The York Computer Science Raspberry Pi Challenge
Every year, we send those planning to enter the first year of an undergraduate course in Computer Science a free Raspberry Pi, once their place is confirmed in August.
What is a Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized single-board computer developed and made in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. You can program pretty much anything with a Raspberry Pi and our Challenge encourages creativity!
The Raspberry Pi Challenge in 2014
The Challenge this year consisted of a BattlePi 2.0 element, where competitors pitched their code against each other in a game of Battleships. The second element to the Challenge was the Blue Pi Thinking - a chance for entrants to give their creativity full rein and come up with the most ingenious use of their Pi.
This year, we had sponsorship from IBM and Thales, who also sent judges for the creative part of our Challenge. They were joined in their judging duties by Gordon Hollingworth from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, who is an alumnus of York, and representatives from BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and York College.
Leo Mahon won the iPad mini prize, sponsored by IBM for the Blue Pi Thinking creative challenge. Leo's winning entry used the Raspberry Pi camera to identify playing cards: a card is slid under the camera and the Pi announces which card it is, using Leo's own image recognition algorithm.
Andrew Nowak won £100 worth of Amazon vouchers, sponsored by Thales, for beating all comers with his Battle Pi programming.
Well done to all who took part, and especially our winners!
Check out a video of the 2014 Challenge:
Gordon Hollingworth, from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, wrote about his experiences this year on the Raspberry Pi Foundation blog.
The Challenges - for new undergraduates
If you receive an offer for a place to study in Computer Science at York, once this place is confirmed in August 2015, you will receive your free Raspberry Pi.
Once you have your Raspberry Pi you will have access to York's VLE (Visual Learning Environment) where you will be able to sign up for either, or both, of the two challenges we're setting. We'll provide you with help and support along the way through the VLE, including a few tips and tricks to use with your Raspberry Pi.
Challenge 1: What will you think of?
The first challenge, Blue Pi Thinking, is open to all, even if you don't have any programming experience. The challenge is to produce the most creative thing you can think of with your Raspberry Pi. This could be anything from trying to build a robot, running a media or web server, or using it to control electronic appliances. The possibilities are endless!
Some real-life examples of what you can do with a Raspberry Pi:
- A BeetBox - a musical Beetroot connected to the Pi by touch sensors
- A design drone turns colour photos into black and white murals. The Pi turns bitmap data into vectors that are then drawn with a robot controlled marker.
- Health shield: the Raspberry Pi collects breathing, body temperature, heart rate and other health related data and transmits to apps via Wi-Fi.
- An aerospace engineer used a Raspberry Pi to run a voice-recognition robot arm. Another voice-controlled robot makes the coffee.
- A rocket launcher terrorises staff in the programming office. The Raspberry Pi detects errors in software development and fires a foam missile at the offending employee.
- A Raspberry Pi detects the temperature of home-brewed beer and adjusts the fridge accordingly.
- Pi in the sky: huge hydrogen balloon with Raspberry Pi connected to a webcam takes video footage 40,000 feet up. Highest ever live pictures.
- A toy chicken squawks when dieters open the cupboard looking for a crafty snack. The chicken tweets any dietary indiscretions to your Twitter followers.
Challenge 2: Test your strategic thinking
The second challenge will test your ability to think strategically as well as being a good introduction to programming. If you've programmed before, it's a chance to challenge yourself - all levels of programming experience can enter.
The challenges will culminate in an exciting event hosted in the Department at the end of your first week at University and all first years and academic staff will be invited to attend. There is also an opportunity to win some great prizes from our industrial partners - IBM, BAE Sytems, Thales and Rolls Royce - who are also attending the final event, and will be judging the entries. This will be a fantastic introduction in to the Department and a chance to meet your new classmates and lecturers as well as the opportunity to win some amazing prizes!
Find out more about the Raspberry Pi
Any questions?
If you want more information about the Raspberry Pi Challenge, contact our Admissions Tutor, Dr Will Smith, who is organising the Challenge.
Did you know?
- The Pi was invented and is now built in the UK - so we'll be supporting the British technology industry.
- It weighs only 45g and can sit in the palm of your hand.
- You could win great prizes from our industrial sponsors.
- The Challenge will end in your first week in York. The creative challenge will be judged by our industry sponsors, the strategic Challenge tournament will take place, and there will be drinks and a chance to meet other new students.