6 Exciting Raspberry Pi Display Projects for Engineering Students

Raspberry Pi with Monitor: DIY Projects

The Raspberry Pi, a versatile single-board computer, can power a variety of DIY projects. When combined with a monitor, the possibilities expand even further, from simple computers to more complex, interactive devices. Here are some creative and challenging projects you can build with a Raspberry Pi and a monitor.

1. Digital Picture Frame

Purpose: Display a slideshow of photos.

• Photo Slideshow: Displays locally stored photos, transitioning every 10 seconds.
• Manual Control: Capacitive touch sensor to switch photos and safely shut down.
• Ambient Light Sensitivity: Adjusts brightness based on room lighting.

Execution Steps:

1. Assemble the Hardware:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to the HDMI monitor.
   • Attach the ambient light sensor and capacitive touch sensor to the Raspberry Pi GPIO pins.
   • Mount the monitor in a wooden frame.
   • Secure the setup with wall mounting brackets if desired.
2. Install Software:
   • Install the Raspbian OS on the Raspberry Pi.
   • Use the terminal to install fbi for image display:

     sudo apt-get install fbi

   • Write a Python script to control the sensors:

     import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
     import time
     
     # Pin setup
     touch_pin = 17
     light_sensor_pin = 18
     
     GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
     GPIO.setup(touch_pin, GPIO.IN)
     GPIO.setup(light_sensor_pin, GPIO.IN)
     
     def handle_touch(channel):
         # Code to change image
         print("Touch detected")
     
     def adjust_brightness():
         # Code to adjust brightness based on light sensor
         print("Adjusting brightness")
     
     GPIO.add_event_detect(touch_pin, GPIO.RISING, callback=handle_touch)
     
     try:
         while True:
             adjust_brightness()
             time.sleep(1)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         GPIO.cleanup()
     

3. Run the Picture Frame:
   • Create a startup script to launch fbi on boot. Add the following to /etc/rc.local before the exit 0 line:

     sudo fbi -T 1 -a /path/to/images/*.jpg

   • Configure the system to adjust brightness based on ambient light readings.

2. Home Assistant Kiosk

Purpose: A dedicated control hub for smart home devices.

• Automatic Dashboard Display: Boots directly into the Home Assistant dashboard.
• Customizable: Add voice assistants, speakers, cameras, and more.

Execution Steps:

1. Set Up Home Assistant:
   • Install Home Assistant on the Raspberry Pi. Configure Home Assistant to connect to your smart home devices.
2. Prepare the Kiosk Display:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to the touch screen monitor.
   • Install Chromium browser:

     sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

3. Automate Dashboard Launch:
   • Create an autostart script to launch Chromium in kiosk mode:

     @chromium-browser --kiosk --app=http://homeassistant.local:8123

4. Customize the Setup:
   • Add any additional hardware like speakers or cameras. Integrate with voice assistants if desired.

3. Digital Calendar Dashboard

Purpose: Display a modern and customizable digital calendar.

• 84-Day Calendar: Shows upcoming events and tasks.
• Additional Info: Local date and time, world time, local weekly weather, and to-do list.

Execution Steps:

1. Assemble the Hardware:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to any old screen you have.
2. Set Up DAKboard:
   • Create an account on DAKboard.
   • Customize your dashboard with calendar events, weather, and to-do lists.
3. Run DAKboard on Raspberry Pi:
   • Install Chromium browser on the Raspberry Pi:

     sudo apt-get install chromium-browser

   • Create an autostart script to launch Chromium in kiosk mode:

     @chromium-browser --kiosk --app=https://dakboard.com/app

4. Arcade Machine

Purpose: Build a retro gaming console.

• Retro Gaming: Play games from over 90 systems.
• Custom Controllers: Four-player setup with joysticks and buttons.

Execution Steps:

1. Assemble the Hardware:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to a monitor or TV.
   • Set up the arcade kit with joysticks and buttons.
2. Install Recalbox:
   • Download Recalbox from the official website.
   • Flash Recalbox to the Raspberry Pi’s microSD card.
3. Configure Controllers:
   • Follow Recalbox’s UI to set up your controllers.
   • Download and add ROMs to the microSD card.

5. Car Backup Camera

Purpose: Install a rearview camera in your vehicle.

• Basic Setup: Simple video feed from the camera.
• Object Detection: Overlay distance markers or advanced object detection with OpenCV.

Execution Steps:

1. Basic Setup:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to a compatible camera and dashboard screen.
   • Open the camera in video mode from the terminal:

     raspivid -t 0

2. Install OpenCV for Object Detection:
   • Install OpenCV:

     sudo apt-get install python3-opencv

   • Write a Python script to process video feed and overlay distance markers:

     import cv2
     
     cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
     
     while(True):
         ret, frame = cap.read()
         # Process frame
         cv2.imshow('frame', frame)
         if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord('q'):
             break
     
     cap.release()
     cv2.destroyAllWindows()
     

6. DIY Laptop

Purpose: Build a portable Raspberry Pi laptop.

• Portable Computer: Fully functional laptop with a 7-inch touchscreen.
• Customization: Add any additional features as per requirement.

Execution Steps:

1. Assemble the Hardware:
   • Connect the Raspberry Pi to a 7-inch touchscreen monitor and power supply.
   • Install the Raspberry Pi in a laptop shell or custom 3D-printed case.
2. Install Software:
   • Install the Raspbian OS on the Raspberry Pi.
   • Install any additional software needed for your use case.
3. Configure the System:
   • Customize the desktop environment and settings to your preference.