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Water bottle alert

Beginner | MakeCode, Python | Accelerometer | Health

Step 1: Make it

What is it?

Turn your BBC micro:bit into a water bottle alert, so you can tell if someone else has drunk from it. You will learn how to use the micro:bit's LED display and accelerometer.

These two videos show you what you'll make and how to code it:

How it works

  • The micro:bit shows a heart on its LED display when your water bottle is upright.
  • The LED display shows a warning cross when a tilt is detected by the micro:bit’s accelerometer. The cross stays there until you reset the program by pressing the reset button on the back of the micro:bit or by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery.
  • An accelerometer measures forces in three dimensions, including gravity, so your projects can tell which way up your micro:bit is.

What you need

  • micro:bit (or MakeCode simulator)
  • MakeCode editor
  • battery pack
  • our set-up guide may be useful

Step 2: Code it

Step 3: Improve it

  • Find a way to reset the program without using the micro:bit’s reset button, for example by pressing button A or B to show a heart icon.
  • Add an audible alarm using blocks from the music section of the MakeCode editor.