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Laser Ranger 8-ch × micro:bit (MakeCode extension)

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The universal I2C edition of the Laser Ranger 8-ch works with BBC micro:bit V1 / V2 through the MakeCode extension pxt-mbc-sensors v2 (which speaks MBC I2C protocol v2). Installation and hardware notes (3.3 V, power): micro:bit overview.

SPIKEEV3Arduino I2CmBlockMATRIXmicro:bit

Important

Extension v2 is not yet verified on hardware; block names follow the published release: https://github.com/contactmbcrobot/pxt-mbc-sensors

Wiring

Laser Ranger 8-ch × micro:bit
Sensor micro:bit
SDA（RX） P20
SCL（TX） P19
VCC must use external 5 V (share GND with the micro:bit)
GND GND

Reporter blocks

Block Returns Id Meaning
distance 8-ch nearest ([cm]) 0~120 cm 01 smallest of the 8 distances, 0~120 cm (a failed sensor counts as 120); 120 = nothing around
distance 8-ch nearest direction -8~+8 02 direction of the nearest object: −7 (left) to +7 (right), 0 = straight ahead, negative = left; ±8 = nothing around (keeps the last side)
distance 8-ch most open (cm) 0~120 cm 03 largest of the 8 distances, 0~120 cm (a failed sensor always reads 120 and looks 'farthest')
distance 8-ch most open direction -7~+7 04 direction of the most open side: −7 to +7, 0 = straight ahead, negative = left; 0 when all 8 read 120
distance 8-ch front ([cm]) 0~120 cm 05 average of sensors 4 and 5 (both facing forward), 0~120 cm; EV3 mode 3 and SPIKE mode 6 carry the same thing in mm; 0x22 'C' is min(4, 5), not the average (see 10)
distance 8-ch nearest ([mm]) 0~1200 mm 06 smallest of the 8 mm readings, 0~1200 (failed sensor counts as 1200); 1200 = nothing around
distance 8-ch front ([mm]) 0~1200 mm 09 average of sensors 4 and 5 (the two facing forward), 0~1200 mm; 1200 = nothing ahead. cm version is 05
distance 8-ch sensor [1~8] ([cm]) 0~120 cm 10~17 distance of each sensor 18, 0120 cm (1 = far left, 4 and 5 = front, 8 = far right, 30° apart); 120 = nothing that way / sensor failed; ids 10~17
distance 8-ch sensor [1~8] ([mm]) 0~1200 mm 18~1F distance of each sensor 18, 01200 mm; 1200 = nothing that way / sensor failed; ids 18~1F

More blocks (yes / no, events)

Block Related value
on distance 8-ch nearer than 10 cm 01

Status

bit Name Meaning
b0 ready (ready) 1 once all 8 sensors are initialised (24 s after power-on) and snapshots are running
b1 any sensor failed (fault) 1 if any sensor failed to initialise, has an I2C error or no update for 200 ms (08 ≠ 0 or 07 ≠ 255)

JavaScript

if (!(mbc.waitReady(0x29, 5000))) {
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.No)   // nothing answers: check wiring and power
}
basic.forever(function () {
    basic.showNumber(mbc.tof8Nearest(MbcDistUnit.Cm))   // nearest distance (cm)
    basic.pause(100)
})

Sources and assumptions

Generated by _build/gen-reference.mjs from _build/protocol/tof8.json (single source of truth, transcribed from the 2026-10-21 protocol decisions).

  • 正前方 mm（EV3 模式 3、SPIKE 模式 6 v[1]）在定案 §5 沒有獨立 I2C 編號 → 掛在 05 正前方 cm 底下，用 scale:mm 標示，不自己加編號。
  • 0x22（使用者 2026-10-21 最終定案）：只用一個位址，R~K 由左到右 7 個 cm：第 1、2、3 顆、min(第 4, 第 5)、第 6、7、8 顆；11、12 不放資料；最近距離／方向由主機自己比較。此排法只用在 0x22，EV3／SPIKE不動。
  • SPIKE：0/5/7/9 鎖住，1、2、3、4、8 維持不動；模式 6 改 [最近 mm, 正前方 mm, 最近方向 −8+8]（原本 = 第 27 顆兩兩合併）；模式 8 v[0] 改 ID|hw[0]<<8。
  • 最空曠方向 04 範圍 −7~+7（maxDirection 永遠不會是 0／16，盤點 INO:1086-1088）；最近方向 02 ±8 = 沒目標、沿用上次偏向側，開機預設 −8。
  • 沒有寫入命令；F8 換位址／EF 重開機用共用的。
  • 主對話 2026-10-21：補 09 正前方 mm（定案 §5 只有 05 正前方 cm，但 EV3 模式 3、SPIKE 模式 6 都送 mm，I2C／mBlock 應有同一個值）。
  • The extension reads Int16LE and pauses 2 ms after writing the id (D5); with no sensor answering, reporters return 0 and yes / no blocks return false.
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