Assignments:

Check Out Our Group Assignment

Group assignment:

• Demonstrate and compare the toolchains and development workflows for available embedded architectures

• Document your work to the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned

Individual assignment:

• Browse through the datasheet for a microcontroller

• Write and test a program for an embedded system using a microcontroller to interact (with local input &/or output devices) and communicate (with remote wired or wireless connections)

Bill of Materials

Core Board

• Raspberry Pi Pico W

• Micro-USB cable

For Experiments

• Breadboard

• Jumper wires (Male-Male, Male-Female)

• LEDs (5mm)

• Servo motor (SG90 recommended)

• HC-SR04 Ultrasonic sensor

• L298N Motor driver module

• DC motor

• External 5–9V battery (for motor driver)

Introduction to the Raspberry Pi Pico W

Source: Raspberry Pi Website

The RP2040 Microcontroller:

The Pico W is built around the:

RP2040 microcontroller (designed by Raspberry Pi)

Core Processor Specifications

Advanced Feature: PIO (Programmable IO) This is what makes RP2040 special. It allows you to create custom hardware protocols in software.

You can:

• Create custom communication protocols

• Drive displays

• Generate precise signals

Model Comparison: Pico vs. Pico W

The Pico W includes:

Infineon CYW43439

Supports:

• 2.4 GHz WiFi

• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

It communicates internally with RP2040 using SPI.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Architecture

Source: www.mischianti.org

Pinout Overview

The Pico W has:

• 40 pins total

• 26 GPIO pins

• 3 ADC pins

• Power pins

• Ground pins

Power Pins

Safety & Power (VERY IMPORTANT)

3.3V LOGIC ONLY

The Pico W GPIO pins:

• MAX voltage: 3.3V

• If you connect 5V → you can permanently damage the board

Power Paths Explained

USB plugged → 5V on VBUS

• VSYS feeds onboard regulator

• Regulator outputs stable 3.3V

• Never power motors directly from Pico.

GPIO Capabilities

Each GPIO can:

• Digital input

• Digital output

• PWM

• I2C

• SPI

• UART

ADC pins:

• GP26

• GP27

• GP28

Initial Setup & Firmware

Flashing MicroPython (BOOTSEL Method)

1. Hold BOOTSEL button

2. Plug USB into computer

3. Release BOOTSEL

4. A drive appears named:

RPI-RP2

5. Drag MicroPython UF2 file into it (Access MicroPython UF2 From Here)

6. Board reboots automatically

You’re done.

Setup Thonny IDE

1. Install Thonny (Download Thonny From Here)

2. Open Thonny

3. Go to:

Tools → Options → Interpreter

4. Select:

MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico)

5. Choose correct COM port

6. Click OK

You should now see:

>>>

REPL prompt.

Experimenting with Our Microcontroller

Blink Onboard LED

The Pico W onboard LED is connected differently than standard Pico.

On Pico W, LED is controlled through wireless chip.

PHASE 1 – Blink Code

import network
import time
from machine import Pin

led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)

while True:
    led.toggle()
    time.sleep(0.5)

Run it.

If LED blinks → your environment is correct.

Blink External Led

Wiring

PHASE 2 – External LED Blink Code

from machine import Pin
import time

led = Pin(15, Pin.OUT)

while True:
    led.on()
    time.sleep(1)
    led.off()
    time.sleep(1)

Run it and see if the external led blinks

Be careful to not put resistor’s legs with led’s legs