Fixed-Pin and Special Modules

Module            Switch it on in               Pins it takes                      Board
----------------  ----------------------------  ---------------------------------  ---------
Ultrasonic        Special components            Mega: i3 TRIG + i4 ECHO             Mini, Mega
                                                Mini: i2 TRIG + i1 ECHO
Right motor       Special components            o3 (P) + o4 (N)                    Mini, Mega
Left motor        Special components            o5 (P) + o6 (N)                    Mini, Mega
I2C parts         Special components            o7 (SDA) + o8 (SCL)                Mini, Mega
DHT11             a pin: Special                one input pin                      Mini, Mega
Joystick          a pin: Special / Libraries    X, Y: input pins; switch: any pin  Mega
TV remote         a pin: Special / Libraries    any one free pin                   Mini, Mega
GPS               a pin: GPS & GSM              any one pin (firmware 2.28+)       Mini, Mega
GSM               a pin: GPS & GSM              any pin + one output pin (2.28+)   Mini, Mega
Bluetooth         Board features                none                               Mega
IoT               Board features (+ WiFi)       none                               Mini, Mega
Wireless          Board features                none                               Mega
Wireless IoT      Board features (+ WiFi)       none                               Mega
Counter           Board features                none (c1 - c8)                     Mini, Mega
Clock             Board features                none (HH, MM, SS)                  Mini, Mega

Every fixed-pin module, special module and board feature: where you switch it on in Circuit Connections, which pins it takes and which board it works on.

# Add the libraries you need
import ultrasonic

# Give your pins easy-to-remember names
o1 = set_name("warning")

# ===== Parking sensor =====

# This code block executes only once
setup:
    i3 = set_input(ultrasonic_trig)  # cannot be changed
    i4 = set_input(ultrasonic_echo)  # cannot be changed
    warning = set_output(led)

# This code block executes forever
loop:
    distance_cm = distance()  # how far it is, in cm
    if distance_cm > 0 and distance_cm < 20:  # closer than 20 cm?
        warning = ON  # turn warning ON
    else:  # otherwise
        warning = OFF  # turn warning OFF

A parking sensor on the TinkerPy Mega: switching on Ultrasonic wrote import ultrasonic and the two “cannot be changed” lines for i3 and i4. On a Mini, Circuit Connections writes i2 (TRIG) and i1 (ECHO) instead.

# Add the libraries you need
import tv_remote
import motor

# ===== TV remote robot =====

# This code block executes only once
setup:
    i1 = set_function(tv_remote)  # TV remote receiver (TSOP1838) — learn the keys on the board: Menu > TV Remote
    o3 = set_output(right_motor_P)
    o4 = set_output(right_motor_N)
    o5 = set_output(left_motor_P)
    o6 = set_output(left_motor_N)

# This code block executes forever
loop:
    key = remote_read()  # the TV remote key pressed (1-9, 0, a-d, up, ok, ch+ …) into key — None if no key
    if key == "up":  # when key == "up"
        robot_control("F", 80, "F", 80)  # Left 80% Forward, Right 80% Forward : Robot - Moving Forward
    elif key == "ok":  # otherwise, when key == "ok"
        robot_control("S", 0, "S", 0)  # stop both motors

A TV-remote robot: ticking TV Remote put the receiver on a free pin (i1), and switching on both motors took o3–o6. The up key drives forward, ok stops. Learn your remote’s keys on the board first.

# Add the libraries you need
import bluetooth

# Give your pins easy-to-remember names
o1 = set_name("lamp")

# ===== Phone lamp =====

# This code block executes only once
setup:
    lamp = set_output(led)
    bluetooth_begin()  # switches Bluetooth on when the board starts

# This code block executes forever
loop:
    letter = bluetooth_read_char()  # the letter the app sent (Bluetooth) into letter — None if nothing new
    if letter == "S":  # when letter == "S"
        lamp = ON  # turn lamp ON
    elif letter == "s":  # otherwise, when letter == "s"
        lamp = OFF  # turn lamp OFF

A phone-controlled lamp for the TinkerPy Mega: switching on Bluetooth added import bluetooth and bluetooth_begin() — no pins at all. The app sends S for on and s for off.

# Add the libraries you need
import clock
import counter
import buzzer

# Give your pins easy-to-remember names
o1 = set_name("bell")

# ===== Morning bell =====

# This code block executes only once
setup:
    bell = set_output(buzzer)
    clock_start(6, 59, 50)  # start the clock at 6:59:50 and let it start ticking
    c1.set(0)  # set c1 straight to 0

# This code block executes forever
loop:
    if HH == 7 and MM == 0 and SS == 0:  # when HH == 7 and MM == 0 and SS == 0
        bell = ON  # turn bell ON
        c1.increment()  # one more morning rung
        wait(1000)  # pause here for 1000 milliseconds before continuing
        bell = OFF  # turn bell OFF

A morning bell with two board features: Clock (starts at 6:59:50, so the bell rings after 10 seconds) and Counter (c1 counts how many times it has rung). Neither takes a pin.