RPi and electronics

[Cryosec]

For Christmas I got an RPi 2 and I've been using it as a media center, hackbox, small server for a website and other random stuff.

 

Now I'd like to try some electronic stuff with it. I know some basic physics around it (yep, studied it in school not long ago) but I'm obviously a noob in building stuff with a breadboard and all those things (I found a kit on amazon with a lot of stuff). 

 

So, what could you suggest me? Any particular project that would be fun (not something like "press the button to turn the LED on")? Should I even buy those things?

[Made In Canada]

20 minutes ago, Cryosec said:

For Christmas I got an RPi 2 and I've been using it as a media center, hackbox, small server for a website and other random stuff.

 

Now I'd like to try some electronic stuff with it. I know some basic physics around it (yep, studied it in school not long ago) but I'm obviously a noob in building stuff with a breadboard and all those things (I found a kit on amazon with a lot of stuff). 

 

So, what could you suggest me? Any particular project that would be fun (not something like "press the button to turn the LED on")? Should I even buy those things?

I heard of a RPi Security System, you can buy a camera and install it to the pi or something and have a camera outside your door or something (this could be for benifisial reasons or just to get you started in learning way to use the pi). Bonus would be to install an electrical lock and you need a thumb scan to unlock it.

[TheGhzGuy]

25 minutes ago, Cryosec said:

For Christmas I got an RPi 2 and I've been using it as a media center, hackbox, small server for a website and other random stuff.

 

Now I'd like to try some electronic stuff with it. I know some basic physics around it (yep, studied it in school not long ago) but I'm obviously a noob in building stuff with a breadboard and all those things (I found a kit on amazon with a lot of stuff). 

 

So, what could you suggest me? Any particular project that would be fun (not something like "press the button to turn the LED on")? Should I even buy those things?

Well let's see. You can build a drone with a Raspberry Pi and a Navio2. That could be fun. I'm betting you could do it for 375-475 USD at the least.

 

If you're really crazy (case in point, me) you could build a rocket and try sending it to space. Though that requires a lot of math and money. Probably something you wouldn't be keen on spending all your hard earned cash on. So yeah, disregard the rocket.

[Cryosec]

6 minutes ago, Made In Canada said:

I heard of a RPi Security System, you can buy a camera and install it to the pi or something and have a camera outside your door or something (this could be for benifisial reasons or just to get you started in learning way to use the pi). Bonus would be to install an electrical lock and you need a thumb scan to unlock it.

I'd like to try the biometric lock with the RPi Zero, if I manage to get one. The smaller size would be perfect. With the RPi 2 I should try something that can use all the power of the board

 

1 minute ago, TheGhzGuy said:

I'm betting you could do it for 375-475 USD at the least.

Yeah, no. I won't spend all that money on an RPi project  I'm still a high school student so no cash income for me. Maybe in the future

 

3 minutes ago, TheGhzGuy said:

you could build a rocket and try sending it to space.

Actually, I could (not exaclty space). My cousin works with some of his friends for some kind of aerodynamics/rocketry research team inside the University (Polytechnic of Milan, here in Italy) and they already created a couple of weather-balloon height capable rockets. I could stick an RPi inside of it and make it fly over my city with weather sensors.

 

Oh wait, I think it might be against the law. nevermind

[TheGhzGuy]

12 minutes ago, Cryosec said:

I'd like to try the biometric lock with the RPi Zero, if I manage to get one. The smaller size would be perfect. With the RPi 2 I should try something that can use all the power of the board

 

Yeah, no. I won't spend all that money on an RPi project  I'm still a high school student so no cash income for me. Maybe in the future

 

Actually, I could (not exaclty space). My cousin works with some of his friends for some kind of aerodynamics/rocketry research team inside the University (Polytechnic of Milan, here in Italy) and they already created a couple of weather-balloon height capable rockets. I could stick an RPi inside of it and make it fly over my city with weather sensors.

 

Oh wait, I think it might be against the law. nevermind

Well greetings from the East Coast of the USA. Never been to Milan, but the Weather balloon idea isn't a bad one at all. The best thing you can do is call the Italian equivalent of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and ask if it's legal. Then build your weather ballon and such, then launch it. There are a lot of forums dedicated to stuff like this as well.

[Made In Canada]

7 minutes ago, Cryosec said:

I'd like to try the biometric lock with the RPi Zero, if I manage to get one. The smaller size would be perfect. With the RPi 2 I should try something that can use all the power of the board

 

I think they already have something like that which you can purchase for around $75 or something (i dont know for sure, you'd have to look into it more). For me, i would do small things like the security thing i mentioned earlier, portable voice controlled lock, voice controlled things in general (just have to learn programming right?), custom alarm clock, pre-programmed voiced objects, program a robot friend you can talk to (but get real ones first <insert tease face here>). OR maybe i dont know the RPi that well and these are all not possible on it.

[Cryosec]

3 minutes ago, TheGhzGuy said:

Well greetings from the East Coast of the USA. Never been to Milan, but the Weather balloon idea isn't a bad one at all. The best thing you can do is call the Italian equivalent of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and ask if it's legal. Then build your weather ballon and such, then launch it. There are a lot of forums dedicated to stuff like this as well.

One day I might try this out. Thanks for the idea  

 

[BuckGup]

I use mine to show full internet usage like requests, packets, usage, and so on. Nice little screen I can look at so see if I should play a game or not

[Cryosec]

11 hours ago, SamStrecker said:

I use mine to show full internet usage like requests, packets, usage, and so on. Nice little screen I can look at so see if I should play a game or not

something like 16x2 or 20x4 screen via GPIO, right? Might be an idea

[spellmanuk]

57 minutes ago, Cryosec said:

something like 16x2 or 20x4 screen via GPIO, right? Might be an idea

you have to watch those GPIO screens as some require extra drivers and tings that dont quite work properly not saying to not buy one but just be cautious in which one you purchase alternatively if you have an old monitor you could use that although i guess that take up alot of space 

[Cryosec]

1 hour ago, peej said:

you have to watch those GPIO screens as some require extra drivers and tings that dont quite work properly not saying to not buy one but just be cautious in which one you purchase alternatively if you have an old monitor you could use that although i guess that take up alot of space 

yup, I've already read about these problems. I'll be careful  

[BuckGup]

2 hours ago, Cryosec said:

something like 16x2 or 20x4 screen via GPIO, right? Might be an idea

Yup. Exactly.