Building a Super Pi

A team at Southampton University have built a SuperComputer using 64 Raspberry Pis and LEGO.


The team, led by Professor Simon Cox, consisted of Richard Boardman, Andy Everett, Steven Johnston, Gereon Kaiping, Neil O’Brien, Mark Scott and Oz Parchment, along with Professor Cox’s son James Cox (aged 6) who provided specialist support on Lego and system testing.

Professor Cox comments: “As soon as we were able to source sufficient Raspberry Pi computers we wanted to see if it was possible to link them together into a supercomputer. We installed and built all of the necessary software on the Pi starting from a standard Debian Wheezy system image and we have published a guide so you can build your own supercomputer.”

The racking was built using Lego with a design developed by Simon and James, who has also been testing the Raspberry Pi by programming it using free computer programming software Python and Scratch over the summer. The machine, named “Iridis-Pi” after the University’s Iridis supercomputer, runs off a single 13 Amp mains socket and uses MPI(Message Passing Interface) to communicate between nodes using Ethernet. The whole system cost under £2,500 (excluding switches) and has a total of 64 processors and 1Tb of memory (16Gb SD cards for each Raspberry Pi). Professor Cox uses the free plug-in ‘Python Tools for Visual Studio’ to develop code for the Raspberry Pi.

Professor Cox adds: “The first test we ran – well obviously we calculated Pi on the Raspberry Pi using MPI, which is a well-known first test for any new supercomputer.”

“The team wants to see this low-cost system as a starting point to inspire and enable students to apply high-performance computing and data handling to tackle complex engineering and scientific challenges as part of our on-going outreach activities.”

James Cox says: “The Raspberry Pi is great fun and it is amazing that I can hold it in my hand and write computer programs or play games on it.”


Make your own at: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~sjc/raspberrypi/

Cycling to Power Your Pi

It turns out that its relatively easy to power a Pi via cycling. You simply require a Dynamo and the appropriate kit. Whilst this is not a cheap way to power it and will require plenty of pedal power it is very environmentally friendly and enables people to use computers where otherwise it would not be possible.

This is one aspect of the Raspberry Pi that makes it very suitable for use in places where you would not normally put a computer.   If you are interested in using a Bicycle to power electronics you can find out more at: http://www.pedalpower.com.au/

Imagine where computers could go and you would not have to worry about the power. Of course another way to power it is with a Wind up mechanism and these can be bought for less than a tenner! Amazon.co.uk

Rapberry Pi Now made in the UK

Sony UK Technology Centre (UKTec) in Wales will be manufacturing the Raspberry Pi version 2.0. They will initially manufacture 30,000 units and it will create 30 new jobs.

Mike Buffham, Global Head of EDE at Premier Farnell commented: “When it came to reviewing our manufacturing strategy we were always keen to bring the production of the Raspberry Pi to the UK. From the outset Sony UK Technology Centre demonstrated its enthusiasm for the product as well as its expertise in manufacturing.  Their site is highly impressive and I am very confident that the team in Wales can deliver, providing us with a high-quality product, within our designated timeframe, all within budget.  The Sony brand is known for its quality and to have its broadcast manufacturing site on board and building the Raspberry Pi product, within the UK, is very exciting.

“Since the Raspberry Pi was launched globally in February 2012 it has been a tremendous success story. The younger generation have been fascinated in learning how to build and programme their own computer device.  As such we have had huge interest from educational institutions in purchasing the product, innovative design engineers who are using the computer for exciting new applications and also the general public.”

Eben Upton, Co-Founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation said: “When Pete Lomas and I built the first Raspberry Pi’s for testing last year, we never dreamed it would become so popular so quickly.  The Raspberry Pi was built to develop young people’s skills in computer programming and electronic engineering; we had always intended and hoped that the Raspberry Pi would also be manufactured within the UK. We’re really delighted that Premier Farnell has been able to find such a reliable manufacturer as the Sony UK Technology Centre.  By bringing the production of a UK product back into the country alongside its development and distribution, we can help support our economy and demonstrate the capabilities the UK has in terms of technological innovation, invention, and manufacturing.

“We look forward to continuing our work with Premier Farnell and now, the Sony UK Technology Centre, in the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s next stage of growth.”

