Learn Python with Raspberry Pi Pico

About the course

This course focuses on the integration of hardware and software, or “Embedded programming”. Students will have opportunities to learn to build hardware with Raspberry Pi Pico, basic electronic components and breadboard, and learn to control them with Python programming.

Embedded programming is widely used in multiple industries including Aerospace, Automobile, and Medical industry. Especially, IoT and smart devices (smart TV, Google home, Alexa) have increasingly made embedded programming popular.

This course is designed for beginners. In the 8-week course, students will use Raspberry Pi Pico to build hardware with LEDs, buzzers, push buttons, and sensors on a breadboard. By walking through a series of guided projects, students will understand how Python programs execute on the actual hardware.

Course Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Raspberry Pi Pico: Introduction to Raspberry Pi Pico and Microcontrollers, Setting up the programming environment, and run the “Hello world” program.
Week 2: Physical Programming: Introduction to the concepts of voltage, current, circuit, understand the basic electronic components, and learn how to use Raspberry Pi Pico to control the actual hardware.
Week 3: Input and Output: Understand the concepts of input and output, learn how to read from and control the electronic components.
Week 4 & 5: Traffic Lights: The first comprehensive project using all the previous knowledge. Student will build the circuit from scratch and program with Python to simulate trafic lights.
Week 6: Reaction Game: Students will build a mini game with electronic components and Python.
Week 7: Burglar Alarm: Build a burglar alarm with PIR sensors. Students will learn how to integrate sensors into their projects.
Week 8: Neopixel: The last session will use a commercial LED ring “NeoPixel” to create some fancy light effects which can be a great decoration.

Prerequisites

Completion of Python Level 1 - 4 or equivalent

Age

G6+

Course Delivery Format

This course contains 8 classes
Each class runs for 60 minutes
One class per week
This course will be delivered via zoom
A hardware suite will be mailed to the students before the first lecture.
This course consists of a series of guided projects. In each session, students will first build the hardware following the instructor, and then create Python program to be executed on the hardware.

Requirements

A desktop or laptop computer is required. Windows 10 is recommended. MacOS is supported but not recommended.
Stable internet connection
A webcam and a microphone are strongly recommended for teacher-student face-to-face communication.