Raspberry Pi Pico
From Waveshare Wiki
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
Overview
Raspberry Pi Pico is a low-cost, high-performance microcontroller board with flexible digital interfaces. It incorporates Raspberry Pi's own RP2040 microcontroller chip, with a dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor running up to 133 MHz, embedded 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of onboard Flash memory, as well as 26 x multi-function GPIO pins.
For software development, either Raspberry Pi's C/C++ SDK or the MicroPython is available. There are also complete development resources and tutorials to help you get started easily, and integrate it into end products quickly.
Features
- RP2040 microcontroller chip designed by Raspberry Pi in the United Kingdom.
- Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, the flexible clock running up to 133 MHz.
- 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of onboard Flash memory.
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards.
- USB 1.1 with device and host support.
- Low-power sleep and dormant modes.
- Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB.
- 26 × multi-function GPIO pins.
- 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.
- Accurate clock and timer on-chip.
- Temperature sensor.
- Accelerated floating-point libraries on-chip.
- 8 × Programmable I/O (PIO) state machines for custom peripheral support.
Pinout
Dimension
Software Environment Debugging
- In order to facilitate the development of Pico boards using MicroPython on the computer, it is recommended to download Thonny IDE.
- Download Thonny IDE and install it in steps.
- After installing, please configure the language and the environment for the first time. Note that we should choose the Raspberry Pi option in the board environment.
- Configure the Micrpython environment and select the Pico port.
- First connect the Raspberry Pi Pico to the computer, left-click on the configuration environment option in the lower right corner of Thonny--> select configure an interpreter.
- In the pop-up window bar, select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico), and select the corresponding port.
- Click OK to return to the main interface of Thonny, download the firmware library to Pico, and then click the stop button to display the currently used environment in the Shell window.
- Pico download firmware library method in Windows: Press and hold the BOOT button and connect to the computer, release the BOOT button, a removable disk will appear on the computer, and copy the firmware library into it.
- How to download the firmware library for RP2040 in Windows: After connecting to the computer, press the BOOT key and the RESET key at the same time, release the RESET key and then release the BOOT key, a removable disk will appear on the computer.
- Copy the firmware library into it (you can also use Pico).
Example Testing
- Download example demo to the desktop for testing.
External LED Testing
- Connect the hardware according to the following figure. Connect to PC by Micro USB, and open the python file in the sample program Lesson-5 External LED in Thonny, and run the sample program to see that the red light is flashing.
- Precautions for use: The longer pin of the LED is the positive pole, the shorter one is the negative pole, the negative pole should be connected to GND, and the positive pole should be connected to the GPIO output port, and a resistor must be connected when using.
- Code analysis
led_external = machine.Pin(15, machine.Pin.OUT) #Set GP15 as output mode
while True:
led_external.toggle() #Change the state of the LED light every 5 seconds
utime.sleep(5)
Traffic Light System Testing
- Connect the hardware according to the figure below, connect the Micro USB to the computer, open the python file in the sample program Lesson-9 Traffic-Light-System in Thonny, and run the program, you can see the normal operation of the traffic light strip, when you press the button will trigger the buzzer.
- Precautions for use: The longer pin of the LED is the positive pole, the shorter one is the negative pole, the negative pole should be connected to GND, the positive pole should be connected to the GPIO output port, and a resistor must be connected when using it; the red line of the buzzer is connected to the GPIO port output, black The line is connected to GND.
- Code analysis
def button_reader_thread(): #Detect if the button is pressed
global button_pressed
while True:
if button.value() == 1:
button_pressed = True
_thread.start_new_thread(button_reader_thread, ()) #Use the method of starting the thread to detect the button
while True:
if button_pressed == True: #If the button is pressed, the red light is on and the buzzer sounds
led_red.value(1)
for i in range(10):
buzzer.value(1)
utime.sleep(0.2)
buzzer.value(0)
utime.sleep(0.2)
global button_pressed
button_pressed = False
led_red.value(1) #Under normal circumstances, the yellow light will be on for two seconds when the red light is next to the green light, then the yellow and red lights will be off, and the green light will be on
utime.sleep(5) #When the green light is next to the red light, the green light is off first, the yellow light is on for two seconds, and then the red light is on
led_amber.value(1)
utime.sleep(2)
led_red.value(0)
led_amber.value(0)
led_green.value(1)
utime.sleep(5)
led_green.value(0)
led_amber.value(1)
utime.sleep(5)
led_amber.value(0)
Burglar Alarm LED Buzzer Examples
Connect the boards as in the picture below. Connect the Pico to Raspberry Pi or PC. Open the Lesson-14 Burglar Alarm LED Buzzer examples by Thonny.The LED lights on if an object is moving around the Passive infrared sensor and the buzzer will indicate.
- Codes
def pir_handler(pin): #Interrupt process function
print("ALARM! Motion detected!")
for i in range(50):
led.toggle()
buzzer.toggle()
utime.sleep_ms(100)
sensor_pir.irq(trigger=machine.Pin.IRQ_RISING, handler=pir_handler)#Enable the Interrupt, the interrupt function is called when motions is detected.
while True: #Toggle LED every 5s
led.toggle()
utime.sleep(5)
Potentiometer Example
Connect the boards as in the picture below. Connect the Pico to Raspberry Pi or PC. Open the Lesson-16 Potentiometer example by Thonny, you can adjust the potentiometer and check if the voltage printed to the Sheel window are changing as well.
- Codes
potentiometer = machine.ADC(26) #Set the GP26 pin as analog input conversion_factor = 3.3 / (65535) while True: voltage = potentiometer.read_u16() * conversion_factor #Convert the sampled data to voltage value print(voltage) #Print the voltage data, it chanaged according to the sliding rheostat. utime.sleep(2)
WS2812 Example
Connect the boards as in the picture below. Connect the Pico to Raspberry Pi or PC. Open the WS2812_RGB_LED.py file of Lesson-25 WS2812 example by Thonny, the LEDs light in Blue, Red, Green, and White.
- Codes
#This code uses the state machine mechanism. The following code is a decorator where we can initialize the hardware, set the pin level, etc.
#label("bitloop") We can define some tags in our code so that we can jump to them.
#jmp(not_x,"do_zero") If x=0, we jumpt to do_zero.
#nop() .set(0) [T2 - 1] The code jumpt to here if x = 0.
@asm_pio(sideset_init=PIO.OUT_LOW, out_shiftdir=PIO.SHIFT_LEFT, autopull=True, pull_thresh=24)
def ws2812():
T1 = 2
T2 = 5
T3 = 1
label("bitloop")
out(x, 1) .side(0) [T3 - 1]
jmp(not_x, "do_zero") .side(1) [T1 - 1]
jmp("bitloop") .side(1) [T2 - 1]
label("do_zero")
nop() .side(0) [T2 - 1]
# Create the StateMachine with the ws2812 program, outputting on Pin(22).
sm = StateMachine(0, ws2812, freq=8000000, sideset_base=Pin(0)) #Create the stats machine
# Start the StateMachine, it will wait for data on its FIFO.
sm.active(1) #Start the stats machine
# Display a pattern on the LEDs via an array of LED RGB values.
ar = array.array("I", [0 for _ in range(NUM_LEDS)])
print(ar)
print("blue")
for j in range(0, 255):
for i in range(NUM_LEDS):
ar[i] = j
sm.put(ar,8) #put() is put the data to output FIFO of the stats machine
time.sleep_ms(5)
LCD1602 I2C Example
Connect the boards as in the picture below. Connect the Pico to Raspberry Pi or PC. Open the Lesson-21 LCD1602 I2C example by Thonny, you need to first save the RGB1602.py to Pico and then run the Choose_Color.py file. The LCD will change color every 5s. If you run the Discoloratio.py file, the LED display RGB colors.
- Codes
Choose_Color.py
#Define colors
rgb9 = (0,255,0) #green
lcd.setCursor(0, 0) #Set the position of cursor
# print the number of seconds since reset:
lcd.printout("Waveshare") #Print the string
lcd.setCursor(0, 1) #Move the cursor to second row.
lcd.printout("Hello,World!")#Print the string
lcd.setRGB(rgb1[0],rgb1[1],rgb1[2]); #Set the back light
Discoloration.py
t=0
while True:
r = int((abs(math.sin(3.14*t/180)))*255); #RGB changeas as time goes
g = int((abs(math.sin(3.14*(t+60)/180)))*255);
b = int((abs(math.sin(3.14*(t+120)/180)))*255);
t = t + 3;
lcd.setRGB(r,g,b);#Set the RGB data again.
