DigiWizard is a Raspberry Pi-based modular tablet platform developed as a Final Year Engineering Project. The primary objective of the project was to create a customizable Linux-powered tablet capable of extending traditional tablet functionality through RFID/NFC and Infrared (IR) communication technologies.
The project combines embedded systems, Linux customization, hardware integration, and software development into a portable educational and experimentation platform.
DigiWizard demonstrates how a Single Board Computer (SBC) can be transformed into a multi-purpose device supporting access control, RFID applications, IR communication, IoT experimentation, and educational use cases.
- Raspberry Pi 5 based tablet platform
- Waveshare DSI touchscreen integration
- KDE Plasma Mobile inspired user interface
- PN532 NFC/RFID integration
- Custom IR receiver integration
- Linux-based customizable operating system
- Educational and IoT experimentation platform
- Research-oriented hardware and software design
- PN532 NFC/RFID integration
- RFID tag detection
- Access control experimentation
- Smart authentication use cases
- Custom IR receiver integration
- IR protocol experimentation
- Universal remote use cases
- Signal decoding and analysis
- Raspberry Pi OS customization
- KDE Plasma Mobile environment
- Custom configuration management
- Touchscreen optimized interface
- Embedded Linux experimentation
- Hardware-software co-design
- IoT prototyping
- Learning and research platform
The system is built around a Raspberry Pi 5 acting as the central processing unit. The platform integrates a touchscreen display, RFID/NFC module, and IR communication module.
These modules communicate through Linux-based software services and communication protocols, enabling use cases such as:
- Access Control
- Universal Remote Functionality
- IoT Integration
- Educational Experimentation
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Main processing unit |
| Waveshare 7" DSI Touchscreen | Display and touch interface |
| PN532 NFC/RFID Module | RFID/NFC communication |
| Custom IR Receiver Module | Infrared communication |
| MicroSD Card | Operating system and storage |
| Power Supply / Power Bank | Portable power source |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Connectivity |
Project photos can be found in:
media/photos/
Included photos:
- Device lock screen
- Device rear view
- PN532 RFID module
- Custom IR receiver module
- KDE Control Center
- Custom Settings GUI
- Application launcher view
- Access control interface
Screenshots can be found in:
media/screenshots/
Included screenshots:
- Device interface screenshots
- IR script demonstrations
- Software configuration views
- Application demonstrations
Research paper associated with the project:
docs/research-paper/
Presentation slides:
docs/presentation/
Project documentation and reports are included within the repository documentation sections.
The project involved multiple hardware and software integration challenges:
- Raspberry Pi 5 ecosystem maturity
- RP1 controller compatibility considerations
- Display driver configuration
- Linux operating system customization
- RFID/NFC module integration
- Infrared communication implementation
- Hardware-software co-design challenges
- System stability and testing
These challenges provided valuable experience in debugging, embedded Linux development, and system integration.
digiwizard-tab-pi/
│
├── README.md
│
├── docs/
│ ├── architecture/
│ ├── research-paper/
│ ├── presentation/
│ ├── bom/
│ └── timeline/
│
├── media/
│ ├── photos/
│ ├── screenshots/
│ └── demo/
│
└── source-code/
Refer to the setup guide:
https://github.com/ppds07/digiwizard-pilet/main/initial_setup.md
The provided configuration files are based on Raspberry Pi 5 hardware.
Due to the introduction of the RP1 I/O controller in Raspberry Pi 5, certain configuration options may differ from earlier Raspberry Pi models.
Please review and test configuration changes carefully before deploying them to production systems.
This project provided practical experience in:
- Embedded Linux development
- Raspberry Pi system customization
- Hardware integration
- RFID and NFC technologies
- Infrared communication protocols
- Linux debugging and troubleshooting
- Hardware-software co-design
- Research and technical documentation
One of the most important lessons learned during development was that systematic debugging and root-cause analysis are often more effective than repeatedly reinstalling or replacing components.
Potential future enhancements include:
- Enhanced RFID applications
- Advanced IR communication capabilities
- Improved mobile user interface
- Additional IoT integrations
- Better power management
- Hardware miniaturization
- Expanded educational toolset
- Custom Android-based implementation
This project was developed as part of an undergraduate engineering program and served as a platform for exploring embedded systems, Linux customization, and hardware-software integration.
The DigiWizard prototype was built using the following hardware components:
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Main processing unit |
| Waveshare 7" DSI Touchscreen | Primary display and touch interface |
| PN532 NFC/RFID Module | RFID and NFC communication |
| Custom IR Receiver Circuit | Infrared signal reception and decoding |
| MicroSD Card | Operating system and application storage |
| Power Supply / Power Bank | Portable power source |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Communication and connectivity |
The IR receiver module was custom integrated into the device architecture using a breadboard-based implementation, while the PN532 module provided NFC/RFID capabilities for authentication and experimentation purposes.
DigiWizard evolved through multiple hardware and software iterations during development.
The project involved:
- Linux customization and configuration
- Raspberry Pi display integration
- NFC/RFID module integration
- Custom IR receiver development
- User interface customization
- System testing and debugging
The final prototype demonstrated a working Linux-powered tablet platform capable of supporting RFID/NFC and IR-based applications while maintaining a touch-friendly user experience.