Badger 2040 - Hackable ID badge based around Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller

The Badger 2040 is an ID badge powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller. The same processor as used in the Raspberry Pi Pico. You can use it as an ID badge, a clock, an ebook reader, shopping list and more. You can also hack it yourself and use it to play games or create your own programs.

Pimoroni has updated the library used for programming the Badger 2040. This page is based on the older library, for new projects then I have details of the new library at my Badger 2040W programming project.

In the video below I provide an introduction to Bager 2040. It shows how you can configure the built in functions. In a future video I'll be explaining how you can create your own games using MicroPython.

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Comparison with Raspberry Pi Zero with InkyPHat

I have created a programmable ID badge before which was based on a Raspberry Pi Zero with the InkyPHat epaper display. This was something I created before the Raspberry Pi Pico was available and I do believe that the microcontroller is more appropriate rather than having a full Linux computer and operating system. There are some advantages to using a Raspberry Pi Zero, including the ability to connect using wireless (although I didn't use that feature before) and that it used a 3 colour display (red, black and white), but otherwise the Badger 2040 is a better fit.

For more details see the World Book day - Raspberry Pi InkyPHat ID Badge.

Hack the Badge - Create a Game

One of the great features of the badge is that you can "hack" it to run your own code. This includes the ability to create your own game to run on the badge. I created a simple version of Tic-Tac-Toe (noughts and crosses) to run on the badge.

Badger 2040 Raspberry Pi Pico ID Badge with Tic-Tac-Toe games