Use the Arduino MKR ENV Shield on a Raspberry Pi

PiMKRHAT is an adaptor to use Arduino MKR boards and shields together with the Raspberry Pi. Different Arduino MKR Shields can be used via our HAT as extension for the Raspberry Pi. I want to show in this small project how to use the Arduino MKR ENV shield with a Raspberry Pi under Python.

Hardware

The PiMKRHAT comes as kit. You have to assemble it first. Please follow the attached assembly instruction

Jumper setting

Please set for the Arduino MKR ENV shield only the 5V and 3, 3V Jumper on the Power jumper bank. Leave all other jumpers open.

Raspbian

Please download the latest Raspbian OS for the Raspberry Pi and copy it to an SD card via Pi imager

Configuring I2C

The sensors on the MKR ENV shield are using I2C communication. You have to install some libraries first via the bash:

sudo apt-get install -y python-smbus
sudo apt-get install -y i2c-tools 

Now you have to enable the I2C interface:

sudo raspi-config
--> 5 Interfacing Options
--> P5 I2C--> YES
sudo reboot

Testing I2C

Now it's time to test the I2C interface:

sudo i2cdetect -y 1

This shows that two I2C addresses are in use – 0x10, 0x5c and 0x5f

Install additional libraries

sudo apt install python-pip
sudo pip install veml6075

Test

3 little Python programs are available to test the UV radiation, temperature & humidity and pressure sensor of the MKR ENV shield:

HTS221.py -temperature and humidity

LPS22HB.py - pressure

VEML6075.py - UV radiation

The analogue light sensor requires an analogue input and can not be used with the Raspberry Pi.