Step 3 - Setup

Follow these steps to set up your Tiny Sorter. The process is also shown in the video below.

Video: Setup Video

  • Mount the Tiny Sorter in front of the webcam
    Place your Tiny Sorter so that the objects and the sorter arm are clearly visible to the camera.

  • Connect the servo motor to GP5 on the Pico
    Plug the signal wire of your servo motor into GPIO pin GP5 on the Raspberry Pi Pico. (For Grove A1, use GP27 instead – see the glossary.)

  • Connect the Raspberry Pi Pico to your laptop via USB
    • Check that your Pico is physically connected to your computer.
    • Make sure the CircuitPython code for the sorter is saved as code.py on your Pico drive.
    • Also confirm that a boot.py file is present on the Pico with these contents: 
      import usb_cdc
usb_cdc.enable(console=True, data=True)

      (Edit this only if needed—this file should not be part of code.py.)

  • Open the Tiny Sorter web app
    Use Google Chrome and go to:
    https://editor.p5js.org/heinrichkortsch/full/FG6GUcCSO

  • Paste your Teachable Machine model link in the web app
    • Export your model from Teachable Machine and copy the provided URL.
    • Paste the link into the input field in the web app.
    • If the model loads successfully, you’ll see the names of your two trained classes appear in the interface.
  • Close the Mu Editor (or any other serial/REPL application)
    • Be sure the Mu Editor (and any other serial or REPL programs) are fully closed.
    • If Mu or Thonny is open, they block the serial port and prevent the web app from connecting to the Pico.
  • Connect the Pico using the web app
    • Click the “CONNECT PICO” button in the app.
    • In the device dialog, choose the device with the higher number at the end (e.g. usbmodem12303) – this is the Data Channel.
    • If unsure, just select the higher-numbered option for data communication.
  • Align everything
    • Make sure the Tiny Sorter and your sorting objects are lined up correctly with the webcam so the machine learning model gets a clear, unobstructed view.
  • All done!
    • You are now set: present objects for sorting and watch how the web interface responds with live feedback from your model and Pico.

Tip:
If something doesn’t work, check all connections, use Chrome(!), close Mu-Editor, and make sure both code.py and boot.py exist on the Pico.

The Setup is all done? Let’s test your Tiny Sorter.

Continue with step 4 to test and use your Tiny Sorter!.