Configure Usb Port on Raspberry Pi to Read Sensor Data

Collecting data is fundamental to many uses of a Raspberry Pi. As part of my objective of finding the best ways to analyse and apply data on a Raspberry Pi, I put together this listing to give you an idea of the variety of ways a Raspberry Pi can collect information.

A Raspberry Pi can collect information using sensors continued directly to its GPIO. It can likewise collect data from other devices past receiving that data using WiFi, Bluetooth, or over USB. The Raspberry Pi supports a diversity of protocols to communicate this information drove over, including MQTT and HTTP, which also allows the Raspberry Pi to use the internet for information collection.

Dissimilar ways a Raspberry Pi tin can collect information

In this guide I've looked at how a Raspberry Pi can collect data using:

• Sensors connected direct to the GPIO
• Other devices, which communicate their information back to the Raspberry Pi using various protocols (MQTT, HTTP), and using advice networks the Raspberry Pi can participate in (WiFi, Bluetooth, USB)
• Remote information sources, including over the net or via USB storage

1. Connecting a sensor

Raspberry Pi is designed to collect data from sensors. The GPIO offers an easy interface that a sensor can exist connected to and so that the sensor's data can be collected by the Raspberry Pi.

Sensors that tin can be connected to a Raspberry Pi include:

• Temperature, humidity, and air pressure level
• Tilt, gravity, and acceleration
• Affect and proximity

Sensors tin be connected to a Raspberry Pi using its I2C, SPI, or UART pins on the GPIO. The exact pins to connect to can exist plant here. Once connected, the relevant pins volition need to be setup in code earlier the sensor can start sending information. Information received from the sensor can be stored in a a file or database on the Raspberry Pi.

My Raspberry Pi with a Sense Hat plugged in (and the sensors on the board)

To collect sensor information with a Raspberry Pi:

1. Ensure you are using a sensor that has an I2C, SPI, or UART interface
2. Connect the sensor to the advisable pins on the Raspberry Pi (list of pins can be institute here)
3. Write code to import the library corresponding to the interface, and so use that interface to read the sensor data

Later reading the sensor data, the lawmaking can take an firsthand activeness (e.yard. if temperature >26 degrees, activate ac) or store the data for later analysis.

two. Using MQTT

MQTT is a communication protocol for sending small amounts of data over unreliable connections. This makes information technology a great mode for a Raspberry Pi to receive data from devices which may not have a reliable connection to the Raspberry Pi – such as remote sensors.

I wrote a guide on dozens of sensors that tin can be connected to an Arduino, which can then ship that information dorsum to a Raspberry Pi using MQTT. If you're interested in that guide to sensors, check it out here: chipwired.com/arduino-sensors-uses-costs-connections/

A Raspberry Pi can run an MQTT broker that listens for data sent from the remote device. It can and then shop this data or laissez passer information technology on to another app (such as a dashboard arrangement) for analysis and use. The frequency with which information is received from the remote sensor can vary, it'due south not as frequent every bit if the sensor was connected directly to the Raspberry Pi.

To collect data using MQTT and a Raspberry Pi:

1. Install an MQTT broker/server on a Raspberry Pi (directions tin be establish here) and start the server
2. Setup the remote device to use MQTT
3. Connect the devices to the same network (this can be WiFi, Ethernet, or even over the cyberspace)
4. Start sending data from the remote device using MQTT

The remote device needs to exist continued to the same network as the Raspberry Pi. This connexion can be made using WiFi, Ethernet, the internet or fifty-fifty a protocol such equally Zigbee (I one time built a remote ability sensor using Zigbee that sent its information dorsum to a computer).

Subsequently receiving information via MQTT, information technology must be sent to another app for apply. This is typically your ain Python app which can be used to accept action on the information, or stored for later use and analysis.

three. From a Bluetooth connexion

Bluetooth can be used to institute a network betwixt devices assuasive them to transmit small-scale amounts of data, such equally sensor measurements, for collection by a Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi can establish the Bluetooth network which other devices can connect to and send their data to the Raspberry Pi.

Raspberry Pi supports Bluetooth Low Free energy, a standard within Bluetooth for connecting low-powered devices and transmitting small amounts of information. Such devices can include an Arduino which has sensors nerveless to gather data, and tin can then send this data back to the Raspberry Pi.

I've found it hard to setup a Raspberry Pi to permit your apps to receive data over the Bluetooth interface. You lot may have to configure Bluetooth files in a way that specifically depends on the operating arrangement you installed on your Raspberry Pi.

In general, the steps for establishing a Bluetooth connection for collecting data are:

1. Configure the Raspberry Pi to use BLE
2. Import the BLE library into your app (Python makes this easy)
3. Establish the BLE connexion with the remote device
4. Receive data into your app

Your app can then either use the data immediately or shop it for later use.

More detail on how to configure the Raspberry Pi for BLE, and how to utilize this BLE network in Python, can be found here.

4. From USB input

The USB ports on a Raspberry Pi can be used to collect data from connected devices. Devices can connect to the Raspberry Pi'southward USB ports and then apps on the Raspberry Pi can read data from the device.

