YOU NEED
QUICK TIP
>>SENSORS AND INPUTS
Credit: https://shop.pimoroni.com
OUR EXPERT
> Any Pi
Not sure if your pHATs/ HATs will play well together? Fear not: Pimoroni lead developer Phil Howard has created pHAT Stack Configurator (https://pinout. xyz/phatstack), which takes all the guesswork out of mixing different boards on your Raspberry Pi.
Skywriter is a fun introduction to gesture inputs, but there are many more sensors we can use for contactless inputs. The most basic is a PIR (Passive Infra Red) sensor. Commonly used to detect movement in alarm systems, these sensors are digital and send a pulse of voltage when movement is detected. They’re an excellent sensor for use with children because it introduces movement and excitement. The next sensor is an ultrasonic distance sensor (HC-SR04) that’s used in parking sensors to determine the cars’ distance to a wall. Raspberry Pi robotics teams use them to create autonomous robots. The HC-SR04+ and HC-SR04P are best for the Pi because they’re 3.3 and 5V tolerant, whereas the HC-SR04 is only 5V.
OUR EXPERT
Les Pounder is associate editor at Tom’s Hardware and a freelance maker for hire. He blogs about his adventures and projects at bigl.es.
Les Pounder is associate editor at Tom’s Hardware and a freelance maker for hire. He blogs about his adventures and projects at bigl.es.
> Pi OS
RCWL-0516 doppler radar sensors can detect movement through objects, and can be used to trigger nature camera traps without leaving the sensor exposed to the elements. They’re cheap and work well with the Raspberry Pi and the Pico.
YOU NEED
> Any Pi
> Pi OS
> Pimoroni pHAT Stack
> Pimoroni Unicorn HAT
> Pimoroni Skywriter
> Male GPIO extension header
> M2.5 standoffs
> Code at https:// github.com/ lesp/LXF- Unicorn- Sky/ archive/ refs/heads/ main.zip
> Pimoroni pHAT Stack