Donald Norris - Python for Microcontrollers: Getting Started with MicroPython

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This book is dedicated to my three wonderful grandchildren,
Hudson and Holton Norris and Evangeline Kachavos.
They are an absolute joy to be with, although I am sure
that sentiment is not always shared by their parents.

About the Author

Donald Norris has a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA specializing in production management. He is currently teaching undergrad and grad courses in the IT subject area at Southern New Hampshire University. He has also created and taught several robotics courses there. He has over 36 years of teaching experience as an adjunct professor at a variety of colleges and universities.

Mr. Norris retired from civilian government service with the U.S. Navy, where he specialized in acoustics related to nuclear submarines and associated advanced digital signal processing. Since then, he has spent more than 22 years as a professional software developer using C, C#, C++, Python, Node.js, and Java, as well as 5 years as a certified IT security consultant.

Mr. Norris started a consultancy, Norris Embedded Software Solutions (dba NESS LLC), that specializes in developing application solutions using microprocessors and microcontrollers. He likes to think of himself as a perpetual hobbyist and geek, and is always trying out new approaches and out-of-the-box experiments. He is a licensed private pilot, photography buff, amateur radio operator, and avid runner.

Besides the present book, Mr. Norris is the author of Raspberry PiProjects for the Evil Genius, Programming the IntelEdison: Getting Started with Processing and Python, and three other TAB books.

This is the first book written on the MicroPython language. Although several good tutorials are available on the Web, especially at www.micropython.org , I have found that a book format is often an attractive alternative for readers who do not wish to invest the time and energy needed to wade through online tutorials. In addition, and without disparaging online authors, a well-written and -organized book often provides readers a good path to understanding a new and innovative technology such as MicroPython.

I have also presented a few projects in this book, which should interest most readers. There is one on a robotic car, another on building a global positioning system (GPS) sentence decoder, two on how to use Pyboard skins, and one on a let ball detector for those readers who play tennis. The theme of all of the projects is to learn how to interface a MicroPython microcontroller with external devices and sensors.

I cover three separate modules that run MicroPython in this book. The first is the Pyboard, which was designed by Dr. Damien George, who is also the creator of the MicroPython language. All of the introductory scripts are run on the Pyboard, as well as all of the books projects. The other two boards discussed are the ESP8266 and the WiPy. These boards run MicroPython, but they also have a built-in wireless radio system, which is lacking in the Pyboard. In fact, the WiPy has four separate wireless radio systems, which makes it quite a chameleon if you need a module that can connect to a variety of wireless protocols. Learn all about it in .

The reader should expect a great increase in knowledge of and experience with MicroPython if a commitment is made to read all of the introductory material as well as to complete most of the projects. I personally always learn a great deal while designing and finishing them. Often, things work out just fine, whereas at other times they are fraught with problems. However, thats what I consider the joy of experimenting. As the renowned Professor Einstein once stated, Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

I would caution any experienced Linux developers to at least review the beginning chapters because MicroPython, although modeled after Python 3, does have a few gotchas that one should be aware of before wading too deeply into the MicroPython pool. I have tried to provide many useful hints and techniques throughout the book to assist readers in this MicroPython adventure.