# set the cursor to column 0, line 1
lcd.setCursor(0, 0) #Set the curson to the first row.
# print the number of seconds since reset:
lcd.printout("Waveshare")#Print the string
lcd.setCursor(0, 1) #Set the cursor to second row
lcd.printout("Hello,World!")#Print the string
time.sleep(0.3)
Pico Getting Started
Firmware Download
- MicroPython Firmware Download
- C_Blink Firmware Download
Introduction
MicroPython Series
Install Thonny IDE
In order to facilitate the development of Pico/Pico2 boards using MicroPython on a computer, it is recommended to download the Thonny IDE
- Download Thonny IDE and follow the steps to install, the installation packages are all Windows versions, please refer to Thonny's official website for other versions
- After installation, the language and motherboard environment need to be configured for the first use. Since we are using Pico/Pico2, pay attention to selecting the Raspberry Pi option for the motherboard environment
- Configure MicroPython environment and choose Pico/Pico2 port
- Connect Pico/Pico2 to your computer first, and in the lower right corner of Thonny left-click on the configuration environment option --> select Configture interpreter
- In the pop-up window, select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico), and choose the corresponding port
Flash Firmware
- Click OK to return to the Thonny main interface, download the corresponding firmware library and burn it to the device, and then click the Stop button to display the current environment in the Shell window
- Note: Flashing the Pico2 firmware provided by Micropython may cause the device to be unrecognized, please use the firmware below or in the package
- How to download the firmware library for Pico/Pico2 in windows: After holding down the BOOT button and connecting to the computer, release the BOOT button, a removable disk will appear on the computer, copy the firmware library into it
- How to download the firmware library for RP2040/RP2350 in windows: After connecting to the computer, press the BOOT key and the RESET key at the same time, release the RESET key first and then release the BOOT key, a removable disk will appear on the computer, copy the firmware library into it (you can also use the Pico/Pico2 method)
MicroPython Series
【MicroPython】 machine.Pin class function details
【MicroPython】machine.PWM class function details
【MicroPython】machine.ADC class function details
【MicroPython】machine.UART class function details
【MicroPython】machine.I2C class function details
【MicroPython】machine.SPI class function details
【MicroPython】rp2.StateMachine class function details
C/C++ Series
For C/C++, it is recommended to use Pico VS Code for development. This is a Microsoft Visual Studio Code extension designed to make it easier for you to create, develop, and debug projects for the Raspberry Pi Pico series development boards. No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced professional, this tool can assist you in developing Pico with confidence and ease. Here's how to install and use the extension.
- Official website tutorial: https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/pico-vscode-extension/
- This tutorial is suitable for Raspberry Pi Pico, Pico2 and the RP2040 and RP2350 series development boards developed by Waveshare
- The development environment defaults to Windows11. For other environments, please refer to the official tutorial for installation
Install VSCode
-
First, click to download pico-vscode package, unzip and open the package, double-click to install VSCode
Note: If vscode is installed, check if the version is v1.87.0 or later
Install Extension
-
Click Extensions and select Install from VSIX
-
Select the package with the vsix suffix and click Install
-
Then vscode will automatically install raspberry-pi-pico and its dependency extensions, you can click Refresh to check the installation progress
-
The text in the right lower corner shows that the installation is complete. Close VSCode
Configure Extension
-
Open directory C:\Users\username and copy the entire .pico-sdk to that directory
-
The Copy is completed
-
Open vscode and configure the paths for the Raspberry Pi Pico extensions
The configuration is as follows:Cmake Path: ${HOME}/.pico-sdk/cmake/v3.28.6/bin/cmake.exe Git Path: ${HOME}/.pico-sdk/git/cmd/git.exe Ninja Path: ${HOME}/.pico-sdk/ninja/v1.12.1/ninja.exe Python3 Path: ${HOME}/.pico-sdk/python/3.12.1/python.exe
New Project
-
The configuration is complete, create a new project, enter the project name, select the path, and click Create to create the project
To test the official example, you can click on the Example next to the project name to select
-
The project is created successfully
-
Select the SDK version
-
Select Yes for advanced configuration
-
Choose the cross-compilation chain, 13.2.Rel1 is applicable for ARM cores, RISCV.13.3 is applicable for RISCV cores. You can select either based on your requirements
-
Select default for CMake version (the path configured earlier)
-
Select default for Ninjaversion
-
Select the development board
-
Click Complie to compile
-
The uf2 format file is successfully compiled
Import Project
- The Cmake file of the imported project cannot have Chinese (including comments), otherwise the import may fail
-
To import your own project, you need to add a line of code to the Cmake file to switch between pico and pico2 normally, otherwise even if pico2 is selected, the compiled firmware will still be suitable for pico
set(PICO_BOARD pico CACHE STRING "Board type")
Update Extension
-
The extension version in the offline package is 0.15.2, and you can also choose to update to the latest version after the installation is complete
Arduino IDE Series
Install Arduino IDE
-
First, go to Arduino official website to download the installation package of the Arduino IDE.
