BBC micro:bit Hardware Support from MATLAB and Simulink
System requirements and installation options
Check the System Requirements
To install a hardware support package, you must have a supported product release, along with the required operating system and base product.
View the hardware support package system requirements table and confirm you have:
- A supported release
- A supported operating system
- The required base products
If you do not have a supported release or the required base products, you can get started with a free trial, or you can purchase products.
Continue with the Installation
After confirming you have the system requirements, proceed with either installation option listed below.
Option 1: Using the Toolstrip
Launch the Support Package Installer from your version of MATLAB and navigate to the correct support package.
Option 2: "Get Support Package" Button (.mlpkginstall file*)
Clicking the Get Support Package button provides the support package install file:
([filename].mlpkginstall)
There are several ways to initiate the Support Package Installer from these files:
- Open the
.mlpkginstallfile directly from your Internet browser. - Download and save the file (the default option for some Internet browsers), and open it directly from your Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system.
- Open the
.mlpkginstallfile directly from within MATLAB by navigating the Current Folder to the location of the downloaded file and double clicking it. That will initiate the installation for the MATLAB release that you have open.
The primary difference between using the .mlpkginstall file (option 2) rather than the toolstrip (option 1) to initiate support package installation is that the file allows the user to avoid the support package selection screen on the installer.
*These file types were introduced in MATLAB R2013a.
Users without an Internet connection can install hardware support packages by following the download instructions.
Capabilities and Features
The Simulink Coder™ Support Package for BBC micro:bit lets you use model-based design to program the micro:bit board. With Simulink, you can build models using block diagrams instead of text-based code, simulate behavior before running on hardware, and automatically generate code that runs directly on the micro:bit. By shifting the focus from programming syntax to logic and system behavior, this workflow enables you to jump into project-based learning with confidence, even if you’re new to coding.
The support package includes blocks for configuring and accessing many built-in micro:bit sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces, including:
- 5×5 LED matrix
- Buttons (A and B)
- Accelerometer and Magnetometer (compass)
- Radio communication
- Audio output (micro:bit v2 speaker)
- Digital and analog I/O pins
- Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) outputs
Supported Hardware
BBC micro:bit Boards
- BBC micro:bit v2 (primary target)
- Compatible with micro:bit v1 and v1.5
This support package is available on releases MATLAB® R2016b and later
Platform and Release Support
See the hardware support package system requirements table for current and prior version, release, and platform availability.
Get Started with the BBC micro:bit
