CrowPi 3: Raspberry Pi 5-based Al learning and development station now crowdfunding

Some readers may already be familiar with the name CrowPi and its manufacturer Elecrow, which is now crowdfunding the new CrowPi 3 development and learning platform. Backers of the crowdfunding campaign can reserve a unit in return for a pledge of roughly $159, with first deliveries expected to arrive in August. This price includes the platform itself and essential sensors and components, but not the Raspberry Pi 5. Preordering involves the typical financial risks, which should be comparatively low in this case since Elecrow is an established company with lots of experience in crowdfunding.

With that out of the way, the CrowPi 3 is quite portable and can be used on the go. It’s designed for a Raspberry Pi and compatible with the latest Raspberry Pi 5 (from $75 on Amazon) as well as the Arduino Nano and other single-board computers. Furthermore, this new AI station features a 4.3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, while the so-called “Basic Accessories Kit” includes an IR remote control, an SD card with the operating system, an SD card reader and RFID tags. In addition, the “Expansion Accessories Kit” comes with the board itself, two gaming controllers and NFC tags. Speakers and a camera are built-in, and the system weighs 2.4 lbs.

External sensors and actuators can be easily connected via a breadboard. However, various modules are also located directly on the board, such as a smaller display and ultrasonic sensors. The Elecrow CrowPi 3 can be used for a wide range of projects, including AI applications for things like object recognition, to name just one example.