Motor SHIM for Pico

Solder this SHIM to the back of your Pico and unlock the magical ability to plug in up to two of Pimoroni's micro metal gearmotors (using these tidy short motor cables). To connect them up via cable, your motors will need to be equipped with Motor Connector Shims (but if you'd rather not solder the shims to the motors yourself, Pimoroni also sell them with motors pre-attached).

In addition to the motor driver, Motor SHIM for Pico features a multi-purpose and ever popular user button plus a Qw/ST connector so you can attach breakouts and give your diminutive robot some smarts. You could use it to make a tiny front wheel drive robot (like a mini Trilobot) or even a matchbox sized balancing robot.

Pimoroni designed it to be as slimline as possible and use minimal pins so it can be combined easily with other add-ons, like our Pico Packs and Bases. For a smol battery powered robot with LiPo charging and an on/off button, consider using a Pimoroni Pico LiPo or stack this SHIM with a LiPo SHIM for Pico!

Motor SHIM for Pico is supported by a well documented C++/MicroPython motor library with lots of examples - there's even one to teach your motors how to sing! 

• Dual H-Bridge motor driver (DRV8833)
• 2 JST-ZH connectors (2 pin) for attaching motors
• User button
• Qw/ST (Qwiic/STEMMA QT) connector for attaching breakouts
• Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico.
• Soldering required.
• C++/MicroPython libraries
• Schematic

Software

Pimoroni's C++/MicroPython libraries are packed with powerful features for working with motors. You'll get best performance using C++, but if you're a beginner we'd recommend using Pimoroni batteries included MicroPython build for ease of getting started.

• Download Pirate brand MicroPython
• MicroPython API documentation
• MicroPython examples
• C++ examples

Alternatively, you can use CircuitPython to drive motors with your Raspberry Pi Pico, if you want access to all the nice conveniences of Adafruit's ecosystem.

• Getting Started with CircuitPython
• CircuitPython example

Notes

• Dimensions: approx 26mm x 21mm x 5mm (L x W x H, including connectors)
• If you're ambitious in the ways of experimental soldering, you can try soldering the Pico and the SHIM both to the short end of your header, back to back - leaving the long ends of the pins free to plug into other things. This method makes for a much more slimline Pico/SHIM package, but you'll need to make sure your solder joints make good contact with the pads of both boards and the header.
• If you'd prefer not to attach Motor SHIM permanently to your Pico, consider soldering it to a pair of socket headers (as pictured in the photos of Pimoroni Pico LiPo).
• The little pink robot weighs just 68.8g! It uses Motor SHIM for Pico, LiPo SHIM for Pico, a 1/2" ball caster, white motor brackets , 32x7mm wheels and a dinky 150mAh LiPo battery. The chassis baseplate is laser cut from 3mm acrylic (download the .dxf file).

Raspberry Pi Pico, headers and other components shown are sold separately.