Gallery: 8 Cool Raspberry Pi Projects for Diminutive Computing Fun
01arcade-cabinet
Raspberry Pi, the new and novel credit-card-sized computer, has inspired the minds and workshops of an entire hacking community, who not only develop software projects for it, but are creating external interfaces with clever abandon. We've rounded up a few of our favorites to share with you here. This doll-house-scale videogame cabinet made of laser-cut plastic, MAME emulator software and a Raspberry Pi recreates the childhood memories of millions of gamers on a 2.4-inch TFT screen. Especially impressive is that Jeroen Domburg of [SpritesMods.com](http://spritesmods.com/) pulled this together from rough paper prototype to final wiring with no prior Raspberry Pi experience. Just as the Arduino platform has enabled creators to explore the possibilities of combining bits and atoms, this sweet new computing platform has given hackers and designers a new set of tools to combine physical and virtual worlds. Raspberry Pi lets developers code in popular languages like Python, reducing the learning curve for pros and making it more accessible to designers who might have picked up a bit of experience on the web. The microprocessor on board also opens up more applications for video and other rich media applications, or in Domburg's case, the greatest hits from '80s arcades. If you want to try your hand at [recreating this cute cabinet](http://spritesmods.com/?art=rpi_arcade), he's made the schematics and code available. If you want to see what else the design friendly Raspberry Pi community is cooking up, the following examples are great recipes for creative construction. And let us know what your favorite Raspberry Pi projects are in the comments. [#iframe: http://www.youtube.com/embed/5npkz0xY1fo](660x371)|||||| __Bonus:__ Realizing that the joy of playing *Street Fighter 2* on a computer the size of a credit card shouldn't be the exclusive domain of hardware hackers, the team at [Pimoroni](http://pibow.com/) are developing a simpler kit-based alternative. It just completed a [successful Kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pimoroni/picade-the-arcade-cabinet-kit-for-your-raspberry-p) campaign and should be available for pre-order soon. *Photo: [SpritesMods](http://spritesmods.com/)*
02pibow
Assemble a Pibow Rainbow Box ---------------------------- The [Pibow](http://pibow.com/) (Raspberry Pi Rainbow) protects fragile PCBs while paying homage to the original rainbow-striped logo of a certain computer/phone/tablet company. Designed by [Paul Beech](https://twitter.com/guru), the man responsible for the [Raspberry Pi's logo](http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/221), the Pibow provides stylish structural integrity. For those who want to hack the design, or perhaps just a less daring aesthetic, they can cut their own case using plans available on [Thingiverse](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:33443). Unfortunate souls without access to lasers or makerspaces, can [buy PiBows for $33](http://pibow.com/); a portion of every sale goes to the Raspberry Pi foundation. *Photo: [Pimoroni](http://pibow.com/)*
033d-printed-case
3-D Print a Case ---------------- Release a new open source computing platform and it's only a matter of time before open source hardware enthusiasts rev up their 3-D printers to create enclosures. What makes the Raspberry Pi community so special is the focus on innovating in aesthetics as well as functionality — especially compared to the [Arduino](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3991), where the top result on Thingiverse is literally a black box. The design above cleverly uses [dual extruded plastic](http://www.thingiverse.com/image:152949) to replicate the logo's color scheme (with the green of the PCB cleverly coloring the leaves), but there is no shortage of cool DIY case models, like this simple case that achieved [multiple colors](http://www.thingiverse.com/derivative:31771) by hot swapping filaments during a print job:  Or this model that provides color distinction by [snapping parts together](http://www.thingiverse.com/image:161306):  Or this [asymmetrical](http://www.thingiverse.com/image:158484) enclosure that eschews screws and makes the "fasteners" a design feature:  *Photos: [Thingiverse](http://www.thingiverse.com/image:152949)*
04paint-with-light
Paint With Light ---------------- Combine a Raspberry Pi with addressable RGB LEDs and a camera that can take long-exposure photographs and a whole new artistic medium opens up. While technically possible with other platforms, like Arduino, the team at [AdaFruit Industries]( http://learn.adafruit.com/light-painting-with-raspberry-pi/overview) found that the more powerful processor and memory of the Pi made more complex graphics possible and easy. Within a couple of days of being introduced to the platform, LEDs were mounted on a bike and some hot public art was being produced. A [detailed tutorial](http://learn.adafruit.com/light-painting-with-raspberry-pi/results) with links to all the required components is available on their site for those that want to make a *Tron* light cycle of their own. These fire tracks (below) made with a Raspberry Pi based rig will convince any neighbors that a time-traveling Delorean just made its escape.  *Photos: [AdaFruit Industries](http://learn.adafruit.com)*
05write-minecraft-code
Write *Minecraft* Code ---------------------- [Mojang](http://www.mojang.com/), the creators of *Minecraft*, are on a roll. In the last week they have announced a new [iPhone app](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/design/2012/11/augmented-minecraft-reality/) that brings *Minecraft* models into the real world and that they would be [porting their software](http://www.mojang.com/2012/11/minecraft-is-coming-to-the-raspberry-pi/) to run on the Raspberry Pi platform. Raspberry Pi was designed to make computing less expensive so computer science could be taught more broadly. Now students can get started building in the game world, but also take a peek at the technical foundation. Mojang's "Chief World Officer" Owen Hill lays out the vision on their [blog](http://www.mojang.com/2012/11/minecraft-is-coming-to-the-raspberry-pi/) and writes "You can start by building structures in the traditional *Minecraft* way, but once you’ve got to grips with the in-game features, there’s opportunity to break open the code and use programming language to manipulate things in the game world. You’ll be learning new skills through *Minecraft*." *Photo: [Mojang](http://www.mojang.com/)*
06construct-a-lego-case
Construct a Lego Case --------------------- A well-designed logo works at multiple scales, in monochrome and multiple color applications, but only a great logo can [translate to Lego](http://www.seankenney.com/portfolio/google/). Originally designed by a [12-year-old roboticist](http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1354), this brick/berry case is now a [commercial offering](http://www.thedailybrick.co.uk/lego-sets/custom/lego-custom-raspberry-pi-case.html), so popular it's back-ordered. While it still needs to be handled with care, this product is the rare triple-threat able to garner geek cred in the design, Lego, and OSHW communities. *Photo: [Raspberry Pi](http://www.raspberrypi.org/)*
07mod-a-robot-chassis
Mod a Robot Chassis ------------------- You can make [weather stations](http://www.weather.dragontail.co.uk/index.php?page=station_setup), [home automation hubs](http://piregistration.element14.com/signup.html), [quadcopters](http://openmicros.org/index.php/entry/quadcopter--avr--raspberry-pi-sprinkled-with-xrfs), and even [supercomputing clusters](http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/09/university-builds-cheap-supercomputer-with-raspberry-pi-and-legos/) with Raspberry Pi, but there is always room for improvement on [simple robot designs](http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~db434/raspi/components/robot_chassis/). This 'bot doesn't have any extraordinary functionality, but demonstrates a little prompting in the form of a logo and a community supportive of design can lead to better designed products. *Photo: [University of Cambridge](http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk)*
08wearable-computing
Wearable Computing ------------------ Why wait for Google Glass to ship when for $382, a little time, and a thick skin for teasing, you can wear a fully functional Linux computer on your head today? Jarred Glickstein's homebrew creation took first prize in the [Instructables Raspberry Pi](http://www.instructables.com/id/RaspberryPi-Powered-Wearable-Computer/#step1) contest earlier this month and provides a good starting point for anyone interested in wearable computing. *Photo: [Instructables](http://www.instructables.com/id/RaspberryPi-Powered-Wearable-Computer/)*
