In this lesson we are working on a client server connection. The Arduino is the server, and a python program on a desktop PC is the client. The objective is to control the color of an RGB LED from the client. The client will send data to the server as comma delimited string, like 255,0,255 for RGB. The challenge on the server side is to parse this data so we get integer values of:

R=255

G=0

B=255

In this video lesson we start by simply controlling two LED, a red and green one, from the python client. We then show how we can control an RGB LED by sending the data string from the client, and parsing it on the server side. For your convenience, we include the code here:

Server Side code for the Arduino:

#include <WiFiS3.h>
#include "secrets.h"
WiFiUDP udp;
int PORT = 12345;
char myPacket[255];
int dataLen;
String color;
String response;
int redPin = 8;
int greenPin = 9;
int R;
int G;
int B;
int firstComma;
int secondComma;
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);
  Serial.print("Connecting to ");
  Serial.println(SSID);
  WiFi.begin(SSID, PASS);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(100);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("\nConnected to WiFi");
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
  udp.begin(PORT);
  Serial.print("UDP Server started on port ");
  Serial.print(PORT);
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  if (udp.parsePacket()) {
    dataLen = udp.available();
    Serial.println(dataLen);
    udp.read(myPacket, 255);
    Serial.println(myPacket);
    myPacket[dataLen] = 0;
    Serial.println(myPacket);
    color = String(myPacket);
    color.trim();
    Serial.println("Received color: " + color);
    firstComma=color.indexOf(',',0);
    secondComma=color.indexOf(',',firstComma+1);
    R=color.substring(0,firstComma).toInt();
    G=color.substring(firstComma+1,secondComma).toInt();
    B=color.substring(secondComma+1).toInt();
    Serial.println(R);
    Serial.println(G);
    Serial.println(B);
    udp.beginPacket(udp.remoteIP(), udp.remotePort());
    udp.print(response);
    udp.endPacket();
    Serial.println("SENT: " + response);
  }
}

#include <WiFiS3.h>

#include "secrets.h"

WiFiUDP udp;

int PORT = 12345;

char myPacket[255];

int dataLen;

String color;

String response;

int redPin = 8;

int greenPin = 9;

int R;

int G;

int B;

int firstComma;

int secondComma;

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);

Serial.print("Connecting to ");

Serial.println(SSID);

WiFi.begin(SSID, PASS);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(100);

Serial.print(".");

}

Serial.println("\nConnected to WiFi");

Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());

udp.begin(PORT);

Serial.print("UDP Server started on port ");

Serial.print(PORT);

// put your setup code here, to run once:

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

if (udp.parsePacket()) {

dataLen = udp.available();

Serial.println(dataLen);

udp.read(myPacket, 255);

Serial.println(myPacket);

myPacket[dataLen] = 0;

Serial.println(myPacket);

color = String(myPacket);

color.trim();

Serial.println("Received color: " + color);

firstComma=color.indexOf(',',0);

secondComma=color.indexOf(',',firstComma+1);

R=color.substring(0,firstComma).toInt();

G=color.substring(firstComma+1,secondComma).toInt();

B=color.substring(secondComma+1).toInt();

Serial.println(R);

Serial.println(G);

Serial.println(B);

udp.beginPacket(udp.remoteIP(), udp.remotePort());

udp.print(response);

udp.endPacket();

Serial.println("SENT: " + response);

}

The code above needs a ‘secrets.h’ file which includes your WiFi name and password. This is created in the IDE by choosing ‘Add Tab’. Call the new tab ‘secrets.h’, and edit the code below to include your WiFi name and passwords inside the quotes:

#define SSID "Your WiFi Name"
#define PASS "Your WiFi Password"

1 2	#define SSID "Your WiFi Name" #define PASS "Your WiFi Password"

Now, on the client side, this is our standard Python client:

import socket

# Arduino’s IP address (from Arduino Serial Monitor)
HOST = "192.168.88.77"  # Use Your Arduino's IP. It will print when
                        #You Run the Arduino Server Program
PORT = 12345            # Must match Arduino’s UDP port

