Piper Computer Kit for STEM/STEAM in-classroom or distance learning

Gamer Bundle Support

FAQs ABOUT YOUR GAMER BUNDLE

The Gamers Bundle includes the Command Center and Light Show Matrix. Access the portals which will guide you through your Gamers Bundle experience.

If you're having trouble, check out some of our FAQs here or ask a question in the knowledge base forum.

  • Command Center
  • Light Show Matrix

Where are my Instructions?

Start by building your Command Center using this blueprint. Then access the portal HERE to walk through our Command Center tutorial.

What does my Command Center plug into?

IMPORTANT: The Command Center blueprint shows a MicroUSB connection to the Raspberry Pi, but our tutorial works best when the MicroUSB is plugged into your laptop or desktop computer instead.

If you would like to use the Command Center plugged into the Raspberry Pi in your Piper Computer Kit, then you must access the web browser at startup, and then visit playpiper.com/pages/command-center to get started.

Is there more content after we've completed the tutorial?

Yes! Congratulations on completing your Command Center build—we've developed projects around using the Command Center that you can access here (select the Command Center tab)

What microcontroller is the Command Center based off of?

The Command Center is based off the Arduino Micro.

The Micro is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega32U4 (datasheet), developed in conjunction with Adafruit. It has 20 digital input/output pins (of which 7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, an ICSP header, and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a micro USB cable to get started. It has a form factor that enables it to be easily placed on a breadboard.

The Micro board is similar to the Arduino Leonardo in that the ATmega32U4 has built-in USB communication, eliminating the need for a secondary processor. This allows the Micro to appear to a connected computer as a mouse and keyboard, in addition to a virtual (CDC) serial / COM port.

The Light Show Matrix requires EITHER the Raspberry Pi microcontroller in a Piper Computer Kit/Piper Mini OR the Arduino Micro in the Command Center.

Where are my Instructions?

Start by building your Light Show Matrix using this blueprint. Then access the portal HERE to walk through our Light Show Matrix tutorial.


What does my Light Show plug into?

IMPORTANT: The Light Show blueprint shows the Light Show matrix connected to a breadboard which connects to the Raspberry Pi, BUT our portal guides you through using the Arduino Micro of the Command Center which plugs into your your laptop or desktop computer using the MicroUSB instead.

If you would like to use the Command Center plugged into the Raspberry Pi in your Piper Computer Kit, then you must access the web browser at startup, and then visit playpiper.com/pages/command-center to get started.

NOTE: The connections for the Raspberry Pi and the Arduino Micro are similar, but have some key points to note:

Lightshow Outputs Raspberry Pi Inputs Arduino Micro Inputs
Gamer Bundle Support
Gamer Bundle Support
Gamer Bundle Support

Is there more content after we've completed the tutorial?

Yes! Congratulations on completing your Light Show Matrix build—we've developed projects around using the Light Show Matrix that you can access here (select the Command Center tab)

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