Tag Archives: MicroPython

In today’s video we show how to run your GPS tracker remotely by saving the program as main.py, and powering from the Sunfounder Breadvolt power supply. We also show how to prevent the problem of main.py locking up the serial port. We do this by adding a ‘kill switch’, that terminates the main.py program, so the log file can be transferred to your PC.

This is the schematic used for today’s lesson.

For your convenience, this is the code we developed in today’s video.

from machine import Pin,I2C,UART
import time
import _thread
from ssd1306 import SSD1306_I2C
import math
import sys

i2c2 = I2C(1, sda=Pin(2), scl=Pin(3), freq=400000)
dsp = SSD1306_I2C(128,64,i2c2)

butOnePin = 12
butOne = Pin(butOnePin, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP)
butOneUp = 0
butOneDown = 0
butOneOld = 1
tStart=time.time()
try:
    while time.time()-tStart<5:
        dsp.fill(0)
        dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)
        dsp.text("Press Button",0,26)
        dsp.text("To Cleanly",0,36)
        dsp.text("Quit",0,46)
        dsp.show()
        butOneValue = butOne.value()
        if butOneValue==0:
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Ending",0,0)
            dsp.show()
            time.sleep(1)
            x=1/0

with open('log.txt', 'w') as file:  # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')
    pass
utcCorrect = 3
earthRadius = 6371000

sysState = 0

dataLock = _thread.allocate_lock()
keepRunning = True
GPS = UART(1, baudrate=9600, tx=machine.Pin(8), rx=machine.Pin(9))
# Reset GPS
GPS.write(b'$PMTK314,-1*04\r\n')
#The following line ensures that the GPS reports the GPVTG NMEA Sentence
GPS.write(b"$PMTK314,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0*28\r\n")
NMEAdata = {
    'GPGGA' : "",
    'GPGSA' : "",
    'GPRMC' : "",
    'GPVTG' : ""
    }
GPSdata = {
    'latDD' 	: 0,
    'lonDD'		: 0,
    'heading'	: 0,
    'fix'		: False,
    'sats'		: 0,
    'knots'		: 0,
    'time'		: '00:00:00',
    'date'		: '00/00/0000',
    'alt'		: 0.0
    }
def calculateDistance(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):
    lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360
    lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360
    lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360
    lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360
    theta = 2*math.asin(math.sqrt(
        math.sin((lat2-lat1)/2)**2 +
        math.cos(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.sin((lon2-lon1)/2)**2
        ))
    distance = earthRadius * theta
    return distance
def calculateHeading(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):
    lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360
    lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360
    lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360
    lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360
    deltaLon=lon2-lon1
    xC=math.sin(deltaLon)*math.cos(lat2)
    yC=math.cos(lat1)*math.sin(lat2)-math.sin(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.cos(deltaLon)
    beta = math.atan2(xC,yC)
    betaDeg = beta*360/2/math.pi
    return betaDeg
def gpsThread():
    print("Thread Running")
    global keepRunning,NMEAdata
    GPGGA = ""
    GPGSA = ""
    GPRMC = ""
    GPVTG = ""
    while not GPS.any():
        pass
    while GPS.any():
        junk = GPS.read()
        print(junk)
    myNMEA = ""
    while keepRunning:
        if GPS.any():
            myChar=GPS.read(1).decode('utf-8')
            myNMEA = myNMEA + myChar
            if myChar == '\n':
                myNMEA = myNMEA.strip()
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGGA":
                    GPGGA = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGSA":
                    GPGSA = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPRMC":
                    GPRMC = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPVTG":
                    GPVTG = myNMEA
                if GPGGA != "" and GPGSA!="" and GPRMC!="" and GPVTG!="":
                    dataLock.acquire()
                    NMEAdata = {
                        'GPGGA' : GPGGA,
                        'GPGSA' : GPGSA,
                        'GPRMC' : GPRMC,
                        'GPVTG' : GPVTG
                        }
                    dataLock.release()
                myNMEA = ""
    print("Thread Terminated Cleanly")
def parseGPS():
    readFix=int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[6])
    if readFix !=0:
        GPSdata['fix'] = True
        latRAW = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[2]
        latDD = int(latRAW[0:2]) + float(latRAW[2:])/60
        if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[3] == 'S':
            latDD = -latDD
        GPSdata['latDD']= latDD
        lonRAW=NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[4]
        lonDD=int(lonRAW[0:3]) + float(lonRAW[3:])/60
        if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[5] == 'W':
            lonDD = -lonDD
        GPSdata['lonDD'] = lonDD
        heading = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[8])
        GPSdata['heading'] = heading
        knots = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[7])
        GPSdata['knots'] = knots
        sats = int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[7])
        GPSdata['sats'] = sats
        utcTime = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[1]
        utcDate = NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[9]
        # utcTime = "013445.000"
        # utcDate = "010125"

        # Extract year from UTC date (format: DDMMYY), prepend '20' for full year (e.g., '25' → '2025')
        myYear = '20' + utcDate[4:]
        # Extract month from UTC date (e.g., '01' for January)
        myMonth = utcDate[2:4]
        # Extract day from UTC date (e.g., '01' for 1st)
        myDay = utcDate[0:2]
        # Calculate hours by adding UTC offset to UTC hours, convert to string
        myHours = str(int(utcTime[0:2]) + utcCorrect)
        # Extract minutes from UTC time (e.g., '34' from '013445.000')
        myMin = utcTime[2:4]
        # Extract seconds from UTC time (e.g., '45' from '013445.000')
        mySec = utcTime[4:6]

        # Define array of maximum days per month (index 0-11 for months 1-12: Jan to Dec)
        maxDays = ['31', '28', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31']

        # Check if year is a leap year (simplified: divisible by 4); if so, set February to 29 days
        if int(myYear) % 4 == 0:
            maxDays[1] = '29'

        # Check if hours exceed 24 (for positive UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 22:00 + 5 = 27:00)
        if int(myHours) >= 24:
            # Subtract 24 from hours to wrap around to next day (e.g., 27 → 3)
            myHours = str(int(myHours) - 24)
            # Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')
            if len(myHours) < 2:
                myHours = '0' + myHours
            # Increment day to account for crossing midnight (e.g., 30 → 31)
            myDay = str(int(myDay) + 1)
            # Check if day exceeds maximum days for the current month (e.g., June 31 > 30)
            if int(myDay) > int(maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]):
                # Reset day to 1 for the next month
                myDay = '01'
                # Increment month (e.g., June → July)
                myMonth = str(int(myMonth) + 1)
                # Check if month exceeds 12 (e.g., December → January)
                if int(myMonth) > 12:
                    # Reset month to January
                    myMonth = '01'
                    # Increment year (e.g., 2025 → 2026)
                    myYear = str(int(myYear) + 1)
            # Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')
            if len(myDay) < 2:
                myDay = '0' + myDay
            # Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')
            if len(myMonth) < 2:
                myMonth = '0' + myMonth

