Making electrical projects is not easy.
Especially when you are a beginner and not so technically rich.
In the past, what would you do when you had to make a simple electrical project?
You would either make a project on the breadboard or PCB.
Of course, you can still use these methods to make projects. Only if you don’t get upset by the careful installation of the components on the board only to find out in the end that the project doesn’t work. Since these methods don’t guarantee the successful execution of the projects.
But don’t fret.
Now we have ready-made modules like Raspberry Pi and Arduino Boards, that come with built-in digital inputs and outputs with ready-to-use circuits in your projects. They not only save you time but also money.
In this post, we will discuss some features of Raspberry Pi 4 and how it can be used in many IoT-based projects.
What is Raspberry Pi 4?
Internet Speed Monitor with Raspberry Pi 4 is a common project of this small, low-cost, single-board computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. This Raspberry Pi 4 module is designed to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and in developing countries. The Raspberry Pi 4 is the latest model in the Raspberry Pi series and features a faster processor, more RAM, and improved connectivity compared to previous models.
It has a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72 CPU running at 1.5 GHz, up to 8 GB of RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, and two HDMI ports. The Raspberry Pi 4 also has 40 general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins for connecting to sensors, actuators, and other devices.
It is powered by a USB-C power supply and runs the Raspberry Pi OS, a Linux-based operating system. This unit is a versatile and powerful device that can be used for a wide range of projects, including home media centers, retro gaming systems, home automation systems, and more.
IoT Projects Based on Raspberry Pi 4
Hope you have got a brief overview of Raspberry Pi 4. In this section, we’ll discuss some IoT projects that you can develop using this module.
1: IoT-based Smart Home System using Raspberry Pi
The smart home system is the talk of mainstream media. Hope you are familiar with this term. If not, it’s a home where most of the appliances are remotely controlled using the automated system.
It’s one of the most common applications of IoT. You can convert your home into a smart home using Raspberry Pi 4. As the Raspberry Pi unit comes with built-in Bluetooth that is mainly used to connect with the appliance you want to remotely control.
When you configure the Bluetooth of the module with the smartphone, you can remotely control the appliance from anywhere in the world. For this to control from anywhere, you need to connect it to the cloud server that serves as a data storage device.
Both Raspberry Pi 3 & 4 are used for developing the IoT-based smart home. You can also integrate them with many other modules to make a smart system.
To find out which smart devices are supported by this project, visit its GitHub page. By going through this page, you will be able to connect power outlets, light bulbs, AC, refrigerator, or any other electronic device you want to remotely control.
2: Face Recognizing Robot using Raspberry Pi 4
Face recognition is commonly used in many smartphone devices. It is based on AI technology that recognizes face features and gives access to your smartphone or laptop. This phenomenon is widely used in security systems to ward off potential hackers from breaking into the systems.
You can use Raspberry Pi 4 to develop the face recognition device. Working on this project is a bit tricky and you may want some technical knowledge about robotics, Arduino boards, and Raspberry Pi Camera. For this project, you’d require, servo motors, power adaptors, a USB data cable, and a robot head. As mentioned working on this project is a bit challenging since you need to program a Raspberry Pi board with some know-how of the following Python libraries.
CV2
Matplot
Keras
OpenCV
Espeak
Spicy
If you’re a final-year student, this project can be well worth your efforts. As it will not only give you an idea of how to make a robot but you’ll also get to know the Arduino and Python libraries.
3: IoT-Based Agricultural Solution using Raspberry Pi 4
IoT projects are not only limited to homes and offices, you can make IoT projects for a farm, or garden too. In IoT based Agricultural system, we develop an automated system using Raspberry Pi 4 that waters the soil automatically by monitoring the moisture of the land. So if you own a garden and get rid of the hassle of manual watering, you can use this project that sends the alert to your cell phone and initiates the watering system automatically.
To develop this project, you’d require:
A soil moisture sensor
An Arduino board
A relay module
A pair of a pipe and a hose
Wires
Solenoid valve
And a Bluetooth H5
This project is a great way to automate tasks that involve repeated patterns. Initially, you can develop a watering system for a plant before moving to water the whole garden.
4: Wi-Fi Range Extender using Raspberry Pi 4
Limited Wi-Fi signal is a common issue, especially when you’re working away from home. Limited signals not only affect productivity but also consume a ton of your time.
But fret not.
You can increase the coverage ability of your WiFi device by creating a Wi-Fi range extender using Raspberry Pi 4. It is one of the most popular IoT projects for paving the way for seamless communication.
You will need a Nodemcu ESP8266 for this project — which is an IoT development platform with Wi-Fi and some of Arduino's features. By attaching it to a USB interface, you may use the Arduino IDE to program this module. It is important to note that, for configuring your ESP8266 you have got to download the Flash Download tool from its website.
That’s all for today. Hope you enjoyed the read. I’d appreciate your input if you have used Raspberry Pi 4 in any IoT projects. Until next time.
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