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Build & Program the AXE092
Welcome to the AXE092 project page for Year 9 Electronics. This page provides all the background information, examples, and guides you’ll need as you assemble, solder, and program your AXE092 Picaxe experimenter’s board. Your main challenge is to create a traffic light system for a railway crossing.
About Traffic Lights
About Traffic Lights
Traffic lights are everywhere in our city. They use a combination of red, amber, and green lights to safely manage traffic flow. Modern systems now use LED bulbs, which save huge amounts of power compared to older incandescent bulbs.
Did you know?
Old-style traffic light bulbs used ~100W each.
A busy intersection could have dozens of bulbs lit at once.
LED replacements often use under 20W, saving both money and energy.
Christchurch has converted most intersections to LED lights.
Traffic Light Challenge: Mission Ōtautahi
Traffic Light Challenge: Mission Ōtautahi
Investigate how Christchurch traffic lights use and save energy! Research a real intersection, compare old bulbs with LEDs, calculate power savings, and explore the impact of technology on people and sustainability.
Traffic Light Challenge: Mission Ōtautahi Document
Build and program a crossing
Build and program a crossing
Make your AXE092 board, test its parts, then program a crossing. Complete one activity page at a time.
Your four steps
Your four steps
9.5.1 Build and Check the Board: identify parts, solder, inspect and get a teacher check.
9.5.2 Lights and a Button: make a pattern, then make the lights respond to a press.
9.5.3 Light Sensor and Sound: measure light readings, choose a threshold and test the piezo.
9.5.4 Crossing Challenge: combine your tested parts, test the sequence and investigate energy use.
First, meet your system
First, meet your system
Find the button and LDR (inputs), PICAXE microcontroller (processing), and LEDs and piezo (outputs). The battery supplies energy. Draw these in a universal system diagram.
A microcontroller follows stored instructions. Changing the program can change the behaviour without rebuilding the circuit.
Curriculum connections
Curriculum connections
Integrate electronic and digital subsystems; use diagrams and sequenced instructions; test inputs and outputs separately; diagnose connection and program faults; evaluate user needs, safe operation and energy use; record evidence and refine a working control system.
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