        # Check if hours are negative (for negative UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 01:00 - 5 = -4)
        if int(myHours) < 0:
            # Add 24 to hours to wrap around to previous day (e.g., -4 → 20)
            myHours = str(int(myHours) + 24)
            # Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')
            if len(myHours) < 2:
                myHours = '0' + myHours
            # Decrement day to account for crossing midnight backward (e.g., 01 → 00)
            myDay = str(int(myDay) - 1)
            # Check if day is less than 1 (e.g., January 1 → December 31)
            if int(myDay) < 1:
                # Decrement month (e.g., January → December)
                myMonth = str(int(myMonth) - 1)
                # Check if month is less than 1 (e.g., January → December of previous year)
                if int(myMonth) < 1:
                    # Set month to December
                    myMonth = '12'
                    # Decrement year (e.g., 2025 → 2024)
                    myYear = str(int(myYear) - 1)
                # Set day to maximum days of the new month (e.g., December → 31)
                myDay = maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]
            # Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')
            if len(myDay) < 2:
                myDay = '0' + myDay
            # Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')
            if len(myMonth) < 2:
                myMonth = '0' + myMonth

        # Combine hours, minutes, seconds into time string (e.g., '20:34:45')
        myTime = myHours + ':' + myMin + ':' + mySec
        # Combine month, day, year into date string (e.g., '12/31/2024')
        myDate = myMonth + '/' + myDay + '/' + myYear
        # Store local time in GPSdata dictionary
        GPSdata['time'] = myTime
        # Store local date in GPSdata dictionary
        GPSdata['date'] = myDate
        GPSdata['alt'] = float(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[9])
def dispOLED():
    global sysState,latitude1,longitude1,latitude2,longitude2
    dsp.fill(0)
    if GPSdata['fix'] == False:
        dsp.text("Waiting for Fix . . .",0,0)
    if GPSdata['fix'] == True:
        if sysState%5== 0:
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)
            dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)
            dsp.text("SATS: "+str(GPSdata['sats']),0,46)
            dsp.text("Press Btn LOG",0,56)

        if sysState%5==1:
            lat=str(GPSdata['latDD'])
            lon=str(GPSdata['lonDD'])
            latLon=lat+','+lon+'\n'
            try:
                with open('log.txt', 'a+') as file:
                    file.write(latLon)
                    file.flush()  # Force write to disk
                time.sleep(0.05)  # Give filesystem time to settle
            except Exception as e:
                print("File write error:", e)
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Logging Data",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("P1 lat "+str(lat),0,26)
            dsp.text("P1 lon "+str(lon),0,36)
            dsp.text("To Stop Logging",0,56)

        if sysState%5==2:
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Logging Stopped",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)
            dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)
            dsp.show()
            sysState=0
    dsp.show()

def butOneIRQ(pin):
    global butOneUp,butOneDown,butOneOld,sysState
    butOneValue = butOne.value()
    if butOneValue==0:
        butOneDown=time.ticks_ms()
    if butOneValue==1:
        butOneUp = time.ticks_ms()
    if butOneOld==1 and butOneValue==0 and butOneDown-butOneUp>50:
        sysState = sysState + 1
        print('Button One Triggered')
    butOneOld=butOneValue
    
butOne.irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_FALLING | Pin.IRQ_RISING , handler = butOneIRQ)
 
_thread.start_new_thread(gpsThread,())
time.sleep(3)
try:
    while True:
        dataLock.acquire()
        NMEAmain = NMEAdata.copy()
        dataLock.release()
        parseGPS()
        if GPSdata['fix'] == False:
            print("Waiting for Fix . . .")
        if GPSdata['fix'] == True:
            print("Ultimate GPS Tracker Report: ")
            print(GPSdata['time'],GPSdata['date'])
            print("Lat and Lon: ",GPSdata['latDD'],GPSdata['lonDD'])
            print("Knots: ",GPSdata['knots'])
            print("Heading: ",GPSdata['heading'])
            print("Elevation: ",GPSdata['alt'])
            print("Sats: ",GPSdata['sats'])
            print()
        dispOLED()
        time.sleep(1)


except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("\nStopping Program . . . Cleaning Up UART")
    keepRunning = False
    time.sleep(1)
    GPS.deinit()
    time.sleep(1)
    dsp.fill(0)
    dsp.show()
    print("Exited Cleanly")

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from machine import Pin,I2C,UART

import time

import _thread

from ssd1306 import SSD1306_I2C

import math

import sys

i2c2 = I2C(1, sda=Pin(2), scl=Pin(3), freq=400000)

dsp = SSD1306_I2C(128,64,i2c2)

butOnePin = 12

butOne = Pin(butOnePin, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP)

butOneUp = 0

butOneDown = 0

butOneOld = 1

tStart=time.time()

try:

while time.time()-tStart<5:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)

dsp.text("Press Button",0,26)

dsp.text("To Cleanly",0,36)

dsp.text("Quit",0,46)

dsp.show()

butOneValue = butOne.value()

if butOneValue==0:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Ending",0,0)

dsp.show()

time.sleep(1)

x=1/0

with open('log.txt', 'w') as file: # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')

pass

utcCorrect = 3

earthRadius = 6371000

sysState = 0

dataLock = _thread.allocate_lock()

keepRunning = True

GPS = UART(1, baudrate=9600, tx=machine.Pin(8), rx=machine.Pin(9))

# Reset GPS

GPS.write(b'$PMTK314,-1*04\r\n')

#The following line ensures that the GPS reports the GPVTG NMEA Sentence

GPS.write(b"$PMTK314,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0*28\r\n")

NMEAdata = {

'GPGGA' : "",

'GPGSA' : "",

'GPRMC' : "",

'GPVTG' : ""

}

GPSdata = {

'latDD' : 0,

'lonDD' : 0,

'heading' : 0,

'fix' : False,

'sats' : 0,

'knots' : 0,

'time' : '00:00:00',

'date' : '00/00/0000',

'alt' : 0.0

}

def calculateDistance(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):

lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360

lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360

lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360

lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360

theta = 2*math.asin(math.sqrt(

math.sin((lat2-lat1)/2)**2 +

math.cos(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.sin((lon2-lon1)/2)**2

))

distance = earthRadius * theta

return distance

def calculateHeading(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):

lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360

lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360

lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360

lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360

deltaLon=lon2-lon1

xC=math.sin(deltaLon)*math.cos(lat2)

yC=math.cos(lat1)*math.sin(lat2)-math.sin(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.cos(deltaLon)

beta = math.atan2(xC,yC)

betaDeg = beta*360/2/math.pi

return betaDeg

def gpsThread():

print("Thread Running")

global keepRunning,NMEAdata

GPGGA = ""

GPGSA = ""

GPRMC = ""

GPVTG = ""

while not GPS.any():

pass

while GPS.any():

junk = GPS.read()

print(junk)

myNMEA = ""

while keepRunning:

if GPS.any():

myChar=GPS.read(1).decode('utf-8')

myNMEA = myNMEA + myChar

if myChar == '\n':

myNMEA = myNMEA.strip()

