Calliope Calliope mini User manual

MAKING. CODING. FUN.

THESE PARTS ARE NEEDED:
Battery holder
AA+
2x
Batteries
USB cable
1

Bring your Calliope mini to life.
You can invent games, send secret messages,
compose music and build robots!
Create the rst projects for your mini computer
using simple programming blocks. It’s as easy as
pie: Just put the blocks together and you’ll have
your rst program only a few clicks later.
DESIGN THE DIGITAL WORLD
WITH CALLIOPE MINI
2

What your Calliope mini can do:
Your Calliope mini contains an LED grid with ve
red lights, a microphone, a speaker, a multicolor
RGB LED that can show all colors, a motion sen-
sor, touch sensitive pins and two buttons (A+B).
Furthermore, the mini can measure temperature
and brightness and connect to other Calliope
minis using a radio protocol. You can connect
motors and additional sensors and program your
mini via Bluetooth.
3

LET’S GO
Before you can start you have to hook up the
Calliope mini to a power source. Carefully plug
in the battery holder included or connect to a
computer via USB.
You are welcomed by a short demo sequence
which helps you getting used to the buttons and
the basic functions.
There are some applications pre-installed on the
Calliope mini so you can try it right away without
connecting it to the computer.
4

Press the buttons A and B
simultaneously to start the
menu. The LED display shows
the number 1. Choose an exer-
cise between 1 and 5 by swit-
ching up with B and switching
down with A.
Lightly shake the Calliope mini
to start the chosen exercise.
Let’s go!
5

Ask your Calliope mini a question and it will give
you the answer.
You only need button A for this
exercise.
Ask your Calliope mini a simple
question that can be answered
with Yes or No.
1CALLIOPE-MINI-ORACLE
A
6

Press button A on your Calliope
mini.
The Calliope mini will then
return an answer. For no the
Calliope mini will show: for
yes: !
Press button A and B simul-
taneously to go back to the
menu. You can choose another
exercise there.
: )
: (
7

Who will be the champion of ‘rock, paper, scis-
sors and well’ ? Use the motion sensor of your
Calliope mini and you will nd out.
Put the board into your hand
and shake it lightly.
One out of four symbols will
randomly appear on the LED display.
Your counterpart shakes another Calliope mini at
the same time or uses his or her own hand and
chooses between one of these four symbols:
2ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
8

PAPER WELL
The ranking of the symbols is as following:
Well beats scissors and rock; rock beats scissors;
scissors beat paper; paper beats rock and well.
Whoever gets three points rst is the winner!
SCISSORS ROCK
9

3SIMPLE MULTIPLICATION
Your Calliope mini challenges you with a random
exercise from simple multiplication.
Press button A on your
Calliope mini to see the
rst factor.
Then press button B to
see the second factor.
10

Now it’s up to you: Calculate the
result in your head. If you want
to know whether your answer is
right, shake your Calliope mini
to see the result.
Test your knowledge about
simple multiplication and
become a math pro!
11

4NOISE-O-METER
Your Calliope mini reacts on sound differently. Try
being loud and then being quiet.
The microphone measures the
environment volume. The LED
display shows the noise level
.
If it’s quiet, the RGB-LED ashes
green. In case it’s loud the RGB-
LED ashes red.
12

5CALLIOPE MINI IDENTIFIER
This program shows you the individual identi-
cation number of your Calliope mini. You need
this pattern if you want to connect your mini to a
tablet or smartphone and to transfer applications
via Bluetooth.
You can nd the instructions for this on our web-
site calliope.cc in the menu “Let’s start” clicking
on “First Steps”.
To get back to the main menu just press the
white “Reset” button. This will always take you
back to number 1.
13

Now it’s your turn!
Create your own code! You can choose between
several editors you can use to control your
Calliope mini. Find them on calliope.cc in the
“Let’s start” menu and program your Calliope
mini. Try them all and nd your favorite editor!
Do you want some inspiration for your next pro-
ject? You can nd examples and instructions on
calliope.cc in the “Examples” section. Connect
your mini with your computer using the USB ca-
ble or use a smartphone/tablet and connect via
Bluetooth. You can transfer your program to the
mini and try it right away. A detailed description
14

can be found in the section “Let’s start” clicking
on “First Steps”. This is also where we put the
“getting started” program that was on your mini
at the beginning.
There are no limits to your creativity. Explore the
world of coding and making and have fun with
your very own Calliope mini!
15

You can nd more information on the Calliope
project on our website. If you have any questions
you can contact us directly:
[email protected]
Calliope gGmbH
Raumerstrasse 11
10437 Berlin
Germany
16

Please note the following information:
The USB port should only be connected to a computer.
Disconnect from the computer if you’re not using the device.
Calliope mini should never be powered by USB and battery at the same
time. If the mini is connected to the computer the battery holder shouldn’t
be connected to the mini or the switch should be set to “Off”.
Only type AAA batteries or LR03 (battery holder) should be used to power
the mini. The voltage applied to the Calliope mini should never exceed
3.3 volts. Switch off the batter holder (“Off”), if you’re not using the mini.
If you’re using a battery holder without a switch take out the batteries or
disconnect the battery holder from the mini.
This product should be operated in a well ventilated environment.
This product should be placed on a stable, at non-conductive surface.
Do not expose to water, moisture or place on a conductive surface while
in operation. Take care while handling to avoid mechanical or electrical
damage. Avoid handling the printed circuit board while it is powered. Only
handle by the edges to minimal the risk of electrostatic discharge damage.
The connection of incompatible devices to the GPIO connector may affect
compliance and or result in damage to the unit and invalidate the warranty.
The external motor support may only be operated with a 9V battery (or
6LR61). The operation with rechargeable batteries is forbidden.
Only touch the outer areas and the buttons during use.
Small parts must be kept away from small children.
This is not a toy and should be used with a parental advisor or teacher!
If the Calliope mini gets hot, disconnect it from the power source imme-
diately and stop using it. If you have problems with Calliope mini please
contact us, for example using [email protected].
Additional important information, certication data and contacts can be
found at https://calliope.cc/en/safety-advice
Please keep this booklet for further references and questions!

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radia-
te radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particu-
lar installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one
of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
FCC Caution: Any changes or modications not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user‘s authority to operate
this equipment.