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A Tron-inspired DIY smart device called the Master Control Disk brings futuristic style to home tech with a Raspberry Pi 5.
Traditional smart devices for the home, like voice assistant speakers, may be quite useful, but they are also pretty boring. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. YouTuber Creative Chance wonders why none of these futuristic devices actually look futuristic. The bland design of these gadgets borders on tragedy, so Creative Chance decided to make a super cool smart device of his own, but with some style.
He created what he calls the Master Control Disk. It was inspired by the movie Tron, and it looks every bit the part. This thing could easily be a prop in a real movie. But despite the appearance, the construction of the device was pretty simple, such that even a beginner hobbyist could build it. In fact, surprisingly, Creative Chance is brand new to electronics and software engineering.
The Master Control Disk was built around an 8GB Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computer. This was wired to a Waveshare 4-inch round touchscreen. The hardware was installed into a very slick, round 3D-printed case. Rings of RGB LEDs were installed around the display and the outer edge of the device, with 3D-printed diffusers to complete the look.
While the appearance of the Master Control Disk is absolutely stellar, the software side of the equation could use some additional work in the future. Its capabilities don’t quite live up to its name. The user interface has apps that can control the LEDs, display pictures, show a clock or focus timer, warm you up with a virtual fireplace, or play music from Spotify (with the help of a nearby smartphone).
In any case, the Master Control Disk is an excellent platform for a smart home device. Hooking it into an existing ecosystem, or installing Home Assistant, could make it perfect.