17 Best Raspberry Pi Projects for 2021

This article focus on what would be the best Raspberry Pi Projects for 2021. Raspberry Pi is one of the most reliable devices for every do-it-yourselfer. It is a low-cost, small-sized computer that enables you to create projects or even devices through computing.

Through this little device, you can now create your own security camera, game console, musical instrument, and many more.  Newer models like Raspberry Pi Model 4B- 2GB even allow you to create projects from scratch and then have them connected on your Wi-Fi. These tiny computers that look like a circuit board offer a lot of potentials and possibilities. 

So with that in mind, we have listed some of the projects created with the help of a Raspberry Pi.

Table of Contents

• Google Enabled Magic Mirror
• Solar-Powered Pi
• Game Console
• Remote-Controlled 3D Printer
• Language Translator
• Satellite Tracking Globe
• PC Hardware Stats Monitor
• Security Camera
• Wi-Fi Extender
• Theremin
• AI Thermometer
• Network Attached Storage (NAS)
• Sleeping Cycle and Light Alarm Clock
• Intercom Assistant
• Pi Touchscreen Tablet
• Photo Frame
• Wall Mounted Google Calendar
• Conclusion

Google Enabled Magic Mirror

One of the most popular Raspberry Pi projects is the magic mirror. It is a cool addition to your house or office because it allows you to view your schedule, the weather, your to-do lists, and many more. The magic mirror even allows you to add and customize other widgets to the mirror’s reflection.

Another plus side to having a magic mirror is you can also upgrade it to a smart mirror and add voice control. But aside from the usual materials used in a magic mirror, you need to use the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ and add the Google AIY Voice Kit for this project.

Still, the magic mirror is an easy-to-build project that would not put a hole in your pocket and would not require complex programming skills.

Solar-Powered Pi Project

With a solar panel and a battery, you can now run outdoor devices or projects continuously.

Through solar-powered pi, your Raspberry Pi can run smoothly outdoors without any interruption. So if you mostly do your projects outside the house, then it would be best to start switching to a more economical power source.

Technically, you can power your Raspberry Pi using just a solar panel. However, we still recommend you to include a battery so that you would have a more consistent and uninterrupted power source.

A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2-2.5A (current) output for your Raspberry Pi. You can use any Raspberry Pi model for this project.

Game Console

If you are feeling nostalgic, then you can turn your Raspberry Pi into a retro-gaming console. Through this tiny computer, you can now emulate nearly every classic game from the 70s up to the 90s.

Since this project has been gaining a lot of traction, you no longer have to build everything from scratch. There is now a software called RetroPie that handles all your emulation needs. It is an easy-to-set-up software and it even has a user-friendly interface as well.

Through RetroPie, you can now play classic games from NES, SNES, Genesis, and Atari like you used to back in the day.

You can use any Raspberry Pi model for this project but we highly recommend you to use the Raspberry Pi 4 model like the Raspberry Pi Model 4B-4GB.

Remote-Controlled 3D Printer

Like RetroPie, this project also has an easy-to-setup software counterpart.

OctoPrint, which has been one of the most commonly known software for 3D printing, can be used in Raspberry Pi as well. This software allows you to collect data and even remotely monitor your 3D printer.

Rather than using an SD card, you can now control your 3D printer remotely. Apart from that, you can also add a webcam to your 3D printer in order to track your printing progress.

Since you need to connect it to the internet, you would need a Wi-Fi adapter like the TL-WN725N in order to make your 3D printer work.

Language Translator

Unlike the two previous projects that we have mentioned before, this one requires some background knowledge in coding and programming.

But no worries, since several people have already attempted to do this, some codes are now available on GitHub for you to use or modify. To make this project even easier for you, you can also use the Google Translate library or just any Python translating library that you see fit.

Since this project has many layers, you need to know how to set up text to speech, speech recognition, translations APIs, and so on.

But all in all, it is still a noteworthy project that you can create with your Raspberry Pi and add it to the Raspberry Pi Projects achievement.

Satellite Tracking Globe

One of the coolest Raspberry Pi projects is the satellite tracking globe by Matt Walker.

It lets you track down the coordinates of a specific satellite in real-time. This tracker works by projecting a laser from inside a globe lamp shade. It is a cool addition to your bedroom or you can just give it as a present.

Building this project would also require some basic knowledge in programming. For the project made by Matt Walker, he uses Python language to operate the laser mechanism. To plot the satellite coordinates more accurately, he takes into account the present time, the XYZ coordinates, and even the rotation of the earth.

Thankfully, Matt Walker carefully explained how he calculated the laser location for a more accurate representation. You can check out some of his works on YouTube.

Raspberry Pi for PC Hardware Stats Monitor

This project is like a smart digital panel meter for PC. But rather than monitoring voltage, current, frequency, and so on; it monitors CPU temperature, RAM usage, GPU performance, and even fan speed. It is a perfect DIY monitoring system for those who frequently use their PC, especially for gaming.

With this Pi-powered monitor system, you can run this on any PC.

However, since this is a new project, you might need to come up with your own code. Because only a few people have attempted to do this, there might be no source code available online for you to copy or modify.

Security Camera

You might have noticed that there are camera modules compatible with different Raspberry Pi models. For example, the Raspberry Pi 8MP Camera Module only works well with the Raspberry Pi 1, 2, and 3 models.

