Ideas for your Raspberry Pi!
The chances are you have a Raspberry Pi or there’s one on the way to you, now you are starting to think about what kind of cool things you could build with it, well look no further below is a list of some project ideas to get you up and running.
If you build any of your own projects not in the list below, don’t forget to come back and leave a comment, as we’ll keep the list updated with new ideas. Especially as the new Raspberry Pi’s such as the Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi Zero have considerably more power than the old ones, so there’s some really great projects coming around now.
Any other ideas? Leave a comment below.
Also, I have some other posts on Raspberry PI’s
69 comments On Raspberry PI Project Ideas (40+)
An open source web kiosk station : http://pikiosk.tumblr.com/
Thanks for the link, have added to the table 🙂
put it in a car for a mobile media server, find some dsp software that will run on it and use it for a cool preamp, use it for product demonstrations.
Hi you listed some really cool ideas.
For a few months my raspberry works as a printserver for iOS devices. It runs with cups as print backend. It also serves as git server without any problems.
Pointers to more info on this application?
Thanks,
David
Hello,
We are group of students working with raspberrypi 2. We are displaying sensor’s data on rpi and currently we want to display this data on database but we are finding it hard to send sensor value to database. Please reply me with possible solution.
Is it possible to rig a Raspberry Pi to microphones (one mic per class in a school building) and have it call the cops (and/or sms the cells phones of security guards in nearby building) if it “hears” gun shots?
Gunfire locators already exist that do exactly that, you would just need to expand them into a school, link at the bottom of this comment.
A Raspberry PI is just a very small computer/server, so long as you can write something (say in Python) that can detect the noise of a gun shot it would be fairly easy to do, basically just move the above software onto a PI.
In a really simple form you could just alert on very loud noises, using some kind of dB (decibel) meter thats connected to the PI.
The call and SMS could be done using either a USB dongle, or VoIP(SIP).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfire_locator
The problem with gunshot detectors is they don’t detect gunshots, they detect noise over a certain decibel. So a car backfiring would set it off.
In Bolzano we have realized an open source prototype powered by a raspberry-pi to monitor the traffic, read more here: http://www.thepowerbase.com/2012/12/integreen-brings-open-source-traffic-monitoring-to-italy/
Thanks for the comment, a great project, have added it to the list.
I have actually been playing around with doing something similar using Python and web cam to count traffic (movement), and may be also speed.
Hopefully if it’s ever stable enough I will put the code on GitHub.
A better / more up to date guide on how to run now may be found at: https://gist.github.com/3245130
I’ve developed an HTML5 Canvas on the Raspberry Pi working on top of the GPU. More info here: https://github.com/luismreis/node-openvg-canvas
Run tonido (www.tonido.com) personal cloud server on raspberry pi.
Not sure how much I would trust my important data on a RPi cloud, great project though, added above.
Great ideas!
You can also use it as a cheap Arduino + Wifi shield and control it with an iPhone:
http://www.samratamin.com/blog/raspberry-pi-iphone-control-a-rpi-with-an-iphone-in-2-minutes/
Thanks; Added to the table above!
Is there a car media server application?
I can’t find any examples so far, but basically its probably going to be the normal media server above, but with a small touchscreen of eBay 🙂
http://hackaday.com/2012/11/19/raspberry-pi-reaches-critical-mass-as-xbmc-hardware/
Don’t forget wearable computers! MyVu video goggles from a few years ago are cheap now, take component input, and can be modified into HUDs.
see: http://blog.makerbar.com/?p=254
Great idea, added above!
Thank you!
I’m working on a cat food dispenser project operable via the internet to serve my cat lunch when I’m at the office,
see the progress on: http://www.2b-art-design.nl/?do=tag4+.rasp-project-catfeeder-en
PIR sensor logging @ http://karlherrick.com/dev/2012/09/05/logging-motion-with-the-raspberry-pi/
PIR sensor graphing @ http://karlherrick.com/dev/2012/11/28/visualizing-motion/
Any pointers to drivers older printers? I have several perfectly functional printers that are no longer supported by current commercial OS releasses and would like to use a Rasberry Pi to support them as network print devices.