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGGA":

GPGGA = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGSA":

GPGSA = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPRMC":

GPRMC = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPVTG":

GPVTG = myNMEA

if GPGGA != "" and GPGSA!="" and GPRMC!="" and GPVTG!="":

dataLock.acquire()

NMEAdata = {

'GPGGA' : GPGGA,

'GPGSA' : GPGSA,

'GPRMC' : GPRMC,

'GPVTG' : GPVTG

}

dataLock.release()

myNMEA = ""

print("Thread Terminated Cleanly")

def parseGPS():

readFix=int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[6])

if readFix !=0:

GPSdata['fix'] = True

latRAW = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[2]

latDD = int(latRAW[0:2]) + float(latRAW[2:])/60

if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[3] == 'S':

latDD = -latDD

GPSdata['latDD']= latDD

lonRAW=NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[4]

lonDD=int(lonRAW[0:3]) + float(lonRAW[3:])/60

if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[5] == 'W':

lonDD = -lonDD

GPSdata['lonDD'] = lonDD

heading = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[8])

GPSdata['heading'] = heading

knots = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[7])

GPSdata['knots'] = knots

sats = int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[7])

GPSdata['sats'] = sats

utcTime = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[1]

utcDate = NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[9]

# utcTime = "013445.000"

# utcDate = "010125"

# Extract year from UTC date (format: DDMMYY), prepend '20' for full year (e.g., '25' → '2025')

myYear = '20' + utcDate[4:]

# Extract month from UTC date (e.g., '01' for January)

myMonth = utcDate[2:4]

# Extract day from UTC date (e.g., '01' for 1st)

myDay = utcDate[0:2]

# Calculate hours by adding UTC offset to UTC hours, convert to string

myHours = str(int(utcTime[0:2]) + utcCorrect)

# Extract minutes from UTC time (e.g., '34' from '013445.000')

myMin = utcTime[2:4]

# Extract seconds from UTC time (e.g., '45' from '013445.000')

mySec = utcTime[4:6]

# Define array of maximum days per month (index 0-11 for months 1-12: Jan to Dec)

maxDays = ['31', '28', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31']

# Check if year is a leap year (simplified: divisible by 4); if so, set February to 29 days

if int(myYear) % 4 == 0:

maxDays[1] = '29'

# Check if hours exceed 24 (for positive UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 22:00 + 5 = 27:00)

if int(myHours) >= 24:

# Subtract 24 from hours to wrap around to next day (e.g., 27 → 3)

myHours = str(int(myHours) - 24)

# Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')

if len(myHours) < 2:

myHours = '0' + myHours

# Increment day to account for crossing midnight (e.g., 30 → 31)

myDay = str(int(myDay) + 1)

# Check if day exceeds maximum days for the current month (e.g., June 31 > 30)

if int(myDay) > int(maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]):

# Reset day to 1 for the next month

myDay = '01'

# Increment month (e.g., June → July)

myMonth = str(int(myMonth) + 1)

# Check if month exceeds 12 (e.g., December → January)

if int(myMonth) > 12:

# Reset month to January

myMonth = '01'

# Increment year (e.g., 2025 → 2026)

myYear = str(int(myYear) + 1)

# Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')

if len(myDay) < 2:

myDay = '0' + myDay

# Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')

if len(myMonth) < 2:

myMonth = '0' + myMonth

# Check if hours are negative (for negative UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 01:00 - 5 = -4)

if int(myHours) < 0:

# Add 24 to hours to wrap around to previous day (e.g., -4 → 20)

myHours = str(int(myHours) + 24)

# Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')

if len(myHours) < 2:

myHours = '0' + myHours

# Decrement day to account for crossing midnight backward (e.g., 01 → 00)

myDay = str(int(myDay) - 1)

# Check if day is less than 1 (e.g., January 1 → December 31)

if int(myDay) < 1:

# Decrement month (e.g., January → December)

myMonth = str(int(myMonth) - 1)

# Check if month is less than 1 (e.g., January → December of previous year)

if int(myMonth) < 1:

# Set month to December

myMonth = '12'

# Decrement year (e.g., 2025 → 2024)

myYear = str(int(myYear) - 1)

# Set day to maximum days of the new month (e.g., December → 31)

myDay = maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]

# Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')

if len(myDay) < 2:

myDay = '0' + myDay

# Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')

if len(myMonth) < 2:

myMonth = '0' + myMonth

# Combine hours, minutes, seconds into time string (e.g., '20:34:45')

myTime = myHours + ':' + myMin + ':' + mySec

# Combine month, day, year into date string (e.g., '12/31/2024')

myDate = myMonth + '/' + myDay + '/' + myYear

# Store local time in GPSdata dictionary

GPSdata['time'] = myTime

# Store local date in GPSdata dictionary

GPSdata['date'] = myDate

GPSdata['alt'] = float(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[9])

def dispOLED():

global sysState,latitude1,longitude1,latitude2,longitude2

dsp.fill(0)

if GPSdata['fix'] == False:

dsp.text("Waiting for Fix . . .",0,0)

if GPSdata['fix'] == True:

if sysState%5== 0:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)

dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)

dsp.text("SATS: "+str(GPSdata['sats']),0,46)

dsp.text("Press Btn LOG",0,56)

if sysState%5==1:

lat=str(GPSdata['latDD'])

lon=str(GPSdata['lonDD'])

latLon=lat+','+lon+'\n'

try:

with open('log.txt', 'a+') as file:

file.write(latLon)

file.flush() # Force write to disk

time.sleep(0.05) # Give filesystem time to settle

except Exception as e:

print("File write error:", e)

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Logging Data",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("P1 lat "+str(lat),0,26)

dsp.text("P1 lon "+str(lon),0,36)

dsp.text("To Stop Logging",0,56)

if sysState%5==2:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Logging Stopped",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)

dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)

dsp.show()

sysState=0

dsp.show()

def butOneIRQ(pin):

global butOneUp,butOneDown,butOneOld,sysState

butOneValue = butOne.value()

if butOneValue==0:

butOneDown=time.ticks_ms()

if butOneValue==1:

butOneUp = time.ticks_ms()

if butOneOld==1 and butOneValue==0 and butOneDown-butOneUp>50:

sysState = sysState + 1

print('Button One Triggered')

butOneOld=butOneValue

butOne.irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_FALLING | Pin.IRQ_RISING , handler = butOneIRQ)

_thread.start_new_thread(gpsThread,())

time.sleep(3)

try:

while True:

dataLock.acquire()

NMEAmain = NMEAdata.copy()

dataLock.release()

parseGPS()

if GPSdata['fix'] == False:

print("Waiting for Fix . . .")

if GPSdata['fix'] == True:

print("Ultimate GPS Tracker Report: ")

print(GPSdata['time'],GPSdata['date'])

print("Lat and Lon: ",GPSdata['latDD'],GPSdata['lonDD'])

print("Knots: ",GPSdata['knots'])

print("Heading: ",GPSdata['heading'])

print("Elevation: ",GPSdata['alt'])

print("Sats: ",GPSdata['sats'])

print()

dispOLED()

time.sleep(1)

except KeyboardInterrupt:

print("\nStopping Program . . . Cleaning Up UART")

keepRunning = False

time.sleep(1)

GPS.deinit()

time.sleep(1)

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.show()

print("Exited Cleanly")

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

Logging GPS Data on Your Raspberry Pi Pico W GPS Tracker Project

October 1, 2025 admin

In this lesson I show you how to log GPS data to the flash memory on your Raspberry Pi Pico W. This allows you to not only know where you are, but to also know where you have been. In this lesson, this is the schematic of your project circuit.

For your convenience, here is the code we developed in the the video:

from machine import Pin,I2C,UART
import time
import _thread
from ssd1306 import SSD1306_I2C
import math

with open('log.txt','w') as file:
    pass
utcCorrect = 3
earthRadius = 6371000
i2c2 = I2C(1, sda=Pin(2), scl=Pin(3), freq=400000)
dsp = SSD1306_I2C(128,64,i2c2)

sysState = 0

dataLock = _thread.allocate_lock()
keepRunning = True
GPS = UART(1, baudrate=9600, tx=machine.Pin(8), rx=machine.Pin(9))
# Reset GPS
GPS.write(b'$PMTK314,-1*04\r\n')
#The following line ensures that the GPS reports the GPVTG NMEA Sentence
GPS.write(b"$PMTK314,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0*28\r\n")
NMEAdata = {
    'GPGGA' : "",
    'GPGSA' : "",
    'GPRMC' : "",
    'GPVTG' : ""
    }
GPSdata = {
    'latDD' 	: 0,
    'lonDD'		: 0,
    'heading'	: 0,
    'fix'		: False,
    'sats'		: 0,
    'knots'		: 0,
    'time'		: '00:00:00',
    'date'		: '00/00/0000',
    'alt'		: 0.0
    }
def calculateDistance(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):
    lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360
    lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360
    lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360
    lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360
    theta = 2*math.asin(math.sqrt(
        math.sin((lat2-lat1)/2)**2 +
        math.cos(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.sin((lon2-lon1)/2)**2
        ))
    distance = earthRadius * theta
    return distance
def calculateHeading(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):
    lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360
    lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360
    lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360
    lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360
    deltaLon=lon2-lon1
    xC=math.sin(deltaLon)*math.cos(lat2)
    yC=math.cos(lat1)*math.sin(lat2)-math.sin(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.cos(deltaLon)
    beta = math.atan2(xC,yC)
    betaDeg = beta*360/2/math.pi
    return betaDeg
def gpsThread():
    print("Thread Running")
    global keepRunning,NMEAdata
    GPGGA = ""
    GPGSA = ""
    GPRMC = ""
    GPVTG = ""
    while not GPS.any():
        pass
    while GPS.any():
        junk = GPS.read()
        print(junk)
    myNMEA = ""
    while keepRunning:
        if GPS.any():
            myChar=GPS.read(1).decode('utf-8')
            myNMEA = myNMEA + myChar
            if myChar == '\n':
                myNMEA = myNMEA.strip()
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGGA":
                    GPGGA = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGSA":
                    GPGSA = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPRMC":
                    GPRMC = myNMEA
                if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPVTG":
                    GPVTG = myNMEA
                if GPGGA != "" and GPGSA!="" and GPRMC!="" and GPVTG!="":
                    dataLock.acquire()
                    NMEAdata = {
                        'GPGGA' : GPGGA,
                        'GPGSA' : GPGSA,
                        'GPRMC' : GPRMC,
                        'GPVTG' : GPVTG
                        }
                    dataLock.release()
                myNMEA = ""
    print("Thread Terminated Cleanly")
def parseGPS():
    readFix=int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[6])
    if readFix !=0:
        GPSdata['fix'] = True
        latRAW = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[2]
        latDD = int(latRAW[0:2]) + float(latRAW[2:])/60
        if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[3] == 'S':
            latDD = -latDD
        GPSdata['latDD']= latDD
        lonRAW=NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[4]
        lonDD=int(lonRAW[0:3]) + float(lonRAW[3:])/60
        if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[5] == 'W':
            lonDD = -lonDD
        GPSdata['lonDD'] = lonDD
        heading = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[8])
        GPSdata['heading'] = heading
        knots = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[7])
        GPSdata['knots'] = knots
        sats = int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[7])
        GPSdata['sats'] = sats
        utcTime = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[1]
        utcDate = NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[9]
        # utcTime = "013445.000"
        # utcDate = "010125"

        # Extract year from UTC date (format: DDMMYY), prepend '20' for full year (e.g., '25' → '2025')
        myYear = '20' + utcDate[4:]
        # Extract month from UTC date (e.g., '01' for January)
        myMonth = utcDate[2:4]
        # Extract day from UTC date (e.g., '01' for 1st)
        myDay = utcDate[0:2]
        # Calculate hours by adding UTC offset to UTC hours, convert to string
        myHours = str(int(utcTime[0:2]) + utcCorrect)
        # Extract minutes from UTC time (e.g., '34' from '013445.000')
        myMin = utcTime[2:4]
        # Extract seconds from UTC time (e.g., '45' from '013445.000')
        mySec = utcTime[4:6]

        # Define array of maximum days per month (index 0-11 for months 1-12: Jan to Dec)
        maxDays = ['31', '28', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31']

        # Check if year is a leap year (simplified: divisible by 4); if so, set February to 29 days
        if int(myYear) % 4 == 0:
            maxDays[1] = '29'

        # Check if hours exceed 24 (for positive UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 22:00 + 5 = 27:00)
        if int(myHours) >= 24:
            # Subtract 24 from hours to wrap around to next day (e.g., 27 → 3)
            myHours = str(int(myHours) - 24)
            # Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')
            if len(myHours) < 2:
                myHours = '0' + myHours
            # Increment day to account for crossing midnight (e.g., 30 → 31)
            myDay = str(int(myDay) + 1)
            # Check if day exceeds maximum days for the current month (e.g., June 31 > 30)
            if int(myDay) > int(maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]):
                # Reset day to 1 for the next month
                myDay = '01'
                # Increment month (e.g., June → July)
                myMonth = str(int(myMonth) + 1)
                # Check if month exceeds 12 (e.g., December → January)
                if int(myMonth) > 12:
                    # Reset month to January
                    myMonth = '01'
                    # Increment year (e.g., 2025 → 2026)
                    myYear = str(int(myYear) + 1)
            # Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')
            if len(myDay) < 2:
                myDay = '0' + myDay
            # Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')
            if len(myMonth) < 2:
                myMonth = '0' + myMonth

