Table of Contents

1 Automatically Water House Plants!

water.gif

1.1 Basic Idea

Monitor the moisture level of the soil with a hygrometer, then at a determined level, activate the pump for a certain number of seconds

1.2 Wiring Diagram

water.png

Pump Wiring

  1. Wire the 12v power through a digtal output to control the pump
  2. Hook the ground directly to to supply

Electric motors create inductive loads, so a flyback diode is recommended

Hygrometer Wiring

  1. 3.3v comes from the expansion header
  2. GND can either go to the expansion header, or the analog input (-)
  3. The signal wire goes to the analog input (+)

1.3 Code Example

This code simply turns the pump on

import RPi.GPIO as gpio
from time import sleep, clock
import sys

#  USE: python auto_water.py N, where N is the number of seconds to water
#  sys.argv[0] is the name of the script
pump_duration = float(sys.argv[1])
PUMP_PIN = 12 

try:
    gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)
    gpio.setup(PUMP_PIN, gpio.OUT, initial=gpio.LOW)

    start_time = clock()
    gpio.output(PUMP_PIN, gpio.HIGH)
    while clock() < start_time + pump_duration:
        pass
    gpio.output(PUMP_PIN, gpio.LOW)

finally:
    gpio.cleanup()

2 Bright Light Alerts from your Pi!

light.gif

2.1 Uses

Flash when you get an email

You could poll your email server for changes

Indicate high CPU load

Show attempted SSH logins

Try looking for changes in the SSH logs

  • /var/log/auth.log

Weather updates

Try openweathermap.org for a certain amount of free data (with account)

Notify when you've been mentioned in a tweet

Twitter API

Start a race

A simple GREEN RED YELLOW BEEP!!!

Tell your household to be quiet, you are recording

Turn that red light on

Play redlight/greenlight with your cousins

Make the red and green times random so the kiddos keep guessing

2.2 Wiring Diagram

light.png

  1. +24v comes from the power supply
  2. It goes to the COM of a joined relay
  3. A jumper supplies the +24v to another COM, allowing 4 different switches
  4. The colored wires from the light connect to the outputs for the joined relays
  5. The grey wire connects to the GND of the power supply

    Red Wire Red Light
    Yellow Wire Yellow Light
    Green Wire Green Light
    Purple Wire Purple Light
    Grey Wire Collective Grounds

2.3 Example Code

This is what you see in the GIF above

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
from time import sleep

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
BUZZER, RED, YELLOW, GREEN = 5, 20, 21, 17
OUTPUT_CHANNELS = [BUZZER, RED, YELLOW, GREEN]

for channel in OUTPUT_CHANNELS:
        GPIO.setup(channel, GPIO.OUT)

try:
        turn_on = False
        while True:
                turn_on = not turn_on
                for channel in OUTPUT_CHANNELS[1:]:  # I don't necessarily need to hear the buzzer
                        GPIO.output(channel, turn_on)
                        sleep(1)
                sleep(2)

finally:
        GPIO.cleanup(OUTPUT_CHANNELS)

3 Create Spooky Action at a Distance with a Maglock

mag.gif

Maglocks are cool electromagnetic devices for locking doors and drawers or dropping secret items

The one shown above can hold 130 lbs at a modest 12v, 150 mA!

3.1 Wiring Diagram

mag.png

  1. +12v comes from the power supply
  2. Then it goes through a digital output to switch the maglock

Maglocks create inductive loads, so a flyback diode is recommended

3.2 Code Example

import RPi.GPIO as gpio
from time import sleep

MAG_PIN = 12
ANSWER = 'the secret message'

try:
    gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)
    gpio.setup(MAG_PIN, gpio.OUT, initial=gpio.HIGH)

    correct_code = False
    while not correct_code:
        guess = raw_input('Type the secret message to open the lock\n\tGuess: ')
        correct_code = guess == ANSWER
    gpio.output(MAG_PIN, gpio.LOW)

finally:
    gpio.cleanup()

4 Test your Reflexes with this simple Carnival Game!

reflexes.gif

4.1 Gameplay

Saddle up li'l partner and test your speed with this Reflex-O-Meter!

Are you quick as a snake or slow as a hog?

How to Play

  1. Tie one hand behind your back
  2. Press the start button and steel your gaze on the big button

Don't let your nerves get the better of you, keep your hand put until you see the light turn on!

  1. When that yeller light turns on, slap it quick!
  2. Reckon you done good if'n your score is faster than 0.5 seconds

4.2 Wiring Diagram

reflexes.png

  1. +12v comes from the power supply
  2. 12v is split with a wire nut between the two switches and a digital output
  3. The digital output switches the yellow button light
  4. Both buttons are normally open, pressing them allows current through two digital inputs
  5. The negatives are collected at another wire nut

4.3 Code Example

import RPi.GPIO as gpio
from time import sleep, clock
from random import randint


# [Start button, reflex button]
digins = [19, 16]
digouts = [12]
result = 0


### State Functions ###

def standby():
    '''
    Wait for the game to begin!
    '''

    # gpio.LOW means button pressed because inputs have pull-up resistors
    if gpio.input(digins[0]) == gpio.LOW:
        return 'game'
    else:
        return 'standby'


def game():
    '''
    The main event
    '''
    global result
    false_start = False

    # Add 1 to 6 seconds to the current clock time to randomize the game
    wait_time = clock() + randint(1, 6)

    # Wait for the clock to run out, watch for false starts
    while not false_start and clock() < wait_time:
        false_start = gpio.input(digins[0]) == gpio.HIGH
    if not false_start:

        # Turn on the LEDs
        gpio.output(digouts, gpio.HIGH)
        start_time = clock()
        while gpio.input(digins[1]) == gpio.HIGH:
            pass  # wait until it is pressed

        # The time it took is the current clock time minus the start time
        result = clock() - start_time

        # Turn off the LEDs
        gpio.output(digouts, gpio.LOW)
    else:
        result = 0
    return 'results' if result > 0 else 'false_start'


def results():
    '''
    Display how good --or bad-- you did
    '''
    global result
    print('Your reflex time was: %s seconds!'%(result))
    return 'standby'


def false_start():
    '''
    Sometimes we jump the gun
    '''

    # Add more retorts to let people know that, just because we all have false starts, it isn't right and you should be ashamed
    retorts = ['Sometimes it is better to take too long than to be too early', \
               'You lose! Black and white, clear as crystal. Good day, sir', \
               'False start, buddy']
    retort = retorts[randint(0, len(retorts)) - 1]
    print(retort)
    return 'standby'


# Hold all of the states so it is easy to keep track of what to be doing
STATES = { \
    'standby':standby, \
    'game'   :game,    \
    'results':results, \
    'false_start':false_start \
    }

# This try-finally block is important to free up the gpio pins for other processes in the future
try:
    gpio.setmode(gpio.BCM)
    for i in digins:
        gpio.setup(i, gpio.IN, pull_up_down=gpio.PUD_UP)

    for i in digouts:
        gpio.setup(i, gpio.OUT, initial=gpio.LOW)

    # Each state returns which state to enter next
    next_state = 'standby'

    # Loop forever, use ctrl+c to exit
    while True:
        next_state = STATES[next_state]()
        sleep(0.02)

finally:
    gpio.cleanup()

Created: 2018-08-25 Sat 18:03

Validate