Introducing the Catapults

Catapults are centres of technology and innovation where the best engineers, researchers and businesses work side by side to help accelerate the journey of new products and services to the market. There are seven Catapults which focus on high value manufacturing, offshore renewable energy, cell therapy, connected digital economy, transport systems, future cities and satellite applications.

The Catapult centres are being established by the Technology Strategy Board

Find out about the work of the Catapults in this video. For further information on this programme access https://www.catapult.org.uk/ or https://www.innovateuk.org/-/catapult-centres.

Introduce Quantum Computing, by Microsoft

An introduction to the mind-bending world of quantum computing.

Learn how Microsoft is blending quantum physics with computer science at http://www.microsoft.com/StationQ.

Allwinner A80T's Solution Development Cycle

This video shows the progression of 5 PCBA designs throughout Allwinner A80T's solution development cycle:

1. Initial dev board: a fully-expandable performance evaluation board used for early-stage driver development and IC performance optimization.
2. A80 OptimusBoard: a small-size development board used for non-tablet application SDK development.
3. Tablet form factor reference board: a development platform used primarily for Android porting optimization, early-stage reliability testing, and solution reference design.
4. Customer tablet boards: a mass-production tablet designed by customer based on Allwinner reference design.
5. CubieBoard 8: a development board designed by customer based on Allwinner reference design.

Allwinner A80T's Solution Development Cycle

Node.js to read Raspberry Pi temperature

Last post show that we can get Raspberry Pi temperature via /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp. This example show how to read it in Node.js.

var http = require("http");
var fs =  require("fs");

var server = http.createServer(function(request, response) {
    
    var temp = fs.readFileSync("/sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp");
    var temp_c = temp/1000;
    
    response.writeHead(200, {"Content-Type": "text/plain"});
    response.write("Raspberry Pi cpu temperature: ");
    response.write("\n" + temp);
    response.write("\n" + temp_c);
    response.end();
});
server.listen(8080);

Read Raspberry Pi CPU temperature

In Raspbian, the file /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp keep the CPU temperature, in 1000 (C degree). We can read Raspberry Pi CPU temperature with the command:

$ cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp

List installed package with dpkg

Enter the dpkg command with -l option to list installed packabe:

$ dpkg -l

/etc/apt/sources.list, packages sources

As part of its operation, Apt uses a file that lists the 'sources' from which packages can be obtained. This file is /etc/apt/sources.list.

Source and details: https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList

Setting up Raspberry Pi Model B+

Raspberry Pi Model B+ (B Plus) 512MB

Raspberry Pi Model B+ (B Plus) 512MB

The latest edition to the Raspberry Pi family - The Raspberry Pi B+ (B Plus) brings some much anticipated additions to the original Raspberry Pi Model B

Technical Specification:
• 700MHz Broadcom BCM2835 CPU with 512MB RAM
• 40pin extended GPIO
• 4 x USB 2 ports
• 4 pole Stereo output and Composite video port
• Full size HDMI
• CSI camera port for connecting the Raspberry Pi camera
• DSI display port for connecting the Raspberry Pi touch screen display
• Micro SD port for loading your operating system and storing data
• Micro USB power source

Model B+ Features:
• 40pin extended GPIO to enhance your "real world" projects
• Connect a Raspberry Pi camera and touch screen display (each sole separately)
• Stream and watch Hi-definition video output at 1080P
• Connect more to your Raspberry Pi using the 4 x USB ports

Raspberry Pi Model B+ launched

Raspberry Pi Model B+ launched, immediately available, at $35 – it’s still the same price, of what we’re calling the Raspberry Pi Model B+.



The Model B+ uses the same BCM2835 application processor as the Model B. It runs the same software, and still has 512MB RAM; but James and the team have made the following key improvements:

• More GPIO. The GPIO header has grown to 40 pins, while retaining the same pinout for the first 26 pins as the Model B.
• More USB. We now have 4 USB 2.0 ports, compared to 2 on the Model B, and better hotplug and overcurrent behaviour.
• Micro SD. The old friction-fit SD card socket has been replaced with a much nicer push-push micro SD version.
• Lower power consumption. By replacing linear regulators with switching ones we’ve reduced power consumption by between 0.5W and 1W.
• Better audio. The audio circuit incorporates a dedicated low-noise power supply.
• Neater form factor. We’ve aligned the USB connectors with the board edge, moved composite video onto the 3.5mm jack, and added four squarely-placed mounting holes.

Source: Raspberry Pi Blog - NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH! INTRODUCING RASPBERRY PI MODEL B+

Infographic - Raspberry Pi: How To Get Started

Raspberry Pi: How To Get Started - Imgur

PiFm, turning the Raspberry Pi Into an FM Transmitter

The project PiFm turn the Raspberry Pi Into an FM Transmitter, by switching GPIO to generate FM radio signal at 103.3Mhz (default) without extra hardware.

To install PiFm, download and extract the module from http://omattos.com/pifm.tar.gz.

Run the code to play the wav in Python:

$ sudo python
>>> import PiFm
>>> PiFm.play_sound("sound.wav")

This below video show how it run, tune your FM radio to 103.3Mhz to listen. In this example, no antenna used. The FM signal emit from the pin on Raspberry Pi board. remark: the background noise recorded by camera from environment, not from radio.


To achieve better performance, connect a 20cm or so plain wire to GPIO 4 (which is pin 7 on header P1) to act as an antenna.

NVIDIA Jetson TK1

Although you might think it's the same as other Arduino based Dev Boards out there, you would be quite surprised to find out that it has a lot more packed inside. Check out the video to find out more.

NVIDIA Jetson TK1 Interview - Newegg TV

NOOBS and Rasobian released 2014-06-20

NOOBS and Rasobian (Debian Wheezy) released at 2014-06-20, this new firmware updated with various fixes, and kernel bugfix.

Visit: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/

Mopidy - music server, support Raspberry Pi

Mopidy is a music server which can play music both from multiple sources, like your local hard drive, radio streams, and from Spotify and SoundCloud. Searches combines results from all music sources, and you can mix tracks from all sources in your play queue. Your playlists from Spotify or SoundCloud are also available for use.

To control your Mopidy music server, you can use one of Mopidy’s web clients, the Ubuntu Sound Menu, any device on the same network which can control UPnP MediaRenderers, or any MPD client. MPD clients are available for many platforms, including Windows, OS X, Linux, Android and iOS.

Mopidy runs nicely on a Raspberry Pi. As of January 2013, Mopidy will run with Spotify support on both the armel (soft-float) and armhf (hard-float) architectures, which includes the Raspbian distribution.

Read Installation on Raspberry Pi.