Farnell announces winners of search to find longest running Raspberry Pi application

Farnell, an Avnet company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced the winners of a competition to find the longest running Raspberry Pi application currently still in use. A diverse range of long-serving embedded designs and other Raspberry Pi-based systems were entered into the 6-week challenge, showcasing how Raspberry Pi is being used as a winning solution by design engineers and hobbyists alike.

This year marks Farnell’s 10-year manufacturing and distribution partnership with Raspberry Pi Ltd. In celebration of this milestone, Farnell launched the search to find the ‘longest serving’ Raspberry Pi-based application. Three entrants successfully demonstrated the oldest applications currently in use. Each of the three applications were developed in 2014, including:  

• A home automation energy monitor and thermostat application based on a Raspberry Pi Model B+. The application ran as a server for various applications including controlling home heating, showing a smart energy meter monitor display, internet radio client and Christmas decorations.
• A Softball PiCam using a Raspberry Pi Model 1B to make a camera that would capture video of a softball player running to first base by detecting the hit and panning a PiCam. The system is triggered by a directional microphone placed near the batter.
• A traffic congestion monitor using a Raspberry Pi Model B that checks motorway traffic and sends a notification to the user’s phone if there is a problem that would cause delays when going to work or returning home.

Other creative entries included a blood pressure sensor interface based on Raspberry Pi, a smart home security camera system and an automatic lawn and pond watering application.

The element14 Community has notified all winners of the major prize packages, which include 10 Raspberry Pi Picos and a Pi NoIR 8MP Camera. Winners have the option of claiming the prize for personal use or donating it to a local school, coding club or college in their country of residence.

For more information see the original Press Release.