Unit 7: The Grid
You’ve used the single built-in NeoPixel since Lesson 1. Now it’s time to upgrade to the full 8×8 NeoPixel grid — 64 individually addressable RGB LEDs you can draw on like a tiny screen.
Lessons in This Unit
| Lesson | Title | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 19 | Two-Dimensional Lists | 2D lists, double indexing, nested loops, creating grids |
| Lesson 20 | The 8×8 NeoPixel Grid | Grid wiring, framebuffer, row×col to index, pixel art |
| Lesson 21 | Grid Animations | Animation loops, velocity, bouncing, rain, spinner patterns |
New Hardware: WS2812B 8×8 NeoPixel Grid
64 individually addressable RGB LEDs in an 8×8 matrix. Each LED has its own controller chip. Controlled via a single data pin using the same neopixel module you already know.
What You’ll Be Able to Do by the End
- Create and manipulate 2D lists (lists of lists)
- Access grid cells with double indexing
grid[row][col] - Map row/column coordinates to NeoPixel index
- Use a framebuffer for flicker-free animation
- Display pixel art, patterns, and animations
This unit brings everything together — loops, lists, functions, and hardware. The grid is your canvas. By the end of this unit, you’ll be ready to build the capstone project.