The Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book - Projects_Book_v4

raspberrypi.org/magpi The Official Raspberry Pi Projects Book 33

ZEROPHONE Projects

Above The components and software are under development,
and a kit will be made available when it’s ready

STEP-01
SIM module
A SIM800 module is used to connect to the GSM
network. AT (Attention) commands, from the Hayes
command set (magpi.cc/2jvCYyO), are used to control
the modem connection to the mobile network.

>STEP-02

LCD and battery

A small LCD screen is used to display the user

interface. A battery with 18650 cells is used to power

the Pi Zero, display, and SIM800 module.

>STEP-03

Controls

Two-layer PCBs (two 4×10 cm and one 4×6 cm) are

used. Regular buttons are placed on the PCB to form a

standard keypad. It’s all hooked up to an ATmega328P

that’s used to read the button pushes.

DESIGNING A PI

ZERO PHONE KIT

earlier project called pyOCI
+magpi.cc/2kjv2oA) forms the
base of the interface.
Developed by Arsenijs in
5319, pyOCI is a Oinu{ control
interface. It enables you to
control and configure your Pi with
SSH, networking, or using an
HDMI monitor.
“I developed it because that’s
what I needed to improve
my Raspberry Pi tinkering
and development workľow,Ĥ
recalls Arsenijs.
ģDeveloping a good UI is one of
the primary goals of this project,”
Arsenijs adds.

Because Linux is the base, it can
support a range of programming
languages. Arsenijs expects
“original ideas” for apps. He will
be working on productivity and
healthcare apps.
The open-source software
approach is “likely to be secure
and not privacy-invading,” says
Arsenijs. You can disable features
you don’t like, and it doesn’t
depend on any cloud services. You
will be able to install firewall, I5P,
and TOR nodes, as well as secure
messenger services.
Arsenijs’s current goal is to
make the v1.3 PCB revision.

“That’s what I’m focused on, and

that means extensively testing

the hardware I’ve got now, to find

everything that has to be fi{ed.Ĥ

Once v1.3 is ready, he will

publish the design files and

instructions, so people will be

able to start assembling their

phones if they wish. He’ll then

prepare a crowdfunding campaign

to fund a manufacturing run and

software development.

“It’s the only phone you can

assemble by getting all the parts

yourself,” claims Arsenijs. It

doesn’t use any rare parts or fine0

pitch soldering. “You can even

breadboard this phone if you’re

dedicated enough.

“For me, this project is a

huge undertaking that, if done

right, will inľuence the way we

perceive mobile phones,” remarks

Arsenijs. He explains that it will

help solve privacy and security

concerns, as well as allow us to

develop better open-source GSM

technology. It will also help power

mobile phone hacks.

“Besides, this is an open-source

Linux-powered phone you can

independently assemble for less

than $50,” observes Arsenijs.

“That’s pretty cool.”

I developed it because that’s

what I needed to improve my

Raspberry Pi tinkering