# Create a UDP socket
mySocket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
mySocket.settimeout(5.0)  # 5 seconds timeout for responses

print("UDP Client started. Enter a color (or 'quit' to exit).")

while True:
    # Prompt for a color
    #color = input("Enter a color: ").strip()  # Remove whitespace
    color = input("Enter a color: ") 
    if color.lower() == 'quit':  # Exit condition
        break

    # Send the color to the server
    sendColor=color.encode()
    mySocket.sendto(sendColor, (HOST, PORT))
    print('Sent '+color+' to HOST',HOST,PORT)

    # Try to get a response, skip on timeout
    try:
        response, server_address = mySocket.recvfrom(1024)
        print("Server response:", response.decode())
    except socket.timeout:
        print("No response received from server within 5 seconds")

# Close the socket
mySocket.close()
print("Socket closed")

import socket

# Arduino’s IP address (from Arduino Serial Monitor)

HOST = "192.168.88.77" # Use Your Arduino's IP. It will print when

#You Run the Arduino Server Program

PORT = 12345 # Must match Arduino’s UDP port

# Create a UDP socket

mySocket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

mySocket.settimeout(5.0) # 5 seconds timeout for responses

print("UDP Client started. Enter a color (or 'quit' to exit).")

while True:

# Prompt for a color

#color = input("Enter a color: ").strip() # Remove whitespace

color = input("Enter a color: ")

if color.lower() == 'quit': # Exit condition

break

# Send the color to the server

sendColor=color.encode()

mySocket.sendto(sendColor, (HOST, PORT))

print('Sent '+color+' to HOST',HOST,PORT)

# Try to get a response, skip on timeout

try:

response, server_address = mySocket.recvfrom(1024)

print("Server response:", response.decode())

except socket.timeout:

print("No response received from server within 5 seconds")

# Close the socket

mySocket.close()

print("Socket closed")

With this code for creating a client and server, and then parsing comma delimited text, you can easily add the code needed to control the RGB LED color to the arduino program.

MicroPython, Raspberry Pi Pico

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

April 29, 2025 admin

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:

from machine import Pin, PWM
import ujson
import time
decPin=16
incPin=17
servoPin=0
decBut=Pin(decPin,Pin.IN,Pin.PULL_UP)
incBut=Pin(incPin,Pin.IN,Pin.PULL_UP)

incButState=1
incButStateOld=1

decButState=1
decButStateOld=1

myServo=PWM(Pin(servoPin))
myServo.freq(50)

servoAngle=90
try:
    f = open("/angle.json", "r")
    servoAngle = ujson.load(f)
    f.close()
    print(servoAngle)
except:
    pass

def moveServo(angle):
    writeVal=6553/180*angle+1638
    myServo.duty_u16(int(writeVal))
    print(angle)
    f=open("/angle.json",'w')
    ujson.dump(angle,f)
    f.close()
    
    
  
moveServo(servoAngle)
while True:
    incButState=incBut.value()
    decButState=decBut.value()
    if incButState==0 and incButStateOld==1:
        servoAngle=servoAngle+10
        if servoAngle>180:
            servoAngle=180
        moveServo(servoAngle)
        time.sleep(.1)
    if decButState==0 and decButStateOld==1:
        servoAngle=servoAngle-10
        if servoAngle<0:
            servoAngle=0
        moveServo(servoAngle)
        time.sleep(.1)
    incButStateOld=incButState
    decButStateOld=decButState

from machine import Pin, PWM

import ujson

import time

decPin=16

incPin=17

servoPin=0

decBut=Pin(decPin,Pin.IN,Pin.PULL_UP)

incBut=Pin(incPin,Pin.IN,Pin.PULL_UP)

incButState=1

incButStateOld=1

decButState=1

decButStateOld=1

myServo=PWM(Pin(servoPin))

