Getting Started with Nano RP2040 and Python

Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect

OpenMV IDE

USB to micro USB cable

<html><body><h3>Overview</h3>In this tutorial, I will show you how to set up an Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect board to use Python. You will learn to... <ol><li>1) Install the OpenMV IDE for Python development </li><li>2) Set up the board to work with the IDE </li><li>3) Connect the board to the IDE </li><li>4) Upload a code to the board. </li><li>5) Run a code on the board without uploading </li><li>6) Learn basic Python syntax </li></ol> <h3>Installing the OpenMV IDE</h3>Go to <a href="https://openmv.io/pages/download">https://openmv.io/pages/download </a>and download the necessary version of the application for your computer. After that, run the installer and follow the instructions provided. Finally, launch the new OpenMV IDE app. If you see a pop-up like this, just check Don't show this message again and hit Ok. <figure><img src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/f81fac06-3223-4c01-a431-55c00806ec9d.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>After that, the window should look like this: <figure><img src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/555edb48-9e1e-4444-82bb-5ecce148a638.png"/><figcaption>OpenMV IDE</figcaption></figure> <h3>Forcing the Board into Bootloader Mode</h3>With OpenMV running, connect your board to your computer and double tap the reset button. It should open a File Explorer (or Finder or whatever) window with a mass storage device called something like RPI-RP2. This window can be closed. <h3>Installing the Python Firmware</h3>Now, you'll need to connect the board to the IDE. Press the Connect button at the bottom left corner (or Ctrl+E). <figure><img src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/50b288f9-96b6-47ca-9001-9c2d4b2b146a.png"/><figcaption>Connect Button</figcaption></figure>There will be a message about a board in DFU mode being detected. Select Install the latest release firmware and Erase internal file system , then hit Ok . <div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/90e4758d-5e17-49c0-9eb7-392765f22190.png"/><figcaption></figcaption>,<img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/88f57ef2-547f-4b40-be5b-5760f9e8ed24.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></div>The gray Play button at the bottom-left corner should turn green, indicating you can now run a Python code on the board. If not, just press the connect button again. <h3>Running a Python Code</h3>Select the overly long menu option File-&gt;Examples-&gt;Arduino Boards-&gt;Nano RP2040-&gt;Board Control-&gt;blinky.py <div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/1e923844-76c1-4f16-a9d2-d146090366f6.png"/><figcaption>Blink Python Code</figcaption>,<img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/4bbffcea-493f-479c-b5f0-358939f43593.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></div>Now run the code with the green play symbol (or Ctrl+R). The orange built-in light on the board should blink on and off. You can see a short video of the expected result at this address <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RB3Gcf5G-14KwpS5FhAf1FNRGQKg55f6/view">https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RB3Gcf5G-14KwpS5FhAf1FNRGQKg55f6/view </a>. <h3>Understanding Basic Python</h3>In case you aren't familiar with Python syntax, I'll teach you here. This should be the code from the Blinky example: <pre># Blinky example </pre><pre>import time </pre><pre>from machine import Pin </pre><pre># This is the only LED pin available on the Nano RP2040, </pre><pre># other than the RGB LED connected to Nina WiFi module. </pre><pre>led = Pin(6, Pin.OUT) </pre><pre>while (True): </pre><pre>	 led.on() </pre><pre>	 time.sleep_ms(250) </pre><pre>	 led.off() </pre><pre>	 time.sleep_ms(250) </pre>Python is easy enough to understand. In Arduino C, comments start with a <code class="code">// </code>. In Python, a comment starts with the <code class="code"># </code>symbol. So, the line at the top is completely ignored. Next, never use a semicolon (;)!!! Python statements (lines) are terminated by a newline, not a semicolon. Second, some of you might know that the Arduino IDE automatically adds the line <code class="code">#include &lt;Arduino.h&gt; </code>to the top of every .ino file. In OpenMV, there is no Arduino.h, but the equivalents are not loaded for you. The <code class="code">import </code>keyword is similar to Arduino <code class="code">#include </code>and the example uses it to load two modules . The modules are <code class="code">time </code>, used for (you guessed it!) timing things. It has a function called <code class="code">sleep_ms() </code>that is identical to the <code class="code">delay() </code>function you are no doubt accustomed to. Only one part of the second module is imported from the second module: <code class="code">Pin </code>from <code class="code">machine </code>. This is a class. You have probably used classes in Arduino before, for things like connecting to an LCD screen. A class is like a blueprint for creating (instantiating) something else. In this case, a Pin. The line of code after the imports <code class="code">led = Pin(6, Pin.OUT) </code>creates a Pin uses the <code class="code">Pin </code>class. This line is almost the same as the Arduino <code class="code">pinMode(6, OUTPUT) </code>. After this, we have the mainloop. This is everything inside the while block. Now might be an important time to mention that Python uses whitespace (tabs and newlines) to separate blocks. Instead of using braces ({...}), a block is started with a colon (:), and then everything indented four spaces after that is inside that block. Here's a comparison of Python and Arduino: <pre># Python </pre><pre>while (True): </pre><pre>	 # Do stuff... </pre><pre>// Arduino </pre><pre>while (true) { </pre><pre>	 # Do stuff... </pre><pre>} </pre>So, in the mainloop, we call the method of the object we created <code class="code">on() </code>. A method is a function that belongs to the object. This method is similar to <code class="code">digitalWrite(6, HIGH); </code>Then, there is <code class="code">time.sleep_ms(250) </code>, which means <code class="code">delay(250); </code>in Arduino language. Then we set the LED to off, then delay 250 milliseconds again. Now, you may have noticed that none of the code is inside the <code class="code">void setup() {...} </code>and <code class="code">void loop() {...} </code>. This is because Python code can run outside of a function. What you would put in setup, just put after the imports and any variables you create. Code that would be in the loop block goes inside the while loop. Here's a code demonstrating a few other useful Python features and their Arduino equivalents: <pre># Making a variable. </pre><pre>variable_name = value </pre><pre># Makine a function. </pre><pre>def function_name(parameter1, parameter2): </pre><pre>	 # Do stuff... </pre><pre># Calling a function. </pre><pre>function_name(argument1, argument2) </pre> <h3>Uploading Code to the Board</h3>If you want the code to be saved on the board, press File-&gt;Save "blinky_1.py" as... (or Ctrl+W) and save it on the board as "main.py". If prompted to overwrite an existing file, hit Yes. Finally, press the reset button on the board to run it.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/77af99ba-a6a8-4e51-a9b5-514f665f6a7c.png"/><figcaption></figcaption>,<img id="gallery" src="https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d21f7b5b-942f-41b8-8ed5-f23f960a2b66.png"/><figcaption></figcaption></div></body></html>

Getting Started with Nano RP2040 and Python

Learn to set up an Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect to use MicroPython.