The Raspberry Pi is a small computer that you can use for a wide variety of projects, whether home automation or anything. You can turn it into a server, use it to connect a storage unit, even perform cybersecurity tests, etc. There are different models and they will always be limited to the hardware they come standard. However, it is possible to expand them. In this article, we are going to talk about what is known as HAT. We are going to explain to you what it consists of and what you should take into account.
Basically, HAT is hardware that is going to plug into the top of the Raspberry Pi. Its name comes from the English word “hat”, which means hat. It is nothing more than that: something that you are going to place on top of the device. But of course, it is something that will require an update, at the hardware level, to have better components.
What does a Raspberry Pi HAT consist of?
We can say that it is an expansion board that fits the 40-pin connector. They are not new, since they have existed for years. They will obtain energy from the device itself, so you will not have to connect it to the power, except for specific models that do require a power source.
Its installation is very simple. They are Plug and Play, so they do not require anything additional. But what exactly can you incorporate? Well, this will depend on what exactly the HAT you use consists of. It can be to add a screen, add temperature, light or motion sensors, incorporate a camera module or use it to control robots and motors.
Currently, HAT+ is the most advanced standard. It also allows you to add different components related to Artificial Intelligence and get more out of the Raspberry Pi. The objective is to make the most of it, beyond the base performance it can achieve. You can use it for many everyday things.
Very varied projects
The projects that you can do with a Raspberry Pi are very varied. They can be adapted to all types of needs you have. They are very useful for controlling home devices that you can link, sensors, taking advantage of home automation… Depending on what you need, you can opt for the different models there are.
For example, one use that we find very interesting is to convert the Raspberry Pi into a server. You will be able to install Plex, for example, and play streaming content. Of course, to do this you also need to connect a storage unit, so it is an element that you will have to control.
In addition, you will be able to have the files always available. You will be able to have your own cloud, without having to opt for third-party servers, where you have to pay a subscription or run the risk of content being lost or ending up in the wrong hands. You will, therefore, have greater control.
In short, with your Raspberry Pi you will be able to create very varied projects. You can improve it with what is known as a HAT, which is hardware that you are going to add to the top, with which you can obtain certain improvements.
