STEM educational resource to send data via laser: using micro:bit and a USB GPIO module

Abstract

Electronic communication is a very important and widely used topic in the field of Engineering and Physics. Due to this, it is relevant for educators and students to have an educational resource with the aim of easing the teaching/learning process regarding to the concept and basics of this topic. In this manuscript, it is presented a novel prototype that sends and receives single character or string via a laser and fiber optics, allowing the manipulation of the hardware and software involved. The characters are coded and sent by modulating the duration of the laser light pulses (pulse width) by using LabVIEW through a USB GPIO module; while the reception and decoding of the characters are achieved via a photoresistor module and a micro:bit board, respectively. A quialitative demonstration regarding to the application of light intensity and beam division is also included.