Raspberry Pi 5-based portable AI learning platform features 41 modules, supports Arduino Nano, RPi Pico, and Micro:bit boards (Crowdfunding)

CrowPi 3 is a Raspberry Pi 5-powered all-in-one portable AI learning and development platform with a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, plenty of plug-and-play electronic modules, a breadboard area, and support for Arduino Nano, Raspberry Pi Pico, and BBC Micro:bit MCU boards for expansion.

It’s basically another take on the CrowPi 2 laptop based on the Raspberry Pi 4 with similar modules placed under the keyboard, but in a different form factor. The CrowPi 3 portable learning platform replaces the 11.6-inch Full HD display with a 4.3-inch display and does away with the keyboard, but is equipped with a more powerful Raspberry Pi 5 SBC capable of handling real-time AI tools such as ChatGPT and LLaMA (with smaller, distilled models).

CrowPi 3 specifications:

• Main Board – Raspberry Pi 5 SBC
• Compatible MCU boards
  • Arduino Nano boards
  • BBC Micro:bit boards
  • Raspberry Pi Pico boards
• Display – 4.3-inch IPS touchscreen display with 800×480 resolution
• Video Output – HDMI port
• Audio
  • 3.5mm audio jack
  • Stereo speaker
  • Built-in microphone (in camera module)
• Camera – 2MP camera
• Networking – Ethernet port
• USB
  • 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports
  • 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port
  • 1x USB Type-C port
• Expansion – 41 built-in modules, breadboard area
• Misc
  • Power button
  • Volume and Brightness adjustment buttons
  • Power LED, battery LED
  • Storage box for components
  • Carrying handle
• Power Supply
  • 5V/5A via USB-C PD input/output port
  • 5V /output via USB-C port
• Dimensions – 285 x 185 x 38mm
• Weight – 1.1kg

The kit comes with software that features over 180+ lessons to experiment with the modules and learn electronics, programming, and AI. Those include tutorials for the Arduino Nano, Raspberry Pi Pico, and Micro:bit boards. However, if you’re done with this part, the company says the CrowPi 3 supports Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows 10 IoT, OpenWrt, FreeBSD, etc… basically any operating system that runs on a Raspberry Pi 5.

While there’s no keyboard like in the CrowPi2, the company says users can connect a USB or wireless keyboard and mouse to the CrowPi 3. There would be no way I would accept this as a supervising adult since I wouldn’t be able to read what’s on the display without destroying my eyes, but the HDMI port should save the day.

Kajornsak got a review sample of the CrowPi 3 a little over a month ago, but the review has gone nowhere because the OS image was corrupted on the microSD card (reported mid-May), and the company only sent us the new OS image this morning! In my experience, about 50% of review samples from Elecrow have some issues requiring a replacement or a fix (like reflashing the OS image), but it might be because we review early prototypes, and hopefully, things get resolved by the time paying customers get their rewards. I still hope the CrowPi 3 review to be up in a few weeks.

Elecrow has just launched the CrowPi 3 on Kickstarter with a $200,000 HKD funding target (about $25,500 US), which has already been surpassed. Rewards start at $159 US for the basic kit without Raspberry Pi 5, and goes up to $288 for the advanced kit with a Raspberry Pi 5 8GB, a built-in battery module, a 2.4GHz wireless keyboard & mouse combo, and a 32GB microSD card preloaded with the OS with learning software. Shipping adds about $20 to $150 depending on the destination country, and deliveries are scheduled to start by August 2025.

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