myServo.freq(50)

servoAngle=90

try:

f = open("/angle.json", "r")

servoAngle = ujson.load(f)

f.close()

print(servoAngle)

except:

pass

def moveServo(angle):

writeVal=6553/180*angle+1638

myServo.duty_u16(int(writeVal))

print(angle)

f=open("/angle.json",'w')

ujson.dump(angle,f)

f.close()

moveServo(servoAngle)

while True:

incButState=incBut.value()

decButState=decBut.value()

if incButState==0 and incButStateOld==1:

servoAngle=servoAngle+10

if servoAngle>180:

servoAngle=180

moveServo(servoAngle)

time.sleep(.1)

if decButState==0 and decButStateOld==1:

servoAngle=servoAngle-10

if servoAngle<0:

servoAngle=0

moveServo(servoAngle)

time.sleep(.1)

incButStateOld=incButState

decButStateOld=decButState

Arduino, Python

Create a Simple Client Server Connection Over WiFi to Connect Arduino to Python on the PC

April 24, 2025 admin

In this video lesson, we show how to create a simple Client/Server connection over WiFi. We connect the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi to Python running on the PC. The arduino is the server, and the PC Python program is the client. We show how to pass data from the PC to the Arduino, and then how to pass data from the Arduino back to the PC. With this simple framework, we can control Arduino projects from our desktop PC, and we can use the PC to display data being taken from the Arduino.

In this lesson we develop code for Arduino, and the code in Python. For your convenience, we present the code below.

On the Arduino Side, this is the code to create the ‘Server’.

#include <WiFiS3.h>
#include "secrets.h"
WiFiUDP udp;
int PORT = 12345;
char myPacket[255];
int dataLen;
String color;
String response;
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.print("Connecting to ");
  Serial.println(SSID);
  WiFi.begin(SSID, PASS);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(100);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("\nConnected to WiFi");
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
  udp.begin(PORT);
  Serial.print("UDP Server started on port ");
  Serial.print(PORT);
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  if (udp.parsePacket()) {
    dataLen = udp.available();
    Serial.println(dataLen);
  udp.read(myPacket,255);
  Serial.println(myPacket);
  myPacket[dataLen]=0;
  Serial.println(myPacket);
  color=String(myPacket);
  color.trim();
  Serial.println("Received color: "+color);
  response ="Here is your "+color+" Marble";  
 udp.beginPacket(udp.remoteIP(), udp.remotePort());
 udp.print(response);
 udp.endPacket();
  Serial.println("SENT: "+response);
  }
}

#include <WiFiS3.h>

#include "secrets.h"

WiFiUDP udp;

int PORT = 12345;

char myPacket[255];

int dataLen;

String color;

String response;

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

Serial.print("Connecting to ");

Serial.println(SSID);

WiFi.begin(SSID, PASS);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(100);

Serial.print(".");

}

Serial.println("\nConnected to WiFi");

Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());

udp.begin(PORT);

Serial.print("UDP Server started on port ");

Serial.print(PORT);

// put your setup code here, to run once:

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

if (udp.parsePacket()) {

dataLen = udp.available();

Serial.println(dataLen);

udp.read(myPacket,255);

Serial.println(myPacket);

myPacket[dataLen]=0;

Serial.println(myPacket);

color=String(myPacket);

color.trim();

Serial.println("Received color: "+color);

response ="Here is your "+color+" Marble";

udp.beginPacket(udp.remoteIP(), udp.remotePort());

udp.print(response);

udp.endPacket();

Serial.println("SENT: "+response);

}

You also need to add a tab to your program using the ‘Add Tab’ feature of the IDE. The program in the tab should be named secrets.h

Your secrets.h file should look like this:

#define SSID "Your WiFi Name"
#define PASS "your Wifi Password"

1 2	#define SSID "Your WiFi Name" #define PASS "your Wifi Password"