Got an example of the printer model? Normally your driver is dependant on the actual printer.
This goes hand in hand with your Transmission daemon link:
Install a DLNA server daemon and build a uPNP media server from scratch. The Pi’s onboard GPU sucks under load and really can’t handle running a true media center front end and video playback at the same time. So cut out the middleman by running it headless and connecting to it on your home network from any web-enabled device or game console. All you need is a powered USB hub with an external hard drive and you’ve got all your media at your fingertips from anywhere in your home.
Minidlna works best because it has out of the box support for the Xbox 360 and is easier on resources than Mediatomb or other products.
sourceforge.net/projects/minidlna/
Also, this is not my blog, but this guy gives a great rundown for beginners on how to get a headless Pi up and running: http://naich.net/wordpress/?p=435
MinecraftPi?
http://minecraftpi.com/
Nice idea, unfortunately no content on there yet.
Will add it when there is 🙂
Nerdvittles.com offers an image to tuen it into a full blown IP PBX based on Asterisk. I’ve almost purchased one just for that reason.
Could use a raspberry pi as a mail server
Hi, I’m the guy behind the “Raspberry Tank” and I’d just like to say thanks for considering my project one of the 30 coolest RPi projects! I’ll definitely have a go with the Arduino shield interface and the wearable Pi if/when I get my second and third Pis! 🙂
Great to hear from you Ian, and amazing project you have there 🙂
Hope you got a bit of traffic to your blog from the post, we are still seeing quite a lot of people pass through the site!
If you work on any more project please let us know, will be happy to link over again
Smart Sensor Networks (like the traffic monitoring image but with an adaptive feedback)
My ultimate favourite would be to hookup a pheromone detector to lower/raise the toilet seat.
Amazing projects 🙂
Make a retro emulator system!
http://petrockblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/retropie-setup-an-initialization-script-for-retroarch-on-the-raspberry-pi/
Here’s my project:
http://imgur.com/a/qhxfh
Hey, thanks for the link! This is a great page, not surprised that it got pounded with traffic. At least you’re getting new fans (myself included!)
Thanks for the comment, spent a few hours configuring the server like it should be, so bring on the pounding now 🙂
I recently did a blog on setting up an Octopress blog. http://www.erikminkel.com/2012/12/17/host-your-own-jekyll-based-blog-on-a-raspberry-pi/
Nice collection you have so far.
I’ve gotten my Pi working as a WiFi access point / router @ http://sirlagz.net/2012/08/09/how-to-use-the-raspberry-pi-as-a-wireless-access-pointrouter-part-1/
Thanks for the link, I will include it in our next update
http://hackaday.com/2012/06/28/penetration-testing-with-the-raspberry-pi/
Penetration “Testing”
Thanks, however it’s already on there 🙂
These ideas are great! I’m 11 years old and I’ve done the gmail notifier, the openelec, lighting LEDs, etc. Check out my blog at http://raspberrypikid.wordpress.com or follow me on Twitter, @kid_pi
Krystal
http://forum.rocrail.net/download.php?id=5787&sid=c7256176c36526f38c49cd7abfc13bb
I came across this guide for setting up the pi to control model trains with rocrail. Manolo Serrano is the author, and his website is http://tren.enmicasa.net .(although I can’t get his page to translate to english
this is pretty cool but there are alto more projects have a look like a on the go babel fish ( translate machine )
http://www.tancosin.com/Gadgets/5-cool-uses-for-raspberry-pi/
We are currently working on an email2sms (and vice versa) gateway that runs on the RaspberryPI. It’s already being used today but still under active development. It’s a bit opinionated in certain places (as it started as a project for a specific company) but it’s easy enough to swap out the parts you don’t want.
https://bitbucket.org/timothyp/lovon
An open source 6LoWPAN Border Router solution with excellent support for the RaspberryPi. It runs as a Contiki application compiled natively in Raspbian.
http://cetic.github.com/6lbr/
https://github.com/cetic/6lbr/wiki/Supported-Hardware
And here is a GPIO daughter board for the RaspberryPi with a 802.15.4 radio, allowing to interface the RaspberryPi with any 802.15.4 device.
http://github.com/Noolitic/Nooliberry/wiki
Hi everyone. I’ve equipped a Movel B Raspberry Pi with two USB WiFi NICs, and it now acts as IPv4 to IPv6 Converter – it connects to any configured WLAN it finds, establishes an IPv6 Tunnel, and opens up its own WiFi with the second card, to which you can connect your Laptop, Smartphone and so on. This way, you’re able to take your public IPv6 IPs wherever you go, and won’t affect the network you’re connecting the device to. Cheers!
