Category Archives: Computer

Raspberry Pi History Case

I started a little case for a collection of Raspberry devices.

Over the years, many Raspberries were designed and made.
It all started in 2012
I want to have a case with all RP’s i’ve used.

There are many iterations of the RPi, I’m missing a lot now. If you want to help me, send me old/broken raspberries to get the collection complete!

This is the case at the moment

Case with some Raspberries and Arduino’s I found lying around, I’m not going to dismantle projects. Only the RPi 1A, 4B, Zero, Zero W, Pico and RPi 400 are displayed.
Plastic sheet as protective layer still on there, should be clear as glass.

The case isn’t glued together yet. I’m not sure how and what to include.

  • Horizontal wooden bars to place the devices on?
  • Include a history of Arduino’s for now?
  • Put little notes in the case with information? Like my SDK-85 case?
  • ?

Get information about your RPi version

curl -L https://perturb.org/rpi?rev=$(awk '/^Revision/ { print $3 }' /proc/cpuinfo)

SDK-85 interface PCB soldered

Using spacers, I can use the existing holes in the SDK to hold the interface PCB in place. Now I have to move my information sheet. 🙂

My scope didn’t save the test capture .. Next time.
But I could see the clear ones and zeros.

You can faintly see the data, stop start of a program is visible.

Dirk cleaned up a OCR version of the program, which I cleaned up some more, and found some errors.
So that should be okay now.

Micropython Pico W Internal Led Test

  • Download firmware from here (uf2 file)
    https://micropython.org/download/RPI_PICO_W/
    (Make sure you use W version if you have a pico-w)
  • Press bootsel and plug your pico into an usb port.
  • A folder should be accessible
  • cp RPI_PICO_W-20231005-v1.21.0.uf2 /media/$USER/RPI-RP2/
    (pico reboots and installs firmware)

Install and start Thonny.

Tools > Options > Interpreter

Python test code (1 second blink)
Note: for the normal pico without Wi-Fi, it is GP25 instead of LED.

from machine import Pin
import utime

led_onboard = Pin('LED', Pin.OUT)
while True:
        led_onboard.on()
        utime.sleep(1)
        led_onboard.off()
        utime.sleep(1)

Run at boottime?

File > save as:
Select device and name the python script main.py

Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04 + RP2040 (waveshare) Auto screen lock

Point the sensor at yourself when behind your computer.
When you leave your computer for some seconds, it wil automatically lock your screen. (Windows-L keypress)
The RP2040 is configured as HID so it emulates a keyboard.
Just connect via an usb-cable to your machine

Arduino Code

File > Preferences > Additional Board URLS
https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json

Change USB Stack!

Download and install Adafruit_TinyUSB.zip

#include "Adafruit_TinyUSB.h"
// defines pins numbers
const int trigPin = D4;
const int echoPin = D5;
// defines variables
long duration;
int distance;
int maxcounter;
uint8_t const desc_hid_report[] =
{
  TUD_HID_REPORT_DESC_KEYBOARD()
};

// D0-D3 NOT USED AT THE MOMENT, I'VE GOT IDEAS FOR EXTRA FUNCTIONALLITY!

// USB HID object. For ESP32 these values cannot be changed after this declaration
// desc report, desc len, protocol, interval, use out endpoint
Adafruit_USBD_HID usb_hid(desc_hid_report, sizeof(desc_hid_report), HID_ITF_PROTOCOL_KEYBOARD, 2, false);

//------------- Input Pins -------------//
// Array of pins and its keycode.
  uint8_t pins[] = { D0, D1, D2, D3 };


// number of pins
uint8_t pincount = sizeof(pins)/sizeof(pins[0]);

// For keycode definition check out https://github.com/hathach/tinyusb/blob/master/src/class/hid/hid.h
uint8_t hidcode[] = { HID_KEY_0, HID_KEY_1, HID_KEY_2, HID_KEY_3 , HID_KEY_4, HID_KEY_5 };

#if defined(ARDUINO_SAMD_CIRCUITPLAYGROUND_EXPRESS) || defined(ARDUINO_NRF52840_CIRCUITPLAY) || defined(ARDUINO_FUNHOUSE_ESP32S2)
  bool activeState = true;
#else
  bool activeState = false;
#endif

void setup()
{
  // Setting pins for Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04
  pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT); // Sets the trigPin as an Output
  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT); // Sets the echoPin as an Input
  
#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_MBED) && defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_RP2040)
  // Manual begin() is required on core without built-in support for TinyUSB such as mbed rp2040
  TinyUSB_Device_Init(0);
#endif

