Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Overview of this book

Raspberry Pi cookbook for Python Programmers is a practical guide for getting the most out of this little computer. This book begins by guiding you through setting up the Raspberry Pi, performing tasks using Python 3 and introduces the first steps to interface with electronics. As you work through each chapter you will build up your skills and knowledge and apply them as you progress throughout the book, delving further and further into the unique abilities and features of the Raspberry Pi. Later, you will learn how to automate tasks by accessing files, build applications using the popular Tkinter library and create games by controlling graphics on screen. You will harness the power of the built-in graphics processor by using Pi3D to generate your own high quality 3D graphics and environments. Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi’s hardware pins to control electronics from switching on LEDs and responding to push buttons right through to driving motors and servos. Learn how to monitor sensors to gather real life data and to use it to control other devices, and view the results over the Internet. Apply what you have learnt by creating your own Pi-Rover or Pi-Hexipod robots. Finally, we will explore using many of the purpose built add-ons available for the Raspberry Pi, as well as interfacing with common household devices in new ways.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Hardware and Software List
Index

Getting started with the Raspberry Pi camera module


We will start by installing and setting up the Raspberry Pi camera module; then we will create a small camera GUI that enables us to preview and take photos. The first GUI we will create is shown in the following image:

A basic camera GUI for the Raspberry Pi camera module

Getting ready

The Raspberry Pi camera module consists of a camera mounted on a small Printed Circuit Board (PCB) attached to a small ribbon cable. The ribbon cable can be attached directly to the CSI port of the Raspberry Pi board (marked as S5, the port is located between the USB and the HDMI port on the Raspberry Pi). The following image shows the Raspberry Pi camera module:

The Raspberry Pi camera module

The Raspberry Pi Foundation provides detailed instructions (and a video) on how to install the camera at http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/3890; carry out the following steps:

  1. First, fit the camera as shown in the following image (ensure that you have disconnected the...