Tag Archives: Python

PyQt Essentials for Absolute Beginners

March 4, 2025 admin

In this Video Lesson we show you how to create a Graphical User Interface to allow you to interact with your python program and hardware projects. The GUI can have buttons, slider bars, radio buttons, drop down menus, and many more widgets. In this lesson we show you how to install the package, and step-by-step instructions on how to use it. For your convenience, here is the code we developed in the lesson.

import sys
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *
from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt
import time

def greenButtonPressed():
    print("green button clicked")
def yellowButtonPressed():
    print("yellow button clicked")
def redButtonPressed():
    print("red button clicked")
def offButtonPressed():
    print("off button clicked")
def sliderValueChanged(val):
    frequency=val/10
    sliderLabel.setText("Frequency: "+str(frequency)+" Hz")
    print("Frequency: ",frequency)

app = QApplication(sys.argv)
window = QWidget()
window.setWindowTitle("My Grand Widget")
window.setGeometry(100,100,800,600)

widgetBox=QVBoxLayout(window)
buttonBox=QHBoxLayout()

greenButton = QPushButton("Green Button")
greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: green; color: white;")
greenButton.clicked.connect(greenButtonPressed)
buttonBox.addWidget(greenButton)

yellowButton = QPushButton("Yellow Button")
yellowButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: yellow; color: black;")
yellowButton.clicked.connect(yellowButtonPressed)
buttonBox.addWidget(yellowButton)

redButton = QPushButton("Red Button")
redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: red; color: white;")
redButton.clicked.connect(redButtonPressed)
buttonBox.addWidget(redButton)

offButton = QPushButton("Off Button")
offButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: black; color: white;")
offButton.clicked.connect(offButtonPressed)

slider = QSlider(Qt.Horizontal)
slider.setMinimum(1)
slider.setMaximum(40)
slider.setValue(10)
slider.setTickPosition(QSlider.TicksBelow)
slider.setTickInterval(5)
slider.valueChanged.connect(sliderValueChanged)


sliderLabel=QLabel("Frequency: 1.0 HZ")
sliderLabel.setAlignment(Qt.AlignCenter)
sliderLabel.setStyleSheet("font-size: 24px;padding 2px;")

widgetBox.addLayout(buttonBox)
widgetBox.addWidget(sliderLabel)
widgetBox.addWidget(slider)
widgetBox.addStretch()

window.setLayout(widgetBox)
window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())

import sys

from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *

from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt

import time

def greenButtonPressed():

print("green button clicked")

def yellowButtonPressed():

print("yellow button clicked")

def redButtonPressed():

print("red button clicked")

def offButtonPressed():

print("off button clicked")

def sliderValueChanged(val):

frequency=val/10

sliderLabel.setText("Frequency: "+str(frequency)+" Hz")

print("Frequency: ",frequency)

app = QApplication(sys.argv)

window = QWidget()

window.setWindowTitle("My Grand Widget")

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

widgetBox=QVBoxLayout(window)

buttonBox=QHBoxLayout()

greenButton = QPushButton("Green Button")

greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: green; color: white;")

greenButton.clicked.connect(greenButtonPressed)

buttonBox.addWidget(greenButton)

yellowButton = QPushButton("Yellow Button")

yellowButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: yellow; color: black;")

yellowButton.clicked.connect(yellowButtonPressed)

buttonBox.addWidget(yellowButton)

redButton = QPushButton("Red Button")

redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: red; color: white;")

redButton.clicked.connect(redButtonPressed)

buttonBox.addWidget(redButton)

offButton = QPushButton("Off Button")

offButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: black; color: white;")

offButton.clicked.connect(offButtonPressed)

slider = QSlider(Qt.Horizontal)

slider.setMinimum(1)

slider.setMaximum(40)

slider.setValue(10)

slider.setTickPosition(QSlider.TicksBelow)

slider.setTickInterval(5)

slider.valueChanged.connect(sliderValueChanged)

sliderLabel=QLabel("Frequency: 1.0 HZ")

sliderLabel.setAlignment(Qt.AlignCenter)

sliderLabel.setStyleSheet("font-size: 24px;padding 2px;")

widgetBox.addLayout(buttonBox)

widgetBox.addWidget(sliderLabel)

widgetBox.addWidget(slider)

widgetBox.addStretch()

window.setLayout(widgetBox)

window.show()

sys.exit(app.exec_())

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.

In this lesson, we will just be showing simple exchange of data, but in preparation for future lessons, go ahead and build this circuit.

