Picon Zero

There are a number of projects that can start your journey to becoming a maker. Flash LEDs; use of WS2812B LEDs (Neopixels); work with sensors; controlling motors for a robot. It so happens that the Picon Zero is a device that can do all of these things, in just one board.

Picon Zero comes with two full H bridge motor controllers (DRV8833) which can be used with micro gear or standard DC motors to develop motorised projects. Power for the motors can be sourced from the Pi, or via an external power source, very handy when you have powerful motors.

Outputs can be used as typical GPIO pins, or to control servo motors. Inputs can be controlled as digital, analogue, or used with a temperature sensor (DS18B20) without using a 4.7k ohm pull-up resistor. Likewise we can attach an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor to the board, giving a robot project a distance sensor, without the need for a voltage divider.

So this board is a great platform to build projects with, especially those based on robotics. It works with all Raspberry Pi boards from the B+ onwards and is designed to sit flush atop the Raspberry Pi Zero.

This is a cost-effective and reduced friction platform for building physical computing projects with Python. The board supports so many different parts, such as sensors, motors, servos and WS2812B LEDs, that it enables even those new to the topic to take their first steps.