-
Here, you can select Just Download.
-
Once the download is complete, click Install.
Notice: During the installation process, it will prompt you to install the driver, just click Install
600px
Arduino IDE Interface
-
After the first installation, when you open the Arduino IDE, it will be in English. You can switch to other languages in File --> Preferences, or continue using the English interface.
-
In the Language field, select the language you want to switch to, and click OK.
Install Arduino-Pico Core in the Arduino IDE
-
Open the Arduino IDE, click on the file in the top left corner, and select Preferences
-
Add the following link to the attached board manager URL, and then click OK
https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/4.0.2/package_rp2040_index.json
Note: If you already have an ESP32 board URL, you can use a comma to separate the URLs as follows:https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json,https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/4.0.2/package_rp2040_index.json
-
Click Tools > Development Board > Board Manager > Search pico, as my computer has already been installed, it shows that it is installed
Upload Demo at the First Time
-
Press and hold the BOOTSET button on the Pico board, connect the pico to the USB port of the computer via the Micro USB cable, and release the button after the computer recognizes a removable hard disk (RPI-RP2).
- Download the program and open D1-LED.ino under the arduino\PWM\D1-LED path
-
Click Tools --> Port, remember the existing COM, do not click this COM (the COM displayed is different on different computers, remember the COM on your own computer)
-
Connect the driver board to the computer using a USB cable. Then, go to Tools > Port. For the first connection, select uf2 Board. After uploading, when you connect again, an additional COM port will appear
-
Click Tools > Development Board > Raspberry Pi Pico > Raspberry Pi Pico or Raspberry Pi Pico 2
- After setting it up, click the right arrow to upload the program
- If issues arise during this period, and if you need to reinstall or update the Arduino IDE version, it is necessary to uninstall the Arduino IDE completely. After uninstalling the software, you need to manually delete all contents within the C:\Users\[name]\AppData\Local\Arduino15 folder (you need to show hidden files to see this folder). Then, proceed with a fresh installation.
Open Source Demos
MircoPython video demo (github)
MicroPython firmware/Blink demos (C)
Raspberry Pi official C/C++ demo (github)
Raspberry Pi official micropython demo (github)
Arduino official C/C++ demo (github)
Resources
Demos
- Raspberry-Pi-Pico-Basic-Kit Demo
- Raspberry-Pi-Pico-Sensors_Pack Demo
- Raspberry-Pi-Pico-Sensor_Kit Demo
Official Document
Pico W
Firmware
Pico
User Manual
Schematic & Datasheet
Related Books
Raspberry Pi Open-source Demo
Development Software
- Zimo221.7z
- Image2Lcd.7z
- Font Library Tutorial
- Image Extraction Tutorial
- Thonny Python IDE (Windows V3.3.3)
FAQ
Answer:
1. The pin that sets the input state must be initially pulled high or pulled low.
2. Replace the USB cable to see if there is a problem with the USB cable used.
{{{5}}}
Support
Technical Support
If you need technical support or have any feedback/review, please click the Submit Now button to submit a ticket, Our support team will check and reply to you within 1 to 2 working days. Please be patient as we make every effort to help you to resolve the issue.
Working Time: 9 AM - 6 PM GMT+8 (Monday to Friday)