Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
USB to SATA
You can purchase simple USB to SATA controllers that allow you to attach SATA
hard drives by using the dedicated power supplies. The real fun begins when you
use hardware RAID-based USB to SATA controllers that can be chained in various
configurations. This can give you massive storage, high redundancy, and maximum
performance. Be careful though, as the maximum throughput speed you can achieve
is governed by the bandwidth of USB 2.0. In theory, this is a maximum speed of 60
MBps; but it is shared by all the devices on the controller and not per port. There is
more information on this later in the topic.
CAN bus
The CAN bus is the standard used in all modern motor vehicles. It is a standard
port that gives mandatory data that can be interpreted by anybody. For example,
throttle value, misfiring of cylinders, or air to fuel ratio. PEAK-System has a variety
of peripherals and software that are compatible with the Pi. If you have access to the
manufacturer-specific codes, you can even adjust engine mappings with these tools.
Adjusting some values may damage your ECU and will void
any warranties.
Home automation
A compatible device called TellStick runs well as a third-party home automation
device for the Pi. But as an advanced Linux user, you should strive to make your
own applications; the best add-on for this is the AlaMode from WyoLum.
USB missile launcher
Available from a variety of websites and stores, this is the perfect gadget if
you need to shoot plushy missiles at unidentified objects! This is purely an
entertainment peripheral, but you could use it for DIY projects.
Fingerprint scanners
Futronic's fingerprint scanners work well with Raspbian, and there are many
examples that can be found online. They are standalone programmable devices
that communicate with the Pi using simple messages over USB-UART, and have
extensive documentation available with the device.