  // Set up output report (on control endpoint) for Capslock indicator
  // Not used .. yet
  usb_hid.setReportCallback(NULL, hid_report_callback);

  usb_hid.begin();

  // overwrite input pin with PIN_BUTTONx
  // NOT USED 
#ifdef PIN_BUTTON1
  pins[0] = PIN_BUTTON1;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON2
  pins[1] = PIN_BUTTON2;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON3
  pins[2] = PIN_BUTTON3;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON4
  pins[3] = PIN_BUTTON4;
#endif

  // Set up pin as input
  for (uint8_t i=0; i<pincount; i++)
  {
    pinMode(pins[i], activeState ? INPUT_PULLDOWN : INPUT_PULLUP);
  }

  // wait until device mounted
  while( !TinyUSBDevice.mounted() ) delay(1);

maxcounter =0;
}

void loop()
{
  
  // Clears the trigPin
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  // Sets the trigPin on HIGH state for 10 micro seconds
  digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  // Reads the echoPin, returns the sound wave travel time in microseconds
  duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
  // Calculating the distance
  distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;
  // Prints the distance on the Serial Monitor - DEBUG
  //Serial.print("Distance: ");
  //Serial.println(distance);

  // Below will wait for more than 100 measurements with a distance of 100
  // Then it will send a WINDOWS-L (lock) keyboard combination 
  if (distance > 100)
  {
    maxcounter +=1; 
  }
  else
  {
    maxcounter = 0;
  }
  if (maxcounter > 100 && maxcounter < 150)
  {
    maxcounter = 200;
       // Send report if there is key pressed
    uint8_t const report_id = 0;


    uint8_t  modifier = KEYBOARD_MODIFIER_LEFTGUI;
          uint8_t keycode[6] = { 0 };
      keycode[0] = HID_KEY_L;


    usb_hid.keyboardReport(report_id, modifier, keycode);
    delay(10);
    // Un-press keys :)
    usb_hid.keyboardRelease(0);
    
  }

  
  // poll gpio once each 2 ms
  delay(20);

  // used to avoid send multiple consecutive zero report for keyboard
  static bool keyPressedPreviously = false;

  uint8_t count=0;
  uint8_t keycode[6] = { 0 };

  // scan normal key and send report
  for(uint8_t i=0; i < pincount; i++)
  {
    if ( activeState == digitalRead(pins[i]) )
    {
      // if pin is active (low), add its hid code to key report
      keycode[count++] = hidcode[i];

      // 6 is max keycode per report
      if (count == 6) break;
    }
  }

  if ( TinyUSBDevice.suspended() && count )
  {
    // Wake up host if we are in suspend mode
    // and REMOTE_WAKEUP feature is enabled by host
    TinyUSBDevice.remoteWakeup();
  }

  // skip if hid is not ready e.g still transferring previous report
  if ( !usb_hid.ready() ) return;

  if ( count )
  {
    // Send report if there is key pressed
    uint8_t const report_id = 0;
    uint8_t const modifier = 0;

    keyPressedPreviously = true;
    usb_hid.keyboardReport(report_id, modifier, keycode);
  }else
  {
    // Send All-zero report to indicate there is no keys pressed
    // Most of the time, it is, though we don't need to send zero report
    // every loop(), only a key is pressed in previous loop()
    if ( keyPressedPreviously )
    {
      keyPressedPreviously = false;
      usb_hid.keyboardRelease(0);
    }
  }
}

// Output report callback for LED indicator such as Caplocks
void hid_report_callback(uint8_t report_id, hid_report_type_t report_type, uint8_t const* buffer, uint16_t bufsize)
{
  (void) report_id;
  (void) bufsize;

}

Arduino with Huskylens detecting learned face

Arduino Uno with Husky Lens using I2C

The HuskyLens is an easy-to-use AI machine vision sensor. It is equipped with multiple functions such as:

  • Face recognition
  • Object tracking
  • Object recognition
  • Line trace
  • Color recognition
  • Tag recognition (QR code).

Via the UART / I2C port you can among others: boards connect:

  • Arduino
  • micro:bit
  • Raspberry Pi

Steps to take: Press Face detection, when a cross in a square is displayed, press the button on your HuskyLens

Set your husky protocol to I2C in the settings.

