There’s nothing fairly as illuminating as controlling a matrix panel with a Raspberry Pi. It’s like having your individual private marquee for displaying no matter you need from messages and notifications to movies and even video games. However what actually drives a great Pi undertaking house is high-quality efficiency like this RP2040-powered matrix undertaking developed by DeVayu that makes use of a Pico to drive a 64 x 32 matrix panel at over 70 FPS.
driving_a_ledmatrix_at_70fps_over_wifi_using_a from r/raspberry_pi
Within the undertaking thread, DeVayu explains that that is the fourth iteration of his matrix undertaking endeavors. The preliminary undertaking started about 5 months in the past and likewise featured a Pico as the primary controller however the FPS output was nowhere close to as excessive because it’s reaching within the present improvement. What started as an output of 28 FPS has since greater than doubled.
With the intention to get the high-performance output, slightly further {hardware} is required as a Pico by itself shouldn’t be sufficient to course of the info right into a usable state quick sufficient for the 70+ FPS outcomes. Along with the Pico, a Raspberry Pi Zero W is used together with Raspberry Pi different SBC Odroid XU4Q. DeVayu is utilizing a 64 x 32 matrix panel however different sizes would work simply as properly, nonetheless, extra programming would probably be essential to get the output formatted to the right side ratio.
Video frames are processed and compressed by an Odroid XU4Q, then despatched to the Pi Zero W utilizing MQTT. Using MQTT, a protocol generally to ship information between a number of gadgets throughout flaky connections is the shock aspect of this undertaking. Usually MQTT can be used to ship small packets of information from gadgets within the area, again to an workplace. We have by no means seen it used on this method. The Pi Zero W is liable for decompressing the frames after which transmits them to the Pico by way of SPI. In keeping with DeVayu, one thread is used to obtain the photographs whereas the opposite is used to show photos at 500 Hz.
A sensor, hooked up on the prime of the unit is used for gesture controls. The Zero is liable for monitoring this sensor and triggering a customized animation script. A demo video exhibits DeVayu altering what’s proven on the matrix by waving in entrance of the sensor.
If you wish to recreate this Raspberry Pi undertaking, go to the unique undertaking thread over at Reddit for a more in-depth have a look at the way it goes collectively in addition to a video demonstration of the matrix in motion. There are already plans within the works to develop a brand new model of the Pico-powered matrix in addition to launch the supply for this one—remember to observe DeVayu for extra updates.