Using a Raspberry Pi's USB ports tin can be useful for collecting:

• Audio data, such as by using a microphone or an ultrasonic device
• Sensor data where the sensor has a USB interface
• Feedback data from some other device that uses a USB interface
• USB series data, from devices that utilise USB as a serial communication

For reading audio data from the USB, check out the PyAudio Python library. It allows y'all to read the incoming audio data from a microphone connected to the USB port on the Raspberry Pi. To set it upwardly, at that place'southward a guide here.

For reading USB serial information from a device connected to the Raspberry Pi, a Python app can use the serial library to access the data. The serial library can constitute the communication with the connected device and so read the data as it comes through. I plant the information here to exist helpful in setting up a Python app to read series data.

For reading from a device, whether that be a sensor or feedback data, the way to communicate will depend on the device. This might involve a custom app produced by that device, or it might involve using the serial library I mentioned above. Check with the device's manual or data sheet for details.

One time your app has read the data, it tin be stored or analysed for use.

5. As an HTTP server

By establishing itself as an HTTP server, a Raspberry Pi can collect data that other devices ship to it. A server program is run on the Raspberry Pi, other devices connect to the server and upload their data.

Running an HTTP server on your Raspberry Pi can exist a useful fashion to collect:

• Data that is sent to your Raspberry Pi over the cyberspace
• App information, when you have an app running on a phone and yous want information technology to send information back to the Raspberry Pi
• Sensor data from sensors connected to the same network, some sensors tin send their data using HTTP over Ethernet or WiFi

Running an HTTP server and the associated apps can be more resource-intensive than running say a elementary MQTT server, however due to how common it is there are a huge variety of guides available to aid you setup an HTTP server and use associated apps to collect and relieve information. Many deject-based data storage services are an HTTP server that is configured to receive data over the internet.

To collect data on a Raspberry Pi HTTP server:

1. Setup an HTTP server app equally an API
2. Configure your app to utilize the data or store the data in a database
3. Setup your other device to connect to the Raspberry Pi using HTTP
4. Collect the data using your server app

I found a really comprehensive guide on how to do this with Python and Raspberry Pi here.

6. From USB storage

A Raspberry Pi can collect information that has been stored on a USB wink drive, or an SD card (connected to a USB reader). Files saved on USB storage tin can be opened past apps on the Raspberry Pi and take the stored data collected and used.

Collecting data from USB storage can exist useful for:

• Very remote sensor data, such equally a USB bulldoze connected to a remote atmospheric condition station and yous have to collect that USB drive manually
• Whatever data where frequency of the analysis isn't important (such as data that is only used annually)
• High storage capacity, such as video information that is saved to USB storage for later analysis

I've found many devices which tin write their logs and data to USB storage – this storage tin then exist read by the Raspberry Pi such that the Raspberry Pi tin collect that data for analysis and use. Typically this data is stored equally a .csv file, .xlsx file, or in an XML format. These formats can be read past a Python app.

To collect data from a USB storage device continued to a Raspberry Pi:

1. Connect the USB storage device to the Raspberry Pi (if your information is on an SD card, you lot will demand to use an SD card reader)
2. Find the path of the USB storage in the Final
3. Use the open() office in Python to open the file from the path

A guide for finding the path tin be found hither. In brusque, you need to apply the lsblk command in the terminal to list the storage devices, and so identify which 1 is your USB storage device. Yous can also mount the USB storage device to a predictable location using this guide.

seven. From the net

A vast number of information sources are available on the internet for a Raspberry Pi to collect data from. Many organisations, including all levels of government, accept open data sets that a Raspberry Pi can read from (using its WiFi or Ethernet capabilities) and and so store locally for use or assay.

Some useful examples of a Raspberry Pi collecting data from the internet:

• Weather warnings from the local weather bureau, a Raspberry Pi can receive these warnings and turn them into actions around the home
• Public ship information, a Raspberry Pi tin collect the data of the side by side train arrival time and analyse information technology over weeks to determine how reliable information technology is (and how much buffer time you should allow if looking to catch one)
• Read data from the U.k.'southward Companies Firm to analyse insolvency data for thousands of companies

I've found countless amounts of data available on the internet for gratis that you lot can admission, collect to your Raspberry Pi, and then use for analysis and action.

Nearly of this data is available using the host'southward API (Application Programming Interface). A Raspberry Pi tin can connect to the host using its API and request information. The host responds with that information.

To collect data from the internet using a Raspberry Pi:

1. Identify an API you would like to recall data from (try googling a service with "API" in the search term)
2. Place the blazon of API so that yous can find the relevant Python module to connect to information technology (usually APIs accessible over the cyberspace a "REST" APIs)
3. Install and include the Python module and access the API (check out the guide hither if it is a Residual API)
4. Use the information in your app or save it for later on analysis

The other type of API commonly establish is called a "graph" API. These are a little more complicated to use and depends on the host of the API – if you know you want to employ a graph API, look for instructions from the host about how to connect to it to collect data.

Chris has been experimenting with software, APIs, and collecting information from electronics for decades. He shares his experience and research with the aim of helping others improve their projects, their environment, and their lives with skilful data.

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Source: https://chipwired.com/collect-data-with-raspberry-pi/

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