4 Cool Raspberry Pi Projects That Will Awaken Your Inner Inventor

The Raspberry Pi is a small credit card-sized computer that packs a punch. Although it is not as powerful as larger devices, there certainly are benefits to using a Raspberry Pi.

Firstly, just because of its size, it is extremely portable and can be integrated into projects with limited space. In addition, the General Purpose Input/Output pins of a Pi allow it to directly control electronic components. This is in contrast to Mac/Windows/Linux PCs that do not offer this level of control.

Now that I’ve hyped up the Pi, let’s jump into some cool projects that you can do with it. If you’ve ever dreamed of being a tinkerer/inventor, the Raspberry Pi is a great platform to get started. Keep reading to find out how you can build some serious chops tinkering with a Pi!

If you wish to purchase a Raspberry Pi, visit the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s website to find out how you can do so. The lowest cost Pi, the Pi Zero, starts at just $5 for the board only.

1. Set up a Home Security Camera

A security camera can give you the peace of mind that your home will be safer. In case of the worst, where something bad happens like a break-in, a security camera can provide evidence that can lead to the capture of the culprit.

Security cameras are definitely a nice addition to your home. If you have a Pi or you’re thinking of getting one, then a Raspberry Pi HD surveillance camera project may pique your interest. Best of all, the user scavix on Instructables already has the perfect guide for you. His setup has cost around $120.

With this setup, you can watch a live stream of your camera from anywhere via a web browser, as well as record detected motion. While there are cameras on the market with already packing these features, bear in mind that they seldom allow local storage and offer quite limited storage options. It is even possible to setup notifications via Growl for when motion is detected.

Wearable Camera

I know we just spoke about a camera but this one is wearable! Adafruit has put together a clever guide for building a wearable time-lapse camera using a Raspberry Pi Zero. While this camera doesn’t record video or audio, it is still very cool.

Note that the case displayed in the picture above was 3D printed. You could always construct your own case however but if you have access to a 3D printer, all of the instructions on how to construct the case are within the guide provided on the Adadfruit website.

This would be an excellent tool if you are into action sports or vlogging.

DIY Amazon Tap

I think you should take a moment to let this one sink in… DIY Amazon Tap!

The Amazon Tap is a device which provides access to Amazon Alexa and also doubles as a wireless speaker. Alexa is a smart, virtual assistant which can perform tasks such as controlling your smart home or even provide internet search results, among many other things. Visit Amazon’s Alexa description page to find out more!

Amazon has a comprehensive guide on how to set this up on their Github page.

Make Your Non-Wireless Printer Wireless

Wireless printing is all the rage these days. That’s why it can be frustrating dealing with wired printers sometimes. Wireless printers give you the flexibility of no wires and let you free up space in your work area since you can put it in a separate area.

If you are frustrated with your wired printer then you might want to consider this wondrous Raspberry Pi Project. With the Raspberry Pi, you can set up a wireless print server, allowing access from Mac and Windows computers.

Final Thoughts

The possibilities are endless with the Raspberry Pi, but hopefully, these 4 projects got the inventive gears in your mind turning. If you have any ideas for cool projects, come across any or have already made some let us know in the comments below!