Overview
At Vilros, one of the most rewarding parts of our work is hearing about the incredible things our customers make. In this feature, we're highlighting two standout Raspberry Pi projects from the Vilros community.
Whether you're just getting started or looking for your next challenge, we hope these builds spark your imagination.
Project 1: PyMirror
Maker: Gregory Smith (Virginia)
Hardware: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, 24-inch Viewsonic display
Project video: Watch PyMirror in action
What he built
Gregory created a multi-functional wall display showing time, date, weather information, and other display elements. What started as a simple clock evolved into a complete Magic Mirror replacement written in Python.
Why Raspberry Pi?
The RPi Zero 2 W had built-in WiFi and HDMI plus ample memory and operating system for $15 - a bargain. When he discovered Magic Mirror 2 needed too much from the Zero 2 W, he wrote his own version in Python, giving birth to PyMirror.
Technical challenges
Writing to the framebuffer without a GUI desktop: Gregory had to decode the frame buffer's memory organization and write code to send graphics directly to RAM. Since Python was too slow for his 1 FPS goal, he dropped into C for low-level bit-block-transfer functions and wrapped them in Python via setuptools.
All those wires: Between power, HDMI/VGA, infrared, sound, and USB-on-the-go, the cable mess was distracting. Gregory's solution? He cracked open the Viewsonic monitor and integrated everything inside - wiring the display output directly to VGA input, connecting USB-OTG to the monitor's USB hub, siphoning 5VDC power, and connecting sound to the monitor's speakers. From 4-5 wires down to just one power cable.
The result? Not just a dream dashboard, but an iMac-like RPi all-in-one computer. All because he wanted a clock on the wall.
Project 2: Keyboard, Video, Mouse Controller
Maker: Craig Keenan (Oregon)
Hardware: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, SPI Ethernet adapter, OLED status screen
What he built
Craig built a remote KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) controller using the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. The project is centered around piKVM software and provides a portable, affordable alternative to commercial KVM solutions.
Why Raspberry Pi?
Craig is a fan of piKVM and the project recently added support for the Zero 2 W. The Zero 2 W has built-in USB 2 OTG and requires minimal connections (power and USB keyboard can use the same cable). After helping friends and relatives rebuild PCs over the phone, he realized a small KVM would be really useful. The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W solution costs the same as commercial alternatives but offers more flexibility.
Goals
Craig needed a portable unit for on-site work and his shop. The small form factor makes it cheap to send via mail and easy for friends and relatives to set up. With 7 deployments, he's already within the top 25 FlightAware feeders worldwide.
Technical challenges
Ethernet connectivity: Since the Zero 2 W only has WiFi and piKVM is headless, it wouldn't work for remote setup. Craig attached an SPI-based Ethernet adapter so users could plug into their router for initial setup. The piKVM phones home via Wireguard VPN to an isolated subnet on his home router. Getting the Ethernet wiring, drivers, and SPI clock speed right was a significant challenge. He achieved 20Mbit up/down Ethernet throughput.
Form factor: Fitting all hardware into a tiny case was difficult. It took around 20 design iterations in Fusion and about 10 prints before he was satisfied. The soldering and wiring were difficult due to cramped space. To make it serviceable, he integrated connectors for Ethernet, OLED status screen, and optional GPIO features.
Acknowledgements
- How to Use Ethernet on Raspberry Pi Zero W
- pikvm project
- Add a WIZ820io / USR-ES1 - Wiznet W5500 Network Port
By Zachary Strong