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Pimoroni Unicorn HAT
The Pimoroni Unicorn HAT is a "shield" for the Raspberry Pi that sports a matrix of 64 (8x8) addressable RGB LEDs that are powered directly from the Pi. The Unicorn HAT provides a wash of controllable color that is ideal for mood lighting, 8x8 pixel art, persistence of vision effects, status indications, or just blasting color into your surroundings.
Each Pimoroni Unicorn Hat easily snaps on top of a Raspberry Pi equipped with a 40-pin (2x20) GPIO. Pimoroni has created a GitHub repository bundling the Unicorn Hat software with a set of examples to get you started in an easy-to-use Python module, so all you have to worry about is setting the color you want each pixel to be.
- 64 RGB LEDs (WS2812B)
- Python API
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi 3, 2, B+, and A+
- EEPROM with Raspberry Pi HAT configuration details
- LED data driven via DMA over PWM
Pimoroni Unicorn HAT Product Help and Resources
Core Skill: Programming
If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.
Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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Customer Reviews
5 out of 5
Based on 1 ratings:
Love it
Just what I was looking for. A simple way to have a bright light controllable from the Raspberry Pi via Node-RED. Now I can build the automated solution with a web interface that I imagined.
If you use the Python examples, don't forget to run them as root. The error if you don't is very misleading.
I read elsewhere that the only connections needed to drive from Arduino are +5v, Gnd and an output with serial data from the Arduino. Is Unicorn happy with a 5v data signal? 3v3? And what power should the psu be capable of? Capacitor, etc? required on power line?
The Unicorn HAT has everything that's required integrated on board. You simply plug it onto the Pi GPIO and install the software libraries for use. It handles the level shifting and power supply!