Cheaper Hardware

[Cedric-ruiu]

Hello,

I like this project and I want to build it to offer as gift. :)

I have questions about hardware requirement. Actually the rpi 3 cost 40$, thermal printer 50$ and the pi camera v2 25$ => a total base of 115$ and need to add additionnal equipments (battery, button, etc.). I want if possible to reduce the global price, idea :

• Can we use any thermal printer TTL, or cartoonify is specific to the Adafruit Tiny Printer? I can found other TTL printer at 20$.
• rpi3 is the best powered rpi but we need this version? rpi0 can do the same job? 6$
• same question about pi camera v2, a more cheaper camera can do the job? 5$

Cheaper base 20 + 6 + 5 = 31$ ! Much less than compared to 115$. More attractive...

[Cedric-ruiu]

No idea?

[danmacnish]

Good question. I suggest you try the code with your specific hardware and see if the performance is acceptable :) Brief comments below:

• Can we use any thermal printer TTL, or cartoonify is specific to the Adafruit Tiny Printer? I can found other TTL printer at 20$. Possibly, if the printer is compatible with the CUPS driver used by the adafruit printer. If not, you will need to implement a driver.
• rpi3 is the best powered rpi but we need this version? rpi0 can do the same job? 6$ Possibly, although the tensorflow model would load extremely slowly - best to try it and see, at $6 you haven't lost anything :)
• same question about pi camera v2, a more cheaper camera can do the job? Possibly, if you can find or write python drivers :)

[ooOOFlOOoo]

Hey @Cedric-ruiu,

did you try to get the project run on a rpi0? I'm currently doing the same thing and I'm struggling a bit getting it to work. I already figured out that it's not working with the current docker version. You have to downgrade to 18.03. But I haven't manage to go any further than building the docker-file.