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The board API allows you to give commands to your board components for setting GPIO pins to high or low, setting PWM, and working with analog and digital interrupts.
The board component supports the following methods:
Method Name | Description | viam-micro-server Support |
---|---|---|
SetGPIO | Set the digital signal output of this pin to low (0V) or high (active, >0V). | |
GetGPIO | Get if the digital signal output of this pin is high (active, >0V). | |
GetPWM | Get the pin’s pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle: a float [0.0 , 1.0 ] representing the percentage of time the digital signal output by this pin is in the high state (active, >0V) relative to the interval period of the PWM signal (interval period being the mathematical inverse of the PWM frequency). | |
SetPWM | Set the pin’s Pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle: a float [0.0 , 1.0 ] indicating the percentage of time the digital signal output of this pin is in the high state (active, >0V) relative to the interval period of the PWM signal (interval period being the mathematical inverse of the PWM frequency). | |
PWMFrequency | Get the PWM frequency of the GPIO pin. | |
SetPWMFrequency | Set the pin to the given PWM frequency (in Hz). When frequency is 0, it will use the board’s default PWM frequency. | |
GetDigitalInterruptValue | Get the current value of a configured digital interrupt. | |
ReadAnalogReader | Read the current integer value of the digital signal output by the ADC. | |
WriteAnalog | Write an analog value to a pin on the board. | |
StreamTicks | Start a stream of DigitalInterrupt ticks. | |
SetPowerMode | Set the board to the indicated PowerMode . | |
AnalogByName | Get a configured Analog by name . | |
DigitalInterruptByName | Get a DigitalInterrupt by name . | |
GPIOPinByName | Get a GPIOPin by pin number. | |
GetGeometries | Get all the geometries associated with the board in its current configuration, in the frame of the board. | |
Reconfigure | Reconfigure this resource. | |
DoCommand | Execute model-specific commands that are not otherwise defined by the component API. | |
Name | Get the name of the digital interrupt. | |
GetResourceName | Get the ResourceName for this board with the given name. | |
Close | Safely shut down the resource and prevent further use. |
To get started using Viam’s SDKs to connect to and control your board and the rest of your machine, go to your machine’s page on the Viam app, Navigate to the CONNECT tab’s Code sample page, select your preferred programming language, and copy the sample code.
To show your machine’s API key in the sample code, toggle Include API key.
We strongly recommend that you add your API key and machine address as an environment variable. Anyone with these secrets can access your machine, and the computer running your machine.
When executed, this sample code will create a connection to your machine as a client.
Then control your machine programmatically by getting your board
component from the machine with FromRobot
and adding API method calls, as shown in the following examples.
The following examples assume you have a board called "my_board"
configured as a component of your machine.
If your board has a different name, change the name
in the code.
Import the board package for the SDK you are using:
from viam.components.board import Board
import (
"go.viam.com/rdk/components/board"
)
Set the digital signal output of this pin to low (0V) or high (active, >0V).
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
high
(bool) (required): When true, sets the pin to high. When false, sets the pin to low.extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Set the pin to high.
await pin.set(high=True)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.high
(bool): If true
, set the state of the pin to high. If false
, set the state of the pin to low.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Set the pin to high.
err := pin.Set(context.Background(), "true", nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get if the digital signal output of this pin is high (active, >0V).
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Get if it is true or false that the state of the pin is high.
high = await pin.get()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
true
, the state of the pin is high. If false
, the state of the pin is low.Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Get if it is true or false that the state of the pin is high.
high := pin.Get(context.Background(), nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a method where of transmitting a digital signal in the form of pulses to control analog circuits. With PWM on a board, the continuous digital signal output by a GPIO pin is sampled at regular intervals and transmitted to any hardware components wired to the pin that read analog signals. This enables the board to communicate with these components.
Get the pin’s pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle: a float [0.0
, 1.0
] representing the percentage of time the digital signal output by this pin is in the high state (active, >0V) relative to the interval period of the PWM signal (interval period being the mathematical inverse of the PWM frequency).
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Get if it is true or false that the state of the pin is high.
duty_cycle = await pin.get_pwm()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
0.0
, 1.0
] representing the percentage of time the digital signal output by this pin is in the high state relative to the interval period of the PWM signal.Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Returns the duty cycle.
duty_cycle := pin.PWM(context.Background(), nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Set the pin’s Pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle: a float [0.0
, 1.0
] indicating the percentage of time the digital signal output of this pin is in the high state (active, >0V) relative to the interval period of the PWM signal (interval period being the mathematical inverse of the PWM frequency).
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
duty_cycle
(float) (required): The duty cycle.extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Set the duty cycle to .6, meaning that this pin will be in the high state for
# 60% of the duration of the PWM interval period.
await pin.set_pwm(duty_cycle=.6)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.dutyCyclePct
(float64): A float [0.0
, 1.0
] representing the percentage of time the digital signal output by this pin is in the high state relative to the interval period of the PWM signal.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Set the duty cycle to .6, meaning that this pin will be in the high state for 60% of the duration of the PWM interval period.
err := pin.SetPWM(context.Background(), .6, nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get the PWM frequency of the GPIO pin.
