Tech & Auto
This Little Raspberry Pi Gadget Could Save Your Next Hike
By DAVE MCQUILLING
The Raspberry Pi Pico is a cheap, compact microcontroller that packs a lot of power in a small device. You can use it to make an altimeter, a handy mountain hiking tool.
An altimeter can determine your altitude. The tool can be used to determine your location on a topographical map, helping you avoid high-altitude "death zones."
You can make one using a Pi Pico, a BME280 sensor, and an algorithm. The sensor can measure things like air pressure and then relay that information to the device.
The installed code will then take the air pressure reading to figure out your altitude. If you want to build one yourself, a Pico Pi two-pack costs just over $12 on Amazon.