This project is ment to give a base for further development of a simple screen that just shows a number. This can be used to show customers which one is next. It does not rely on any other third-party services.
A screen hangs somewhere prominent in a room. It has some sort of small computer attached running software to drive the display. A worker has a small controller that connects to the display (or rather the computer). With the controller he can control the number displayed.
The GIF shows not the latest version. The clock is disabled by default and I removed all the letters so the splitflap is only going through all the numbers.
I choose a 27 inch 1080p monitor that was under 200€. The only things really from interest where the size and good viewing angles.
As a computer I choose the (now new) Raspberry Pi Zero 2. It definitly has enough horse power to run a little application to display numbers. It also runs the RaspAP software. Which makes the Raspberry Pi a small router. It is a bit overkill but works flawlessly. It just creates a WiFi Hotspot for the controller to connect to. So it is independend from other hardware.
I choose to write my own little software for that. More information can be found here: Link to the Readme The software is autostarted by the Raspberry. This article by Lucas Vogel helped with some best practices: https://lucas-vogel.de/blog/perfect-electron/
The controller consist of a ESP8266 with battery, a rotary encoder and a small display. All together in a 3d-printed housing. More information can be found here: Link to the Readme
This project was a short 2 day project for me. My professor got some money for this a couple of years ago but no one ever started this small project. I had some flex time now and so I just started working on it. I liked to use skills of every tech area, this is really a Full Stack Project:
- Frontend Programming (JavaScript / HTML)
- Server Programming (Node.js)
- Server Administration (Autostart + RaspAP)
- Embedded Programming (ESP8266 / C++)
- Electronic Design (Yeah just attach some components directly to the Feather)
- CAD (Maybe just a little Box but hey atleast something)