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How Do You Like Working with the Matrix Creator?

rscasny

If you have experimented with or built a project with the Matrix Creator add-on board for the Raspberry Pi, how are you liking it? I wanted to get some feedback from makers, designers, etc. What have you been building with it? How do you like working with it? Thanks.image

 

Randall Scasny

RoadTest Program Manager

  • Looks cool, but I never purchased one.  Looks like a good Design Challenge board.

    Scott

  • in reply to mcb1

    Hi Mark!

    There's a short description of it here:

    Embedded World 2017 - (part of) Day 1

    I didn't get to see it in action, but it looked interesting. It is a cross between an IoT gateway, an Amazon Echo and a Sense HAT, combining (and adding to) features of all three pretty much.

    Since it is to be connected to the Pi, there is in theory the opportunity to do local processing as desired, unlike the Echo where any custom apps would need to be in the cloud.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Thanks

    I'm not convinced about the shape (and size) for anything more than developing your applications.

    Sadly that doesn't really translate into multiple sales, as it would be if you made it something that can be incorporated into the final product by a maker.

     

    It obviously won't fit in any standard enclosures, and any case you add to the Pi is going to make it even harder, unless you use a cable.

     

    It does seem to have a lot of processing power onboard, so I'm not sure why they even bothered with tethering it the Pi.

    image

     

    I can't see me adding one to my collection.

     

    Cheers

    Mark

  • The shape is so similar to other wearable solutions from Adafruit, for me I just see myself using it. I would possibly unfairly critical in my assessment on it, as i am sure for some people it will function and appear great.

  • According to the matrix creator website, they describe it as a dev-board, which explains the size of it.

    Some videos of it on the site:

    Using its in-built sensors:

     

    and as a drone:

     

    Using the microphone array and cloud like an Amazon Echo:

     

    I like that they have a lot of information at the matrix github location, so it could have applicability as as experimenter board for students too. It seems quite a nice board for educational purposes, for electronics and computer related courses.

     

    The 8 microphones makes it unique, since all previous attempt at a DIY Alexa/Siri solution have been compromises using just one or two mics.

    I think they were aiming for a form-factor like the Echo Dot, but the Echo Dot is puck-sized, and this isn't. Still, for educational and development/prototyping purposes I guess this doesn't matter.

  • Please excuse my terrible quality print but Matrix also have models for the case available.

     

    imageimage

     

    https://github.com/matrix-io/MATRIX-Creator-Case

  • in reply to e14phil

    That looks quite stylish! And nothing that a bit of sanding couldn't fix maybe.

    The Pi's eyesore USB cable-as-a-supply sticking out perpendicular to the rest of the connections is nicely hidden from sight by the top board : )

  • in reply to shabaz

    I'm a big fan of 90 degree USB plugs ;-)