20 Best Raspberry Pi Zero Projects You Can Build
Jan. 11, 2019Note:If any project requires wireless connectivity you will have to buy wireless modules. A better way is tobuy the Raspberry Pi Zero Winstead of the original Raspberry Pi Zero as it comes with built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity.
1.Self Driving Car with Raspberry Pi Zero
Self driving cars are all the rage right now, and one of the best projects you can create with a Raspberry Pi Zero is actually a self-driving car. You’ll require quite a lot of components to make this, including wheels (obviously), cameras, LiPo batteries, and a bunch of other stuff. The project usesPython to codethings out, so a basic knowledge of Python should help, but even if you have no idea what Python is, theinstructions are pretty detailed and you can simply follow them to complete the buildon your own. It’s definitely one of the most exciting things to do with a Raspberry Pi Zero, not just to learn aboutmachine learning and camera vision, but even just for bragging rights.
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Apple’s AirPlay protocol offers a nifty little way of wirelesslystreamingall sorts of media (audio, video, and photos) from iOS devices to other gadgets that are AirPlay compatible. So if you’ve got an iPhone or an iPad, how about building a Raspberry Pi Zero powered AirPlay speaker for enjoying your music? However, for this project, you’llneed some extra peripherals, such as thepHAT DAC audio board, as well as a speaker and Wi-Fi dongle, since the Pi Zero lacks wireless connectivity. On the software side, nothing else than theShairport AirTunes emulatorand theRaspbian distrois required.
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Quite a lot of our daily time is spent gazing at our gadgets’ displays, checking different types of information. And if you’ve got a Raspberry Pi Zero, you can create your very own programmable information display, and use it toshow information like time/date, weather conditions,andsocial media notifications. This project also requires some extra stuff, including theAdafruit 128×64 OLED display, and twopush buttons, which will be used forcycling between the data that’s shown on the display. A little patience, and your mini information console will be up and running in no time.
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Xbox and PlayStation might rule today’s gaming world, but they are nowhere as fun as the retro gaming consoles (e.g. SNES) of the older days. So if the gamer in you is feeling nostalgic, you can use the Raspberry Pi Zero to create a gaming system that canplay everythingthat you could play on aSegaGenesisor anAmiga. In addition to a classic old CRT TV, you’ll also need toinstall theRetroPiegaming console emulator on the Pi Zero. What’s more, the awesome folks behind this project have confirmed that the gaming system works perfectly with the Xbox 360 controller ($89). Isn’t that great?
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Their usage (in both civilian and military environments) might still be a controversial issue, but there’s little doubting the fact thatdronescan prove to be extremely useful, and even fun. And what better way to use your Raspberry Pi Zero than to make it the driving force behind a smart drone? Apart from a drone and the Raspberry Pi Zero (obviously), this project requires aPXFMini autopilot board, and a specialLinux OS image. Once done, theautopilot board can create its own Wi-Fi using a USB dongle, anduse a common game path to control the drone through a ground control station. Not just that, you can also use theRobot Operating Systemto visualize the flight mode and state of the drone.
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While the compact form factor makes it instantly convenient, it also means that the Zero has less connectivity options, as compared to the Pi 2 and Pi 3. Notably, theRaspberry Pi Zero has only one USB slot, which makes connecting peripherals like keyboards and Wi-Fi dongles a chore. But thanks to this little project, you can easilycombine a four portUSB hubwith the Pi Zero. Although it’s quite a basic do-it-yourself project, it can come in really handy if you intend to interface the Raspberry Pi Zero with multiple peripherals.
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Pocket Projector is one of the ingenious projects that has come out of Raspberry Pi Zero. You can actuallybuild a pocket projector using two additional components and it’s a very low-powered setup. You can even run this project using abattery pack. It uses a tiny LED bulb that passes through the light filter. After that, the light goes through the DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) which finally projects the light on a surface. Keep in mind, as the components are quite cheap, you won’t get the best quality, but it’s surely usable. Overall, the whole setup including Pi Zero, light filter, and DMD will have a footprint of the standard Raspberry Pi.
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As the name suggests, you can build a security camera system using Raspberry Pi Zero. Not only that, but the camera system is also smart which meansyou will get email alerts whenever a person or object comes closer to the camera. It uses the OpenCV algorithm to detect objects in real-time and sends the image automatically to your email account. Apart from that, you will need the Raspberry Pi camera module, MDF board, and a couple of screws and nuts. I would say, if you have the expertise to deal with both software and hardware then you can definitely do this project.
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If you want to build a USB dongle with memory support and internet access then you can make it possible with Raspberry Pi Zero. You will just need a male USB connector which you can get from Amazon and a few serial cables. After that, just solder the USB male connector to VCC, Ground, and data ports on Raspberry Pi Zero. Next, install Raspbian Lite and configure a few settings.You can even enable the SSH feature so you can access the files on the USB dongle via the internet.Of course, you need to connect the dongle to your computer for it to work. All in all, USB Dongle is one of the easiest Raspberry Pi Zero projects out there and you should definitely try it once.
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Yes, you can create a VPN server on your Raspberry Pi Zero and re-route all the traffic through a private tunnel for better security and privacy. The projectuses the dedicated piVPN program to set up and configure the tunnel. You have the option to use eitherOpenVPN or WireGuardprotocol. Other than that, you will have to enable SSH on Raspbian and forward the ports to the router, in case you are routing the traffic wirelessly. However, I would suggest you to use an Ethernet port for faster performance. To sum up, building a personal VPN server with Raspberry Pi Zero is a great way to leverage its potential.
