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Smartwatch Compass Kit

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A round smartwatch-style screen plus a compass chip that senses Earth's magnetic field, making a hand-held digital compass.

Source book: STEM Robots
Kit page: https://dmccreary.github.io/stem-robots/kits/smartwatch-compass-hmc5883l/
Printable one-pager: smartwatch-compass-hmc5883l-one-pager.html

Features

  • Lab 1: Meet the Pico — check that your Pico is
  • Lab 2: Blink the Onboard LED — your first
  • Lab 3: Find the Compass on the Bus — wire up the
  • Lab 4: Read the Compass Once — grab one
  • Lab 5: Say Hello on the Screen — wire up the
  • Lab 6: Show the Numbers — combine the

Benefits

  • Free, open lessons: the STEM Robots textbook has the kit page, wiring, and MicroPython code.
  • Ready-made curriculum: 10 additional lab pages walk students through the build step by step.
  • Classroom friendly: built on a solderless breadboard or no-solder connectors.
  • Instant feedback: students see their code's results on lights or a display.
  • Real-world data: students read sensors and turn measurements into decisions.
  • Budget: about $14.50 (round display $3.19, compass module about $2.50; Pico $4, breadboard $2, wires $1, USB cable $2).

Parts

  • Raspberry Pi Pico ($4) — Microcontroller
  • TT DC Gear Motors — Motor / actuator
  • GC9A01 Round TFT ($3.19) — Display
  • HMC5883L / QMC5883L Compass — Sensor
  • 830-Point Breadboard ($1.10) — Breadboard
  • Micro-USB Data Cable ($2.50) — Power and programming cable