A family uses a Raspberry Pi Pico to track collective running distances to the ISS in a fun project
A Raspberry Pi Pico gets a seriously cool upgrade in this inventive project that turns a family’s collective running distance into a visual representation of their progress towards the International Space Station (ISS). As family members run on Earth, the Pi logs the distance, and illuminates an LED ladder to visualize their goal.
The project is an inventive way to motivate a family to stay on the cutting edge of fitness, and it showcases the creativity and innovation possible with Raspberry Pi projects. The run-tracking is done through Strava, a website and mobile app used for tracking runs, cycling routes, and more, so you can rest assured the data is accurate and real-time.
The video, shared on Element 14’s YouTube channel, shows how the Pi keeps track of the family’s progress, updating the LEDs with Strava data. Each family member has their own Strava profile, and their individual progress is represented by a specific color on the LED ladder.
The hardware required includes the Raspberry Pi Pico W along with internet access. In addition, you’ll need a strip of individually addressable LEDs and some type of mounting mechanism (in the video, it’s a strip of Velcro). The LEDs are modified into a ladder configuration to suit the project design.
The creator, Lorraine, walks viewers through the code and how the project works. If you want to take this for a spin yourself, it’s certainly worth looking over the original video to get a full understanding.
Check out the video below to see the project in action:
For more fun projects, be sure to check out our list of the best Raspberry Pi 3 projects. You can also keep up to date with all the latest Raspberry Pi news by checking out our Raspberry Pi 3 section.