You can run the program above, and it should connect to your WiFi, and should print out the Arduino’s IP address. Make note of the IP address as it will be needed in the Client program below. On the PC side, this is the python code to create the client:

import socket

# Arduino’s IP address (from Arduino Serial Monitor)
HOST = "192.168.88.77"  # Use Your Arduino's IP. It will print when
                        #You Run the Arduino Server Program
PORT = 12345            # Must match Arduino’s UDP port

# Create a UDP socket
mySocket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
mySocket.settimeout(5.0)  # 5 seconds timeout for responses

print("UDP Client started. Enter a color (or 'quit' to exit).")

while True:
    # Prompt for a color
    #color = input("Enter a color: ").strip()  # Remove whitespace
    color = input("Enter a color: ") 
    if color.lower() == 'quit':  # Exit condition
        break

    # Send the color to the server
    sendColor=color.encode()
    mySocket.sendto(sendColor, (HOST, PORT))
    print('Sent '+color+' to HOST',HOST,PORT)

    # Try to get a response, skip on timeout
    try:
        response, server_address = mySocket.recvfrom(1024)
        print("Server response:", response.decode())
    except socket.timeout:
        print("No response received from server within 5 seconds")

# Close the socket
mySocket.close()
print("Socket closed")

import socket

# Arduino’s IP address (from Arduino Serial Monitor)

HOST = "192.168.88.77" # Use Your Arduino's IP. It will print when

#You Run the Arduino Server Program

PORT = 12345 # Must match Arduino’s UDP port

# Create a UDP socket

mySocket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

mySocket.settimeout(5.0) # 5 seconds timeout for responses

print("UDP Client started. Enter a color (or 'quit' to exit).")

while True:

# Prompt for a color

#color = input("Enter a color: ").strip() # Remove whitespace

color = input("Enter a color: ")

if color.lower() == 'quit': # Exit condition

break

# Send the color to the server

sendColor=color.encode()

mySocket.sendto(sendColor, (HOST, PORT))

print('Sent '+color+' to HOST',HOST,PORT)

# Try to get a response, skip on timeout

try:

response, server_address = mySocket.recvfrom(1024)

print("Server response:", response.decode())

except socket.timeout:

print("No response received from server within 5 seconds")

# Close the socket

mySocket.close()

print("Socket closed")

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

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

April 15, 2025 admin

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

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

import network
import usocket as socket
import secrets
import time
from machine import Pin, PWM
icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)
icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)
fPWM=PWM(icPin1)
rPWM=PWM(icPin2)
fPWM.freq(1000)
rPWM.freq(1000)

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
wlan.active(True)
wlan.connect(secrets.SSID,secrets.PASSWORD)

# Wait for connection
while not wlan.isconnected():
    time.sleep(1)
print("Connection Completed")
print('WiFi connected')
print(wlan.ifconfig())

# Set up UDP server
server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
server_socket.bind((wlan.ifconfig()[0], 12345))
print("Server is Up and Listening")

while True:
    print('Waiting for a request from the client...')
    # Receive request from client
    request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)
    request=request.decode()
    print("Client Request:",request)
    print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)
    cmdArray=request.split(',')
    motorState=cmdArray[0]
    speed=int(cmdArray[1])
    rPWM.duty_u16(0)
    fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    if motorState == 'O':
        rPWM.duty_u16(0)
        fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    if motorState == 'F':
        rPWM.duty_u16(0)
        fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
    if motorState == 'R':
        fPWM.duty_u16(0)
        rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
    # String to send
    data =request +" CMD PROCESSES+D"
    
    # Send data to client
    server_socket.sendto(data.encode(), client_address)
    print(f'Sent data to {client_address}')

import network

import usocket as socket

import secrets

import time

from machine import Pin, PWM

icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)

icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)

fPWM=PWM(icPin1)

rPWM=PWM(icPin2)

fPWM.freq(1000)

rPWM.freq(1000)

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)

wlan.active(True)

wlan.connect(secrets.SSID,secrets.PASSWORD)

# Wait for connection

while not wlan.isconnected():

time.sleep(1)

print("Connection Completed")

print('WiFi connected')

print(wlan.ifconfig())

# Set up UDP server

server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

server_socket.bind((wlan.ifconfig()[0], 12345))

print("Server is Up and Listening")

while True:

print('Waiting for a request from the client...')

