This course is part of the Powering your Home Projects with Raspberry Pi Specialization

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Powering your Home Projects with Raspberry Pi SpecializationJohns Hopkins University

About this Course

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In this course you will use a Raspberry Pi 4 to build a complete network-connected project with sensors and motors and access it from your smartphone. We'll explore all the parts which make this work, so you can use this experience as a foundation for your own projects. We'll use the Raspberry Pi as an "embedded system" (as opposed to a desktop computer) so you're ready to build a Raspberry Pi into your projects as the brains that make it all work. Want to build your own Internet of Things (IoT) device? Home automation? Robotics? This is the class to learn how it all works, to get you building on your own. No experience in embedded systems, programming, or electronics is assumed, and optional bonus sections are provided for those who want a fast start in Python programming, Linux essentials, and basic electronics. The course is divided into four modules to explore each focus area with demontrations and extras along the way: 1) installing and configuring a Raspberry Pi, 2) accessing the Raspberry Pi over the network, 3) programmatically controlling external sensors and motors, and 4) accessing the embedded device through a web interface. After these four modules you'll get started building your own projects right away, and the three follow-on courses in this Coursera specialization dive into each area to really boost your skills and the complexity of your projects. I hope you enjoy all the courses and I hope you take your builds to the next level.

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 1 of 4 in the

Powering your Home Projects with Raspberry Pi Specialization

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 4 in the

Powering your Home Projects with Raspberry Pi Specialization

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Drew Wilson

Faculty

Whiting School of Engineering - Electrical and Computer Engineering

1,958 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

Johns Hopkins University

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Installing, Configuring, and Connecting to Your Raspberry Pi Over the Network

In this module, we introduce the Raspberry Pi, and discuss how it is different from an Arduino. We will install and configure the operating system on a Raspberry Pi and connect to it via a network connection. If you’re not familiar with the Linux shell, there is an optional bonus section at the end of this module on Linux command line basics. Soon, we'll be using the pins on the Raspberry Pi to control things in the real world such as an LED.

3 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 95 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

14 videos

Module 1 Introduction1mIntroducing the Raspberry Pi4mHow are Raspberry Pi and Arduino Different?8mPhysical Connections on the Raspberry Pi10mIntroducing Raspberry Pi OS5mInstalling Raspberry Pi OS8mConfiguring with raspi-config3mDetermining the Raspberry Pi IP Address3mConnecting with SSH11mRunning Command-Line Performance Tests6mSummary of Module 11mShell, Prompt, and User6mDirectory Navigation10mExecutables and the Python Interpreter11m

2 readings

Follow Along with Your Own Raspberry Pi 10mSummary of Commonly Used Commands10m

2 practice exercises

Module 130mLinux Command Line30m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Controlling Your Raspberry Pi Over the Network

As we enter this module, your Raspberry Pi is up and running on the network and we’ve done quite a lot on the Linux command line. In this module, we’ll connect to a full graphical desktop session over the network, learn some electronics theory and how we can use the GPIO pins to light an LED, and create a web API endpoint to toggle the LED and demonstrate how embedded devices can use simple web APIs for a control interface. At the end of this module is an optional bonus section on the Python language, which you might find useful if Python is new for you. All of this is groundwork for the next module where we create sensors and spin motors with the Raspberry Pi.

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 126 min)

13 videos

Introduction to Module 21mConnecting to a Remote GUI desktop with VNC8mIntroducing the Raspberry Pi OS Graphical Desktop10mVNC vs SSH for Designing IoT, Home Automation, and Robotics6mCurrents and Voltages in a Circuit17mAnalysis of an LED Circuit12mUsing Python to Light an LED16mPython Web Frameworks6mWriting an API Endpoint19mSummary of Module 21mIntroduction to Python5mBasic Python syntax13mUsing the Official Python Documentation6m

2 practice exercises

Module 230mThe Python Programming Language30m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Using Sensors and Motors

