Love is in the air and so are Raspberry Pi projects! We’ve gathered a list of the best Pi projects we’ve had the honor of featuring over the last month and we want to share them again so they get the extra love and attention they deserve. These are some exciting projects that are sure to inspire a creation or two of your own. We’ve also included some tutorials for Pi projects we’ve made here at Tom’s Hardware.
As usual, these makers are using the best Raspberry Pi accessories and HATs to take their projects to the next level. After all, half the fun of building with a Pi is throwing in extra goodies and gadgets! So heat up your soldering irons and let’s dig into these amazing Raspberry Pi-powered creations.
This Raspberry Pi VR Headset is Virtually From the 1990s
This Raspberry Pi project is more conceptual in nature as it doesn’t actually exist but rather is a beautiful 3D rendering of a clever concept. The Moonshake Stereoscopic Display System was designed by Moonshake 3D to resemble a virtual reality headset. It has a notably old school feel with woodgrain textures and a blocky aesthetic that takes us back to the height of 20th century technology.
Why we love it:
We’ve never seen the Raspberry Pi used in such a creative and artistic manner. These renderings look gorgeous and are super inspiring. This is a fun concept in itself but the 3D work created by Moonshake is top notch.
Read: Raspberry Pi VR Headset 3D Render
Raspberry Pi Pico Powered Prop Is an Homage to Die Hard
Die Hard fans rejoice! This Pi project uses an RFID reader to interact with this open sign prop. It looks just like the sign found in the Die Hard movie and was created entirely from scratch. While it’s cool enough to create a prop with such an accurate design, it’s exciting to see a Pi used to give it interactive functionality.
Why we love it:
We love old school sci fi and we love Pi. Of course we’re head over heels for this project! It looks just as fun to play with as it does sitting on its own. This project took a fair bit of work to put together but the end result is worth admiring.
Read: Die Hard Pico Prop
Raspberry Pi Pico Powered Dosing System Keeps Fish Happy
Taking care of fish is no simple task. It’s not enough to feed them every day. There’s a lot of work involved in getting the water just right and the needs of each fish vary depending on where they come from. That’s where this project created by Yojoebosolo comes in. Using a Raspberry Pi Pico, he’s automated the process of keeping his fish tank chemically balanced.
Why we love it:
This project takes a lot of the guesswork out of the equation when it comes to caring for your aquatic friends. With this project, you can give your fish exactly what they need to thrive whether they’re in the room or not. The system doesn’t just work well, it looks great and is housed inside of a custom 3D-printed enclosure.
Read: Raspberry Pi Pico-Powered Fish Tank Dosing System
Tom’s Hardware Raspberry Pi Project Guides
We don’t just peruse the internet for Pi projects. We make some of our own! Here are a few Raspberry Pi project guides you can follow along with at home. We include step-by-step instructions as well as a full parts list so you can make them just like we do or modify them as needed.
How To Create a Bluetooth Raspberry Pi Camera Trigger
Have you ever heard of Blue Dot? It’s making waves in the maker community and Les shows us how you can use it to trigger a Raspberry Pi camera module! This app runs on your smartphone and works as a button in this case to capture images using the Pi. You can use it to trigger all sorts of things and this guide will show you how to get started.
Read: How To Create a Bluetooth Raspberry Pi Camera Trigger
How to Run ChatGPT on Raspberry Pi or PC
Have you heard of ChatGPT? Now’s your chance to check it out up close! This guide walks you through how to run ChatGPT on a Raspberry Pi or even just a regular PC if you don’t have a Pi handy. AI is advancing fast and this is a great opportunity to play around with it and see what it can do.
Read: How to Run ChatGPT on Raspberry Pi or PC
How To Make a DIY Mouse Jiggler with Raspberry Pi Pico
This DIY mouse jiggler will trick your PC into thinking you're still active, even when you're not. Best of all, it only requires a $4 Pico to pull off! Les shows us how to create it from the ground up including all of the CircuitPython code you need to complete it. A few additional components are needed, as well, including a button as well as a few wires.
Read: How To Make a DIY Mouse Jiggler with Raspberry Pi Pico
