Teach, Learn, and Make with Python IoT Boards for Fun and Profit

Principal Engineer, A10 Networks

@ericchou

Eric Chou

title | abstractTitle: Teach, Learn, and Make with Python IoT Boards for Fun and Profit

What is the most important thing that people will learn from your presentation?: This talk demonstrates how coding, IoT, and networking can be fun and rewarding when we can interact with the physical world.

Abstract:Internet of Things (IoT) are small devices with sensors that measures the world around us to help us make our lives better. This can be a fun and interesting experience when we combine it with Python and networking. We will cover some of the Python-enabled IoT devices that we can work with, teach our kids coding by, and have fun in general.

Eric ChouPrincipal Engineer, A10 Networks

Eric is an author, engineer, and developer. He had worked in the network engineering field for the last 20 years. Eric loves to share his deep interest in technology through his books, classes, and blog.

Code and Example Repository

• https://github.com/ericchou1/devnetcreate2020-teach-learn-make-with-pyhton-iot-boards

What are IoT boards?

Small, inexpensive computing hardware

Combination of microcontrollers, processors, sensors, wireless chips, etc.

Pre-built, ready-to-program, and expandable

Many, many varieties (types of sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display, Input/Output pins, etc.)

Example: Adafruit CLUE Board

Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-clue/

How do we put code on it?

• Write code on editor and push to board:– Program– Browser

Source: https://codewith.mu/

Source: https://makecode.microbit.org/

Software Language Support

• Types of language supported:– Arduino (https://www.arduino.cc/)– Block-based coding (Browser-based)– JavaScript (Browser-based)– Python! (Example. Circuit Python)

What can you do with it?

• [Input] You can measure stuff:– Onboard sensors– External connections

• [Output] Actions:– Control other hardware: motors, on/off switch, etc. – Export information– Display: monitoring, digital photo frame, etc.

[Demo]CLUE -> Router Change

Adafruit CLUE Sensors, Input, Output

Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-clue/

• 1.3” 240x240 Display• Two buttons• Light / Color / Gesture / Proximity• Microphone and Speaker• Humidity• Temperature and barometric pressure / altitude• Accelerometer (measure acceleration)• Gyroscope (measures orientation)• Magnetometer (measures magnetic field)• RGP NeoPixel LED• Connectors: motor, more sensors, etc

Tips and Boards

• PyGamer & PyBadge• PyPortal• Circuit Playground Express• BBC micro:bit• Raspberry Pi

Source: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4242

Source: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116

Source: https://microbit.org/

Source: https://www.raspberrypi.org/

Source: https://arcade.makecode.com/

Teach

• Block-based coding:– MakeCode Arcade

• Python code

Learn

• Learn about external world• Learn about micro-controller• Learn about Python

Make

• Prototype and Experiment• Edge Computing• Use Cases