Raspberry Pi Pico
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Work started in March'21 on the development of a Pico Maker PCB which uses the new RP2040 microcontroller in the Raspberry Pi Pico module as shown above top right.
The aim has been to provide a similar range of project capabilities as the Raspberry Pi Maker PCB so that programming and using the Pico microcontroller to manage a range of physical things can be easily explored.
Just like the Raspberry Pi Maker PCB a custom PCB has been designed and evolved for which a similar range of electronic components (LEDs, buttons, etc.) can be permanently soldered and into which a Pico module can also be inserted.
Following the launch of the Pico W (2nd image top right) in July '22, which now has onboard WiFi capability, an update to the PCB design has been undertaken to allow either the original Pico or the new 'W' version to be used (changes needed as the 'debug' connections are in a different position) and additional example software is being developed. It should be noted however that if a header is NOT fitted to the debug connectors on the underside of the Pico W it will of course still insert into the v3 PCB but the debug signals will not be exposed to the 3-pin female header on the PCB.
The latest design of the PCB design (v4.0), completed in November '22, is shown above left and above right. New versions of the PCB have progressed the initial design to include some female connectors that allow a low-cost/small ESP01 module to be connected to the Pico microcontroller to provide a WiFi accessible web server when using the original non-WiFi Pico, and to also allow a bluetooth module to be used - also added is an option to use one of the tactile buttons as a reset button for the microcontroller.
Building a more permanent assembly from a set of components that includes a custom Printed Circuit Board (PCB), as shown in the annotated schematic of the v3 design below, not only allows an extra 'soldering' skill to be practiced, but also allows a more robust populated PCB to be used over an extended period of time to develop different Pico software options.
The additional images below show the v3.0 PCB design populated with components, with the original Pico module inserted in its 'underslung' position on the PCB, and with an optional ESP01 WiFi module or a bluetooth module inserted.
The PCB design includes 3 fixing holes, through which 6mm M2 self-tap screws can be used to attach three 3D printed 'feet' as shown in the images below that allow the assembled PCB to be mounted in a stable and easily handled way.
The 3D print design for the 'feet' can be downloaded at the Prusa site here.
Software development is now underway for this new Pico-based Maker PCB, using MicroPython with the Thonny IDE, the C/C++ variant used with the Arduino IDE, standard C/C++ code using the Pico SDK installed on a Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi400, plus a few examples of the use of Assembly language which also uses the extensive facilities provided by the Pico SDK.
The following links provide more details on various aspects of this evolving Raspberry Pi Pico Maker PCB project development:
Details for all the Maker PCB projects:
All the currently available maker project information: