14 DAY TRIAL // Raspberry Pi is considered to be one of the most versatile mini PCs in existence, and proof of this is the recent integration of this device as an in-car computer for a Ford Focus.
The number of things that you can do with a Raspberry Pi seems to be infinite. We've seen the system integrated in all sorts of projects, from simple household control to a management system for a microbrewery. It might sound strange that such a small device can do so many things, but it looks like it's even a lot more versatile than we can imagine.
Don't be fooled by the small size of the Raspberry Pi. It might not sport the best hardware right now, it's not something to look at, but its strength lies in the applications and the fact that a lot of apps and other peripherals run without any issues.
Everyone will now want to have a Raspberry Pi in their car
Setting up the small Raspberry Pi to work in your car is a little more complicated that you’d imagine. It's not something that you can do over the weekend, and as you can see from the screenshots, it entails some prior knowledge of the car systems.
Derek Knaggs managed to perfectly integrate the Raspberry Pi into his car and the end result looks pretty much like something that came out of the assembly line. It's almost perfect.
"After watching classic TV shows such as Knight Rider and Street Hawk in his youth, IT professional and Raspberry Pi enthusiast Derek Knaggs was inspired to create a low-cost in-car computer using a Raspberry Pi. The Pi sits in the centre console of his Ford Focus, wired to the display of an Xtrons DVD player (optional) as well as two TFT screens in the rear headrests."
"Control is via a Xenta wireless keyboard with mouse touchpad, while a smartphone can be used as a wireless hotspot to give the Pi an internet connection on the move. He recently added a reverse camera to his already top-notch project," says Derek Knaggs in the interview posted on raspi.today.
What you can do with a Raspberry Pi in the car
It can serve as a regular PC experience, but it's primarily used as an entertainment console. The maker of this project has also confessed to watching some sports shows and he even went browsing on the Internet, presumably while the car was stationary.
Derek Knaggs also explains that it's possible to install a satnav system on the Raspberry Pi, which sounds like a great idea, but he also plans to install a front-facing camera as well and record whenever he uses the car. This would be a great tool for insurance purposes.
Raspberry Pi is a mini PC that features an ARM processor with a clock speed of 700 MHz, 512 MB of RAM, an SD card slot, and a 5V Micro USB connector that supplies the power. It also features RCA, HDMI, and USB ports.
