Microcontroller improvement boards, just like the Arduino UNO, are extremely helpful as a result of they embrace all the {hardware} essential to get began—no wiring up a bunch of resistors, capacitors, and a USB programmer simply to show the microcontroller on and flash some code. However aside from a couple of LEDs and buttons, improvement boards don’t embrace the {hardware} you need would possibly need to use and so you continue to find yourself with a rat’s nest on a breadboard. The brand new Elecrow CrowPi 3 is a whole Raspberry Pi improvement station that solves that.
Regardless of the title, that is really Elecrow’s fourth product to bear the CrowPi title. The unique CrowPi was very like this: a conveyable improvement station. The CrowPi 2 is analogous, however in a extra laptop-like type issue. The CrowPi L ditched many of the improvement station stuff and is extra of a Raspberry Pi laptop computer. Now, the CrowPi 3 is a return to type: a complete bunch of {hardware} modules crammed into a conveyable package deal, excellent for speedy improvement at dwelling or at conventions.
The CrowPi 3 is a Raspberry Pi-compatible gadget, with a 4.3” touchscreen LCD, a 2.0MP digital camera module (with mic), and 41 totally different {hardware} modules, all packed right into a briefcase-style enclosure.
The marketing campaign web page doesn’t appear to listing all the built-in {hardware} modules, however we spot loads of buttons, switches, knobs, LEDs, a 20×4 character LCD, a four-digit seven-segment show, an RGB LED matrix, an RFID reader, an ultrasonic sensor, a PIR (Passive InfraRed) sensor, and extra. And it’s appropriate with a number of improvement board type components, together with Arduino Nano, Raspberry Pi Pico, and micro:bit. These plug proper into the CrowPi 3 and you’ll then use the Raspberry Pi SBC to program them to work with these {hardware} modules.
There’s quite a lot of utility in that, as a result of makers use so a lot of these {hardware} parts of their tasks. As an alternative of digging out these parts and working a bunch of jumpers on breadboards, you will get proper to the programming. When you get your code working, you may transfer to a extra everlasting resolution, like a customized PCB. And the CrowPi 3 does embrace breadboards for these instances when you have to join parts that aren’t built-in.
As well as, Elecrow is basically pushing the CrowPi 3’s AI capabilities. That isn’t precisely one thing new, as quite a lot of totally different fashions can run on Raspberry Pi SBCs. However the included software program surroundings, which has a number of programming IDEs and instruments, does appear to streamline the implementation of AI fashions. It additionally accommodates a plethora of academic programs, which is nice.
If you would like an Elecrow CrowPi 3, the Kickstarter marketing campaign will run till July fifth. Tremendous early birds can get the CrowPi 3 Primary Equipment (which doesn’t embrace the Raspberry Pi) for $159. Rewards ought to ship in August of 2025.
