Raspberry Pi Pico - First Look and Project!

Today we get to see a little board with a lot of potential. The Raspberry Pi Pico is the latest board from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Rather than their traditional fair of a Single Board Computer, this device is a microcontroller similar to the Arduino line. Lets see what it has to offer for its miniscule 4 dollar price tag.

Pick up your board here!

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---Morse Code Sample---

from machine import Pin
from time import sleep

led = Pin(25, Pin.OUT)

message = 'thanks for watching'

fast = 0.2
slow = 0.6

def blinkletter(letter):
print(letter)
if (letter == 'a'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'b'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'c'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'd'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'e'):
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'f'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'g'):
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'h'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'i'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'j'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'k'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'l'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'm'):
blink(slow)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'n'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'o'):
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'p'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 'q'):
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'r'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 's'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

if (letter == 't'):
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'u'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'v'):
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'w'):
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'x'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'y'):
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(slow)
blink(slow)

if (letter == 'z'):
blink(slow)
blink(slow)
blink(fast)
blink(fast)

sleep(1.2)



def blink(speed):
sleep(speed)
sleep(speed)

while True:
for c in message:


sleep(3)

---

Music Info:
Newer Wave by Kevin MacLeod

#RaspberryPi #Pico #PicoPi

[PrintNPlay]

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed the first look at this new board! If you are interested in trying the Morse code program on yours, I've included the source code in the video description.

[thecodeprofessor]

Excellent, I am teaching Python right now and I might use one of these in my lesson. Thanks!

[datagod]

Dude, just two days ago I said to myself "I want to make a pi project that will help people learn morse code" This is a great vid my friend.

[Just_lift_anyone]

I soldered mine with the header labels up, not by choice, just because I'm a dozy bastard and thought that was the right way lol ;)

Glad that you mention it as something that you can do by design, though, makes me feel a bit less silly :p

[One-Eyed-Willly]

This would be cool to use a tone for Morse code aka "CW" and use a pico to use the PTT on a HT.

[codeninjasfountainvalley]

hi! which soldered pins are you using for the pico? thank you!

[liamstone]

So what are the advantages over an arduino nano or a pi zero? That would make a good follow up video.

[abhighyansinha]

Is there any way to draw 5v power from the pico? can we draw power from the VBUS pin?

[jackgerberuae]

How does the half round pin outs get integrated with other boards?

[flymypg]

This is a great board, but it needs a ton more software. It is dual core, but the second core is presently useless, as it lacks high-level software support such as an RTOS (though FreeRTOS is expected to see an early port to the Pi Pico). I really wish the Pi Foundation had delayed the release until the software ecosystem (and its educational side) were more complete.

The thing is, the ESP32 also lives in the same price range, yet offers WiFi and Bluetooth in addition to having similar IO capabilities and a much more evolved software environment.

By this standard, I'd agree that the Pi Pico is another member of the very low-end that includes the Arduino and BBC Micro:bit, which are OK as educational platforms, but are less versatile and less powerful for more involved or advanced uses. The Pi Pico's main contribution at this level is hardware USB, though Arduino can also communicate over USB in software (though at very, very slow speeds).

These days, at $35 each the Pi 2/3/4 can be overkill for many IoT tasks, as they function as true Linux computers, whose video and sound capabilities make them aimed at "users" rather than deeply embedded use. When used in embedded/IoT systems, they are typically the controller, replacing a conventional PC. But as Linux computers, they represent an amazing amount of power and capability for the price.

If you want something between the RasPI 2/3/4 and the Pi Pico/Arduino/Micro:bit, then the ESP32 may be a far better hardware (and software) choice.

[codeninjasfountainvalley]

Do you have the script for the morse code by any chance? Would love to try this out!

[TheRealFrankWizza]

can you plug a usb webcam into the usb port?

[MitchD]

Someone magical at program could get an NES emulator on it. It has enough ram and storage for at least one game at a time.

[yvczojk]

Pity it isn't the Raspberry Pikelet. :D

[haydenc]

Oooh! It's python capable AND has VGA output!
Imagine using PyCNC on this board...with a dedicated VGA monitor...and one of those remote spinner controller things
It would be a full bore "micro MACH3/4" type setup for CNC/3D printers

Thanks for this video...this little board is Arduino on Roids man! NICE!

OOh...I wonder if bCNC would run on that board...after all it is python

[terrencezellers]

I like and deeply approve of the Raspberry pi people and

BUT Jeezus Kreist in a purpe Tutu, am damned tired of being flooded with videos about boards I won't be able to buy for months yet.. I see one more of these and I might try to digitally resurect Crazy Eddy and make my own Pi 31.47 commercial.

[browaruspierogus]

ARM-Cortex-M0? - lol no floating point so it's just pure junk - STM32 looks like a champion comparing to this pi