Brilliant write up! I ordered a PI when they came out and it has been sat on the shelf ever since! This has inspired me to actually do something with it. Or get my son to – although he is showing no interest?!
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turn you raspberry pi into a headless spotify, mp3, webradio streamingstation with squeezeplug http://www.squeezeplug.eu
very easy. you can control it with you iphone or android.
Minecraft server
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=27889
proxy / squid server for a raspberry pi.
Has anyone produced the documentation / set up for a RasPi.
Would be helpful as pis no longer come alone 😉
Aquarium Monitor/Controller!
The link for Apple Time Machine Support is dead 🙁
here are a lot more ideas:
http://hackaday.com/category/raspberry-pi-2/
Here’s a project I just completed with a Pi. It’s a remote (web) controllable cat treat dispenser.
http://youtu.be/KexCIS8uCzU
http://youtu.be/Ua2BANU7uzA
I built a server cluster with mine. Check it out at http://raspberrywebserver.com/raspberrypicluster/raspberry-pi-cluster.html.
My idea is signal generator and oscilloscope.
Sound card can be used for DAC and ADC but for 20khz frequencies.
Still a great device. raspbian and openelec (I use both) have both matured nicely. Great performance.
Nice overview and line-up. You might want to include “Call Mom Button” project in the list.
It’s a Raspberry Pi integration that automatically calls your mom (or anyone else specified in advance) using Plivo APIs, (when you click on the button for the input.)
You can read in full: http://plivo.com/blog/raspberry-pi-project-ideas/
This guy created an LED sign to tell him when the bus was coming:
http://coldattic.info/shvedsky/pro/blogs/a-foo-walks-into-a-bar/posts/98
His code didn’t do all that I wanted, so I wrote my own version in CoffeeScript: https://github.com/grandvizier/transit-sign
Very nice project, thanks for the link
Notice : I don’t even have a Raspberry Pi, but it intrigues me nonetheless, and I have an idea that I could use some feedback on.
I am a garage fitness enthusiast. One of the things that I want for my garage gym is a wall timer; something along the lines of this thing (https://www.againfaster.com/shop/timers-fans-etc/af-wall-timer/).
What I’m wondering is whether it would be possible to connect a Raspberry Pi to the LCD screen from an old Dell laptop and use that as my wall timer. I have several Dell laptops that are in various stages of disrepair but that still have functional LCDs.
`Course, the next question would be, aside from the physical interconnect question, how feasible would it be for a layman to do a project such as this? I used to do a little bit of C and assembly programming back in the dark ages of the 1990’s, but I have lost that know-how and have not stayed current on languages such as Python.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
– Mark
Some great projects here
i recently made a tweet bot with my raspberry pi camera and aquarium if anyone wants to check it out. https://twitter.com/AquariumCam
We (YoungPOS) just completed the Touch screen POS (Point of Sales) with Raspberry PI. We call it Raspberry POS and it could connect to Receipt Printer, Kitchen Printer, Barcode Scanner and Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR). It is really full POS system for Restaurant and Retails. We could share this project to everybody who interested in POS solutions.
You could visit us at http://www.facebook.com/raspberrypipos to see these pictures/videos or you could share some information.
Check out my CarPC at http://www.engineering-diy.blogspot.ro/
As a shareholder and the Inter fans, although that Milan will
win will be uncomfortable, but I think Leo should be affirmed, he has the qualities needed Inter.
11 is specific to standards dealing with wireless networking.
Anyways, what we would like to share with you
is an idea for positive mental imagery.
Why? One of the main benefits of this is to save resources, why not also save the disk space?
Also if both try start at the same time you’ll have issue with overlapping port binds.