BrickPi Python Code

This repository contains drivers and examples for using the BrickPi in Python.

These files have been made available online through a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license.

Installation

First, open a terminal program on the Raspberry Pi, and change directories to the location (directory) where you wish to clone the BrickPi_Python. Follow the following steps to install the BrickPi_Python Module on a Raspbian Jessie Image.

1. Run sudo apt-get update
2. Run sudo apt-get upgrade -y
3. Edit the boot config with

• sudo nano /boot/config.txt
• Add "dtoverlay=pi3-disable-bt" to the end of the file
• Save the file
• Run sudo systemctl disable hciuart to prevent BT modem from attempting to use UART
• Reboot raspberry pi sudo reboot

4. Run sudo git clone http://www.github.com/DexterInd/BrickPi.git
5. Run cd BrickPi/Setup\ Files
6. Run sudo bash install.sh
7. Run sudo pip install -U future
8. cd ..
9. Run sudo git clone http://www.github.com/DexterInd/BrickPi_Python.git
10. Run sudo apt-get install python-setuptools python-dev build-essential
11. Run cd BrickPi_Python
12. Run sudo python setup.py install to install the BrickPi module globally.
13. Run sudo raspi-config and go to "7 Advanced Options" --> "A8 Serial" --> And then select "No"
14. Modify /boot/config.txt to enable_uart=1 (This line should be there from the previous install, but set to 0 from the raspi-config commands

• Run sudo nano /boot/config.txt
• At the end of the file, change enable_uart=0 to enable_uart=1
• Save the changes.
• Reboot raspberry pi sudo reboot

15. cd Sensor Examples and try running an example. If you get any import BrickPi no module found or import Ir_receiver_check no module found errors, Repeat step 12.

To use the module in your own Python scripts, just import it:

`import BrickPi`

Sensor Examples

Before trying to run any of the scripts in the Sensor Examples directory, make sure you have installed the BrickPi module. In general, you will need to be root to run these scripts. The easiest way to do this on most systems is to use the sudo command, like this:

sudo python "Sensor_Examples/LEGO-Motor Test.py"

If you want to run the examples without installing the module you can set your PYTHONPATH environment variable like this:

sudo env PYTHONPATH=$PWD python "Sensor_Examples/LEGO-Motor Test.py"

Reinstall or Uninstall BrickPi.py

To update or Reinstall BrickPi.py, you must uninstall the BrickPi module first, then reinstall the BrickPi module.

To uninstall the BrickPi module, open a terminal in the BrickPi_Python directory and run the following:

sudo python setup.py install --record files.txt
cat files.txt | xargs sudo rm -rf

This should uninstall the BrickPi modules from Python. To install an updated BrickPi.py module, see "Installation" above.

See Also

More information on BrickPi and Python is found on our website: http://www.dexterindustries.com/BrickPi/program-it/python/

BrickPi is a Raspberry Pi Board that connects LEGO MINDSTORMS motors and sensors to the Raspberry Pi.

More information on hardware, firmware, and software can be found here: http://www.dexterindustries.com/BrickPi