Developer Russell Eveli has created a unique device utilizing Raspberry Pi technology to aid in understanding negative numbers. Known as Zero Pairs, this project serves as a visual guide employing the concept of “zero steam” to visually depict the behavior of negative numbers in equations.
The device features a specialized panel with two rows of rotating balls controlled by servo drives. The top row consists of eight balls, half black and half white, representing positive numbers. The bottom row showcases eight black-orange balls symbolizing negative values.
Through the use of a web interface, users can input equations and adjust various settings to operate the device. As equations are inputted, the balls rotate, effectively illustrating the interaction between positive and negative numbers.
The project is centered around the Raspberry Pi Zero single-board computer connected to the Adafruit Servo Hat expansion board for controlling the servo drives. Custom-designed balls were created using a 3D printer for direct attachment to the servo drives.
The web interface is developed using the FLASK framework and functions as a basic HTML page on the Raspberry Pi Zero. Eveli has made the project open-source by sharing the source code on GitHub, allowing others to explore and utilize it for educational purposes.
For more information on the project, including a video demonstration of the device, visit Eveli’s YouTube channel Sryvel Evelia, and detailed descriptions of the creation process can be found on Medium.