I'm a beginner in coding and I'm working on a science fair project that involves face recognition software. I currently have all the necessary files like a folder with known faces, unknown faces, and the actual recognition script, and it's functioning well on my computer. Now, I'd like to extend this setup using a Raspberry Pi so that it's more portable and not tied to my PC. My goal is to have a button that can run the .py file directly on the Pi. I'm currently using Windows 11 and have the code on an SD card ready to transfer. Is this feasible, and what should I purchase to get started?
3 Answers
Setting this up only really takes a few straightforward steps. Just get a microSD card ready with a compatible Linux distro for your Raspberry Pi. Raspbian is the most user-friendly option if you don't want to spend too much time learning.
You can either hook it up to a monitor and use it just like any desktop or SSH into it. After that, run interactions with the GPIO pins to handle button presses or connect any peripherals you need.
To get started, you’ll need a Raspberry Pi, obviously! You’ve got options; the Raspberry Pi Zero is the most basic choice, while the Raspberry Pi 5 is more powerful. Don't forget to grab a microSD card since the Pi uses those for the OS—if you need a full-size, they usually come with a converter. You’ll be able to connect various buttons or sensors to the GPIO pins for your project. Remember, you also have to install an OS; Raspbian is a good beginner-friendly choice, and the Pi Foundation provides an easy-to-use flasher application for that.
Thanks for the advice! Will I be able to run my code with just a button?
It's really pretty straightforward! Just follow these three steps:
1. First, flash a Linux distro like Raspbian to a microSD card. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has a tool called Raspberry Pi Imager that makes this super easy.
2. Next, decide how you want to interact with the Pi. You can either connect it to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or access it via SSH; the flasher lets you set that up in advance.
3. Once set up, treat it like any Linux machine. Look for guides on Google about running scripts at startup to get your face recognition app up and running when you power it on!
Also, does the Pi 5 even have a microSD card slot? What's a good alternative for storage?