Assembly Instructions

The instructions below walk you through assembling and connecting your TinyPilot kit.

Requirements

In addition to the items in your TinyPilot kit, you'll need:

• A Philips head screwdriver
• A target computer to control with TinyPilot
• An HDMI cable (e.g. HDMI to HDMI, DVI to HDMI)

Step 1: Assemble the case

1. Remove the Argon NEO case from its packaging. It should contain:
   • Plastic base
   • Case middle cover
   • Magnetic top cover (it will be attached to the middle piece)
   • Thermal tape
   • Case screws (6)
   • Rubber feet (4)
2. Remove the plastic film from the bottom of the case:
   
3. Remove the magnetic cover from the top of the case, and lay out all the components:
   
4. Remove the plastic film from both sides of the thermal tape:
   
5. Break the thermal tape in half, and place each half on the indentations underneath the case's middle piece:
   
6. Remove the Raspberry Pi from its packaging, and place it facedown on the case so that its pins and ports line up with the empty spaces in the case:
   

   

   The screwholes on the left side of the case will line up with the Pi's screwholes, whereas the ones on the right will not.

7. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, screw the base of the case to the middle of the case, securing the Pi between the two pieces:
   
8. Place the rubber feet into the four indentations on the bottom of the case:
   
9. Flip the case over and screw in the last two screws:
   
10. Slide the magnetic cover on to the top of the case:
    

Step 2: Insert the TinyPilot microSD card

Insert the TinyPilot microSD card into the Pi's microSD slot.

The microSD is already configured with TinyPilot's software.

Step 3: Connect the VGA to HDMI adaptor (Optional)

This step only applies if you purchased a kit with a VGA adaptor because your computer has no HDMI output.

1. Connect the VGA adaptor to your computer's VGA display output.
   
2. Use the 30-inch black USB-A to microUSB cable to connect the VGA adaptor to any available USB port on your computer.
   

Step 4: Connect the HDMI cable

1. Plug the HDMI capture dongle into one of the Pi's USB ports and connect it to an HDMI cable.
   

   You can use any USB port. The USB 3.0 ports (blue) and the USB 2.0 ports (black) perform identically.

2. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the output display port of the target computer.
   

   Depending on the target computer's output, you can use a HDMI to HDMI cable, a DisplayPort to HDMI cable, or a DVI to HDMI cable.

Step 5: Hook up the power connector

1. Use the 6-inch USB-C to USB-A cable to connect the USB-C port on the Raspberry Pi to the USB-A port on the TinyPilot Power Connector.
   
2. Connect a microUSB to USB-A cable to the port labeled "Power" on the TinyPilot Power Connector. Connect the other end to the USB to AC adaptor and plug it into a power outlet.
   

   
   Only use the TinyPilot power connector with power supplies that provide power isolation. Virtually all modern power supplies isolate power, but if you're working with especially old (20+ years) or low-quality hardware, verify that it's power isolated.
3. Connect a microUSB to USB-A cable to the port labeled "Data" on the TinyPilot Power Connector. Connect the other end to a USB port on your target computer.
   

   

If everything is connected correctly, you should see the Pi's power LED shine a solid red. The disk activity LED will flash green intermittently as the device runs.

Step 6: Attach an Ethernet cable

Connect TinyPilot to your local network by connecting an Ethernet cable to device's Ethernet port.

Step 6: Access the TinyPilot web interface

With your TinyPilot booted, you can now access the TinyPilot web interface at the following URL from any device on your local network:

• http://tinypilot/

Your very first boot might take up to two minutes as the Pi expands the microSD card's disk to maximize storage space.

Your target computer's display output should display in the browser. TinyPilot forwards any keystrokes you enter to the target machine.

Step 7: Change SSH credentials

TinyPilot's default credentials are:

• Username: pilot
• Password: flyingsopi

For security, you should connect to TinyPilot through SSH and run passwd to update your password.

Questions? Feedback?

How'd installation go?

If you have any questions or feedback about your TinyPilot, please email me:

• michael@tinypilotkvm.com