        # Check if hours are negative (for negative UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 01:00 - 5 = -4)
        if int(myHours) < 0:
            # Add 24 to hours to wrap around to previous day (e.g., -4 → 20)
            myHours = str(int(myHours) + 24)
            # Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')
            if len(myHours) < 2:
                myHours = '0' + myHours
            # Decrement day to account for crossing midnight backward (e.g., 01 → 00)
            myDay = str(int(myDay) - 1)
            # Check if day is less than 1 (e.g., January 1 → December 31)
            if int(myDay) < 1:
                # Decrement month (e.g., January → December)
                myMonth = str(int(myMonth) - 1)
                # Check if month is less than 1 (e.g., January → December of previous year)
                if int(myMonth) < 1:
                    # Set month to December
                    myMonth = '12'
                    # Decrement year (e.g., 2025 → 2024)
                    myYear = str(int(myYear) - 1)
                # Set day to maximum days of the new month (e.g., December → 31)
                myDay = maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]
            # Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')
            if len(myDay) < 2:
                myDay = '0' + myDay
            # Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')
            if len(myMonth) < 2:
                myMonth = '0' + myMonth

        # Combine hours, minutes, seconds into time string (e.g., '20:34:45')
        myTime = myHours + ':' + myMin + ':' + mySec
        # Combine month, day, year into date string (e.g., '12/31/2024')
        myDate = myMonth + '/' + myDay + '/' + myYear
        # Store local time in GPSdata dictionary
        GPSdata['time'] = myTime
        # Store local date in GPSdata dictionary
        GPSdata['date'] = myDate
        GPSdata['alt'] = float(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[9])
def dispOLED():
    global sysState,latitude1,longitude1,latitude2,longitude2
    dsp.fill(0)
    if GPSdata['fix'] == False:
        dsp.text("Waiting for Fix . . .",0,0)
    if GPSdata['fix'] == True:
        if sysState%3== 0:
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)
            dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)
            dsp.text("SATS: "+str(GPSdata['sats']),0,46)
            dsp.text("Press Btn LOG",0,56)
        if sysState%3==1:
            lat=str(GPSdata['latDD'])
            lon=str(GPSdata['lonDD'])
            latLon = lat+','+lon+'\n'
            try:
                with open('log.txt', 'a') as file:
                    file.write(latLon)
                    file.flush()
                time.sleep(.1)
            except Exception as e:
                print("File Write Error:", e)
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("LOGGING DATA",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("LAT: "+lat,0,26)
            dsp.text("LON: "+lon,0,36)
            dsp.text("Btn Stop Logging",0,56)
        if sysState%3==2:
            dsp.fill(0)
            dsp.text("Logging Stopped",0,0)
            dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)
            dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)
            dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)
            dsp.show()
            time.sleep(2)
            sysState=0
 
    dsp.show()
butOnePin = 12
butOne = Pin(butOnePin, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP)
butOneUp = 0
butOneDown = 0
butOneOld = 1

def butOneIRQ(pin):
    global butOneUp,butOneDown,butOneOld,sysState
    butOneValue = butOne.value()
    if butOneValue==0:
        butOneDown=time.ticks_ms()
    if butOneValue==1:
        butOneUp = time.ticks_ms()
    if butOneOld==1 and butOneValue==0 and butOneDown-butOneUp>50:
        sysState = sysState + 1
        print('Button One Triggered')
    butOneOld=butOneValue
    
butOne.irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_FALLING | Pin.IRQ_RISING , handler = butOneIRQ)
 
_thread.start_new_thread(gpsThread,())
time.sleep(3)
try:
    while True:
        dataLock.acquire()
        NMEAmain = NMEAdata.copy()
        dataLock.release()
        parseGPS()
        if GPSdata['fix'] == False:
            print("Waiting for Fix . . .")
        if GPSdata['fix'] == True:
            print("Ultimate GPS Tracker Report: ")
            print(GPSdata['time'],GPSdata['date'])
            print("Lat and Lon: ",GPSdata['latDD'],GPSdata['lonDD'])
            print("Knots: ",GPSdata['knots'])
            print("Heading: ",GPSdata['heading'])
            print("Elevation: ",GPSdata['alt'])
            print("Sats: ",GPSdata['sats'])
            print()
        dispOLED()
        time.sleep(1)


except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("\nStopping Program . . . Cleaning Up UART")
    keepRunning = False
    time.sleep(1)
    GPS.deinit()
    time.sleep(1)
    dsp.fill(0)
    dsp.show()
    print("Exited Cleanly")

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from machine import Pin,I2C,UART

import time

import _thread

from ssd1306 import SSD1306_I2C

import math

with open('log.txt','w') as file:

pass

utcCorrect = 3

earthRadius = 6371000

i2c2 = I2C(1, sda=Pin(2), scl=Pin(3), freq=400000)

dsp = SSD1306_I2C(128,64,i2c2)

sysState = 0

dataLock = _thread.allocate_lock()

keepRunning = True

GPS = UART(1, baudrate=9600, tx=machine.Pin(8), rx=machine.Pin(9))

# Reset GPS

GPS.write(b'$PMTK314,-1*04\r\n')

#The following line ensures that the GPS reports the GPVTG NMEA Sentence

GPS.write(b"$PMTK314,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0*28\r\n")

NMEAdata = {

'GPGGA' : "",

'GPGSA' : "",

'GPRMC' : "",

'GPVTG' : ""

}

GPSdata = {

'latDD' : 0,

'lonDD' : 0,

'heading' : 0,

'fix' : False,

'sats' : 0,

'knots' : 0,

'time' : '00:00:00',

'date' : '00/00/0000',

'alt' : 0.0

}

def calculateDistance(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):

lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360

lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360

lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360

lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360

theta = 2*math.asin(math.sqrt(

math.sin((lat2-lat1)/2)**2 +

math.cos(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.sin((lon2-lon1)/2)**2

))

distance = earthRadius * theta

return distance

def calculateHeading(lat1,lon1,lat2,lon2):

lat1=lat1*2*math.pi/360

lon1=lon1*2*math.pi/360

lat2=lat2*2*math.pi/360

lon2=lon2*2*math.pi/360

deltaLon=lon2-lon1

xC=math.sin(deltaLon)*math.cos(lat2)

yC=math.cos(lat1)*math.sin(lat2)-math.sin(lat1)*math.cos(lat2)*math.cos(deltaLon)

beta = math.atan2(xC,yC)

betaDeg = beta*360/2/math.pi

return betaDeg

def gpsThread():

print("Thread Running")

global keepRunning,NMEAdata

GPGGA = ""

GPGSA = ""

GPRMC = ""

GPVTG = ""

while not GPS.any():

pass

while GPS.any():

junk = GPS.read()

print(junk)

myNMEA = ""

while keepRunning:

if GPS.any():

myChar=GPS.read(1).decode('utf-8')

myNMEA = myNMEA + myChar

if myChar == '\n':

myNMEA = myNMEA.strip()

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGGA":

GPGGA = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPGSA":

GPGSA = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPRMC":

GPRMC = myNMEA

if myNMEA[1:6] == "GPVTG":

GPVTG = myNMEA

if GPGGA != "" and GPGSA!="" and GPRMC!="" and GPVTG!="":

dataLock.acquire()

