Chicago – July 14, 2022: Newark, an Avnet company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced the winners of a competition to find the longest running Raspberry Pi application currently still in use. A diverse range of long-serving embedded designs and other Raspberry Pi-based systems were entered into the 6-week challenge, showcasing how Raspberry Pi is being used as a winning solution by design engineers and hobbyists alike.

This year marks Newark’s 10-year manufacturing and distribution partnership with Raspberry Pi Ltd. In celebration of this milestone, Newark launched the search to find the ‘longest serving’ Raspberry Pi-based application. Three entrants successfully demonstrated the oldest applications currently in use. Each of the three applications were developed in 2014, including:

• A home automation energy monitor and thermostat application based on a Raspberry Pi Model B+. The application ran as a server for various applications including controlling home heating, showing a smart energy meter monitor display, internet radio client and Christmas decorations.
• A Softball PiCam using a Raspberry Pi Model 1B to make a camera that would capture video of a softball player running to first base by detecting the hit and panning a PiCam. The system is triggered by a directional microphone placed near the batter.
• A traffic congestion monitor using a Raspberry Pi Model B that checks motorway traffic and sends a notification to the user’s phone if there is a problem that would cause delays when going to work or returning home.

Other creative entries included a blood pressure sensor interface based on Raspberry Pi, a smart home security camera system and an automatic lawn and pond watering application.

Romain Soreau, Head of Single Board Computing at Newark, said: “We would like to congratulate all major prize winners and extend our thanks to every participant who shared their innovative product designs as part of the competition. As the longest serving strategic business partner of Raspberry Pi Ltd, we are always on the lookout for anyone who can provide details about clever applications that showcase how the Raspberry Pi is being used around the world.”

The element14 Community has notified all winners of the major prize packages, which include 10 Raspberry Pi Picos and a Pi NoIR 8MP Camera. Winners have the option of claiming the prize for personal use or donating it to a local school, coding club or college.

Newark stocks and provides 24/5 technical support for the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers, enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for professional, commercial, education or home use. A diverse ecosystem of accessories is also available including cases, power supplies, micro-HDMI cables and the Raspberry Pi High Resolution Camera.

Newark can support the provision and equipment bundling for bespoke large-scale programs. Customers also benefit from free access to valuable online resources on the Newark website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The latest range of Raspberry Pi products and accessories are available from Newark in North America, Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

You can find more details and supporting imagery related to this press release on our newsroom: www.element14.com/news

About us

Newark is part of the Farnell group of businesses, a global technology leader with over 80 years in the high service distribution of technology products and solutions for electronic system design, production, maintenance and repair. Farnell uses this experience to support its broad customer base, from hobbyists to engineers, maintenance engineers and buyers, working with leading brands and start-ups to develop new products for market, and supporting the industry as it seeks to develop the current and next generation of engineers.

Farnell trades as Farnell in Europe; Newark in North America; and element14 throughout Asia Pacific. Farnell sells direct to consumers through a network of resellers and its CPC business in the UK.

Farnell is a business unit of Avnet, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVT). Avnet is a global technology solutions provider with an extensive ecosystem that delivers design, product, marketing and supply chain expertise for customers at every stage of the product lifecycle.

For more information, visit our websites at http://www.farnell.com/corporate and https://www.avnet.com