Create Interactive Projects with GPIO on NVIDIA Jetson

Create Interactive Projects with GPIO on NVIDIA Jetson

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Building the Circuit
• Wiring Instructions
• Installing the Jetson GPIO Library
• Running the Tests
• Conclusion
• Resources
• FAQ

Introduction

In this Tutorial, we will explore the exciting world of GPIO (General Purpose Input Output). We will be building a circuit that controls an LED using a push button. GPIO allows us to interact with external electronic components and peripherals using our Jetson board. Let's get started with the project!

Building the Circuit

Before we dive into the wiring instructions, let's understand the components involved in our circuit. We will need an LED, a push button, a transistor, resistors, and hookup wires. The LED will be driven by 5 volts from the Jetson board, and the push button will act as a switch to control the LED.

Wiring Instructions

To create the circuit, we will need to connect the various components together. Here is a step-by-step guide on wiring the circuit:

1. Start by cutting a piece of hookup wire and stripping off the edges.
2. Bend the wire to form a right angle using pliers or the tip of your fingernail.
3. Strip away the excess wire and bend it over to create a ground connection.
4. Connect the ground planes together by tying the wires.
5. Attach a 10k resistor between the push button and ground.
6. Use a 1k resistor to connect the push button to the GPIO Pin.
7. Connect the LED to the collector side of the transistor and the emitter side to ground.
8. Wire a 220 ohm resistor from the LED to the 5V rail.
9. Attach a 1.5k resistor to the base of the transistor, which will act as the switch for the GPIO pin.
10. Finally, connect the power wires to the 5V and 1.8V rails on the Jetson board.

Installing the Jetson GPIO Library

In order to control the GPIO pins on our Jetson board, we need to install the Jetson GPIO library. Here's how you can do it:

1. Visit the Jetson Hacks GitHub repository and copy the repository address.
2. Switch to the desired directory on your machine and run the following command: git clone <repository address>.
3. Navigate to the cloned directory and build the example using the provided instructions.
4. If you receive a "Permission denied" error while running the example, prefix the command with sudo to run it with elevated privileges.

Running the Tests

Now that we have successfully installed the Jetson GPIO library, we can test our circuit. The test program included in the library will flash the LED a few times before the button becomes active. Every time you press the button, the light will turn on, and releasing it will turn the light off. How exciting!

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have learned how to control an LED using a push button and the GPIO pins on a Jetson board. GPIO opens up endless possibilities for creating interactive projects and interfacing with external hardware. Now it's your turn to experiment and explore the world of GPIO!

Resources

• Jetson Hacks GitHub Repository
• Jetson GPIO Library Documentation
• Python GPIO Library

FAQ

Q: Can I use any LED for this circuit? A: Yes, as long as the voltage and current requirements of the LED are within the limits of the Jetson board.

Q: How can I change the behavior of the LED when the button is pressed? A: You can modify the test program to add custom functionality based on your requirements.

Q: Where can I find more projects using GPIO on the Jetson board? A: The Jetson Hacks GitHub repository and the official Jetson GPIO library documentation are great resources for finding more projects and examples.