NMEAdata = {

'GPGGA' : GPGGA,

'GPGSA' : GPGSA,

'GPRMC' : GPRMC,

'GPVTG' : GPVTG

}

dataLock.release()

myNMEA = ""

print("Thread Terminated Cleanly")

def parseGPS():

readFix=int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[6])

if readFix !=0:

GPSdata['fix'] = True

latRAW = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[2]

latDD = int(latRAW[0:2]) + float(latRAW[2:])/60

if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[3] == 'S':

latDD = -latDD

GPSdata['latDD']= latDD

lonRAW=NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[4]

lonDD=int(lonRAW[0:3]) + float(lonRAW[3:])/60

if NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[5] == 'W':

lonDD = -lonDD

GPSdata['lonDD'] = lonDD

heading = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[8])

GPSdata['heading'] = heading

knots = float(NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[7])

GPSdata['knots'] = knots

sats = int(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[7])

GPSdata['sats'] = sats

utcTime = NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[1]

utcDate = NMEAmain['GPRMC'].split(',')[9]

# utcTime = "013445.000"

# utcDate = "010125"

# Extract year from UTC date (format: DDMMYY), prepend '20' for full year (e.g., '25' → '2025')

myYear = '20' + utcDate[4:]

# Extract month from UTC date (e.g., '01' for January)

myMonth = utcDate[2:4]

# Extract day from UTC date (e.g., '01' for 1st)

myDay = utcDate[0:2]

# Calculate hours by adding UTC offset to UTC hours, convert to string

myHours = str(int(utcTime[0:2]) + utcCorrect)

# Extract minutes from UTC time (e.g., '34' from '013445.000')

myMin = utcTime[2:4]

# Extract seconds from UTC time (e.g., '45' from '013445.000')

mySec = utcTime[4:6]

# Define array of maximum days per month (index 0-11 for months 1-12: Jan to Dec)

maxDays = ['31', '28', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31', '31', '30', '31', '30', '31']

# Check if year is a leap year (simplified: divisible by 4); if so, set February to 29 days

if int(myYear) % 4 == 0:

maxDays[1] = '29'

# Check if hours exceed 24 (for positive UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 22:00 + 5 = 27:00)

if int(myHours) >= 24:

# Subtract 24 from hours to wrap around to next day (e.g., 27 → 3)

myHours = str(int(myHours) - 24)

# Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')

if len(myHours) < 2:

myHours = '0' + myHours

# Increment day to account for crossing midnight (e.g., 30 → 31)

myDay = str(int(myDay) + 1)

# Check if day exceeds maximum days for the current month (e.g., June 31 > 30)

if int(myDay) > int(maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]):

# Reset day to 1 for the next month

myDay = '01'

# Increment month (e.g., June → July)

myMonth = str(int(myMonth) + 1)

# Check if month exceeds 12 (e.g., December → January)

if int(myMonth) > 12:

# Reset month to January

myMonth = '01'

# Increment year (e.g., 2025 → 2026)

myYear = str(int(myYear) + 1)

# Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')

if len(myDay) < 2:

myDay = '0' + myDay

# Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')

if len(myMonth) < 2:

myMonth = '0' + myMonth

# Check if hours are negative (for negative UTC offsets, e.g., UTC 01:00 - 5 = -4)

if int(myHours) < 0:

# Add 24 to hours to wrap around to previous day (e.g., -4 → 20)

myHours = str(int(myHours) + 24)

# Pad hours with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '3' → '03')

if len(myHours) < 2:

myHours = '0' + myHours

# Decrement day to account for crossing midnight backward (e.g., 01 → 00)

myDay = str(int(myDay) - 1)

# Check if day is less than 1 (e.g., January 1 → December 31)

if int(myDay) < 1:

# Decrement month (e.g., January → December)

myMonth = str(int(myMonth) - 1)

# Check if month is less than 1 (e.g., January → December of previous year)

if int(myMonth) < 1:

# Set month to December

myMonth = '12'

# Decrement year (e.g., 2025 → 2024)

myYear = str(int(myYear) - 1)

# Set day to maximum days of the new month (e.g., December → 31)

myDay = maxDays[int(myMonth) - 1]

# Pad day with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '1' → '01')

if len(myDay) < 2:

myDay = '0' + myDay

# Pad month with leading zero if single digit (e.g., '7' → '07')

if len(myMonth) < 2:

myMonth = '0' + myMonth

# Combine hours, minutes, seconds into time string (e.g., '20:34:45')

myTime = myHours + ':' + myMin + ':' + mySec

# Combine month, day, year into date string (e.g., '12/31/2024')

myDate = myMonth + '/' + myDay + '/' + myYear

# Store local time in GPSdata dictionary

GPSdata['time'] = myTime

# Store local date in GPSdata dictionary

GPSdata['date'] = myDate

GPSdata['alt'] = float(NMEAmain['GPGGA'].split(',')[9])

def dispOLED():

global sysState,latitude1,longitude1,latitude2,longitude2

dsp.fill(0)

if GPSdata['fix'] == False:

dsp.text("Waiting for Fix . . .",0,0)

if GPSdata['fix'] == True:

if sysState%3== 0:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Ultimate GPS",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)

dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)

dsp.text("SATS: "+str(GPSdata['sats']),0,46)

dsp.text("Press Btn LOG",0,56)

if sysState%3==1:

lat=str(GPSdata['latDD'])

lon=str(GPSdata['lonDD'])

latLon = lat+','+lon+'\n'

try:

with open('log.txt', 'a') as file:

file.write(latLon)

file.flush()

time.sleep(.1)

except Exception as e:

print("File Write Error:", e)

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("LOGGING DATA",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("LAT: "+lat,0,26)

dsp.text("LON: "+lon,0,36)

dsp.text("Btn Stop Logging",0,56)

if sysState%3==2:

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.text("Logging Stopped",0,0)

dsp.text(GPSdata['date'][0:5] + ' '+GPSdata['time'],0,16)

dsp.text("LAT: "+str(GPSdata['latDD']),0,26)

dsp.text("LON: "+str(GPSdata['lonDD']),0,36)

dsp.show()

time.sleep(2)

sysState=0

dsp.show()

butOnePin = 12

butOne = Pin(butOnePin, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP)

butOneUp = 0

butOneDown = 0

butOneOld = 1

def butOneIRQ(pin):

global butOneUp,butOneDown,butOneOld,sysState

butOneValue = butOne.value()

if butOneValue==0:

butOneDown=time.ticks_ms()

if butOneValue==1:

butOneUp = time.ticks_ms()

if butOneOld==1 and butOneValue==0 and butOneDown-butOneUp>50:

sysState = sysState + 1

print('Button One Triggered')

butOneOld=butOneValue

butOne.irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_FALLING | Pin.IRQ_RISING , handler = butOneIRQ)

_thread.start_new_thread(gpsThread,())

time.sleep(3)

try:

while True:

dataLock.acquire()

