The latest issue of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine explores the differences between some of our most iconic boards and microcontrollers. Here, we share part of a multi-page feature that explains what Raspberry Pi Zero is capable of and the types of projects you can use it for.
Launched with the aim of making computing even more affordable, the Raspberry Pi Zero range of computers also benefits from a smaller form factor — about the size of a stick of gum. This makes a Raspberry Pi Zero ideal for any projects where space is at a premium, such as in drones and smaller robots, or in handheld games devices.
While smaller, it still features the same 40-pin GPIO header as the flagship Model B devices (Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4 Model B), so you can use it with the same range of HATs and other expansion boards, as well as connect your own electronic circuits to its pins.
Compared to the later models in the Model B range, Raspberry Pi Zero has less processing power and RAM. The standard Zero / Zero W features a single-core processor, but the quad-core Zero 2 W is roughly equivalent to a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B. So, anything you can do with that, you can do with a Zero 2 W.
All Zero models are fully functional computers that run an operating system, so you can install your favourite applications and tools as per usual. You can even connect it to a monitor from its mini HDMI port, although the single USB port means you’ll need a USB hub to connect a wired keyboard and mouse (or you can use Bluetooth instead).
However, Raspberry Pi Zero is typically used in a headless setup, with users connecting to it from a remote computer via SSH over Wi-Fi to issue terminal commands. Its lower power drain (as little as 100 milliwatts) makes it suitable for battery-powered projects in remote locations away from mains power outlets, such as weather stations or wildlife cameras (you can connect a Camera Module to its CSI camera port).
If you need a more compact Raspberry Pi with several orders more processing power than a Raspberry Pi Pico, as well as the ability to run an operating system, Raspberry Pi Zero fits the bill.
Lawny
This remote-control robot mower was originally built using a Raspberry Pi 5, but the maker has since switched it out for a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, demonstrating how the smaller and cheaper single-board computer is powerful enough to handle a sophisticated robotics project. A front-mounted Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 gives the remote operator an as-it-mows, Lawny-eye view as they control the robot from a web interface on a smartphone or computer — thanks to Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W running a Node.js web server.
PiMiniMint
If you want to build a handheld games console, your best choice is a Raspberry Pi Zero model, whose smaller footprint enables it to fit into a compact case with a mini LCD for a display. The lower power drain means your battery pack will last longer, too. One of the first projects to demonstrate such possibilities, PiMiniMint crams a Raspberry Pi Zero into a 60 × 95mm Altoids tin. At the time, the maker used an IoT board to provide Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, but this isn’t needed with a wireless-equipped Raspberry Pi Zero W or Zero 2 W.
Time machine radio
Replacing the innards of an old radio to turn it into an internet radio is another very popular Raspberry Pi project. If you can’t find a genuine retro model, you can always get a vintage-effect replica, as used in this project. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W equipped with a Pimoroni Audio Amp SHIM provides analogue audio out to the speakers. Two potentiometer knobs are used for volume and tuning — or in this case, to play custom sound clips from different decades, as per the time-travelling theme.
The Oracle
This miniature version of a Zoltar-style fortune-telling arcade machine is made using a stripped-back Nintendo Game Boy hooked up to a Raspberry Pi Zero W. The latter provides all the I/O necessary for interfacing the keypad, the coin mechanism, the LCD, and the relay modules. It also connects wirelessly to the ChatGPT API to generate horoscopes in the style of American writer HP Lovecraft or children’s author Dr Seuss, then outputs these on paper using a thermal printer.
Raspberry Pi Zero key specs
Dimensions: 65 × 30mm
Weight: 9g (Zero) / 12g (Zero 2 W)
Processor: 1GHz single-core 32-bit (Zero) / 1GHz quad-core 64-bit (Zero 2 W)
Memory: 512MB
Ports: 2 × micro USB*, mini HDMI video, CSI camera
Wireless†: 2.4GHz single-band 802.11n Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.2, BLE
*One for input power
†W and WH models only
Models available
Raspberry Pi Zero, Zero W, Zero WH
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, Zero 2 WH
Ideal for:
- Small robots
- Drones
- Remote cameras / sensors
- Handheld gaming consoles
- Internet radios / music streaming
- Ad blockers / VPNs
- Network monitors
To ensure ongoing support for our older models, we released a legacy version of Raspberry Pi OS. It provides a continuity option for users who require it, such as industrial users who’ve developed software to use particular library versions, or who value a stable, unchanging operating system. It’s available to download from our software page, and can also be found in Raspberry Pi Imager, our free OS installer for Windows, macOS, Ubuntu for x86, and Raspberry Pi OS.
As ever, the Raspberry Pi Forums are a great place to look for support, and there are already many threads about older versions of Raspberry Pi OS.
Read the full article in Raspberry Pi Official Magazine #159
You can grab this issue from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, WHSmith, and other newsagents, including the Raspberry Pi Store in Cambridge. It’s also available from our online store, which ships around the world. And you can get a digital version via our app on Android or iOS.
You can also subscribe to the print version of our magazine. Not only do we deliver worldwide, but people who sign up to the six- or twelve-month print subscription get a FREE Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W!
The post What can you build with Raspberry Pi Zero? appeared first on Raspberry Pi.
from News - Raspberry Pi https://ift.tt/SLQbJPo
No comments:
Post a Comment