Caden Beck's Project Log

PiCrumb – a Mobile Platform

The poor background removal is caused by Adobe.

– Photo Gallery –

This page is under construction.

– Table of Contents –

– Introduction –

This project is called PiCrumb.

It’s my attempt at creating a mobile platform for breadboard electronics, paired with an optional onboard computer. I intend for this to be used as a both a barebones learning device for beginners, and a full-featured setup for enthusiasts.

I’m making a proper page for it since it has finally matured enough to show off.

– Project Timeline –

May 6, 2023 – Initiated initial design efforts
May 12, 2023 – First Iteration of Enclosure (Ev1)
May 18, 2023 – Second Iteration of Enclosure (Ev2)
June 10, 2023 – First Iteration of Breadboard Module (BMv1)
June 17, 2023 – Third Iteration of Enclosure (Ev3)
June 22, 2023 – Fourth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev4)
July 17, 2023 – Fifth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev5)
September 1, 2023 – First Iteration of Module Holder (MHv1)
September 18, 2023 – Second Iteration of Module Holder (BMv2)
April 20, 2024 – Sixth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev6)
April 22, 2024 – Seventh Iteration of Enclosure (Ev7)
May 12, 2024 – Eighth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev8)
May 15, 2024 – Second Version of Module Holder (MHv2)
May 18, 2024 – Third Version of Breadboard Module (BMv3)
May 22, 2024 – Ninth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev9)
June 3, 2024 – Tenth Iteration of Enclosure (Ev10)
June 24, 2024 – First Version of MUBM (Multi-Use Breadboard Module v1)
— #, #### – Project Ends

– Previous Versions –

Enclosure

Ev1
Ev2
Ev3
Ev4
Ev5
Ev6
Ev7
Ev8
Ev9

Breadboard / Multi-use Modules

BMv1
BMv1.1
BMv2
BMv2.1
BMv3
BMv3.1

Module Holder

MHv1

– Current Version –

Enclosure

Ev10

Auxiliary Power Module

APM

Multi-use Module

MUBMv1

Module Holder

MHv2

– Parts of PiCrumb –

  • Enclosure
  • Battery Holder
  • Enclosure Top
  • Auxiliary Power Module
  • MUBM – Multi Use Breadboard Module
  • Enclosure
  • Lid
  • Breadboard / Multi Use Modules
  • Auxiliary Power Module
  • Battery Holder
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  • Magnet Retainer(s) (Optional)

– Unit Costs –

Cost Effective Version

  • Base Total = $44
  • $10 – Rasp Pi Zero W
    • This is a the budget version, with the weakest computer with this form factor.
    • Specs:
      • 1Ghz Single Core CPU
      • Power Consumption – ~150mA
      • 512Mb Ram
      • No Onboard Storage
      • Wifi 4
      • Bluetooth 4.2
  • $10 – A pack of 10 9v batteries
    • From a 10 pack of 9v batteries, you can expect to get 55 hours of Rasp Pi Zero battery life without additional modules.
  • $10 – A multi pack of Voltage Conversion Boards
  • $10 – A multi pack of Mini Breadboards
  • ~$4 – Filament Costs
    Optional costs
  • $?? – Extra module – e.g. Displays, Gyroscopes, Controls, Buttons, etc

Standard Version

  • Base Total = $49 – $59
  • $15 – Rasp Pi Zero W 2
    • This is the middle of the road option, as its only slightly more money for a significant speed improvement
    • Specs:
      • 1Ghz Quad Core CPU
      • Power Consumption – ~350mA
      • 512Mb Ram
      • No Onboard Storage
      • Wifi 4
      • Bluetooth 4.2
  • $10-$20 – A generic battery bank
  • $10 – A multi pack of Voltage Conversion Boards
  • $10 – A multi pack of Mini Breadboards
  • ~$4 – Filament Costs
    Optional costs
  • $?? – Extra module – e.g. Displays, Gyroscopes, Controls, Buttons, etc

