Robotics 1.0 Lesson Plan
Lesson 10: Hello Crickit

Purpose: To understand what the Crickit board is, why it is used with the CPX, how to assemble and power it and how to control a servo motor using Crickit and CircuitPython code.

No. of Classes

1 class (Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes; maximum of 4 students per group).

Materials Required

    Desktop or laptop computer, CPX board, USB cable

    Micro Servo 9g

    Crickit board

Curriculum Content 4.3 Servo Motor
5.1 Introduction to Crickit
5.3 Setting Up Crickit with CPX
5.4 Powering Crickit
5.5 Programming Crickit in CircuitPython
Prior Knowledge

Basic understanding of the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express (CPX) board

Knowledge of servo motors and angle control (0°–180°)

Using a USB cable to connect hardware

Using a computer with the Mu Editor

Exercises

Exercise 1


Introduction to Crickit


Click here to view the video on introduction to crickit and its assembly with CPX board

Click here to view more details on crickit board



Exercise 2


Controlling a servo using Crickit


Click here to view the connection diagram for servo motor and crickit

Click here to view the instructions and code for Exercise 2

Solution


  • Click here to watch the solution video for Exercise 2

    • Teacher’s Instructions
    1. Explain how to connect the Crickit board with the CPX
    2. Explain that the Adafruit Crickit is a robotics add-on board used to easily control motors, servos, and sensors. Discuss about all the various ports available in crickit and what they mean
    3. Show how the servo connects to the Crickit servo port and how Crickit sends precise angle commands.
    4. Explain that a servo can act as a moving part in a robot, such as an arm, flap, or small mechanism.
    5. Demonstrate how simple code rotates the servo to different angles (0°, 90°, and 180°).
    6. Explain that Crickit communicates with the CPX using an I2C connection, so no extra wiring is required.
    7. Explain about battery pack, why we need only 5v connection and what will happen if we supply more than 5v to the board. (onboard led blinks red if power supply is more than 5v)
    8. Why do you think we need a separate board like Crickit when the CPX already has pins?
    9. If you wanted to control two servos at the same time, what do you think would change in the connections or the code? Discuss