Reverse Lure Module!

In this project we’ll show you how to find Pokemon with the Raspberry Pi. It looks like a lure module, but instead of attracting Pokemon, it lets you know when they’re close. 

It like getting a notification when Pokemon are nearby. This can be really useful, especially when you’re at work or stuck in class. So now you don’t have to keep your mobile device open or keep checking every ten minutes.

How Does It Work?

When a common Pokemon appears, this first LED turns on. The second LED lights up when rare Pokemon are nearby, and when legendary Pokemon show up, the third LED will turn on.

By loading some python code onto the Raspberry Pi, you can connect to the unofficial Niantic Pokemon API and get request when a Pokemon spawns in your area. In the JSON configuration file, you can specify any location.

Warning, Warning, Warning!!

This is really risky hacker business and could potentially get you banned! This is completely against Niantic’s terms of service.

It’s a proof of concept for educational hacking only! Niantic doesn’t like it when folks use the API and they’ll probably shut down access to it - So if you’re watching this, it may or may not work.

So fair warning, Don’t use this on your main account! And there’s no guarantee it’ll work at all - but the case is pretty cool!

Parts

• Raspberry Pi Zero
• Tiny OTG Adaper USB Micro to USB
• Mini WiFi Module
• 3mm LED
• 220ohm Resistor
• Perma-Proto Flex-PCB

Tools and Supplies

• Soldering Iron + Solder
• 30AWG Silicone-coated wire
• Wire Strippers
• 3D Printer + Filament

Not only can you make this lovely Lure-like case, you can make the Pi Zero act as a reverse-Lure, a Pokemon Finder! By loading some python software into the Pi, you can connect to the unofficial Niantic Pokemon API and determine when a Pokemon spawns in your area.

Thanks to James for the writeup!

Connecting to Niantic's servers and using the API is completely against the terms of service. It's a fun hack but is not authorized by Niantic and can cause the account used to be soft-banned or perhaps even perma-banned!

Do not use your main account!

Also, Niantic doesn't particularly like it when people use the API and they are very likely to shut access to it (again) soon!

This code may not work past when this was written on August 11, 2016. There is no guarantee or support or expectation that this will work at all!

Prepare Pi Zero

Start by loading up Jessie Lite on your Raspberry Pi

You'll also need to log into a shell on your Pi Zero, we prefer using a USB console cable but you can also connect a keyboard and use HDMI or connect an ethernet adapter and ssh to raspberrypi.local

Either way, get your Pi Zero up and running and you are logged in. Expand Filesystem from within sudo raspi-config. Reboot with the WiFi adapter connected to the USB OTG port

Then set up the WiFi adapter, we prefer to do it this way but there's other techniques, just do whatever you like to get the Pi Zero on the network.

Reboot and make sure you can ping raspberrypi.org successfully

Install packages

Once networking is working, run the following at the shell to install pkgs:

• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get install git python python-pip python-dev

• sudo pip install --upgrade pip

Install Pokemon Go API

From the shell, get the latest PGoAPI with git clone https://github.com/keyphact/pgoapi

cd in the new directory (cd pgoapi) and then find and download the latest encryption file. As of this writing it was available at http://pastebin.com/raw/fCSw0Fz4

Run wget http://encryptionfilelocationhere -O encrypt.c to save it as encrypt.c

Compile it into a linked library (libencrypt.so) with gcc -std=c99 -shared -o libencrypt.so -fPIC encrypt.c

You'll need to install a bunch of software, luckily it's in a file so you can just run

sudo pip install -r requirements.txt

To do them all

Grab the adapokefinder.py file with wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/adafruit/Raspberry-Pi-Pokemon-Detector/master/adapokefinder.py -O adapokefinder.py

Time to configure!

Create your config with mv config.json.example config.json and then edit it with nano config.json - put in your account and the location you want to monitor

Remember, do not use your main account!

Test it out

That's it! time to test. Run python adapokefinder.py and make sure you authenticate and see pokemon 'appear'

Circuit Diagram

Use the circuit diagram to reference for connecting the components together. The diagram does not depict exact wire lengths or size of components.

Wired Connections

• LED 1 Cathode to Resistor
• LED 2 Cathode to Resistor
• LED 3 Cathode to Resistor
• LED 1 Anode to GPIO 17
• LED 2 Anode to GPIO 22
• LED 3 Anode to GPIO 27

5V Power

To power the Raspberry Pi, you'll need a 5V power supply / wall adapter. The Pi needs 5V power via a microUSB cable. This project is not meant to be portable.

Slice Settings

Below are some recommended slice settings. We used simplify3D to slice these parts and generate the gcode. These parts were printed on a Sigma BCN3D using a .4mm nozzle and 1.75mm filament.

• .2mm layer height
• 220C extruder / 65c bed
• 20% infill
• 4 top/bottom layers
• 2 shells / parameters
• 60mm/s printing speed with 120mm/s travel

Tolerances

The top cover should have a friction fit to the case, but you might find it difficult to snap together. Tolerances will differ depending on the 3D printer. If you find the pieces are too tight, you may need to use a filing tool on the edges to loosen up the tolerances.

CNC Milling Acrylic

The lm-cover.stl part was designed to be CNC milled or laser cut. Although it can be 3D printed, the details on the top will not appear because they're produced via CAM tools. The STL and source file is available to download so you can adjust the CAM tools to work with a number of milling machines. 

Raspberry Pi Lure Module Case

And that's it! Now you have a pretty sweet looking case for the Raspberry Pi. If Niantic stops the python scripts from ever working again, at least you have a dope looking case! You can also change up the python code to make the LED blink, since they are already connected ;-)