In the assembly of the Raspberry Pi, Sony UKTec will be investing in additional equipment to fulfil the order requirements, providing flexibility and scalability to cater for potential increases in demand. This will include additional automated circuit board equipment and double side reflow machinery.  Furthermore, the site will be extending its manufacturing process capability to include a technique called package-on-package (PoP). This process allows the processor and memory to be stacked on top of each other, reducing the PCB footprint and the distance that high-speed signals need to travel, improving overall reliability.

Steve Dalton OBE, Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre, stated; “...the Raspberry Pi Foundation, encompasses our view on developing young people’s knowledge of the technology industry.  Organisations like this one help build the technologists of our future by inspiring the next generation.”

Video Tutorials from Liam Fraser

Liam has worked diligently on the Raspberry Pi something you can hear him talk about it in his presentation for Cambridge Raspberry Jam.

He has created a whole series of videos for the Raspberry Pi and a visit to his channel should be a first port of call for Raspberry Pi Newbies. http://www.youtube.com/user/RaspberryPiTutorials/

He is also a regular writer for Linux User and if you are getting into the Pi and Linux a subscription wouldn't half be a bad idea!  http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/  (Shameless Plug)

It also just shows what our young people can achieve when they put their minds to it!

Pi Face Video Presentation

Pi-Face Digital enables the Raspberry Pi to control and manipulate the real world. It allows the Raspberry Pi to read switches connected to it – a door sensor or pressure pad perhaps, a microswitch or reed switch, or a hand held button. With appropriate easy to write code, the Raspberry Pi then drives outputs, powering motors, actuator, LEDs, light bulbs or anything you can imagine to respond to the inputs.  It has the following features:

• Allows you to control lights, motors etc.
• Sense inputs
• Creditcard size, stacks on top of Raspberry Pi
• Buffered to protect the Raspberry Pi
• Easy to connect with screw terminals
• Program in Scratch or Python
• Test with onscreen simulator

Dr Andrew Robinson presented PiFace at the Cambridge RaspberryJam, here is his presentation in full. Thank you to Leon for the high quality video.  

Further details can be found at:  http://pi.cs.man.ac.uk/

Big Trak Your Raspberry Pi

At the Raspberry Jam in Cambridge, one of the highlights was driving a Big Trak around the stage!  It was an amazing bit of kit and one can only imagine the possibilities of what it could be used for in future!

I've been asked quite a few questions about this project and I can now exclusively reveal that the author of the project is Leo White. Not only a whiz with RISC OS, but also has quite the talent with Electronics. Now if the following doesn't scare you, then I am sure you will be able to make your own Big Traks in no-time, but seriously this is NOT for the faint hearted. Remember Leo also enjoys hacking operating systems in his spare time...So here is what he did.

He stripped out the motor unit from the Big Trak, removing the existing controller board and then he connected a replacement motor driver chip. He then hard coded the circuit to control the motors, connected his Raspberry Pi, got that to control it and added an extra mobile phone type battery to power the Pi and extra electronics.

When he came to Cambridge, he of course tidied it all up... After all you can't be shabby when coming to the Uni!  And he told me that in the last couple of days he's been working on the rocket launcher!

You can keep an eye on his progress at his Google+ page: https://plus.google.com/107287498294316622336/posts  and he says that he'll be putting instructions together at some point, but we'd better not disturb this genius at work. 

Raspberry Jam Cambridge Presentations

Firstly I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in the Raspberry Jam and #TMEast yesterday it was an amazing success.  The presenter list below reads like a who is who of the Raspberry Pi Team and the foundation have been fantastic in supporting this event, especially Liz Upton who has helped out so much with PR for the event.

I would like to mention a few names that weren’t really at the front during the presentations yesterday, but were instrumental to making this happen, Graham Hastings who will be taking over the ‘local’ Cambridge event in September.  From the university, I’d like to thank Jon Crowcroft who did a wonderful job with the venue and Ian Burton-Palmer who also helped us with our numerous technical enquiries.  From CAS,  Simon Humphreys, Claire Davenport and Mark Dorling who very kindly sponsored the event.  Leon Cychs and Rosie Slosek who did the video and sound.   Mark Ellis from my school who was at the front constantly rewiring the system to keep the event going and kept a very cool head when we lost all sound 10 minutes before the event started.  Keith Dunlop’s RISC OS support team Bryan Hogan and Leo White.  There were four other key people who were constantly buzzing around and helping me with too many tasks to mention: Isabell Long, Neil Turner, Roeland Schumacher and Dima Tupikov, my wife Min Chee Shee, Alan's wife for giving him a day pass, Myra VanInwengan for lending me her Raspberry Pi Alpha and setting up the Lego set and finally the Preston Posse who just appeared and instantly jumped into help.