# Receive request from client

request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)

request=request.decode()

print("Client Request:",request)

print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)

cmdArray=request.split(',')

motorState=cmdArray[0]

speed=int(cmdArray[1])

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

if motorState == 'O':

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

if motorState == 'F':

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

if motorState == 'R':

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

# String to send

data =request +" CMD PROCESSES+D"

# Send data to client

server_socket.sendto(data.encode(), client_address)

print(f'Sent data to {client_address}')

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

import socket
import time
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *
from PyQt5.QtCore import *
import sys
speedF=0
speedR=0
motorStatus='O'

# Set up UDP client
client_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
client_socket.settimeout(1)
server_address = ('192.168.88.19', 12345)  # Adjust IP address and port as needed

app=QApplication(sys.argv)
window=QWidget()
window.setWindowTitle("Big Boss Motor Controller")
window.setGeometry(100,100,800,600)
mainLayout=QHBoxLayout(window)
leftLayout=QVBoxLayout()
rightLayout=QVBoxLayout()

def updateMotor():
    global motorStatus,speedF,speedR
    try:
        print(motorStatus)
        if motorStatus=='F':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedF)
        if motorStatus=='R':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedR)
        if motorStatus=='O':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(0)

        client_socket.sendto(cmd.encode(), server_address)
        data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)
        print('Received data:', data.decode())
        
    except:
        print("Server Did Not Respond, Try Again")


def updateForSpeed(value):
    global speedF
    speedF=value
    print(speedF)
def updateRevSpeed(value):
    global speedR
    speedR=value
    print(speedR)
def motorGo():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'F'
    print("GO")
def motorRev():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'R'
    print("REV")
def motorStop():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'O'
    print("STOP")


sliderLabelF=QLabel("Forward Speed")
sliderLabelF.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelF)

sliderF=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)
sliderF.setMinimum(0)
sliderF.setMaximum(100)
sliderF.setValue(0)
sliderF.valueChanged.connect(updateForSpeed)
sliderF.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,255,0);}")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderF)

sliderLabelR=QLabel("Forward Speed")
sliderLabelR.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelR)

sliderR=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)
sliderR.setMinimum(0)
sliderR.setMaximum(100)
sliderR.setValue(0)
sliderR.valueChanged.connect(updateRevSpeed)
sliderR.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,0,255);}")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderR)

greenButton=QPushButton("GO")
greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,255,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")
blueButton=QPushButton("REVERSE")
blueButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,0,255); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: white;")
redButton=QPushButton("STOP")
redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(255,0,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

greenButton.clicked.connect(motorGo)
rightLayout.addWidget(greenButton)

blueButton.clicked.connect(motorRev)
rightLayout.addWidget(blueButton)

redButton.clicked.connect(motorStop)
rightLayout.addWidget(redButton)

timer =QTimer()
timer.timeout.connect(updateMotor)
timer.start(200)

mainLayout.addLayout(leftLayout)
mainLayout.addLayout(rightLayout)
window.setLayout(mainLayout)
window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())

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import socket

import time

from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *

from PyQt5.QtCore import *

import sys

speedF=0

speedR=0

motorStatus='O'

