TinyBlueX - A Low Power Bluetooth Arduino Board

The TinyBlueX is a Bluetooth Low Energy-enabled microcontroller module that combines an ATtiny85 microcontroller and CC254x Bluetooth Low Energy chip. The TinyBlueX is compatible with the Arduino platform (IDE) and the BLExAR iOS Arduino app. The TinyBlueX is very low power and has a low profile, which makes it great for very low power internet of things (IoT) applications with analog and digital sensors. The TinyBlueX can read sensors and transmit the data back to an iOS device, while also being able to read iOS commands and control LEDs, indicators, and motors. Pins 2,3,7 are available on the ATtiny85 aboard the TinyBlueX, allowing users to control/read up to 3 different devices or sensors. In this tutorial series, the TinyBlueX will be explored by instructing users on how to upload code to the module, how to control LEDs, and how to send data back to an iOS device using the BLExAR app.

WS2812 LED Ring Light with Raspberry Pi Pico

This is the second entry into the Raspberry Pi Pico tutorial series dedicated to exploring the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi Foundation's groundbreaking new Pico microcontroller. A WS2812 RGB LED is controlled via the programmable I/O system (PIO) on the Pico microcontroller. The code and methods used to control the WS2812 are based on Raspberry Pi Pico Micropython SDK the project entitled "Using PIO to drive a set of NeoPixel Ring (WS2812 LEDs)." A state machine is used on the Pico to control the WS2812 LED array, which allows users to test a range of algorithms that affect the ring light. The light mappings will subsequently be capable of emulating the LED effects similar to those demonstrated by the Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices. A universal wiring diagram is given that allows for any number of LEDs to be wired to the Pico, which we tested up to 60 LEDs.

Listening to Your Pipes with a MEMS Microphone and Raspberry Pi

A new type of water meter produced by Water Wise Controls (WaWiCo) introduces a novel method for water metering: non-invasive acoustic analysis. Their USB water metering kit allows users to listen to their pipes without the need for plumbing work. In this tutorial, the acoustic profile of a piping system will be explored using a Raspberry Pi computer, the Python programming language, and a WaWiCo USB water meter kit. The resulting analysis will allow users to identify the acoustic profile of their piping system and determine when water is flowing. This is the first of a series of entries into non-invasive water metering from WaWiCo, where open-source technologies will be used to characterize a piping system based on the acoustic profile of a user's home or apartment.