BuildSTL - August 2016

Intro to Raspberry Pi

by Matt Thomas

Raspberry Pi - History

The Raspberry Pi Foundation was founded in May 2009 in the UK. The Foundation is supported by the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory and Broadcom. Its aim is to "promote the study of computer science and related topics, especially at school level, and to put the fun back into learning computing."

The Raspberry Pi is a series of credit card-sized single-board computers developed to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and developing countries.

In February 2016, the Raspberry Pi Foundation announced that they had sold eight million devices, making it the best-selling UK personal computer.

The Hardware

Raspberry Pi Model A

First Released in February 2012

Only model to come with component video

Gen	Processor	RAM	USB	GPIOs	Network
1	32-bit Single Core 700MHz	256 Mb	1	8	None Rev 1.2 - RJ45

Raspberry Pi Model B

First Released April 2012

The Raspberry Pi Model B sold over 2 Million units within 2 years of mass production.

Gen	Processor	RAM	USB	GPIOs	Network
1	32-bit Single Core 700MHz	512 Mb	2	8 (+4)	RJ45
1 +	32-bit Single Core 700MHz	512 Mb	4	17	RJ45
2	32-bit Quad Core 900MHz	1 Gb	4	17	RJ45
3	64-bit Quad Core 1.2GHz	1 Gb	4	17	RJ45, WiFi & Bluetooth

Raspberry Pi Zero

First Released November 2015

Half to one third the size of a Model B.

The only computer to ever be attached and sold inside a magazine.

All connections are in the respective micro formats.

Version 1.3 added camera support

Gen	Processor	RAM	USB	GPIOs	Network
1	64-bit Quad Core 1.2GHz	512 Mb	1	40	None

GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output)

When programming the GPIO pins there are two different ways to refer to them: GPIO numbering and physical numbering.

GPIO numbering is GPIO pins as the computer sees them. The numbers don't make any sense to humans, they jump about all over the place, so there is no easy way to remember them. You will need a printed reference or a reference board that fits over the pins.

Physical numbering refers to the pins is by simply counting across and down from pin 1 at the top left (nearest to the SD card).

Generally we recommend using the GPIO numbering (MCD), not board pin numbering.

...GPIO

GPIO pins can be configured to be input or output

GPIO pins can be enabled/disabled

GPIO pins are either analog or digital

Input values are readable

Output values are writable/readable

The Software

Operating Systems

The install manager is called NOOBS which includes numerous OSs.

Raspbian - Official Debian distribution
Windows 10 IoT Core - Free (Raspberry Pi 2 or Greater)

Media center operating systems:

OSMC - free and open source media player based on Linux (XBMC or Kode)
OpenELEC - Linux based Just Enough Operating System (JeOS) built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a Kodi media center.

Others:

RetroPie - Turn your Raspberry Pi into a retro-gaming machine.
Atari, Commodore, Dreamcast, Game Boy, MAME, Nintendo, Playstation 1, Sega and MORE

OS Installation

NOOBS

Download from raspberrypi.org/downloads/noobs
Extract the archive
Copy to the Micro SD card
Boot your Raspberry Pi

Set the language and keyboard appropriately.

Configuration

raspi-config

Configure keyboard, language, services including ssh and peripherals including audio and camera support.

Notable Preinstalled Software

Python 2 & 3
Minecraft
Mathematica
Scratch

Recommended Software

Google Chrome
IceWeasel (Firefox)
Terminator

The Demo

If you haven't noticed the entire presentation has been given using a Raspberry Pi.

Now we will demonstrate a Python GPIO application.

With a Raspberry Pi we will create a garage door controller/monitor
using a relay, reed switch, button & LED.

The Hardware Part

Parts List:

Raspberry Pi
Breadboard
Jumper Wires
White LED
220 Ohm resistor
1 Relay Module
Reed Switch
Tactile button

The Software Part

Written in Python 3.

Developed and tested entirely on this Raspberry Pi 3 using the IDLE editor.


    # Import the GPIO and time modules
    import RPi.GPIO as gpio
    import time

    # Define GPIO Pins Locations
    relayPin = 4
    switchPin = 21
    ledPin = 13
    reedPin = 19

    # Set up some house keeping variables
    pauseTime = 5
    switchOn = 0

    # Set the pin mode
        # BCM mode references the pin numbers on the chip
        # vs the layout of the board
    gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)

    # GPIO setup
    gpio.setup(relayPin, gpio.OUT)
    gpio.setup(ledPin, gpio.OUT)
    gpio.setup(switchPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)
    gpio.setup(reedPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)

    # Set the relay pin to be high by default
    gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)
    try:
        while 1:
            # Turn on the relay if the button is pressed
            if switchOn == 0 and not gpio.input(switchPin):
                print("Operating the door")
                switchOn = time.time()
                gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.LOW)

