Motor Control Development Kit RP2040-Driven Programming & Projects

Introduction

Electric motors are integral components in numerous electronic devices, from home appliances to sophisticated machinery. Motor controllers are essential for ensuring efficient, safe, and precise operation of these motors, managing their speed and actuator position.

DC motors, the oldest type, are widely adopted in educational and home laboratory settings, powering devices like printers, cameras, robots, and CNC machines. AC motors, conversely, are common in household appliances and tools due to their ability to connect directly to AC power outlets.

The Cytron's Maker Pi RP2040 Development Board represents an advanced platform built around the RP2040 processor, specifically designed for motor control applications. It features dual-channel brushed DC motor control, four servo motor ports, and seven Grove-compatible I/O ports, making it an excellent choice for mobile robotics, robot arm control, and applications requiring precise motor and actuator management.

This Elektor Guide provides a comprehensive collection of projects utilizing LEDs, a buzzer, an OLED display, an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), an ultrasonic sensor, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and temperature and humidity sensors. The core chapters delve into DC motor control, servo motor control, and stepper motor control using the Maker Pi RP2040 Development Board, offering creative and educational applications.

This guide is a product of a unique collaboration between the original hardware manufacturer and Elektor International Media. It merges high-quality hardware from the makers with Elektor's extensive experience in creating educational content and technical knowledge, providing an enhanced manual with practical projects for immediate use. This integration defines the 'Elektor Guide' philosophy, offering the best of both worlds in a single package.

Elektor International Media is a leading global source for essential technical information and electronics products, serving professional engineers, electronics designers, and companies. Their international team develops and distributes high-quality content across various media channels, including magazines, videos, digital platforms, and social media, covering electronics design and DIY electronics in multiple languages. Visit www.elektor.com for more information.

Kit Contents Overview

The development kit includes a variety of components for motor control and electronic projects. Key items include:

• RP2040-driven development board (Maker Pi RP2040)
• DC motors
• Servo motors
• Stepper motors
• Jumper wires
• Breadboard
• Ultrasonic sensor
• Temperature and humidity sensor
• LEDs (including NeoPixel RGB LED)
• Piezo buzzer
• Screwdriver
• Various electronic components (resistors, transistors, etc.)

Table of Contents Summary

The guide is structured into several chapters covering hardware, programming, and various project types:

• Chapter 1: RP2040 Processor Hardware Overview
• Chapter 2: The Maker Pi RP2040 Development Board Features (Power, buttons, LEDs, motor ports, debug, Grove ports)
• Chapter 3: Programming the Maker Pi RP2040 (CircuitPython, Mu text editor)
• Chapter 4: Software-Only Projects
• Chapter 5: Simple LED Projects (Flashing, SOS, binary counting, reaction timer)
• Chapter 6: Simple Buzzer Projects (Tones, melodies)
• Chapter 7: Using OLED Displays (Text, shapes, counters, bitmaps)
• Chapter 8: Using Analog-to-Digital Converters (Voltmeter, temperature, light intensity, ohmmeter)
• Chapter 9: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) (LED brightness, alarm sounds)
• Chapter 10: Ultrasonic Sensor Projects (Distance measurement, water level, parking aid)
• Chapter 11: Temperature and Relative Humidity Measurement
• Chapter 12: DC Motor Control Projects (Speed control, direction, encoder integration, PID control)
• Chapter 13: Servo Motor Control Projects (Positioning, sonar applications)
• Chapter 14: Stepper Motor Control Projects (Unipolar, bipolar motors, thermometer dial)

Key Concepts and Technologies

• RP2040 Microcontroller: A powerful dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor.
• CircuitPython: A beginner-friendly Python implementation for microcontrollers.
• Mu Text Editor: An easy-to-use code editor for CircuitPython.
• PWM: Pulse Width Modulation for controlling motor speed and LED brightness.
• ADC: Analog-to-Digital Converters for reading analog sensor values.
• Sensors: Ultrasonic sensors for distance, temperature/humidity sensors.
• Actuators: DC motors, servo motors, and stepper motors.

Technical Specifications and Compliance

ISBN: 978-3-89576-559-9 (Print), 978-3-89576-560-5 (eBook)

Copyright: © 2023 Elektor International Media B.V.

Publisher: Elektor International Media B.V., PO Box 11, NL-6114-ZG Susteren, The Netherlands.

Prepress Production: D-Vision, Julian van den Berg

Cover Artwork: INKSY (inksy.art)

Legal Notice: The authors and publisher have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book. However, they assume no liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions. Programs provided in the book are for educational purposes only and require written permission for commercial use.

British Library Cataloguing: A catalogue record is available from the British Library.