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

Using an Infra-Red Remote Control with your Raspberry Pi


It is often useful to control robots remotely. An easy way to add additional input is to make use of an IR (infra-red) receiver and a standard remote control. Fortunately, the receiver is well supported.

We will use a module called LIRC to capture and decode IR signals from a standard remote control.

Getting Ready

LIRC supports many types of IR detectors, such as Energenie's PiMote IR board; however, since we only need to receive IR signals, we can use a simple (TSOP38238) IR detector.

The three pins of the TSOP38238 IR Receiver can fit directly onto the Raspberry Pi header

Install the following packages using apt-get:

sudo apt-get install lirc lirc-x

Add the following to /boot/config.txt. This will enable the driver and define the pin the receiver is fitted on (BCM GPIO24):

dtoverlay=lirc-rpi,gpio_in_pin=23

Perform a restart of the Raspberry Pi so that the configuration takes effect:

sudo reboot

We should now find that the IR device is...