            # Turn off the relay after the pauseTime
            if switchOn != 0 and (time.time() - switchOn) > pauseTime:
                switchOn = 0
                gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)

            # Turn on the LED if the reed switch is open
            if gpio.input(reedPin):
                gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.HIGH)
            # Turn off the LED if the reed switch is closed
            else:
                gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.LOW)

            # Sleep for the quarter second
            time.sleep(.25)
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        # Shutdown cleanly if Ctrl-C is pressed
        print("Cleaning things up")
        gpio.cleanup()

Some setup and housekeeping


# Import the GPIO and time modules
import RPi.GPIO as gpio
import time

# Define GPIO Pins Locations
relayPin = 4
switchPin = 21
ledPin = 13
reedPin = 19

# Set up some house keeping variables
pauseTime = 5
switchOn = 0

GPIO Setup


# Set the pin mode
    # BCM mode references the pin numbers on the chip
    # vs the layout of the board
gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)

# GPIO setup
gpio.setup(relayPin, gpio.OUT)
gpio.setup(ledPin, gpio.OUT)
gpio.setup(switchPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)
gpio.setup(reedPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)

# Set the relay pin to be high by default
gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)

The Try/Catch and While Loop


try:
    while 1:

        ...

except KeyboardInterrupt:
    # Shutdown cleanly if Ctrl-C is pressed
    print("Cleaning things up")
    gpio.cleanup()

Controlling Relay via the Push Button


# Turn on the relay if the button is pressed
if switchOn == 0 and not gpio.input(switchPin):
    print("Operating the door")
    switchOn = time.time()
    gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.LOW)

# Turn off the relay after the pauseTime
if switchOn != 0 and (time.time() - switchOn) > pauseTime:
    switchOn = 0
    gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)

Controlling the LED via the Reed Switch


# Turn on the LED if the reed switch is open
if gpio.input(reedPin):
    gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.HIGH)
# Turn off the LED if the reed switch is closed
else:
    gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.LOW)

# Sleep for the quarter second
time.sleep(.25)

Putting it all together : 45 lines including comments


# Import the GPIO and time modules
import RPi.GPIO as gpio
import time

# Define GPIO Pins Locations
relayPin = 4
switchPin = 21
ledPin = 13
reedPin = 19

# Set up some house keeping variables
pauseTime = 5
switchOn = 0

# Set the pin mode
    # BCM mode references the pin numbers on the chip
    # vs the layout of the board
gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)

# GPIO setup
gpio.setup(relayPin, gpio.OUT)
gpio.setup(ledPin, gpio.OUT)
gpio.setup(switchPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)
gpio.setup(reedPin, gpio.IN, gpio.PUD_UP)

# Set the relay pin to be high by default
gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)


try:
    while 1:
        # Turn on the relay if the button is pressed
        if switchOn == 0 and not gpio.input(switchPin):
            print("Operating the door")
            switchOn = time.time()
            gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.LOW)

        # Turn off the relay after the pauseTime
        if switchOn != 0 and (time.time() - switchOn) > pauseTime:
            switchOn = 0
            gpio.output(relayPin, gpio.HIGH)

        # Turn on the LED if the reed switch is open
        if gpio.input(reedPin):
            gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.HIGH)
        # Turn off the LED if the reed switch is closed
        else:
            gpio.output(ledPin, gpio.LOW)

        # Sleep for the quarter second
        time.sleep(.25)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    # Shutdown cleanly if Ctrl-C is pressed
    print("Cleaning things up")
    gpio.cleanup()

GPIO Zero

"A friendly Python API for physical computing".

It makes writing applications that interact with the GPIO interface easier.

More information:

Other Ideas

RetroPi and LCD touch screen mobile gaming RPi

Wedding wall with motion sensor activation of Christmas light

Halloween prop with motion sensor activation, speaking mouth and balloon inflation

pi-top is a DIY laptop you build yourself.

... too many to count!

Additional Resources

www.raspberrypi.org
learn.adafruit.com
learn.sparkfun.com
www.hackster.io/raspberry-pi
www.makezine.com/projects
www.raspberrypi.org/magpi - magazine
This Meetup Group!!!
- 95+ members on Meetup with varying degrees of experience.
- Join the STL-Tech#buildstl channel (https://stltech.herokuapp.com/)

Questions?

Feedback...

Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Build-STL/

Slack: https://stl-tech.slack.com/messages/buildstl/

Join: https://stltech.herokuapp.com/

Matt Thomas

Twitter: @matsinet
Website (Work in progress): http://matsinet.bitbucket.org

Slides: http://matsinet.bitbucket.org/presentations/intro-to-raspberry-pi

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