, prototyping, gaming, and art, to name a few. This connector is also designed to make connecting alligator clips to three input/output pins, a power pin, and ground pin a breeze.

The micro:bit is powered by a 16MHz, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller with 16Kb of RAM and 256Kb of flash memory. This ARM chip comes with a built-in temperature sensor and it’s input/output pins are connected to the 20 pins of the gold board-edge connector. It also comes equipped with a handy JST 2-Pin connector so that you can connect a 3V-3.7V battery directly to the board.

The BBC also has an awesome intuitive mobile app that lets you program the micro:bit over Bluetooth without the use of a USB cable along with controlling the micro:bit once it is.

Features:

• Micro USB connector for power and programming
• 5 x 5 LED array
• Temperature, compass, and accelerometer sensors
• 2x Programmable buttons
• Bluetooth wireless module for programming, communication, and control
• 2-Pin JST connector for easily adding a battery (3-3.7V)
• Easy to understand content and programming

Specifications:

• Voltage: 5V USB or 3-3.7V battery
• Microcontroller: 16MHz, 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0
• Flash: 256Kb
• Ram: 16Kb
• Interface: 20 Pin board-edge connector

Resources:

• Getting Started Guide
• Hardware Specs
• Programming Apps