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Among the many things that you can do with the credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi Zero, creating your own hardware wallet is akin to living by its name. With Pi Zero,you can create bitcoin and other cryptocurrency walletsby using the special hardware developed by Trezor. The best part about this wallet is that the private key to sign a transaction never leaves the device which makes it secure and foolproof. You can send money to anyone in the cryptocurrency network and authenticate transactions with this wallet. So if you deal in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies then you can create your own wallet using Pi Zero for an additional layer of security.
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If you care for the environment (and for our planet), this is one project you’ll love. Its basic idea is to use the Raspberry Pi Zero to power a device that canmonitor multiple parameters like temperature, humidity levels, atmospheric pressureetc., andsend the data to the AWS IoT platform for processing and analysis. This can be extremely useful for tasks like finding out less/more polluted areas in a city at a given time, or triggering alarms in case the pollution reaches a harmful level. In addition to a bit of software configuration, you’ll also need a bunch of sensors for the project, such as theTemperature and Humidity Sensor. From region, to the measurement interval, everything can be configured.
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Electric Skateboards are a fun way to get around. But most of the electric skateboards, as we all know, are a little expensive. Well, what if we said you could make your very own electric skateboard with a Raspberry Pie Zero? Yes, you read that right,you can make your very own electric skateboard with the help of a Raspberry Pie.
The components required for this particular project are pretty simple. Besides a skateboard, you’ll need a battery to power the whole setup, a motor and a mount to hold it in place, and a motor controller. You’ll also need a Wiimote to control the skateboard andthe Raspberry Pie Zero that will act as the “brains” of the whole contraption.Yes, it might look like a complicated process, but the “RaspberryPieGuy” has put together a neat tutorial video to help you out. Check it out, it could be a fun weekend project.
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Have you ever wanted a camera that automatically shoots GIFs? Well, with the Raspberry Pi Zero, you can build your own GIF camera. The project does require access to a 3D printer, and apart from that you’ll need things like an RPi camera, a microSD card, a push-button and other components. The best part about this is thatyou can fully customise the camerato get a different looking body,change the GIF lengths, or even make the camera directly upload your GIFsinstead of saving them to the microSD card. It definitely looks like a fun project that you should definitely check out.
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We’ve already discussed (see 3rd point) how you can use Raspberry Pi Zero to make a CRT TV into a retro gaming system. But what if you couldfit an entire Raspberry Pi Zero inside an original Xbox controller ($30)? That’s right, you can, thanks to this amazing quirky project. Among the stuff that you’ll need to do this, is a mini HDMI cable/adapter and a USB OTG cable. When everything is done, you just have to flash thepre-built RetroPie imagehaving the necessary emulators, config files etc., to the MicroSD card. So what’s the wait? Get gaming.
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One of the more “fun” projects utilizing the Raspberry Pi Zero, the MatchBot is aline following robot with proximity sensing capabilities. It’s built in the form of a two-wheeled toy, with everything stuffed inside a matchbox (yes, you read that right!). The project requires quite some things, such as a buck converter, and motors for powering the wheels. The MatchBot can performmultiple actions, based upon how you interact with the proximity sensor.
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Another uniquely impressive project based upon the Raspberry Pi Zero, the Tempus Fugit WordClockuses an 8×8 letter matrix to spell out the current time. In addition, theaccuracy of the time is maintained by a real-time clock chip, powered by an on-board battery. It might not seem much, but the small project has beensuccessfully funded on Kickstarter, and is already at the working stage. The clock will also come in Dutch and Latin language variants.
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If you’ve ever wanted to be a Radio Jockey, this is the time for it. The Pirate Radio project lets youturn Raspberry Pi Zero into a powerful FM transmitter. You’ll need a couple of things for this, such as an antenna, and a battery pack. The standard Raspbian Linux image works perfectly for this. You can use this totransmit all kinds of audio files (e.g. MP3, FLAC, WMA)over your pirate radio.
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The classic Xbox controller isn’t the only console controller that can house the Pi Zero. If you’re feeling some more retro-gaming nostalgia, you canput the Raspberry Pi Zero inside anNES controller. As you might be knowing by now, this also involvesflashing theRetroPie pre-built imageon to the MicroSD card you’ll be using with the Raspberry Pi Zero. After that, you’ll also need to setup additional components, such as HDMI monitor, and Wi-Fi dongle.
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As portable as the Raspberry Pi Zero is, it still needs a power source to run. But it’s not that much of a problem, as you can easilyuse a regular AA battery pack to power the Raspberry Pi Zero. Like all mods, this fun little project will also require some extra things, such as aVoltage Booster Module, and aSwitched Battery Box. This can come in extremely handy when you want topower up the Raspberry Pi Zero on the go.
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The Raspberry Pi Zero brings hobbyist computing within everyone’s reach thanks to its low price. Plus given the loads of cool things that you can do with this $5 computer, it’ll only get better. So try out these projects on your Raspberry Pi Zero, and if you’ve got some of your own, don’t forget to mention them in the comments below.
From Automotive Design to Cosmology, and from World Music/Movies to Psychoanalysis, Rajat has a lot to call his avocations. A self-professed grammar Nazi, he’s an atheist who believes science has/will ultimately have answers to everything, and that everyone should question their very existence, if they don’t know their purpose in life. Oh, and he’s also quite an aficionado of gadgets and tech, but you already know that, don’t you?