Secondly, I have tried to put together as many of the resources as possible from yesterday and I am aware that it isn’t a complete list, but I’ll edit the Blog as needs be.

Introductory Video

Presentations in Alphabetical Order

James Abela @eslweb
Using Scratch to teach Economics
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/jabela/1907183
10 Raspberry Pi Lesson ideas
Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/pub?id=1meoj23DVlfUAuFV2AKdeeLZiC5gxWzHvcp6Pugu3uXI&start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
Video:  http://youtu.be/bHD3NOAmOJk

Mark Allen @edintheclouds
Google Docs, Apps & Sites
http://www.edintheclouds.com/

Jo Badge @jobadge
Secret Google Searches

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10unxrcJ0lLViS1etsa1OdCqVHVeyJGZY2-iUQfHtb3M/mobilebasic?pli=1

Sheli Blackburn Digital @shelibb
Digital Leader Network
http://t.co/NK7YDama

Martin Burrett @ictmagic
Using sixth formers' mobile devices as an AfL tool
http://prezi.com/vskppld5jufb/teachmeet-cambridge/

Keith Dunlop
RISC OS
https://www.riscosopen.org/

Jamie Freeman @imvoto
Using sixth formers' mobile devices as an AfL tool
Website: http://www.imvoto.com/imvoto/
Presentation: http://t.co/yEKZwNE


Liam Fraser @FraserLiam

Raspberry Pi Tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/user/RaspberryPiTutorials/

Gary Fletcher & Alasdair Davies
Instant Wild
https://docs.google.com/presentation/pub?id=1J6Yn5-IabkjKLI_VYHLPwIFSu2_qfTLQxJYe59BoD6k&start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000#slide=id.p13

Dr. Oliver Frey MD @DrOliverFreyMD
Teaching Health Skills
http://www.dr-frey.com/documents/Health%20Skills%20Course.pdf

William Gardiner
USB real-time PC I/O controller
http://www.heber.co.uk/gaming-amusement/xline/x10i-overview/

Maggie Hos-McGrane
Introduction to International Baccalaureate programmes
Blog: http://www.maggiehosmcgrane.com/
Prezi: http://prezi.com/6mmloukqq_wp/the-international-baccalaurate/

Andy Knill @aknill
Mishmashlearning
http://www.mishmashlearning.wordpress.com

Dr Andrew Robinson
PiFace IO Interface Board
http://pi.cs.man.ac.uk/

Media

• Images by Leon &Rosie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/learn4life/sets/72157630576419214/
• Images from @biglesp  http://www.flickr.com/photos/45703688@N07/sets/72157630591148746/
• Images from Roeland  https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/111491674190149901645/albums/5765490230977206145
• Images from @JerryDHarper  http://www.flickr.com/photos/notator/
• Official video: http://www.youtube.com/user/eyebeams2 (High res video to follow at some point)
• Podcast interview with Rory & Rufus http://audioboo.fm/boos/884468-rory-ruskin147-reflects-post-cambridge-raspberryjam
• Twitter: #Raspberryjam

Blogs

• BBC News:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18853587
• CNET: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/desktops/4000-raspberry-pi-pcs-made-a-day-camera-add-on-due-october-50008622/
• Official Website: http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1576
• Andrew Edney: http://connecteddigitalworld.com/2012/07/15/a-slice-of-raspberry-pi-with-the-foundation-at-the-cambridge-raspberryjam/
• Corylus  http://corylus.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/raspberryjam-cambridge-starting-point.html

Other useful Links

• Cambridgeshire TeachMeet: http://teachmeet.pbworks.com/w/page/54595880/TMCambs12
• Raspberry Jam Website:  http://raspberryjam.org.uk/
• Raspberry Pi Website:  http://www.raspberrypi.org/
• Computing at School:  http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/