This Raspberry Pi project course will show you how to integrate a variety of components into a gadget that I call "The Bench Computer".
Using your own Bench Computer, you will be able to control any device and appliance on your electronics work bench. Or, your kitchen, desk, entertainment system, and even your home!
The Bench Computer provides a great framework on which you can build your own home automation projects. I have designed it to help you get started!
Here are the main components (software and hardware) that you will learn about by taking this course:
- The Raspberry Pi (version 3 is recommended, but any model with a 40-pin header will do)
- The Raspberry Pi 7-inch touchscreen
- The Raspberry Pi Camera v2
- The Piface Relay+ HAT (contains the relays used to control 12V devices)
- External relays for controlling mains appliances
- Python 3 and the Tkinter framework for building the application
- Things that you want to control, like 12V LED strips and fans, and mains appliances like a soldering iron.
By completing this course, you will learn:
- How to create a Python application with a graphical user interface
- How to create a Python application that allows you to control external devices and appliances, and interact with sensor
- How to use the camera to take snapshots, interval snapshots (i.e. every few seconds) and videos. This is a perfect way for documenting your work.
- How to manipulate still images and video.
- How to design a driver circuit for the external relays
- How to control mains appliances safely
- How to create an enclosure for your mains controller circuit.
- How to setup a remote working environment for your Raspberry Pi
- And, much more!
All code is available on Github, and is free to download and use as you wish.
All parts are listed here.
