Jeff Glass

Project: Electronics Bash - #26 - Pumpkin Pi

Jinkies! What's that over there? It looks like a Raspberry Pi... but headless! Let's get out of here!

No worries gang, it's just our regular old Raspberry Pi python programs in a mask. This week, we'll built a spooky Halloween prop, incorporating some of the skills we've learned so far. We'll drive a couple of servo motors, some LEDs for the eyes, playback sound, and link it all to the internet so we can tell when the sun goes down and things should get spooky.

  • Topics Include:
    • Sound Playback
    • Sunset/Sunrise API
    • The polling loop
    • Multitasking


Schematic

This is the schematic we will be working from today, showing two LEDs connected to the Raspberry Pi via two MOSFETS, and two servo motors. Note that utility connections to the Pi, like keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc are not shown.

Code

Play Sound Test

Click here to view code on Github

LED Test

Click here to view code on Github

Servo Test

Click here to view code on Github

Sunrise Sunset API Test

Click here to view code on Github

PIR Motion Sensor Test

Click here to view code on Github

All Together Test

Click here to view code on Github

Pumpkin Pi Basic

Click here to view code on Github

PumpkinPi.py

Click here to view code on Github

Resources and Links

Links and Resources:
Raspberry Pi Homepage: https://www.raspberrypi.org/
Raspberry Pi OS: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/
MagPi Magazine: https://magpi.raspberrypi.org/
Python Reference: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html

Getting Started:
Raspberry Pi Imager: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/
Troubleshooting Guide: https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/troubleshooting-guide/
Display Troubleshooting: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/display/troubleshooting.md
Starting w/o a Monitor: https://bit.ly/33IvKCc

Materials:
Video on Raspberry Pi Supplies: https://youtu.be/zeHvQZzkxbk
Raspberry Pi 4: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4292
Power Supp;y: https://amzn.to/2PiU6u6
MicroSD Card: https://amzn.to/2EHfHdA
MicroSD Card Reader: https://amzn.to/2EEmNiR
Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable: https://amzn.to/3jWffYW
Keyboard and Mouse: https://amzn.to/39LRX3v
Cat5 Cable: https://amzn.to/2EzoJcm

Some of the above links are Amazon affiliate links - ordering products through these links provides a small amount of support to the channel at no cost to you.