Raspberry Pi – Make a Bench automation computer

This Raspberry Pi project course will show you how to integrate a variety of components into a gadget that you can use to automate your work bench. I call it the “Bench Computer.”

With the Bench Computer, you will be able to control any device and appliance on your electronics work bench. Or, your kitchen, desk, entertainment system, and even your home! The Bench Computer provides a great framework for which you can build your own home automation projects. Out of the box, you will be able to control anything with a simple on / off switch, such as lights, fans, heaters, etc.

I have designed this course to help you get started. What you get the Bench Computer to do is entirely up to you!

Here are the main components (software and hardware) that you will learn about by taking this course:

The Raspberry Pi (version 3 is recommended, but any model with a 40-pin header will do), The Raspberry Pi 7-inch touchscreen, The Raspberry Pi Camera v2, The Piface Relay + HAT (contains the small relays used to control 12V devices ), Larger external relays used for controlling mains appliances like lights and your soldering iron, Python 3 and the Tkinter framework for building the application. Things that you want to control like low-power 12V LED strips and fans, and mains appliances like a soldering iron.