Minimal Code needed

/***************************************************
 HUSKYLENS An Easy-to-use AI Machine Vision Sensor
 <https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1922.html> 
****************************************************/

#include "HUSKYLENS.h"

HUSKYLENS huskylens;
//HUSKYLENS green line >> SDA; blue line >> SCL
int ID0 = 0; //not learned results. Grey result on HUSKYLENS screen
int ID1 = 1; //first learned results. colored result on HUSKYLENS screen
int ID2 = 2; //second learned results. colored result on HUSKYLENS screen
// and so on.....

int arjprevious = 0;
void printResult(HUSKYLENSResult result);
void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    Wire.begin();
    while (!huskylens.begin(Wire))
    {
        Serial.println(F("Begin failed!"));
        Serial.println(F("1.Please recheck the \"Protocol Type\" in HUSKYLENS (General Settings>>Protocol Type>>I2C)"));
        Serial.println(F("2.Please recheck the connection."));
        delay(100);
    }
    
     huskylens.writeAlgorithm(ALGORITHM_FACE_RECOGNITION);
}

void loop() {
   if (huskylens.requestLearned())          //request blocks and arrows tangged ID != 0 from HUSKYLENS
   if (huskylens.requestBlocksLearned())    //request blocks tangged ID != ID0 from HUSKYLENS

    {
        for (int i = 0; i < huskylens.countArrows(ID0); i++)
        {
            HUSKYLENSResult result = huskylens.getArrow(ID0, i);  
        }
        int arj = huskylens.count(ID1);
        if ( arj != arjprevious )
        {
        if ( arj == 1 )
            {
            Serial.println("Learned face detected");
            }
            else
            {
            Serial.println("Learned face not detected");
            }
            arjprevious = arj;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        Serial.println("Fail to request objects from Huskylens!");
    }
}
Learned face detected ID1
Learned face not detected
Learned face detected ID1
Learned face not detected
Learned face detected ID1
Learned face not detected

Thunderbird mail notification flag via USB

In 2021 I made a MQTT notification Flag using a Servo and python code and webhooks to get notifications.
Webhook was used for Mattermost.

Now i’ve changed the notification flag for Email using Thunderbird.
Just connect the wemos to a USB on your computer, no mqtt/wifi needed. (On the road solution)

Steps:

Install FiltaQuilla Add-on in thunderbird
select run program in config.

Next create a filter

Create two bash files (i’ve got mine in ~/bin/ )
Change ttyUSB0 if needed

::::::::::::::
flagoff.sh
::::::::::::::
#!/bin/bash
stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 ispeed 9600 ospeed 9600 -ignpar cs8 -cstopb -echo
echo 0 > /dev/ttyUSB0

::::::::::::::
flagon.sh
::::::::::::::
#!/bin/bash
stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 ispeed 9600 ospeed 9600 -ignpar cs8 -cstopb -echo
echo 1 > /dev/ttyUSB0

Install YAD and a autostart icon to make the systemtray to pull the flag down.

henri@zspot:~$ cat .config/autostart/servoflag.desktop 
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Version=1.0.0
Name=flag-off
Comment=
Icon=
Exec=yad --notification --image="gtk-execute" --command="bash /home/henri/bin/flagoff.sh" --image="mail-app"
Terminal=false

Arduino Code

#include <Servo.h> 

Servo flag; 
char val;
 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  flag.attach(D5);
  }

void loop () {
  val = Serial.read(); 
  if (val == '0') {
     flag.write(180); 
  } 
  if (val == '1') {
     flag.write(0); 
  }
}

Webos Developer Mode and Homebrew

Besides sending notifications and controlling my tv using bash, Nodered and HomeAssistant, i wanted to look at developing and homebrew for WebOS.

Goto the WebOS Dev website and register.

Install Developer App on your TV.

Login and write down your access information.

Remain session can be extended using the button, or using a script.

Below how to access you tv using ssh

wget http://IP_FROM_YOUR_TV:9991/webos_rsa
mv webos_rsa .ssh/
chmod 600 .ssh/webos_rsa
ssh -i .ssh/webos_rsa prisoner@10.1.0.14 -p9922 -T
       Enter passphrase for key '.ssh/webos_rsa':
Enter the key mentioned on the Developer App Screen on your TV

Note the -T .. this disables pseudo terminals,
You won't see a prompt, but commands work

You can remove passphrases on ssh keys using below
ssh-keygen -p -f .ssh/webos_rsa
Enter old passphrase:
Enter new passphrase (empty for no passphrase):
Enter same passphrase again:
Your identification has been saved with the new passphrase.


Download WebOS manager from here:

https://github.com/webosbrew/dev-manager-desktop/releases/tag/v1.11.18

Install and use same ip/access key info to install homebrew

After that you can install homebrew apps using the App on your TV or via above dev-manager.
Also nice .. A ad-free version of Youtube!

