The new year is here and we've got an awesome list of Raspberry Pi projects put together from the last month that are sure to kickstart your year with some inspiration. These projects use all sorts of Raspberry Pi models, including the Raspberry Pi 5 and all of its beloved predecessors. Whether you're an experienced maker or interested amateur, we've got tons of cool ideas that you can recreate at home or use as a springboard to make something similar.
These makers use the best Raspberry Pi accessories and HATs around to bring their ideas to fruition and we'll be sure to link you to the build guides whenever possible. Most of these projects are open source so there's plenty of meat to dig into.
Custom Raspberry Pi 5 Case with Liquid Cooling
It's no secret that the Raspberry Pi 5 runs a bit hot—they even released an official fan for cooling. Maker Michael Klements decided to take matters into his own hands with his custom Pi 5 case. This little unit has liquid cooling and manages to keep the Pi at optimal performance temperatures.
Why we love it:
Liquid cooling your Pi is already a super useful and fun idea but to do it with this much style is just taking the project to a whole new level. The case was designed from scratch and required knowledge in both 3D printing and laser cutting to pull off. It's always a delight to see so many different maker fields come together in one project.
Read: Custom Raspberry Pi 5 Case with Liquid Cooling
Raspberry Pi Smart Cane for Visually Impaired
This smart cane uses our favorite SBC to add some safety features for visually impaired persons. Not only does it help the user with real-time alerts using its integrated speaker but it also has the ability to send out notifications in the event of emergencies. The cane uses a few extra modules including one that adds GPS support.
Why we love it:
We really appreciate the potential this project has for helping visually impaired individuals gain more independence. Anything that makes travel safer and adds peace of mind for caregivers is a huge plus.
Read: Raspberry Pi Smart Cane
Raspberry Pi 'Portal' Sentry Turret
This project is truly a triumph. Reckless_commenter has recreated the sentry turret from the 'Portal' franchise. It has a built-in speaker and plays creepy soundbites from the game that are sure to terrify any intruders or unsuspecting passersby. The body is 3D printed and houses a Raspberry Pi inside and the additional hardware.
Why we love it:
We're always excited to see Pi projects crossover with sci-fi franchises like this. The project is cool on its own but there's a lot of room for upgrading and modifying the turret with additional features that make for a cool end product.
Read: Raspberry Pi 'Portal' Sentry Turret
Raspberry Pi eInk AI-Generated Flower Paintings Frame
It can get old looking at the same pictures all of the time. Why not create never-before-seen paintings to spruce things up a bit? That's what maker Dylan has done with this AI-generated eInk display frame project. It uses a Raspberry Pi to create flower paintings using AI and outputs them onto a low-power eInk panel.
Why we love it:
Merging AI and art for a decoration like this is really cool but the fact that it's running on a Pi is just icing on the cake. The image generation is handled locally on the Pi instead of parsing requests across the internet which is even more exciting.
Read: Raspberry Pi eInk AI-Generated Flower Paintings Frame
Raspberry Pi Playstation 4 Controller Console
Restoring old hardware is always admirable but transforming it into something new can be exciting! Maker ConsciousFish6170 has turned an old PlayStation 4 controller into a retro gaming console using none other than our favorite SBC as the main board powering the system.
Why we love it:
It can be hard to find a good case for your Pi so we're tickled to see this one made from a PS4 controller. It looks like an input device but it's actually the whole console. We're probably a little biased but can you blame us? It was a great choice to put a Raspberry Pi inside.
Read: Raspberry Pi Playstation 4 Controller Console
Raspberry Pi Matrix Mask
You can't be too careful when it comes to protecting your identity, so why not don this crazy cool LED matrix mask put together by maker and developer Sean Hodgins? This Pi-powered mask lets you display images and even videos across hundreds of LEDs. A slit in the front lets you peer out and see through the matrix panels.
Why we love it:
This is a fun idea on its own but to see it implemented so well is just a delight. We're not surprised as Hodgins has a history of putting together some really cool projects already. This one is very well executed and we wish we could try it on for ourselves.
Read: Raspberry Pi Matrix Mask
Raspberry Pi 500 Keyboard with M.2 Slot Mod
The Raspberry Pi 500 was definitely a highly-desired product but makers were upset to find the NVMe M.2 slot missing. Thankfully, modders have already stepped up to modify the keyboard so that you can install an SSD. It takes a fair bit of work to pull off but the results can be worth the effort.
Why we love it:
This is a really cool mod that makes it possible to get everything you want out of the latest Pi 500. We really appreciate that it didn't take much time before the community figured out how to upgrade the board with the missing slot.
Read: Raspberry Pi 500 Keyboard with M.2 Slot Mod
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 WalkPi
Finally, you can make the Walkman of your dreams using the latest Raspberry Pi Pico 2. This custom music player features a custom PCB and a beautiful design that we loved too much to ignore. The project is dubbed WalkPi and lets you play MP3s on the go—surely to impress your friends.
Why we love it:
This is a cool idea for makers who want something fun to make and show off. The custom PCB looks fantastic and the end result is something we would carry around with us on a regular basis.
