Raspberry Pi Pico

This is the new Raspberry Pi Pico released in 2021. this new raspberry pi is very cheap compared to other bord by a raspberry pi. It also has 30 GPIO pins and lots of interfacing options including 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, and 16 × controllable PWM channels. Pi Pico is a microcontroller board based on an in-house custom-designed chip (RP2040) by Raspberry Pi in the UK. RP2040, the chip at the heart of Pico, is an ultra-powerful Dual Core ARM Cortex-M0+ clocked at 133MHz with 256KB RAM, and 2MB of onboard QSPI Flash memory for code and data storage.

The Raspberry Pi Pico is a compact microcontroller board released by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in January 2021. It marks the Foundation’s entry into the microcontroller market, offering a low-cost, high-performance solution for embedded projects. At the heart of the Pico lies the RP2040 microcontroller chip, which was designed in-house by the Raspberry Pi team. The RP2040 features a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor running at 133MHz, providing ample computing power for a wide range of applications.

One of the standout features of the Raspberry Pi Pico is its extensive connectivity options. It includes 26 GPIO pins, which can be used for digital input/output, analog input, PWM output, and more. Additionally, the Pico supports popular communication protocols such as UART, SPI, and I2C, making it easy to interface with a variety of sensors, displays, and other peripherals. The board also features USB connectivity for programming and power, eliminating the need for external programmers or power supplies.

Programming the Raspberry Pi Pico is straightforward thanks to its support for MicroPython and C/C++ development environments. MicroPython, a beginner-friendly variant of Python optimized for microcontrollers, allows users to quickly prototype and develop projects using high-level programming constructs. For those requiring more performance or low-level control, C/C++ development tools such as the Arduino IDE or Visual Studio Code with the C/C++ extension are also available.

Despite its small size and low cost, the Raspberry Pi Pico packs a punch in terms of features and performance. Whether you’re a hobbyist, educator, or professional developer, the Pico offers a versatile platform for experimenting with electronics, building IoT devices, or prototyping embedded systems. Its open-source nature and strong community support ensure that users have access to a wealth of resources, tutorials, and projects to help them get started and succeed in their endeavors. Overall, the Raspberry Pi Pico represents a significant addition to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, democratizing access to microcontroller technology and empowering makers of all skill levels to bring their ideas to life.

GETTING RASPBERRY PI PICO STARTED WITH MICROPYTHON

Program your Raspberry Pi Pico with the easy to use drag and drop feature. All you need to do is simply connect the Raspberry Pi Pico to a computer via USB, then drag and drop the file onto it. Follow the given steps to get the MicroPython started on your Raspberry Pi Pico:

• Download the MicroPython UF2 file.
• Push and hold the BOOTSEL button and plug your Pico into the USB port of your Raspberry Pi or another computer.
• Release the BOOTSEL button after your Pico is connected to your computer.
• It will mount as a Mass Storage Device called RPI-RP2.
• Drag and drop the MicroPython UF2 file onto the RPI-RP2 volume.
• Your Pico will reboot. You are now running MicroPython.
• You can access the REPL and MicroPython via USB Serial.

HOW TO BLINK AN LED ON RASPBERRY PI PICO?

Blinking an LED is the first program anyone writes on a new microcontroller. The Raspberry Pi Pico comes with a single LED on-board connected to GPIO pin 25. Follow the given steps to get the LED to blink on your Raspberry Pi Pico:

• Download the Blink UF2
• Push and hold the BOOTSEL button and plug your Pico into the USB port of your Raspberry Pi or another computer.
• It will mount as a Mass Storage Device called RPI-RP2.
• Drag and drop the Blink UF2 binary onto the RPI-RP2 volume.
• Pico will reboot, and the on-board LED should start blinking.

Package Content:

1 x Raspberry Pi Pico