Data Logging Using microSD And Raspberry Pi Pico

The Data Logging Using microSD And Raspberry Pi Pico project functions by interfacing a microcontroller with external storage and analog sensing devices. At the heart of the system is the Raspberry Pi Pico board running CircuitPython 7.1.1, programmed via the Mu editor and loaded through the CircuitPython UF2 bootloader. The Pico features an integrated temperature sensor and General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins capable of reading analog voltage levels. To capture external physical phenomena, an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) or force sensor is wired in a voltage divider configuration alongside a 10k pull-down resistor on a breadboard using connecting wires. As the physical environment changes—such as varying light levels on an LDR or applied pressure on a force sensor—the electrical resistance changes, resulting in a proportional shift in the analog voltage supplied to the Pico's Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) pin. The system coordinates data collection through a MicroSD card module connected to the Pico. Using standard communication protocols, the Pico periodically samples its internal temperature sensor along with the analog voltage from the external sensor circuit. It then formats these readings into text strings and writes them sequentially to a MicroSD card inserted into the module. Power and data transfer to a computer for software deployment are handled via a USB cable.