Top 10 Raspberry Pi Modifications for July: Transforming Drones, GPS Receivers, and Game Boys

The Raspberry Pi, developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK, aims to promote basic computer science education in schools through low-cost hardware and free software.

Launched in March 2012, the Linux-based Raspberry Pi has become the world’s smallest desktop computer, also known as a credit card-sized computer, with all the basic functions of a computer.

It can be said that “though the sparrow is small, it has all the vital organs.”

Besides its compact size and comprehensive performance, the Raspberry Pi is also very powerful and versatile.

Most importantly, the price is “beautiful.”

Some people use the Raspberry Pi to learn coding or write code.

And some more skilled individuals utilize this small single-board computer in remarkable ways.

Given the popularity of the Raspberry Pi, the famous computer hardware website Tom’s Hardware even established a column this year to select the top 10 most creative projects using the Raspberry Pi each month.

Recently, the top 10 list for July was released, and let’s see what creative ideas Raspberry Pi enthusiasts abroad have come up with this month.

In this project, Indian user Ravi Butan installed a Raspberry Pi Pico on a drone he made himself, and through an Android control program, turned his phone into a remote control for the drone.

Ravi Butan is also a crazy aviation enthusiast.

Thanks to the excellent expandability of the Raspberry Pi, it has been installed with a 6-axis inertial measurement unit and a barometer module, and in the future, it can expand various hardware through I2C or SPI sensors.

Can you imagine? The body material of the drone might come from watercolor pens used by Ravi Butan’s daughter.

This compact aircraft is designed to provide a better learning tool for children without programming experience.

This compact system can not only control small drones but can also adapt to hexacopters, hovercraft, and even fixed-wing aircraft in the future.

With the versatile Raspberry Pi, any device with a universal interface can be expanded on these aircraft, as long as your imagination is big enough, of course, the things it carries into the sky cannot be too heavy.

It seems this is another toy for big kids.

GPS Satellite Testing Module

This user, Andrew Healey, had a sudden idea and connected some components that were gathering dust in his box to a Raspberry Pi, giving it some amazing capabilities!

A friend gifted him a GPS receiver module (a true hardcore friend).

He then connected this module to the Raspberry Pi and even designed a UI that looks exactly like the Windows 98 window.

In the initial 24-hour test, Healey detected 31 GPS satellites.

Moreover, within this “Windows 98” interface, you can also see information such as temperature and humidity, and you can even print your call records with friends.

Cube LED TV

Controlling various display panels is one of the things that the Raspberry Pi excels at.

A user named M4ngolicious created a cube LED mini display that can light up on every side, and it’s wireless!

This colorful screen has a resolution of 64X64px, totaling 24576 pixels across six sides.

To ensure the internal structure is stable and fully compatible with all components, including a 4GB Raspberry Pi and a battery, the author used 3D printing technology to create the internal structure of this large cube.

Hand-sized Robot

Robot enthusiast Chris Parrot designed a triangular robot using the Raspberry Pi:

He redesigned the shape of the Raspberry Pi PCB to meet the unique requirements of this robot. The most groundbreaking aspect is that he used a PGA RP2040 controller.

On this basis, Chris installed six tires in three directions, driven by three motors to achieve interesting movement.

Chris also mentioned that the version he designed can drive 6 DC motors with encoders, or 3 stepper motors, or 12 servo motors, and supports 7 I2C sensors (for time of flight, IMU, etc.).

“Minecraft” Dedicated Controller

User Seth Altobelli installed a programmed Raspberry Pi into a uniquely designed controller.

According to him, this is a powerful tool for playing the popular game “Minecraft.”

The classic sandbox game “Minecraft” remains popular due to its open world and various creative gameplay, but its complex keyboard controls have frustrated many enthusiasts.

After countless attempts, Seth Altobelli believes that abandoning the keyboard and using motion sensing is the ultimate way to play this game.

To achieve this, he designed a unique controller shape using CAD and integrated a Raspberry Pi as the main control system.

This controller will be automatically recognized as a USB control device when connected to a computer.

With the help of a gravity acceleration sensor and six shortcut buttons, it presents a new way to experience Minecraft.

Raspberry Pi Version of “Stranger Things” Christmas Lights

Specific operation:https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/stranger-things-lights-raspberry-pi

Perhaps some readers have watched “Stranger Things”?

