Set up Sense HAT inputs in Scratch 3

Les Pounder shows how to obtain data and control sprites using the Sense HAT add-on board with Scratch 3.

- Les Pounder

YOU NEED

• Raspberry Pi 3B+ or better

• Sense HAT

• Latest Raspbian release

• Code: https:// github.com/ lesp/ LXF280Sense-Bats/ archive/ refs/heads/ main.zip

This month we’ll use the scientific powerhouse Sense HAT board with Scratch 3 to create four quick projects to demonstrate the power of Scratch 3 and the Sense HAT.

The Sense HAT is a remarkable board. Released in 2015, it works with Python, Node-RED and for this tutorial it works with Scratch 3 thanks to a special palette of blocks that enable anyone to use the sensors, display and joystick with very little coding knowledge.

With the power off, connect the Sense HAT to all 40 pins of the GPIO, ensuring that the board fits neatly over the Pi. Use the brass standoff, provided with the Sense HAT to fix the board firmly in place. Connect your peripherals and then power up the Raspberry Pi to the desktop.

Scratch 3 should come pre-installed on your Raspberry Pi OS image, but just in case it’s missing it can be installed from the main menu, under Preferences>Recommended Software. Scratch 3 is found in the Programming category: place a tick in the box and click Apply to install. Once installed, Scratch 3 can be found in the main menu under Programming.

Open Scratch 3 (on first start Scratch may take a little while to open). We’re going to assume that you have an understanding of how to code with Scratch, but if not we covered the basics in previous issues. Before we write any new code we need to click the blue folder icon in the bottom left of the screen to load the Extensions menu. From there select Raspberry Pi Sense HAT and a palette of new blocks are added to our code.

Project 1: Spin me right round