NMEAmain = NMEAdata.copy()

dataLock.release()

parseGPS()

if GPSdata['fix'] == False:

print("Waiting for Fix . . .")

if GPSdata['fix'] == True:

print("Ultimate GPS Tracker Report: ")

print(GPSdata['time'],GPSdata['date'])

print("Lat and Lon: ",GPSdata['latDD'],GPSdata['lonDD'])

print("Knots: ",GPSdata['knots'])

print("Heading: ",GPSdata['heading'])

print("Elevation: ",GPSdata['alt'])

print("Sats: ",GPSdata['sats'])

print()

dispOLED()

time.sleep(1)

except KeyboardInterrupt:

print("\nStopping Program . . . Cleaning Up UART")

keepRunning = False

time.sleep(1)

GPS.deinit()

time.sleep(1)

dsp.fill(0)

dsp.show()

print("Exited Cleanly")

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

Logging Data On Your Raspberry Pi Pico Using Flash Memory

September 17, 2025 admin

In this video lesson, We show you how to log sensor data on your Raspberry Pi Pico W. We will start with simple read and write functions, and then show you how to write and read files line by line, and keep a log of your sensor data.

Our first program is very simple, and just shows how to write a line of data, and read a line of data the the Pico’s flash memory. Here is the code we used in the video for the first simple example.

# This code writes three sensor readings as a comma-separated string to log.txt
# on the Pico W, then reads the file back and splits the string into a list.
# Purpose: Demonstrate basic file writing and reading in MicroPython using log.txt.

# Writing comma-delimited data to a file
sensorData = "25.5,26.0,24.8"  # Example temperature readings from three sensors
with open('log.txt', 'w') as file:  # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')
    file.write(sensorData)  # Write the comma-separated string to the file
print("Data written to log.txt")  # Confirm data was written

# Reading comma-delimited data
with open('log.txt', 'r') as file:  # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')
    content = file.read()  # Read the entire file as a string
    print("Raw data:", content)  # Print the raw string
    # Parse into a list
    values = content.split(',')  # Split the string at commas to create a list
    print("Parsed values:", values)  # Print the resulting list

# This code writes three sensor readings as a comma-separated string to log.txt

# on the Pico W, then reads the file back and splits the string into a list.

# Purpose: Demonstrate basic file writing and reading in MicroPython using log.txt.

# Writing comma-delimited data to a file

sensorData = "25.5,26.0,24.8" # Example temperature readings from three sensors

with open('log.txt', 'w') as file: # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')

file.write(sensorData) # Write the comma-separated string to the file

print("Data written to log.txt") # Confirm data was written

# Reading comma-delimited data

with open('log.txt', 'r') as file: # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')

content = file.read() # Read the entire file as a string

print("Raw data:", content) # Print the raw string

# Parse into a list

values = content.split(',') # Split the string at commas to create a list

print("Parsed values:", values) # Print the resulting list

In the second example, we show greater complexity by writing and reading a file, line by line. Each line contains comma delimited sensor data.

# This code writes three sets of sensor readings to log.txt on the Pico W,
# each set as a comma-separated line, overwriting previous content, then reads
# the file back line by line, splitting each line into a list.
# Purpose: Show how to log multiple data sets to log.txt and read them one line at a time.

# Writing one line at a time
readingsOne = ["25.5", "26.0", "24.8"]  # First set of sensor readings
readingsTwo = ["12.6", "62.5", "33.4"]  # Second set of sensor readings
readingsThree = ["19.8", "20.1", "21.3"]  # Third set of sensor readings
allReadings = [readingsOne, readingsTwo, readingsThree]  # Combine into a list of lists

with open('log.txt', 'w') as file:  # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')
    for readingSet in allReadings:  # Loop through each set of readings
        # ','.join(readingSet) converts the list (e.g., ["25.5", "26.0", "24.8"])
        # into a single string "25.5,26.0,24.8" with commas between values.
        # We need this because file.write() requires a string, not a list.
        line = ','.join(readingSet)
        file.write(line + '\n')  # Write the line to the file with a newline
print("Data written to log.txt")  # Confirm data was written

# Reading one line at a time
with open('log.txt', 'r') as file:  # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')
    print("Reading line by line:")
    for line in file:  # Loop through each line in the file
        # line.strip() removes leading/trailing whitespace, including '\n'
        # .split(',') splits the line at commas to create a list of values
        values = line.strip().split(',')
        print("Sensor readings:", values)  # Print the list of readings

# This code writes three sets of sensor readings to log.txt on the Pico W,

# each set as a comma-separated line, overwriting previous content, then reads

# the file back line by line, splitting each line into a list.

# Purpose: Show how to log multiple data sets to log.txt and read them one line at a time.

# Writing one line at a time

readingsOne = ["25.5", "26.0", "24.8"] # First set of sensor readings

readingsTwo = ["12.6", "62.5", "33.4"] # Second set of sensor readings

readingsThree = ["19.8", "20.1", "21.3"] # Third set of sensor readings

allReadings = [readingsOne, readingsTwo, readingsThree] # Combine into a list of lists

with open('log.txt', 'w') as file: # Open log.txt in write mode ('w')

for readingSet in allReadings: # Loop through each set of readings

# ','.join(readingSet) converts the list (e.g., ["25.5", "26.0", "24.8"])

# into a single string "25.5,26.0,24.8" with commas between values.

# We need this because file.write() requires a string, not a list.

line = ','.join(readingSet)

file.write(line + '\n') # Write the line to the file with a newline

print("Data written to log.txt") # Confirm data was written

# Reading one line at a time

with open('log.txt', 'r') as file: # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')

print("Reading line by line:")

for line in file: # Loop through each line in the file

# line.strip() removes leading/trailing whitespace, including '\n'

# .split(',') splits the line at commas to create a list of values

values = line.strip().split(',')

print("Sensor readings:", values) # Print the list of readings

In these first two examples, when we open the file as ‘w’, the existing data is erased and a new file is created. In the example below, we open an existing file, and show how to append new data to the existing file without erasing the old data.

