Category Archives: Raspberry Pi Pico

Storing Mission Critical Data in Flash Memory on the Raspberry Pi Pico W

In this video lesson we show how mission critical data can be saved in Flash Memory on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. There is just 2 MB of flash memory available, and the flash memory is only specified for 100,000 write cycles. This means we must be careful and deliberate in when to use flash memory, and it should not be used as a general purpose data logger. For example, if you wrote a memory location once a second, you could reach cycle limit in a few days. However, storing things like calibration data, user preferences and so forth are excellent uses of the memory.

In order to demonstrate this capability, we will show a program where the position of the servo is saved in a .json file in flash memory. If power is lost, the program goes and reloads the last position of the servo from the .json file, and then proceeds from there.

When using the breadvolt, or any battery power supply on a breadboard project, do not turn the power supply on while the Raspberry Pi Pico is connected to USB, as you could generate voltage conflicts. It is an either or. If the USB is connected, the power supply should be OFF. Or if you are going to connect the USB, first turn off the power supply.

We use the following circuit:

servo control
This demonstration circuit controls servo position by two push buttons

We also include the code developed in this lesson below for your convenience:

 

Remotely Control a DC Motor Over WiFi With Raspberry Pi Pico W

In this video lesson I will show you how you can control a remote DC motor using your Raspberry Pi Pico W. The Pi Pico is set up as a server, and is connected to a DC motor, and TA6586 Motor Controller. The motor is controlled by a client Python program running on your desktop PC. On the client side we create a Graphical Widget, which will allow you to control both the speed and direction of the motor. the schematic for the Raspberry Pi Pico W side is shown below:

Motor Controller
Schematic for TA6586 and Raspberry Pi Pico DC Motor Control

When using the breadvolt, or any battery power supply on a breadboard project, do not turn the power supply on while the Raspberry Pi Pico is connected to USB, as you could generate voltage conflicts. It is an either or. If the USB is connected, the power supply should be OFF. Or if you are going to connect the USB, first turn off the power supply.

Then in the video, we developed the following software for the server side on the Pi Pico

Then for the client side, the following program runs on Python on your PC:

 

 

Control DC Motor With Raspberry Pi Pico W and TA6586

In this video lesson we show you how you can control a small DC motor using the Raspberry Pi Pico W and a TA6586 DC Motor Controller. We show you how to control both the speed and direction. The schematic for the circuit we use is here:

Motor Controller
Schematic for TA6586 and Raspberry Pi Pico DC Motor Control

When using the breadvolt, or any battery power supply on a breadboard project, do not turn the power supply on while the Raspberry Pi Pico is connected to USB, as you could generate voltage conflicts. It is an either or. If the USB is connected, the power supply should be OFF. Or if you are going to connect the USB, first turn off the power supply.

In the lesson, we developed the following code for your convenience:

 

Plotting Live Data in Python Using PyQT

In this video lesson we show how Live Data can be plotted using a PyQt window. Our eventual goal is to bring in live data from the Raspberry Pi Pico W using UDP over WiFi, but to learn the concepts today, we will be generating a live sin wave to show how the plotting works. Here is the code we developed in this lesson:

 

Simple Client Server Project for the Raspberry Pi Pico W

In this video lesson we demonstrate a simple client server project on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. The Pico is configures as the server, and your desktop pc or laptop is configures to be the client. You will be running python on your PC. The project requests the user on the PC to specify a desired color. The color is then sent to the Pico, the Server.

For this lesson we are not using the breadvolt power supply, but we will use it in future lessons. For this lesson, you do not need to attach it, and if you do attach it, leave it ‘off’.

Below is the schematic for the Server Side of the project:

LED and Buttons
Schematic for Circuit to Demonstrate a Client Server Example on Pi Pico

For your convenience, this is the code we developed in the video

Remember you must create a secrets.py file, and save it on the Pi Pico in the lib folder. You need to specify YOUR WiFi name and password in the file.

And finally, here is the code to run on the client side on your PC