By the way, I tried rootmy.tv .. but that didn’t work for me.
My TV was already patched for that exploit

Obfuscating color logo in bash

Something from my old archive.

Colleage’s used to like the method.

source with color escape code applied
32=green 31=red and 97=white

echo  -e "\e[0;32m '.::///+:/-.        --///+//-:'' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;32m  '+oooooooooooo:   '+oooooooooooo: " 
echo  -e "\e[0;32m   /oooo++//ooooo:  ooooo+//+ooooo. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;32m   '+ooooooo:-:oo-  +o+::/ooooooo: " 
echo  -e "\e[0;32m    ':oooooooo+''    '.oooooooo+- " 
echo  -e "\e[0;32m      ':++ooo/.        :+ooo+/.' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m        ...'  '.----.' ''.. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m      .::::-'':::::::::.'-:::-'            \e[0;97m    www.henriaanstoot.nl" 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m     -:::-'   .:::::::-'  '-:::-           \e[0;97m    Test logo"
echo  -e "\e[0;31m    '::.  '.--.'  '' '.---.''.::' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m        .::::::::'  -::::::::' ' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m  .::' .:::::::::- '::::::::::''::. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m -:::' ::::::::::.  ::::::::::.':::- " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m ::::  -::::::::.   '-::::::::  :::: " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m -::-   .-:::-.''....''.-::-.   -::- " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m  .. ''       .::::::::.     '..'.. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m    -:::-'   -::::::::::'  .:::::' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m    :::::::' -::::::::::' :::::::. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m    .:::::::  -::::::::. :::::::: " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m     '-:::::'   ..--.'   ::::::. " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m       '...'  '...--..'  '...' " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m             .:::::::::: " 
echo  -e "\e[0;31m              '.-::::-'  " 

Obfuscate the logo to a file (1 time only)

cat source | base64 - -w0 1> ~/bin/logo.ob

Writes file (safe to copy paste/transfer) with:
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

Create an alias with the logo

alias logo=$(cat ~/bin/logo.ob | base64 -d )

executing logo will produce the logo

Bookstack – A new (for me) way do document stuff.

I’m always looking for new better ways to document stuff.

I’ve tested a lot, some things i’ve used personally for years.
Same or other tools I implemented also at Customers.

Everybody starts off with text files.
Then I used Hyper when I was using MS-Dos.

Many wiki’s came, and went.

  • Twiki – Work
  • Foswiki – Work, Highland Valley Pipeband, personal
  • Docuwiki
  • MediaWiki (pipetunesearch) and more

I tried to document in wordpress, but that’s not suitable.

I still got stuff in Nextcloud, Google Drive and Joplin. These are only for fast access to unstructured information.

I don’t like Wysiwig that much, also I like to use OpenSource and Open standards.

So discovering a knowledge base engine like Bookstack is always nice.

I installed a docker version in my Lab to experiment with.

So far so good.
Markup Language, and export to PDF, Markup, Html and Contained webfile.

I’ve changed the docker-compose.yml because I’ve got my dedicated Database server for that:

---
version: "2"
services:
  bookstack:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/bookstack
    container_name: bookstack
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - APP_URL=http://bookstack.henriaanstoot.nl:6875/
      - DB_HOST=IPDATABASESERVER
      - DB_PORT=3306
      - DB_USER=bookstackuser
      - DB_PASS=bookstackpassword
      - DB_DATABASE=bookstackapp
    volumes:
      - ./bookstack_app_data:/config
    ports:
      - 6875:80
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./bookstack_db_data:/config
    restart: unless-stopped

While playing with this I forgot my credentials .. duh

Using portainer terminal access to the docker to add a new admin user

OpenPLC editor with Raspberry and Arduino

Here I’m going to post my tests with OpenPLC.

UPDATE 20231012 202301015

It’s a long time i’ve made a PLC ladder, but lets see how and what this integration brings me.

OpenPLC interface on a Raspberry, I could not start a program on RPI 5!
But it compiled correctly. See below rpi3
Schematic with a led and two buttons (and one floating in the middel, which i forgot to remove)
Working example ( wemos and display are from another project those are not connected )

UPDATE 20231015 – Raspberry 3 with OpenPLC

GND to leds and buttons
GPIO2 (pin 3) to a button
GPIO3 (pin 5) to another button
GPIO14 (pin 8) to the led

Now OpenPLC works correct (RPI3)

https://github.com/thiagoralves/OpenPLC_v3.git
cd OpenPLC_v3
./install.sh rpi 

## Warning .. takes a really long time

Wiringpi is deprecated
But can be installed using the last git repo

git clone https://github.com/WiringPi/WiringPi.git
cd WiringPi
./build