Raspberry Pi Community Projects: Monitoring, Ice Cream Maker, and Autonomous Robot
Three inspiring community projects: Arctic monitoring with Pi 4 and Pi 5, a servo-powered ice cream tumbler with web control, and a mecanum-wheel autonomous robot with obstacle detection.
- Raspberry Pi
- Intermediate
- Varies by project
- 3 steps
Shop this project
CartYou'll need
Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Board Only$175.00
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B3GB / Board Only$96.63
Vilros Raspberry Pi 5 Inventor Starter Kit8GB$284.99
Prices from vilros.com. Tax and shipping at checkout.
Before you start, you'll need
- Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 (varies by project)
- Project-specific sensors and hardware
- Basic programming knowledge
Project 1: Arctic Monitoring System
About 120 minutes
Set up dual Pi system for aurora camera and bird song tracking.
- Configure Pi 4 with HQ camera module running Allsky Camera software
- Set up Pi 5 with omnidirectional microphone running BirdNET-Pi
You should see
System survives harsh weather (-30°F tested) and streams aurora/bird data.
Project 2: Automated Ice Cream Maker
About 60 minutes
Build servo-powered tumbler with web interface control.
- 3D print shaft holders, gears, and servo mount structure
- Connect 995g servo to Pi Zero W via Sparkfun Servo pHat
You should see
Ice cream jar rotates for 15 minutes via web interface, creating smooth ice cream.
Project 3: Autonomous Mecanum Robot
About 180 minutes
Build omnidirectional robot with obstacle avoidance using Pi Pico W.
- Design and 3D print custom chassis in TinkerCAD
- Connect Pi Pico W to Kitronik Robotics Board for motor control
You should see
Robot navigates autonomously, avoiding obstacles and maintaining straight paths.
What to do next
Stuck? Contact Vilros Support with your board model and what you see on screen.