embedded systems to learn and create
9:30 AM
85A Burnside Rd West (at Wascana), Victoria, BC (map)
A 14 inch by 10 inch Christmas tree which uses a music shield, a
neopixel ring (the treetop ornament), and a string of neopixels
(the tree’s lights). http://vicpimakers.ca/projects/arduino-projects/welcome-to-an-arduino-christmas/
9:30 AM
The Raspberry Pi has 30 GPIO pins, but none of them are analogue inputs. At this meeting, we’ll take a deeper look at how to take an analogue signal (like temperature) and connect it to the Pi, and access it via Python.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic. Join us, as we continue to explore the vast world of IoT using the Raspberry Pi. This weeks session will focus on IoT devices streaming data over the internet.
Saturday, November 12th, 2016
9:30 AM
Victoria Computer Club
85A Burnside Rd West (at Wascana), Victoria, BC
A full writeup for this presentation is available on the presenters website.
Python provides for the raising and handling of exceptions. An exception is used primarily for managing an error situation but is also handy in other circumstances e.g. an exception is used internally to end loop iteration.
A full writeup for this session is available here.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
9:30 AM
Q-College
Suite 303 771 Vernon Ave, Victoria, BC
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a hot topic. Join us, as we explore how to connect the Raspberry Pi to the IoT, and then monitor it via the Cloud.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
9:30 AM
Victoria Computer Club
85A Burnside Rd West (at Wascana), Victoria, BC
A full writeup for this presentation is available on the presenter’s website.
Welcome back to the Python presentations!
It’s been a while so first a short(ish) recap of the previous 3 presentations, including in more detail the Input And Output section of session 3. Then I’ll discuss some useful Python Tutorials. And finally, we can go on to cover some further aspects of the language.
Simon Bluck
Find tutorial material here: Python Session 4
A presentation on how to use the Raspberry Pi (and a web browser) to control the world (or just about anything in it).
9:30 am
Victoria Computer Club
85A Burnside Rd West (at Wascana), Victoria, BC
Although small in size, the Raspberry Pi and other embedded Linux boards can be used as very capable web servers.
Instructor Don Woods will show you how to set up a Web server on a Raspberry Pi and get around the little snags to be able to access your Pi from outside your local network.
The entire tutorial is available here:
http://piserver.vicpimakers.ca/
Note: This will be our last Meetup before the summer holiday season. We will reconvene in early September. Have a good summer, y’all!
Presented by Stuart Hertzog
Tired of iTunes? Time for PiTunes! — HiFi audio from your Pi.
You don’t need a PC or laptop to enjoy listening to hifi audio from your personal collection or Internet streaming. And you won’t have to endure the convoluted iTunes interface.
A low-cost Digital Audio Converter (DAC) or DAC and Amplifier such as offered by HiFiBerry or IQAudio will turn any Raspberry Pi2 or 3 into a low-cost and energy-efficient MPD audio server controlled from a Web browser or an iOS/Android app.
Join us as instructor Stuart Hertzog explains how to set up a DAC on your Pi and demonstrates the free and open-source Linux audio software PiMusicBox, Volumio, RuneAudio, and MoOde Audio.
Discover PiFi audio and a world of listening pleasure!
Check out the links for this presentation:
Instructor Deid Reimer will demonstrate how to:
By Deid Reimer
This meeting we’ll pick up on the Pi GPIO pins (Part 2), looking at input, using switches (push buttons). You’ll learn how to not only have your Pi illuminate lights or close relays, but also to take input via GPIO. Using the input and output GPIO capabilities of the Pi, one can create a home automation system, or even replace your “Nest” thermostat with the Pi.
Bring your Pi and get hands on help after the presentation.
by Craig Miller
In this meeting we’ll learn:
Bring your Pi if you have one so you can set it up for VNC access as the presentation progresses.
Read the Presentation
9:30am Victoria Computer Club
Instructor Simon Bluck continues his popular Learning Python series, this time with an in-depth look into functions. Invaluable to people who are just getting into or who wish to deepen their understanding of this popular programming language.
See tutorial material here.
by Eileen Amirault (with a little help from Cody Gregory)
Last March Break, I read a book that changed my life. I immediately ran out and purchased an Arduino. A Raspberry Pi was not far behind. After a few months of experimenting, and watching YouTube videos of kids building Obstacle Avoidance Robots (OAR), we thought it looked like a good first project. We call it Bobby OAR. An OAR is an autonomous robot that rolls around and avoids obstacles by using sensor input. Then, based on programming, finds an alternate path forward, avoiding obstacles along the way. We had most of the components from various kits, so only a chassis and wheels needed to be ordered. Or was there something else?
This Python Course covers what is useful to know so you can quickly and easily set about writing Python programs. (Detailed Python programming will be covered in subsequent courses.) This course is suitable for anyone, from those that may have very little computing/programming experience, to those who have already been actively programming in Python. The aim is to get everyone up to the point where they feel confident in using Python and writing useful programs.
Simon Bluck
See tutorial material here.
Presented by Gordo
One of the many cool things you can do with your Raspberry Pi is to add a special $30 DVT-T USB dongle and install some software to turn your Pi into a live flight data feeder for FlightRadar24.com and FlightAware.com.
The recommended one is an ADS-B USB Dongle (R820T), which includes a small indoor antenna, but I purchased an equivalent one from Amazon at a very reasonable cost.
Among the benefits of this project are gaining free premium memberships with both sites; the ability to monitor flights overhead in real-time; and learing a bit about how to install third-party software via the command line.
In this presentation, I will give an overview of the hardare and software required and perform a quick walk-through installing the FlightRadar24.com feeder. If time permits, I will also demonstrate installing the FlightAware.com feeder.
Since these feeder stations are location-dependent, you will have to perform your own install at the place from which you’ll set up your Pi feeder and antenna.
Place: Victoria Computer Club, 85A Burnside Rd West (at Wascana), Victoria
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Jan 23, 2016 · 9:30 AM
Victoria Computer Club
Python is a modern programming language that is relatively easy to learn and well-suited to sensor or robotics projects using the Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or other embedded Linux boards.
The first of a monthly series, An Introduction to Python is co-presented by Deid Reimer and Simon Bluck, two VicPiMaker members with considerable combined experience in programming and teaching.
See tutorial material here.