Make a LEGO Robot With a Raspberry Pi

By Vignesh Ramachandran2013-05-13 21:33:28 UTC

LEGO fans can create their own programmable robot with a new device that works with the Raspberry Pi computer.

If you have a Raspberry Pi, the BrickPi system lets you convert the tiny PC into a LEGO robot, as explained in the video above. Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized, Linux-based PC that arrived in the U.S. earlier this year.

The BrickPi system includes a board that slides over your Raspberry Pi and a plastic case that connects LEGO pieces. Once you attach a 9-volt battery, you can hook up LEGO motors (three ports) and sensors (four ports), connect some USB gadgets (e.g. webcam, WiFi, keyboard, mouse), load an example program and start modifying and hacking.

The Raspberry Pi controls the motors and sensors, and you can program using Python libraries. Additionally, the BrickPi's firmware is hackable, since it's open-source Arduino.

BrickPi's creators, Dexter Industries, has launched a Kickstarter project to raise funds to lower the device's price to about $35, polish their Python programming libraries and develop for the Scratch programming language. With 34 days still left to go in the Kickstarter campaign, the project had already surpassed its $1,889 goal and was over $24,000, as of Monday afternoon.

What kinds of possibilities do you see with a Raspberry Pi LEGO robot? Share your ideas in the comments.

Thumbnail and images courtesy of Dexter Industries via BrickPi Kickstarter page

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