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

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)

Python, Raspberry Pi

Library for Reading a 16 Button Keypad on the Raspberry Pi

October 27, 2022 admin

In this lesson we show you how to create a Python Class and Library that allows you to easily get user input on a Raspberry Pi from a 16 button keypad. This will allow very easy interaction with the keypad.

The Library Code which we develop in the video is presented below for your convenience:

class keypad:
    def __init__(self,rows=[11,13,15,29],columns=[31,33,35,37],keyLabels=[['1','2','3','A'],['4','5','6','B'],['7','8','9','C'],['*','0','#','D']],retChar='D'):
        import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
        self.rows=rows
        self.columns=columns
        self.retChar=retChar
        self.keyLabels=keyLabels
        GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
        for i in rows:
            GPIO.setup(i,GPIO.OUT)
        for j in columns:
            GPIO.setup(j,GPIO.IN,pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_DOWN)
    def readKeypad(self):
        from time import sleep
        import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
        keyStrokes=''
        noPress=True
        noPressOld=True
        while True:
            noPress=True
            for myRow in [0,1,2,3]:
                for myColumn in [0,1,2,3]:
                    GPIO.output(self.rows[myRow],GPIO.HIGH)
                    butVal=GPIO.input(self.columns[myColumn])
                    GPIO.output(self.rows[myRow],GPIO.LOW)
                    if butVal==1:
                        myChar=self.keyLabels[myRow][myColumn]
                        if myChar==self.retChar:
                            return keyStrokes
                        noPress=False
                    if butVal==1 and noPressOld==True and noPress==False:
                        keyStrokes=keyStrokes+myChar
            noPressOld=noPress
            sleep(.25)

class keypad:

def __init__(self,rows=[11,13,15,29],columns=[31,33,35,37],keyLabels=[['1','2','3','A'],['4','5','6','B'],['7','8','9','C'],['*','0','#','D']],retChar='D'):

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

self.rows=rows

self.columns=columns

self.retChar=retChar

self.keyLabels=keyLabels

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

for i in rows:

GPIO.setup(i,GPIO.OUT)

for j in columns:

GPIO.setup(j,GPIO.IN,pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_DOWN)

def readKeypad(self):

from time import sleep

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

keyStrokes=''

noPress=True

noPressOld=True

while True:

noPress=True

for myRow in [0,1,2,3]:

for myColumn in [0,1,2,3]:

GPIO.output(self.rows[myRow],GPIO.HIGH)

butVal=GPIO.input(self.columns[myColumn])

GPIO.output(self.rows[myRow],GPIO.LOW)

if butVal==1:

myChar=self.keyLabels[myRow][myColumn]

if myChar==self.retChar:

return keyStrokes

noPress=False

if butVal==1 and noPressOld==True and noPress==False:

keyStrokes=keyStrokes+myChar

noPressOld=noPress

sleep(.25)

To use this code as a library, save it in the same folder as your python programs, and save it as KPLIB.py

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
from KPLIB import keypad
myPad=keypad(retChar='A')
myString=myPad.readKeypad()
print(myString)
GPIO.cleanup()

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

from KPLIB import keypad

myPad=keypad(retChar='A')

myString=myPad.readKeypad()

print(myString)

GPIO.cleanup()

This is a simple demo program that calls the library above, to receive input from the keypad.

3D Graphics with Visual Python, Arduino with Python

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 14: Model a Moving Marble in a Room Using Parameters

April 12, 2022 admin

In this lesson we show how to model a moving marble in vPython. We show how to create an animation where the marble bounces off the left and righty walls of our virtual room. For your convenience, we include the code below:

from vpython import *
roomX=12
roomY=10
roomZ=16
wallT=.5
wallColor=vector(1,1,1)
wallOpacity=.8
frontOpacity=.1
marbleR=.5
ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)
marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0
deltaX=.1

while True:
    rate(20)
    marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
        marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    marble.pos=vector(marbleX,0,0)

from vpython import *

roomX=12

roomY=10

roomZ=16

wallT=.5

wallColor=vector(1,1,1)

wallOpacity=.8

frontOpacity=.1

marbleR=.5

ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)

marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0

deltaX=.1

while True:

rate(20)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

marble.pos=vector(marbleX,0,0)

3D Graphics with Visual Python, Arduino, Arduino with Python, Python

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 8: Live Thermometer 3D Visual Using DHT11

March 1, 2022 admin

In this video lesson we connect the Arduino to a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor. We show how to wire the device up, and then how to code the Arduino. The data is passed from the Arduino to python. We then create a live 3D thermometer model that updates as the temperature changes.

