The Raspberry Pi ecosystem continues to push boundaries in scientific research, and the latest featured project in #MakerMonday is a perfect example: Pioreactor — an automated bioreactor that brings complex laboratory experiments right to your desk.
What is Pioreactor?
Pioreactor is a compact, automated bioreactor designed to work with any Raspberry Pi model, from Model A and B to Zero-series boards. Despite its small 20ml working volume, it offers professional-grade environmental controls and can automate experiments over extended periods while logging comprehensive data.
The project was highlighted at the Open Hardware Summit 2025 in Edinburgh by Gerrit, co-founder of LabCrafter and representative of AMYBO — an online community dedicated to developing sustainable protein food sources through innovative biotechnology.
Understanding Bioreactors
A bioreactor provides an optimized environment for growing cells, microorganisms, and microbial cultures. While simple bioreactors can be basic containers, advanced systems like Pioreactor offer precise environmental control and automation. These tools are essential in:
- Pharmaceutical development
- Food science research
- Medical sciences
- Various chemistry and biology applications
Key Features
The Pioreactor comes equipped with impressive capabilities straight out of the box:
- Optical Density Measurement: Built-in IR LED and photodiodes automatically track culture growth by measuring cloudiness
- Temperature Control: Integrated heater element for maintaining optimal conditions
- Expandable Design: Modular viewing window supports additional sensors like the Adafruit AS7341 spectrometer
- Data Logging: Comprehensive experiment tracking over time
- Open Source: Full documentation and bill of materials available through AMYBO
Building Your Own
Assembly is straightforward with a Pioreactor kit from LabCrafter. The build process involves:
- Attaching the base and standoffs to your Raspberry Pi
- Installing the Pioreactor HAT onto the GPIO header
- Assembling the "wetware" chamber with O-rings and heater element
- Installing the optical system (IR LED and photodiodes)
- Optional: Adding expansion modules like spectrometers
The latest version featured in Raspberry Pi Official Magazine uses a Raspberry Pi 5 with 4GB RAM, though any Pi model will work. The kit arrives with excellent documentation and precision-engineered components in sustainable packaging.
Real-World Applications
Pioreactor serves professional researchers, amateur scientists, and hobbyists alike. The AMYBO community, for instance, uses it to explore sustainable food production methods, including growing food with electricity — a fascinating application presented at the Open Hardware Summit.
Whether you're developing pharmaceuticals, researching food sciences, or simply exploring biotechnology as a hobby, Pioreactor makes sophisticated laboratory work accessible at a desktop scale.
Learn more: Watch Gerrit's complete presentation on YouTube and explore the full documentation on AMYBO's website.
Source: Raspberry Pi News