# This code appends a new set of sensor readings to log.txt on the Pico W
# as a comma-separated line, checks if the file exists, and reads the file
# line by line to verify the append.
# Purpose: Demonstrate appending to log.txt, verifying file existence, and checking contents.

import os  # Import os module for file system operations

# Appending a new set of readings to the file
newReadings = ["30.1", "29.8", "31.0"]  # New set of sensor readings
try:
    with open('log.txt', 'a') as file:  # Open log.txt in append mode ('a')
        # ','.join(newReadings) converts the list (e.g., ["30.1", "29.8", "31.0"])
        # into a single string "30.1,29.8,31.0" with commas between values.
        # We need this because file.write() requires a string, not a list.
        line = ','.join(newReadings)
        file.write(line + '\n')  # Append the line with a newline
    print("Appended new readings to log.txt")  # Confirm data was appended
except OSError as e:
    print("Error appending to file:", e)  # Handle errors like full flash

# Read and print file to verify append
try:
    with open('log.txt', 'r') as file:  # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')
        print("Verifying log.txt contents line by line:")
        for line in file:  # Loop through each line in the file
            # line.strip() removes leading/trailing whitespace, including '\n'
            # .split(',') splits the line at commas to create a list of values
            values = line.strip().split(',')
            print("Sensor readings:", values)  # Print the list of readings
except OSError as e:
    print("Error reading file:", e)  # Handle errors like file not found

# This code appends a new set of sensor readings to log.txt on the Pico W

# as a comma-separated line, checks if the file exists, and reads the file

# line by line to verify the append.

# Purpose: Demonstrate appending to log.txt, verifying file existence, and checking contents.

import os # Import os module for file system operations

# Appending a new set of readings to the file

newReadings = ["30.1", "29.8", "31.0"] # New set of sensor readings

try:

with open('log.txt', 'a') as file: # Open log.txt in append mode ('a')

# ','.join(newReadings) converts the list (e.g., ["30.1", "29.8", "31.0"])

# into a single string "30.1,29.8,31.0" with commas between values.

# We need this because file.write() requires a string, not a list.

line = ','.join(newReadings)

file.write(line + '\n') # Append the line with a newline

print("Appended new readings to log.txt") # Confirm data was appended

except OSError as e:

print("Error appending to file:", e) # Handle errors like full flash

# Read and print file to verify append

try:

with open('log.txt', 'r') as file: # Open log.txt in read mode ('r')

print("Verifying log.txt contents line by line:")

for line in file: # Loop through each line in the file

# line.strip() removes leading/trailing whitespace, including '\n'

# .split(',') splits the line at commas to create a list of values

values = line.strip().split(',')

print("Sensor readings:", values) # Print the list of readings

except OSError as e:

print("Error reading file:", e) # Handle errors like file not found

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

Sending Data Over WiFi Between Raspberry Pi Pico W and Your PC

February 18, 2025 admin

In this video lesson we show how we can send and receive data between the Raspberry Pi Pico W, and your PC. We will be running python on the PC, and we will exchange data using the UDP protocol. UDP is simple, and a very reliable way to send data packets back and forth. In this example, we will be demonstrating a simple Client Server relationship between the Pi Pico and PC using UDP over WiFi.

For your convenience, this is the “Server” software you will run on the Pi Pico.

import network
import usocket as socket
import secrets
import time

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")
print(wlan.ifconfig()[0])

while True:
    print('Waiting for a request from the client...')
    # Receive request from client
    request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)
    print("Client Request:",request.decode())
    print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)
    
    # String to send
    data = "225,128,64"
    
    # Send data to client
    server_socket.sendto(data.encode(), client_address)
    print(f'Sent data to {client_address}')
    
    # Optional: Pause for a short period to prevent overwhelming the client
    time.sleep(1)

import network

import usocket as socket

import secrets

import time

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")

print(wlan.ifconfig()[0])

while True:

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

# Receive request from client

request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)

print("Client Request:",request.decode())

print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)

# String to send

data = "225,128,64"

# Send data to client

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

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

# Optional: Pause for a short period to prevent overwhelming the client

time.sleep(1)

Notice that the above code wants to load a “secrets” file that contain your WiFi name, and password

You should edit the code below with your WiFi username and your password, and then save the file in the Pi Pico lib folder, with the name secrets.py (don’t forget the .py)

SSID="YOUR WIFI NAME"
PASSWORD="YOUR WIFI PASSWORD"

1 2	SSID="YOUR WIFI NAME" PASSWORD="YOUR WIFI PASSWORD"

Now, on the PC side, you will run your client, which will be run in Python. Here is the client software:

import socket
import time

# Set up UDP client
client_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
server_address = ('192.168.88.71', 12345)  # Adjust IP address and port as needed

while True:
    # Send request to the server
    request_message = "SEND DATA"
    client_socket.sendto(request_message.encode(), server_address)
    
    # Receive data from the server
    data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)
    print('Received data:', data.decode())
    
    # Send acknowledgment back to server
    #ack_message = "Data received successfully"
    #client_socket.sendto(ack_message.encode(), addr)
    
    # Wait for 10 seconds before next request
    time.sleep(10)

import socket

import time

# Set up UDP client

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

server_address = ('192.168.88.71', 12345) # Adjust IP address and port as needed

while True:

# Send request to the server

request_message = "SEND DATA"

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

# Receive data from the server

data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)

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

# Send acknowledgment back to server

#ack_message = "Data received successfully"

#client_socket.sendto(ack_message.encode(), addr)

# Wait for 10 seconds before next request

time.sleep(10)

MicroPython, Raspberry Pi Pico

Measuring Roll, Pitch, and Yaw Using 3-Axis Gyro on the MPU6050

December 19, 2023 admin

In this video lesson we describe how to measure roll, pitch, and yaw using the MPU6050. We describe the issues associated with drift in these gyros and will propose a path forward in dealing with the drift issue.

We are using the following circuit for this project:

And this is the code we develop in today’s lesson.

from imu import MPU6050
from machine import I2C,Pin
import math
import time
 
i2c=I2C(0, sda=Pin(16), scl=Pin(17), freq=400000)
mpu = MPU6050(i2c)
 
roll=0
pitch=0
yaw=0
tLoop=0
cnt=0
 
while True:
    tStart=time.ticks_ms()
    xGyro=mpu.gyro.x
    yGyro=mpu.gyro.y
    zGyro=mpu.gyro.z
    roll=roll+yGyro*tLoop
    pitch=pitch+xGyro*tLoop
    yaw=yaw+zGyro*tLoop
    cnt=cnt+1
    if cnt==10:
        cnt=0
        print('R: ',roll,'P: ',pitch,'Y: ',yaw)
    tStop=time.ticks_ms()
    tLoop=(tStop-tStart)*.001

from imu import MPU6050

from machine import I2C,Pin

import math

import time

i2c=I2C(0, sda=Pin(16), scl=Pin(17), freq=400000)

mpu = MPU6050(i2c)

roll=0

pitch=0

yaw=0

tLoop=0

cnt=0

while True:

tStart=time.ticks_ms()

xGyro=mpu.gyro.x

yGyro=mpu.gyro.y

zGyro=mpu.gyro.z

roll=roll+yGyro*tLoop

pitch=pitch+xGyro*tLoop

yaw=yaw+zGyro*tLoop

cnt=cnt+1

if cnt==10:

cnt=0

print('R: ',roll,'P: ',pitch,'Y: ',yaw)

tStop=time.ticks_ms()

tLoop=(tStop-tStart)*.001

Technology Tutorials

Tag Archives: MicroPython

Portable GPS Data Tracker Using the Raspberry Pi Pico W

Logging GPS Data on Your Raspberry Pi Pico W GPS Tracker Project

Logging Data On Your Raspberry Pi Pico Using Flash Memory

Sending Data Over WiFi Between Raspberry Pi Pico W and Your PC

Measuring Roll, Pitch, and Yaw Using 3-Axis Gyro on the MPU6050

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