Infinite Possibilities

The open hardware movement continues to add, improve, and reinvent itself. No sooner did the Raspberry Pi Model B+ come on the scene, than the Raspberry Pi 2 debuted, adding a "1" to the name of all Rasp Pis that came before. Faster, smaller, and smarter devices appear almost daily, inspiring makers as they address ever more diverse real-world problems.

The open hardware movement continues to add, improve, and reinvent itself. No sooner did the Raspberry Pi Model B+ come on the scene, than the Raspberry Pi 2 debuted, adding a "1" to the name of all Rasp Pis that came before. Faster, smaller, and smarter devices appear almost daily, inspiring makers as they address ever more diverse real-world problems.

In this issue, our authors share their experiences monitoring environments – real and virtual, controlling systems, diagnosing problems, and extending their hardware. You discover how to take a Raspberry Pi and turn it into an infrared remote control; or, you can use the Rasp Pi to control a thunder and lightning display on a model railroad. Also, be sure to check out the overview of devices that can extend the capabilities of your Raspberry Pi.

The Arduino line of boards figures prominently, too, with a lighthearted project that creates a name badge with a small screen and a Steampunk theme. Part 2 of our Robosapien series looks at extending the number of motor drivers at your disposal to control the robot's arms, legs, and other points of movement. Another author uses an Arduino to create a climate control system for his truck using an old iPad and some servomotors.

We introduce you to a USB oscilloscope and logic analyzer in one article, then show you how to use such a device to diagnose hardware problems in another article. The continuing saga of Project Curaçao sees the addition of solar power management and a sun-tracking device. If you're a backyard birdwatcher, you can learn how to outfit your nesting box with a camera that lets you monitor your avian neighbors.

Kids learn how to use a PicoBoard to create musical veggies in the Scratch column, and we show you how to assemble littleBits modules to create wireless and cloud call buttons. Also on the kid front is a project that combines the Lego Mindstorms NXT with a Raspberry Pi and a robot rover with a Wii remote.

If you've been interested in learning how to control motors, three articles explore how to use the inexpensive L293D dual H-bridge motor drivers. Finally, don't miss the interview with Tim Peake, a UK astronaut who is taking two Raspberry Pis into space with student-designed projects on-board.

At Raspberry Pi Geek, we believe your own projects are limited only by your imagination, so go out there and build something!

Rita L Sooby Managing Editor

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