With this camera module, you can now create your own security camera for your house. Another plus side to this project is that you can add other additional features that you like. For instance, you can access the video feeds remotely and even automatically upload them to a server for backup.

Given that several people have already attempted to do this, there are now a handful of package or library prerequisites available online. You can just download it or modify it on your Raspberry Pi.

It is an ideal project for beginners and those who have some background knowledge in coding.

Wi-Fi Extender

Another easy-to-set-up project for beginners is a Wi-Fi extender. It is a cheap and efficient way to expand the range of your Wi-Fi. So if you have a poor Wi-Fi connection in the garden or even your room, then you can use your Raspberry Pi to extend your Wi-Fi reception.

It is a great alternative to a commercial Wi-Fi repeater. Besides, since this is a DIY project, you can always customize it and add other additional features to it.

Since this project has already been done by several do-it-yourselfers, you can just browse the internet and search for the best and most convenient way on how you can accomplish this.

Theremin

You can now create your own theremin through Raspberry Pi. As we all know, a theremin is an electronic musical instrument that can be controlled without any physical contact.

For this DIY project, you need a Raspberry Pi 4 model as well as an ultrasonic distance sensor to manipulate the notes. To make this project a lot easier to accomplish, you can use an already made code-based music creation and performance tool.

With the help of the Raspberry Pi, you can generate different notes and tones through your onboard audio jack. In addition, you also need a Raspberry Pi Cameraboard in order to make this instrument work.

AI Thermometer

Given the current pandemic situation, this DIY project would be very useful. You can place it in your office or even house entrances.

This Raspberry Project from hackster.io can detect people and measure their skin temperature in a contactless manner. Apart from that, you can also measure the temperature and test multiple people at the same time.

The thermometer mainly utilizes the features of a camera, so you would need a regular RGB camera and a thermal imaging camera. Since this project is no longer news, you can browse the internet and just get all the source codes as well as the 3D models for your reference.

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

Raspberry Pi Network Attached Storage or NAS is a great alternative for paid NAS services. By using your little Raspberry Pi 4 model, you can now create your own data storage server.

As with any other NAS, you can also share files from one always-on device to desktop or even handheld device. Through this server, you can store movies, videos, games, music, and pictures then just easily access them on your other devices.

Despite the fact that you can also achieve this project with your main PC, this Raspberry Pi NAS requires low power, allowing it to run 24/7 without interruption.

This is a great project for those who are just starting to explore the possibilities of Raspberry Pi and just wanted to see what NAS is all about.

Sleeping Cycle and Light Alarm Clock

Rather than suddenly waking up with a jolt caused by your alarm, why not gently wake up with a soft light and ambient sound instead. Since physical sleeping cycle alarm clocks can be very costly, you can just create your own using a Raspberry Pi 4 model for a fraction of the usual cost.

Aside from your Raspberry Pi, you also need a speaker, temperature sensors, LEDs, a pushbutton interface, and so on. The guide can be found on instructables.com and the source code can be acquired on GitHub. Keep in mind that the guide is only meant to give you an idea about the project. You still have to improve it or even build your own model.

Intercom Assistant

One of the most interesting Raspberry Pi projects this year is the Intercom Assistant. With the help of a Raspberry Pi, you can convert your old intercom into a wall-mounted Google voice assistant.

Since you would use Google Assistant for this project, this intercom assistant would be smart and highly adaptable to your needs. You can also integrate the intercom and link the Google Assistant with the other things inside your house. For example, you can connect it to your light and thermostat controls.

Apart from Google Assistant, you can also use other software apps or online services to make this project a lot simpler and easier to execute.

Pi Touchscreen Tablet

With the Raspberry Pi as your core, you can build your own touch screen display. Rather than spending several hundred bucks on touchscreen tablets, you can now create your own tablet for a fraction of the usual tablet or iPad cost.

All you need for this project is a power regulator, rechargeable battery, chassis, and a suitable touchscreen display.

This project is pretty straight forward and you can easily do this with a Raspberry Pi 3 or Raspberry Pi 4 models.

Photo Frame

This project is perfect for beginners who have no idea about Raspberry Pi.

Since the display is the crucial feature of this project, you need a suitable touchscreen display like the Raspberry Pi 7 inch Touchscreen Display.

It is a great DIY gift that is easy to use and assemble. You can also personalize your photo frame and put videos or time-lapse on the display.

Wall Mounted Google Calendar

If you have a Raspberry Pi and a spare monitor lying around your house, then you can upcycle it into a digital calendar fixture.

With the Google Calendar display, you can easily keep track of your schedule and just easily edit the calendar through your phone.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a lot of options to choose from when it comes your next Raspberry Pi projects. We hope that you found inspiration in this list.

Let’s take a look at what we covered one more time.

Table of Contents

• Google Enabled Magic Mirror
• Solar-Powered Pi
• Game Console
• Remote-Controlled 3D Printer
• Language Translator
• Satellite Tracking Globe
• PC Hardware Stats Monitor
• Security Camera
• Wi-Fi Extender
• Theremin
• AI Thermometer
• Network Attached Storage (NAS)
• Sleeping Cycle and Light Alarm Clock
• Intercom Assistant
• Pi Touchscreen Tablet
• Photo Frame
• Wall Mounted Google Calendar

What ever project you choose, Circuit Specialists extensive inventory has got you covered!

Be sure to check out our Electronic Kits & Development section to get all the supplies you need!