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Get the PWM frequency of this pin.
freq = await pin.get_pwm_frequency()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Get the PWM frequency of this pin.
freqHz, err := pin.PWMFreq(context.Background(), nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Set the pin to the given PWM frequency
(in Hz). When frequency
is 0, it will use the board’s default PWM frequency.
If you attempt to set an unsupported PWM frequency on an esp32
, the frequency will revert to the last valid frequency.
This may restart the PWM signal.
viam-micro-server
.Parameters:
frequency
(int) (required): The frequency, in Hz.extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
# Set the PWM frequency of this pin to 1600 Hz.
high = await pin.set_pwm_frequency(frequency=1600)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.freqHz
(uint): The PWM Frequency in Hertz (Hz), the count of PWM interval periods per second, to set the digital signal output by this pin to.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
// Set the PWM frequency of this pin to 1600 Hz.
high := pin.SetPWMFreq(context.Background(), 1600, nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get the current value of a configured digital interrupt. The value is the number of times the interrupt has been interrupted with a tick.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the DigitalInterrupt "my_example_digital_interrupt".
interrupt = await my_board.digital_interrupt_by_name(
name="my_example_digital_interrupt")
# Get the amount of times this DigitalInterrupt has been interrupted with a
# tick.
count = await interrupt.value()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the DigitalInterrupt "my_example_digital_interrupt".
interrupt, err := myBoard.DigitalInterruptByName("my_example_digital_interrupt")
// Get the amount of times this DigitalInterrupt has ticked.
count, err := interrupt.Value(context.Background(), nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Parameters:
Returns:
Example:
// Get the current value of a digital interrupt named "my_example_digital_interrupt"
var interruptVal = await myBoard.digitalInterruptValue('my_example_digital_interrupt');
For more information, see the Flutter SDK Docs.
Read the current integer value of the digital signal output by the ADC.
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the Analog "my_example_analog_reader".
reader = await my_board.analog_reader_by_name(
name="my_example_analog_reader")
# Get the value of the digital signal "my_example_analog_reader" has most
# recently measured.
reading = await reader.read()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Value
of the digital signal output by the analog pin and the Min
, Max
, and StepSize
of the reader.Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the analog pin "my_example_analog".
analog, err := myBoard.AnalogByName("my_example_analog")
// Get the value of the analog signal "my_example_analog" has most recently measured.
reading, err := analog.Read(context.Background(), nil)
readingValue := reading.Value
stepSize := reading.StepSize
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Parameters:
Returns:
Example:
// Get the current value of an analog reader named "my_example_analog"
var analogVal = await myBoard.analogReaderValue('my_example_analog');
For more information, see the Flutter SDK Docs.
Write an analog value to a pin on the board.
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
value
(int) (required): Value to write to the analog writer.extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the Analog "my_example_analog_writer".
writer = await my_board.analog_by_name(
name="my_example_analog_writer")
await writer.write(42)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.value
(int): Value to write to the pin.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the Analog pin "my_example_analog".
analog, err := myBoard.AnalogByName("my_example_analog")
// Set the pin to value 48.
err := analog.Write(context.Background(), 48, nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Start a stream of DigitalInterrupt
ticks.
Parameters:
interrupts
(List[viam.components.board.board.Board.DigitalInterrupt]) (required): list of digital interrupts to receive ticks from.extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
di8 = await my_board.digital_interrupt_by_name(name="8")
di11 = await my_board.digital_interrupt_by_name(name="11")
# Iterate over stream of ticks from pins 8 and 11.
async for tick in await my_board.stream_ticks([di8, di11]):
print(f"Pin {tick.pin_name} changed to {'high' if tick.high else 'low'} at {tick.time}")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.interrupts
([]DigitalInterrupt): Slice of digital interrupts to receive ticks from.ch chan
(Tick): The channel to stream Ticks, structs containing Name
, High
, and TimestampNanosec
fields.extra
(map[string]interface{}): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Make a channel to stream ticks
ticksChan := make(chan board.Tick)
interrupts := []*DigitalInterrupt{}
if di8, err := myBoard.DigitalInterruptByName("8"); err == nil {
interrupts = append(interrupts, di8)
}
if di11, err := myBoard.DigitalInterruptByName("11"); err == nil {
interrupts = append(interrupts, di11)
}
err = myBoard.StreamTicks(context.Background(), interrupts, ticksChan, nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Parameters:
Returns:
Example:
// Stream ticks from digital interrupts on pins 8 and 11
var interrupts = ['8', '11'];
Stream<Tick> tickStream = await myBoard.streamTicks(interrupts);
For more information, see the Flutter SDK Docs.
Set the board to the indicated PowerMode
.
This method may not receive a successful response from gRPC when you set the board to the offline power mode PowerMode.POWER_MODE_OFFLINE_DEEP
.