In this module, we’ll build on our Raspberry Pi GPIO skills and use some of the dedicated circuitry for driving special signals, like the pulse width modulation (PWM) circuitry, to vary the brightness of an LED. We’ll also access external hardware to run a motor, and discuss when external hardware is necessary, such as for real-time application or to drive power-hungry devices like motors. This is a fun module, and if you've been wondering how to control hardware with a Raspberry Pi, I think you'll find a lot of answers in this module. In the final module, Module 4, we'll take these individual skills and everything we've learned in Modules 1 and 2, along with some new ideas, and build a project together. By the end of this module, you might be surprised to see what types of complex systems you already know how to design and build.

4 hours to complete

19 videos (Total 162 min)

19 videos

Introduction to Module 31mLearning More About the Raspberry Pi Hardware (Part 1)11mLearning More About the Raspberry Pi Hardware (Part 2)14mVendor-Agnostic Serial Protocols12mSoftware Stacks for Serial Protocols (Part 1)14mSoftware Stacks for Serial Protocols (Part 2)13mTroubleshooting I2C Sensor Signals8mWhat to Look for When Troubleshooting SPI5mControlling LED Brightness with PWM8mWhat is Real-Time Processing and When Do You Need It?8mOffloading Power and Timing Responsibilities to a Driver Board5mTypes of Motors and How to Control Them (Part 1)12mTypes of Motors and How to Control Them (Part 2)8mTypes of Motors and How to Control Them (Part 3)4mTypes of Motors and How to Control Them (Part 4)5mSummary of Module 31mLinux Administration Basics: Root, Commands, and Directories11mLinux Administration Basics: Background Tasks and Services8mLinux Administration Basics: Creating Users and Home Directories5m

2 practice exercises

Module 330mLinux Administration Basics30m

Week4

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Let's Make Our Own IoT Project

In the first three modules we got our Raspberry Pi running over the network, we interfaced to physical world items such as LEDs and motors, and we controlled our Raspberry Pi with a web API. In this module we’ll take a closer look at some security concepts, combine what we know about sensors and electronics to create our own web-enabled home automation project you can access from your phone or computer. We'll keep things simple because the goal is for you to understand how all the parts work and, when it's time for you to create your own project, you can extend these concepts to create even the wildest projects.

4 hours to complete

20 videos (Total 221 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

20 videos

Introduction to Module 42mDesign Patterns for IoT and Automation Projects7mReviewing Our Project Part 1: Familiar Topics6mReviewing Our Project Part 2: New Topics4mEasy Authentication with SSH Keys13mUsing Flask to Create an API Server18mLoosely Coupled Software Modules (Part 1 of 2)15mLoosely Coupled Software Modules (Part 2 of 2)10mDiving Into Our Flask API Server14mWeb Frameworks and How to Learn Them (Part 1 of 2)16mWeb Frameworks and How to Learn Them (Part 2 of 2)11mCreating a Minimal Web Application with React and Flask (Part 1 of 2)15mCreating a Minimal Web Application with React and Flask (Part 2 of 2)14mDiving into Our Web Application (Part 1 of 2)12mDiving into Our Web Application (Part 2 of 2)13mLet's Make a Custom Sensor9mCreating Our Sensor Hardware20mSystem Integration in the Real World9mSummary of Module 41mSummary of Course 1 in this Coursera Specialization2m

1 reading

Link to Github repository referenced in this module10m

1 practice exercise

Module 430m

About the Powering your Home Projects with Raspberry Pi Specialization

This Specialization is crafted to take beginners in this field from start to building functional prototypes, home projects, and new creations with custom peripheral hardware and a Raspberry Pi. If you've never touched a Raspberry Pi, it's ok. Course 1 will get you started, and by Course 4 you'll be designing and fabricating printed circuit boards for your own custom add-on hardware to make your projects come to life and be truly unique.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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