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Trucker Uses Raspberry Pi to Connect his Big Rig

Raspberry Pi
Trucker Uses Raspberry Pi to Connect his Big Rig

RaspPiTrucker

When Andy Proctor, a truck driver and web developer in the UK, was dissatisfied with his companyโ€™s tracking system, he hacked his truck.

Called the iDataTruck, it tweets the status of his truck directly to his office. (Follow it at @iDataTruck.) โ€œThe company does have a tracker system,โ€ says Proctor, โ€œbut we still have to phone up and say whether weโ€™ve got our box on or off, when weโ€™ve been unloaded or loaded at the customerโ€™s premises.โ€

Proctor used a Raspberry Pi B+ with Tweepy, plus a Wi-Fi dongle and physical buttons on a spare panel in the cab to send the tweets, and lights to indicate power and operability. (It sends emails too.)

Raspberry_pi_Project (1)

โ€œThis is just my way of learning about the Pi, and using some skills Iโ€™ve got to create a practical application,โ€ he says. His next project will replace the buttons with bar codes for a wider variety of messages.

Want to do it yourself? Head on over to Proctorโ€™s website, where he has detailed his story and even included the code he used. He also has a YouTube video (see below). The big rig is optional โ€” try it with your car, or even your bike, and let us know how it goes. (Send photos to editor@mzinestage.wpengine.com.)

[youtube:http://youtu.be/E3nVL2mv5po]

What will the next generation of Make: look like? Weโ€™re inviting you to shape the future by investing in Make:. By becoming an investor, you help decide whatโ€™s next. The future of Make: is in your hands. Learn More.

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Nathan Hurst is an editor at Make. He loves anything having to do with science or bicycling. He tweets as @nathanbhurst.

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