GPIO Zero library
The GPIO Zero library offers a simplified approach to interact with the GPIO pins on a Raspberry Pi, providing an intuitive way to control external devices like LEDs, buttons, and sensors.
This library abstracts the complex details of GPIO handling, making it accessible for beginners yet flexible enough for advanced users. Below is a summary of the basic recipes and best practices for using GPIO Zero in your projects:
Importing GPIO Zero
Before using GPIO Zero, you need to import the necessary classes. You can import specific components like Button
or LED
, or import the entire library.
Pin Numbering
GPIO Zero uses Broadcom (BCM) pin numbering. You can also use physical (BOARD) numbering or other schemes by specifying prefixes.
Basic Component Usage
Here's how you can interact with basic components using GPIO Zero:
LED
Turning an LED on and off:
Button
Detecting button presses
Advanced Components and Usage
GPIO Zero also supports more complex interactions, such as controlling traffic lights, reading from sensors, and controlling motors.
Traffic Lights
Controlling a set of traffic lights:
Servo Motors
Controlling a servo motor:
Interactive Projects
GPIO Zero allows for creating interactive projects where components respond to input from sensors or buttons.
Button-Controlled LED
Turn an LED on and off using a button
Robot
Control a robot with basic movements:
Best Practices
Keep your script running to maintain control over GPIOs, using
signal.pause()
or a loop that waits for an event.Clean up GPIO assignments at the end of your script to avoid conflicts on subsequent runs.
Use
try...except...finally
blocks to handle exceptions and perform GPIO cleanup, ensuring that resources are released properly.
By following these guidelines and utilizing the GPIO Zero library, you can create a wide range of projects with your Raspberry Pi, from simple LED blinkers to complex interactive robots.
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