# Set up UDP client

client_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

client_socket.settimeout(1)

server_address = ('192.168.88.19', 12345) # Adjust IP address and port as needed

app=QApplication(sys.argv)

window=QWidget()

window.setWindowTitle("Big Boss Motor Controller")

window.setGeometry(100,100,800,600)

mainLayout=QHBoxLayout(window)

leftLayout=QVBoxLayout()

rightLayout=QVBoxLayout()

def updateMotor():

global motorStatus,speedF,speedR

try:

print(motorStatus)

if motorStatus=='F':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedF)

if motorStatus=='R':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedR)

if motorStatus=='O':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(0)

client_socket.sendto(cmd.encode(), server_address)

data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)

print('Received data:', data.decode())

except:

print("Server Did Not Respond, Try Again")

def updateForSpeed(value):

global speedF

speedF=value

print(speedF)

def updateRevSpeed(value):

global speedR

speedR=value

print(speedR)

def motorGo():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'F'

print("GO")

def motorRev():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'R'

print("REV")

def motorStop():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'O'

print("STOP")

sliderLabelF=QLabel("Forward Speed")

sliderLabelF.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelF)

sliderF=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)

sliderF.setMinimum(0)

sliderF.setMaximum(100)

sliderF.setValue(0)

sliderF.valueChanged.connect(updateForSpeed)

sliderF.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,255,0);}")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderF)

sliderLabelR=QLabel("Forward Speed")

sliderLabelR.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelR)

sliderR=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)

sliderR.setMinimum(0)

sliderR.setMaximum(100)

sliderR.setValue(0)

sliderR.valueChanged.connect(updateRevSpeed)

sliderR.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,0,255);}")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderR)

greenButton=QPushButton("GO")

greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,255,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

blueButton=QPushButton("REVERSE")

blueButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,0,255); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: white;")

redButton=QPushButton("STOP")

redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(255,0,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

greenButton.clicked.connect(motorGo)

rightLayout.addWidget(greenButton)

blueButton.clicked.connect(motorRev)

rightLayout.addWidget(blueButton)

redButton.clicked.connect(motorStop)

rightLayout.addWidget(redButton)

timer =QTimer()

timer.timeout.connect(updateMotor)

timer.start(200)

mainLayout.addLayout(leftLayout)

mainLayout.addLayout(rightLayout)

window.setLayout(mainLayout)

window.show()

sys.exit(app.exec_())

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

Control DC Motor With Raspberry Pi Pico W and TA6586

April 8, 2025 admin

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:

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

from machine import Pin,PWM
import time
icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)
icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)
fPWM=PWM(icPin1)
rPWM=PWM(icPin2)
fPWM.freq(1000)
rPWM.freq(1000)
try:
    while True:
        for speed in range(20,101,10):
            rPWM.duty_u16(0)
            fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        for speed in range(100,-1,-10):
            rPWM.duty_u16(0)
            fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            print(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        time.sleep(2)
        for speed in range(20,101,10):
            fPWM.duty_u16(0)
            rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        for speed in range(100,-1,-10):
            fPWM.duty_u16(0)
            rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            print(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        time.sleep(2)
        
        
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("Program Stopped by User")
    rPWM.duty_u16(0)
    fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    time.sleep(.15)
    rPWM.deinit()
    fPWM.deinit()
    icPin1.off()
    icPin2.off()

from machine import Pin,PWM

import time

icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)

icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)

fPWM=PWM(icPin1)

rPWM=PWM(icPin2)

fPWM.freq(1000)

rPWM.freq(1000)

try:

while True:

for speed in range(20,101,10):

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

for speed in range(100,-1,-10):

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

print(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

time.sleep(2)

for speed in range(20,101,10):

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

for speed in range(100,-1,-10):

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

print(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

time.sleep(2)

except KeyboardInterrupt:

print("Program Stopped by User")

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

time.sleep(.15)

rPWM.deinit()

fPWM.deinit()

icPin1.off()

icPin2.off()

Technology Tutorials

Parsing Comma Delimited Data Strings in Arduino

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

Create a Simple Client Server Connection Over WiFi to Connect Arduino to Python on the PC

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

Control DC Motor With Raspberry Pi Pico W and TA6586

Making The World a Better Place One High Tech Project at a Time. Enjoy!