Performant Version

  • Base Total = $77 – $132
  • $18-$68 – Radxa Zero 3W
    • This is a significantly faster computer compared to the Rasp Pi Zero W 2. Necessary for larger amounts of data and live calculations.
    • Specs:
      • 1.6Ghz Quad Core CPU
      • Power Consumption – ~750mA – 1.5A
      • 1-8Gb Ram
      • 0-64Gb Onboard Storage
      • Wifi 6
      • Bluetooth 5.4
  • $35 – Anker Nano Power Bank
    • This is the power bank that the unit is designed for, as it features a built in way to charge it.
  • $10 – A multi pack of Voltage Conversion Boards
  • $10 – A multi pack of Mini Breadboards
  • ~$4 – Filament Costs
    Optional costs
  • $?? – Extra module – e.g. Displays, Gyroscopes, Controls, Buttons, etc

– Using PiCrumb as a Learning Device –

I set out to create this as a platform for students to have a way to learn basic concepts of electronic components that could be carried back and forth to school while keeping it safe during transport.

The usage of a Raspberry Pi is completely optional. There is plenty of material to go through during the duration of a school year with just the breadboards. Things that would be covered are:

  • Basic electrical terms
  • Understanding what electricity is
  • Understanding safety when handling electricity
  • How to read and draw basic circuit diagrams
  • How to utilize measurement devices
  • Calculating various measurements
  • What a breadboard is
  • How to utilize components such as resistors, capacitors, LEDs, 555 timers, motors, voltage conversion boards and more
  • Exploring real-world applications of electrical circuits
  • Understanding the role of electronics in everyday devices
  • & More

Eventually, I realized the increase in potential for the project if I were to include a small computer that could add the element of programming, in addition to the ability to use common desktop apps. I settled on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W as the computer I would design this around due to the low cost, common form factor, and large amount of knowledge shared online regarding people’s projects. I felt it would be helpful for someone getting started with PiCrumb to have a platform that has been dedicated to beginners.

If the Raspberry Pi is included, many more topics can be covered. Examples are:

  • Overview of Linux – History / Differences / Use Cases / Etc
  • Introduction to the terminal and command line interface
    • How to navigate the file system, and manipulate files
    • Understanding file permissions
  • Introduction to Python / Javascript programming
    • Understanding Syntax
    • Understanding Variables
    • Understanding Logic
    • How to Create and Modify Data Structures
    • How to Read User Input
    • Understanding Error Handling
    • How to Find, Download and Install Packages and Libraries
    • How to Interact with External Hardware
  • Overview of the GPIO pins and their functions
  • Using GPIO pins for basic electronics projects
  • & More

Projects / Programs

Larger Projects

2D Scanner Program

Status – As of 9/2/24 I have successfully captured scanned data and redisplayed it. It is currently very limited, and needs a lot more work.

  • tofscan.py – ongoing
    • This is a script that will begin logging Gyroscopic Data, as well as data from the ToF sensor, with the goal of recording an image.
  • displaysensordata.py – ongoing
    • This is a script that asks the user to specify a file, and will construct a visual representation of what the sensor saw during that scan.

Smaller Projects

  • Gradient_Viewer.py – 9/2/24
    • I made this so I could learn about interacting with the GPIO of the Rasp Pi, Pygame which I will use to generate images on the Adafruit ST7789, as well as the color capabilities of the display. Interacting with the buttons on the display will cycle through various color gradients.
  • Reboot_Button.py – 8/23/24
    • This is a script that uses a momentary button with an inline 10k resistor. Used to reboot the pi when pressed. Action can be customized.

Modules Used

Adafruit | MiniPiTFT Display (240×135) – ST7789

Adafruit | 6 Axis Gyroscope – LSM6DSO32

Adafruit | Time of Flight Sensor – VL53L1X

Libraries Used

adafruit_lsm6ds: For interfacing with the LSM6DSOX accelerometer and gyroscope sensor.
adafruit_vl53l1x: For interfacing with the VL53L1X Time-of-Flight distance sensor.
pandas: For data manipulation and analysis, specifically for creating DataFrames from sensor data.
numpy: For numerical computing, used for operations like normalization and clipping values.
pygame: For multimedia applications, used for displaying sensor data.