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more general-purpose computers find it easier. The
Raspberry Pi has always had a powerful graphics
processing unit (GPU), so even the first version- which had limited processing power – could
achieve quite complex graphical processing. There is
still quite a bit of CPU processing to be done, so if
you want to achieve this look with a Raspberry Pi,
we’d recommend the Raspberry Pi 2 or greater.
There are instructions here: hsmag.cc/boepBv. At
the time of writing, these don’t work with Raspberry
Pi 4, but we have a pre-release version that does
work on the latest hardware (and eagle-eyed readers
will spot it on this month’s cover), and this should
make it through to the website soon.
One advantage of the Raspberry Pi version is that,
while it can use the TFT (or OLED) screens like the
microcontroller versions, it can also use HDMI
screens. This obviously includes monitors and TVs,
but there’s also a wide selection of smallish HDMI
screens that are great for embedding. 3.5, 4, and
5-inch screens are widely available for quite
reasonable prices, and these can be used if you
want a larger eye in your build.LOTS OF LEDS
Realistic eyes are a great effect on some projects,
but they’re not the only option. Smallish LED
matrices, such as 8×8 grids, can produce eye effects
that while maybe not realistic, have a cyberpunk
charm that’s right for more robotic projects.
Of course, you don’t have to create your eyes
using light; you can create a physical set of eyes and
move them around. Careful use of ping-pong balls
and servos can work, but the devil, as always, is in
the details, and mounting everything can be a bit
tricky. Fortunately, if you’ve got access to a 3D
printer, Thingiverse user jim2386 has done the hard
work for you, and you can print out your very own
set of animatronic eyes based on his designs at
hsmag.cc/AGuRlL.That’s the eyes sorted,
now you just need to
decorate the rest of
your pumpkinHA
HA
HA