Playing around with RGB color lamps can be fun but choosing a color takes time and effort. What if you could automate the process (with our favorite microcontroller, the Raspberry Pi Pico, of course)? That’s exactly what maker and developer Scarlet Lee has done with this AI-controlled Raspberry Pi Pico lamp that uses Chat GPT to help pick the right color for the best ambiance possible.
There are plenty of factors you could use as triggers to set the color. In this case, Lee is using things like the temperature, average humidity levels and the current amount of ambient light to set the color of the lamp. These details are parsed to ChatGPT which makes a suggestion for the light color. It also displays a message with good fortunes on the display panel.
To make setting up this project a little bit easier, Lee is using a modular breakout board called Pico Bricks. This is designed so the Pico plugs into the center of the board with an array of components around the edges. Pre-wired modules with various components like temperature sensors, buzzers, etc are placed around the perimeter. We reviewed the Pico Bricks board a while back and appreciated its approach as a learning platform for students.
The Raspberry Pi Pico works alongside Pico Bricks to provide the platform for the project, but tt requires an internet connection. Lee recommends using a WIZnet Ethernet HAT or even the WIZnet W5100S-EVB-Pico board instead. You could also use a Raspberry Pi Pico W in the place of the Pico for a simpler setup. As far as the Pico Bricks modules go, you’ll need the RGB LED, an OLED display, the temperature/humidity sensor, LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) as well as a button to control the lamp.
Lee was kind enough to provide all of the details you need to code the project at home. You’ll need access to OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT for color selection. There are also steps for setting up each of the modules you’ll be using with Pico Bricks. You can find the full build guide and source code over at the official project page shared to Hackster.
This is one Raspberry Pi project guaranteed to help you get the most out of your RGB LED experience. If you want to recreate it yourself, you best head over to Hackster and see exactly how this clever ChatGPT RGB lamp goes together.