There is a plot where a character named Will goes missing, and while everyone is searching for him, another character named Joyce discovers that the Christmas lights on the wall are flashing, seemingly conveying a message…

This meme also appeared in a very popular reasoning variety show~

It turns out that Will was communicating with Joyce in another space, spelling out messages using the flashing lights.

A devoted fan of “Stranger Things” decided to replicate the Christmas lights from the show using a Raspberry Pi.

With the fourth season of the show about to be released, the user decided to create a larger and better version.

These lights can be hung on walls in homes, allowing friends, family, and even strangers to communicate with you. (It’s a bit eerie, isn’t it?)

After preparing the necessary materials, you need to copy the code from GitHub.

Clone the repository and enter the created directory.

Install all the necessary programs and Python components.

Next is the physical connection between the Raspberry Pi and other materials.

After securing the lights and letters, go back to the Raspberry Pi and open the worker/app.py file using your preferred text editor.

After debugging, you can submit information to the server, choosing to make this service public on the internet, allowing friends and family to send you messages.

However, opening ports carries risks, so it’s best to do this temporarily.

The “Stranger Things” Christmas lights are horror-themed, but clever users can also use this Christmas light to create romantic moments~

(Provided that your significant other doesn’t get scared by the sudden lights!)

Camera Button Powered by Raspberry Pi Pico

After making such exquisite Raspberry Pi Christmas lights, of course, you want to take a picture as a keepsake!

To capture the best moments, users are once again targeting the Raspberry Pi.

This time it’s the Raspberry Pi Pico, a microcontroller-level single-board computer released in January this year.

The user created a simple trigger using the Raspberry Pi Pico and some components, writing code in CircuitPython to make the Raspberry Pi Pico a USB device, acting as a button to trigger the camera.

The user stated that this device can be used to take selfies or group photos from a distance, and is also very suitable for capturing nature photos.

An Android phone can be placed near animal feeding or drinking areas, while holding a button connected with a long USB cable, without disturbing the animals.

For detailed coding instructions, you can jump to:https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/raspberry-pi-pico-camera-button

Installing Win 11 on Raspberry Pi 4

In 2020, users installed Win 10 on Raspberry Pi 4 with decent performance, though it was a bit slow.

Now with the release of Win 11, users have once again embarked on installing Win 11 on Raspberry Pi 4.

After a series of installation efforts, users tested the Raspberry Pi 4 running Win 11.

Users reported that the overall performance is good, actually much better than the Win 10 installed in 2020.

“The boot time is longer than Raspberry Pi OS, feeling more like an Intel N4100 Celeron in regular use.”

Once the desktop is loaded, the overall feeling of Win 11 on Raspberry Pi is responsive. There is a slight delay after input, but moving windows on the screen is very smooth, and the experience with the Edge browser is quite good.

Due to the lack of hardware graphics drivers, CPU rendering images can be a bit challenging, making it difficult to run large websites like YouTube.

480p videos run smoothly, 720p is acceptable. Full-screen display causes significant lag and frame drops. Users are hesitant to try 1080p, fearing it might turn into a PowerPoint presentation.

For detailed installation instructions, you can jump to:https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-raspberry-pi

Game Boy Powered by Raspberry Pi

The Nintendo Game Boy was a joy of childhood!!! (Ages exposed)

Users nostalgic for their childhood developed a Game Boy handheld console powered by a Raspberry Pi.

DMGPlus is equipped with a Raspberry Pi Zero W in the original Game Boy DMG-01, and it can still use original game cartridges — even custom cartridges.

This Raspberry Pi project utilizes retro hardware, and the DMGPlus project takes it to the extreme, with almost no visible changes except for minor modifications to the volume wheel.

It uses real buttons, housing, link ports, and the most impressive original LCD screen, powered by four AA batteries, but user Domburg can also make this GB play games.

The modified GB can still use regular cartridges as before, but it can also use specially made cartridges to play games like Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog!

To complete this modification, the user created a custom 4-layer PCB to replace the main board inside the DMG-01.

Users have not only modified Game Boys but also a 2004-2006 Apple iMac G5 computer, which is simply “Double Chef Ecstasy”!

The highlight of this modification is the number of original hardware used: iMac speakers, power buttons, and even the built-in camera.

According to the user, the video output is also processed using the original screen.

The modified iMac computer is built with a Samsung panel and receives input via HDMI to LCD driver board.

The Raspberry Pi + old iMac cross-modification is truly unexpected.

How about it, how many ideas did this list inspire you?