Kitronik Compact All-In-One Robotics Board for the BBC micro:bit

The Kitronik Compact Robotics Board transforms the BBC micro:bit into a powerful robotics controller, capable of driving up to 4 motors (or 2 stepper motors) and 8 servos. With 17 additional I/O expansion points, the micro:bit can easily become the heart of a wide range of robotics projects. Despite its compact size, the board is packed with features and connectivity options. Note: When using stepper motors, half-stepping is supported, but micro-stepping is not.

At its core, the Robotics Board includes two Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver ICs, each capable of driving either 2 DC motors or 1 stepper motor. It also features 8 servo outputs, supporting both standard and continuous rotation servos. All of this is controlled via the I2C protocol through a 16-channel driver IC. To make things even easier, Kitronik provides custom MakeCode blocks that simplify I2C control—perfect for beginners and experienced users alike.

The Link header on the Compact Robotics Board exposes all usable pins from the BBC micro:bit, and is designed to accommodate standard 2.54mm pitch pin headers for easy soldering. With 17 available I/O pins, you can connect various input devices like sensors, or output devices such as ZIP LEDs. The I2C communication lines (Pins 19 and 20) are also broken out, allowing you to add and control other I2C-compatible components with the BBC micro:bit.

Power can be supplied via a terminal block or a servo-style connector. An on/off switch controls power to the board, and a green LED indicates when it's powered on. The board also delivers a regulated 3.3V supply to the BBC micro:bit through the 3V and GND pins, so there’s no need to power the micro:bit separately. These 3V and GND pins are also available on the Link header, enabling external devices to be powered directly from the board.

To use the Compact Robotics Board, simply insert the BBC micro:bit into the edge connector with the LED display and buttons facing forward.

Kitronik offers custom MakeCode blocks to make programming the Compact Robotics Board easy. To add them, click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the MakeCode editor, select Extensions, type “Kitronik” in the search bar, and choose the Kitronik Robotics Board from the results. The new blocks will then appear in your editor, ready to use.

Features

• A compact yet feature-packed board designed to sit at the heart of your robotics project.
• It can drive 4 motors (or 2 stepper motors) and 8 servos.
• The board also has 17 other I/O expansion points.
• The link header is designed to allow 2.54mm pitch pin header to be used.
• The I2C communication lines are also broken out allowing other I2C compatible devices to be controlled.
• This board also features an on/off switch and power status LED.
• Power the board via either a terminal block or servo style connector.
• The 3V and GND pins are also broken out on the Link header, allowing external devices to be powered.
• Code with the Microsoft MakeCode editor with custom blocks by Kitronik or with Python.
  When used with a stepper motor, half-stepping is supported - but not micro-stepping.

Contents

• 1x Compact All-In-One Robotics Board

Specifications

• Dimensions: 68 x 46.5 x 10.6mm