On the arduino side, this is the code which we use:

#include "DHT.h"
#define DHTPIN 2
#define DHTTYPE DHT11

float tempF;
float tempC;
float humidity;

int setTime=500;
int dt=1000;

DHT TH(DHTPIN,DHTTYPE);

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(115200);
TH.begin();
delay(setTime);
}
void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
tempC=TH.readTemperature();
tempF=TH.readTemperature(true);
humidity=TH.readHumidity();


Serial.print(tempF);
Serial.print(",");
Serial.println(humidity);

delay(dt);
}

#include "DHT.h"

#define DHTPIN 2

#define DHTTYPE DHT11

float tempF;

float tempC;

float humidity;

int setTime=500;

int dt=1000;

DHT TH(DHTPIN,DHTTYPE);

void setup() {

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

Serial.begin(115200);

TH.begin();

delay(setTime);

}

void loop() {

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

tempC=TH.readTemperature();

tempF=TH.readTemperature(true);

humidity=TH.readHumidity();

Serial.print(tempF);

Serial.print(",");

Serial.println(humidity);

delay(dt);

}

Then on the python side, we use the following code:

import time
import serial
from vpython import *

arduinoData=serial.Serial('com3',115200)
time.sleep(.5)
digValue=label(text='50',height=20,box=False,pos=vector(0,-2.5,2))
bulb=sphere(radius=1,color=color.red,pos=vector(0,-3,0))
cyl=cylinder(radius=.6,color=color.red,axis=vector(0,1,0),length=6,pos=vector(0,-3,0))
bulbGlass=sphere(radius=1.2,color=color.white,opacity=.25,pos=vector(0,-3,0))
cylGlass=cylinder(radius=.8,color=color.white,axis=vector(0,1,0),opacity=.25,length=6,pos=vector(0,-3,0))
for temp in range(0,115,10):
    tickPos=4.5/115*temp+1.5
    tick=cylinder(radius=.7,color=color.black,length=.1,axis=vector(0,1,0),pos=vector(0,tickPos-3,0))
    label=text(text=str(temp),color=color.white,pos=vector(-2,tickPos-3,0),height=.3)
while True:
    while arduinoData.in_waiting==0:
        pass
    dataPacket=arduinoData.readline()
    dataPacket=str(dataPacket,'utf-8')
    dataPacket=dataPacket.strip('\r\n')
    dataPacket=dataPacket.split(',')
    temp=float(dataPacket[0])
    hum=float(dataPacket[1])
    len=(4.5/115)*temp+1.5
    cyl.length=len
    digValue.text=str(temp)

import time

import serial

from vpython import *

arduinoData=serial.Serial('com3',115200)

time.sleep(.5)

digValue=label(text='50',height=20,box=False,pos=vector(0,-2.5,2))

bulb=sphere(radius=1,color=color.red,pos=vector(0,-3,0))

cyl=cylinder(radius=.6,color=color.red,axis=vector(0,1,0),length=6,pos=vector(0,-3,0))

bulbGlass=sphere(radius=1.2,color=color.white,opacity=.25,pos=vector(0,-3,0))

cylGlass=cylinder(radius=.8,color=color.white,axis=vector(0,1,0),opacity=.25,length=6,pos=vector(0,-3,0))

for temp in range(0,115,10):

tickPos=4.5/115*temp+1.5

tick=cylinder(radius=.7,color=color.black,length=.1,axis=vector(0,1,0),pos=vector(0,tickPos-3,0))

label=text(text=str(temp),color=color.white,pos=vector(-2,tickPos-3,0),height=.3)

while True:

while arduinoData.in_waiting==0:

pass

dataPacket=arduinoData.readline()

dataPacket=str(dataPacket,'utf-8')

dataPacket=dataPacket.strip('\r\n')

dataPacket=dataPacket.split(',')

temp=float(dataPacket[0])

hum=float(dataPacket[1])

len=(4.5/115)*temp+1.5

cyl.length=len

digValue.text=str(temp)

Technology Tutorials

Tag Archives: Python

PyQt Essentials for Absolute Beginners

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

Library for Reading a 16 Button Keypad on the Raspberry Pi

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 14: Model a Moving Marble in a Room Using Parameters

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 8: Live Thermometer 3D Visual Using DHT11

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