When this is the case for your board model, the call is returned with an error specifying that the remote procedure call timed out or that the endpoint is no longer available. This is expected: the board has been successfully powered down and can no longer respond to messages.
Parameters:
mode
(viam.proto.component.board.PowerMode.ValueType) (required): The desired power mode.duration
(datetime.timedelta) (optional): Requested duration to stay in power mode.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Set the power mode of the board to OFFLINE_DEEP.
status = await my_board.set_power_mode(mode=PowerMode.POWER_MODE_OFFLINE_DEEP)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.mode
(pb.PowerMode): Options to specify power usage of the board: boardpb.PowerMode_POWER_MODE_UNSPECIFIED
, boardpb.PowerMode_POWER_MODE_NORMAL
, and boardpb.PowerMode_POWER_MODE_OFFLINE_DEEP
.duration
(*time.Duration): If provided, the board will exit the given power mode after the specified duration.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
Set the power mode of the board to OFFLINE_DEEP.
myBoard.SetPowerMode(context.Background(), boardpb.PowerMode_POWER_MODE_OFFLINE_DEEP, nil)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Parameters:
powerMode
PowerMode (required)seconds
int (required)nanos
int (required)extra
Map<String, dynamic>? (optional)Returns:
Example:
// Set the power mode of the board to offline deep for 60 seconds
// Requires importing 'package:viam_sdk/protos/component/board.dart'
const powerMode = PowerMode.POWER_MODE_OFFLINE_DEEP;
await myBoard.setPowerMode(powerMode, 60, 0);
For more information, see the Flutter SDK Docs.
Get a configured Analog
by name
.
Parameters:
name
(str) (required): Name of the analog reader to be retrieved.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the Analog "my_example_analog_reader".
reader = await my_board.analog_by_name(name="my_example_analog_reader")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
name
(string): Name of the analog pin you want to retrieve. Set as the "name"
property in board configuration.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the Analog pin "my_example_analog".
analog, err := myBoard.AnalogByName("my_example_analog")
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get a DigitalInterrupt by name
.
Parameters:
name
(str) (required): Name of the digital interrupt.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the DigitalInterrupt "my_example_digital_interrupt".
interrupt = await my_board.digital_interrupt_by_name(
name="my_example_digital_interrupt")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
name
(string): Name of the digital interrupt you want to retrieve. Set as the "name"
property in board configuration.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the DigitalInterrupt "my_example_digital_interrupt".
interrupt, err := myBoard.DigitalInterruptByName("my_example_digital_interrupt")
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get a GPIOPin
by pin number.
Parameters:
name
(str) (required): Name of the GPIO pin.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
# Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin = await my_board.gpio_pin_by_name(name="15")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
name
(string): Pin number of the GPIO pin you want to retrieve as a GPIOPin
interface. Refer to the pinout diagram and data sheet of your board model for pin numbers.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(robot, "my_board")
// Get the GPIOPin with pin number 15.
pin, err := myBoard.GPIOPinByName("15")
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get all the geometries associated with the board in its current configuration, in the frame of the board. The motion and navigation services use the relative position of inherent geometries to configured geometries representing obstacles for collision detection and obstacle avoidance while motion planning.
Parameters:
extra
(Mapping[str, Any]) (optional): Extra options to pass to the underlying RPC call.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
geometries = await my_board.get_geometries()
if geometries:
# Get the center of the first geometry
print(f"Pose of the first geometry's centerpoint: {geometries[0].center}")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Reconfigure this resource. Reconfigure must reconfigure the resource atomically and in place.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.deps
(Dependencies): The resource dependencies.conf
(Config): The resource configuration.Returns:
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Execute model-specific commands that are not otherwise defined by the component API.
For built-in models, model-specific commands are covered with each model’s documentation.
If you are implementing your own board and add features that have no built-in API method, you can access them with DoCommand
.
Supported by viam-micro-server
.
Parameters:
command
(Mapping[str, ValueTypes]) (required): The command to execute.timeout
(float) (optional): An option to set how long to wait (in seconds) before calling a time-out and closing the underlying RPC call.Returns:
Raises:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
command = {"cmd": "test", "data1": 500}
result = await my_board.do_command(command)
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.cmd
(map[string]interface{}): The command to execute.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(machine, "my_board")
command := map[string]interface{}{"cmd": "test", "data1": 500}
result, err := myBoard.DoCommand(context.Background(), command)
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get the name of the digital interrupt.
Parameters:
Returns:
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
Get the ResourceName
for this board with the given name.
Parameters:
name
(str) (required): The name of the Resource.Returns:
Example:
my_board_name = Board.get_resource_name("my_board")
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Safely shut down the resource and prevent further use.
Parameters:
Returns:
Example:
my_board = Board.from_robot(robot=machine, name="my_board")
await my_board.close()
For more information, see the Python SDK Docs.
Parameters:
ctx
(Context): A Context carries a deadline, a cancellation signal, and other values across API boundaries.Returns:
Example:
myBoard, err := board.FromRobot(machine, "my_board")
err = myBoard.Close(context.Background())
For more information, see the Go SDK Docs.
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