This article covers the exciting lineup of projects we’ll be showcasing at Hobby-X 2025! From a fully decked-out Raspberry Pi 500 desktop setup to a mesmerizing LED sand physics demo on an LED matrix, there’s plenty to explore at our stand. We’re also highlighting some clever micro:bit builds, including a handheld arcade console, an automated greenhouse, and a line-following robot car that doubles as a remote-controlled racer. These demos are just a taste—be sure to watch this space next month for a follow-up featuring even more of our tech-packed creations we couldn’t squeeze in this time around!

Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi is a compact, affordable, and powerful single-board computer designed to make computing accessible to everyone. Originally developed to promote computer science education, it has since grown into a versatile tool used by hobbyists, educators, and professionals around the world. Whether you’re building a home automation system, programming robots, setting up media centers, or learning to code, the Raspberry Pi offers endless possibilities in a palm-sized package. Its wide range of models and strong community support make it an ideal platform for both beginners and experienced makers alike.

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Raspberry Pi 500 Office Showcase

Based on the successful Raspberry Pi 400, the new Raspberry Pi 500 is a complete Raspberry Pi 5-based personal computer, integrated into a keyboard.

Using a Raspberry Pi 500 Desktop Kit and an Official display, we created a fully functioning desktop kit displaying software such as:

• LibreOffice
• Gimp
• Inkscape
• Blender
• FreeCAD

Key features include:

• 2.4GHz quad-core, 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, with 512KB L2 caches and a 2MB shared L3 cache
• VideoCore VII GPU
• 8GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM
• 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
• Micro SD card slot, with support for high-speed SDR104 mode and the command queuing extension
• 2 × USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation
• 1 × USB 2.0 port
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Dual micro-HDMI ports
• 40-pin GPIO header
• Kensington lock
• 5V/5A DC power – via separate USB-C power supply
• Power button on the keyboard

Everything you’ll need to replicate our full Raspberry Pi Desktop setup:

• 1 x Raspberry Pi 500
• 1 x Raspberry Pi 5 Power Supply
• 1 x Raspberry Pi Official Mouse
• 1 x Raspberry Pi Micro-HDMI to Standard-HDMI Cable
• 1 x Raspberry Pi Official Monitor

Or

1 x Raspberry Pi 500 EU Kit with US Keyboard

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LED Matrix Sand Physics Demo

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micro:bit

The micro:bit is a compact, beginner-friendly microcontroller developed by the BBC to promote digital literacy and hands-on learning in coding and electronics. With built-in features like an LED display, buttons, motion sensors, and Bluetooth, the micro:bit offers a powerful and accessible platform for students, hobbyists, and educators. Its block-based and text-based coding options—such as Microsoft MakeCode and Python—make it easy for learners of all ages to start programming interactive projects right away. From building simple games to creating smart home systems and wearable tech, the micro:bit encourages creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of how software interacts with the physical world. It’s no surprise that it has become a favorite tool in classrooms and makerspaces around the globe.

Using the micro:bit, we’ve created several projects to showcase just how easy it is to work with! From Line following and remote control robots to an automatic farming system!

What we have on display:

• micro:bit v2
• Kitronik :MOVE Motor for the BBC micro:bit(V1 & V2 NOT INCLUDED)
• Kitronik Arcade for micro:bit – MakeCode ARCADE (Excluding micro:bit)
• Auto Plant Watering Kit for micro:bit (without micro:bit)
• Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit for the BBC micro:bit (not included)

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Raspberry Pi Carbon Credits

In support of our environmental sustainability goals, Raspberry Pi Carbon Removal Credits offer customers the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture, shipping and disposal of their Raspberry Pi single-board computer.

A Raspberry Pi Carbon Removal Credit takes the form of a credit-card-sized piece of card, bearing a unique verifiable serial number. For each card produced, we purchase 6.5kg of high-quality “enhanced rock weathering” carbon offsets from UNDO Carbon. These offsets are generated by spreading crushed basalt on farmland, absorbing the rated quantity of carbon from the atmosphere over a period of at most twenty years.