Raspberry Pi: what it is and how it works

What is a Raspberry Pi and how does it work?

In brief, we can describe it as consisting of a board measuring about 8cm by 5 cm, including an ARM 700MHz processor with 512MB RAM, an Ethernet 10/100 port, an HDML outlet, two USB ports, a composite video outlet, an SD slot, an audio-stereo outlet and a micro USB port for the power supply. It also features various connectors (such as for a webcam) and a GPIO comb to connect external circuits which can be controlled directly from the single-board computer itself.

The global spread of this board is mainly the result of a series of factors which can be summarised as follows: its low cost (around 38 Euros), small size and its very low electricity consumption (barely 5W). Having said that, it should be noted that it is not designed for heavy use in desktop mode, but rather for other uses which we will present below.

• Central control system for amusement arcades

Considering that purchasing a central control system entails significant expenditure, you can create a miniature one by using a Raspberry Pi as the system’s nerve centre. This allows you to operate numerous different games from the PC, Mame and various consoles.

• Mini Mac

This board allows you, with a little effort, to create a tiny Mac, made to a 1/3 scale, complete with an emulated operating system. To complete it, a 3.5 inch display, HDMI, Bluetooth, Ethernet and USB ports can be added.

• Mobile phone

By using the Pi, it is also possible to create a sort of telephone for making calls only and although it doesn’t have an attractive design and is not suitable for everyday use, both its functionality and low production costs make it an interesting option.

• Sound systems for domestic environments

By equipping yourself with a Raspberry Pi, amplifiers, transmitters, receivers and a few other accessories, you can create a functioning domestic audio system using Spotify, to be used in four different rooms (lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom).

• Media centre

With this simple device, it is easy to build miniature multimedia centres which guarantee a high level of efficiency. These are connected to the television set so as to be able to retrieve videos from systems such as Netflix.

• Pi in the Sky

When the Raspberry is connected to a transmitter and a GPS module, it is transformed into a sort of altitude measuring device for hot air balloons. A 2012 experiment reached an altitude of 40 Km from Earth.

• Domestic automation

If Arduino is connected to the Pi, it is possible to provide domestic environments with a touch of automation, simply by creating a small control hub for the various electric appliances present.  The easiest thing is to use it to turn them on and off, but its functionalities go far beyond this.

• Small camera

Although there is no comparison with digital devices or smartphones, Raspberry Pi allows you to create a device for taking photographs with a touch screen. This is a very interesting and cheap solution.

• Multimedia Panel

If assembled using the right components, this board can serve as a digital frame for taking photos and videos and playing music, films and weather forecasts, all in one. The result is a clean object with a pleasant design.

• Robots

The Pi also allows you to create real robots fitted with systems for the movement detection from a distance, capable of recognising faces, paying audio messages and understanding vocal commands in English and Chinese.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith