Electronics: 8th April 2025

An interactive-speed Linux computer made of only 3 8-pin chips (dmitry.gr, 2025-04-04). An interactive-speed Linux computer is built from just three 8-pin chips, utilizing components like USB-serial bridges, SPI RAM, and SD cards for a minimal yet functional experience

Building a browser game based on KiCad (blog.brixit.nl, 2025-04-03). A browser game inspired by KiCad turns PCB component routing into a puzzle, utilizing JavaScript for gameplay mechanics, including a unique scoring system and an efficient state-saving method via compressed URLs

Terminal dashboard that throttles my PC during peak electricity rates (naveen.ing, 2025-04-01). WattWise is a terminal-based power monitoring tool that optimizes CPU/GPU resources during peak electricity pricing, using smart plugs and dynamic power management techniques including a custom PI controller for effective energy savings

3D Printed Mechanical Digital Clock (marian42.de, 2025-04-06). This project involves creating a 3D printed mechanical digital clock using seven-segment displays, camshafts, a stepper motor, and an Arduino for precision, plus components like Geneva drives for digit transitions

Ural Notes Part 6: More Electrical Work (sevarg.net, 2025-04-06). The article discusses various electrical work on a 20-year-old Ural motorcycle, including battery replacement, ground wire issues, and fixing a faulty handlebar kill switch using tools like CorrosionX and welding cable

A Portable Electronics Workstation (hackaday.com, 2025-04-04). A portable electronics workstation features a 3D printed case, custom PC board, and Raspberry Pi GPIO breakout board, allowing for creative prototyping anywhere with added tools like a soldering iron and scopemeter

Handheld 18650 Analyzer Scopes Out Salvaged Cells (hackaday.com, 2025-04-03). A portable 'Battery Health Monitor' for salvaging 18650 lithium cells, utilizing Texas Instruments' BQ27441 and BQ24075 chips, simplifies capacity testing and ensures safe charging while providing real-time feedback via an ATmega328P microcontroller

Tracking the international space station with an Arduino (faridrener.com, 2025-04-05). An Arduino-based project converts an IR turret to track the ISS using NORAD's TLE data and the SGP4 algorithm, providing azimuth and elevation angles for visibility

Building a multi-network ADS-B feeder with a $20 dongle (quantum5.ca, 2025-04-06). Build a multi-network ADS-B feeder using a Raspberry Pi 3 and a $20 RTL2832U/R820T dongle, leveraging software like dump1090 and multiple ADS-B networks such as Flightradar24 and FlightAware

Building low power applications on Espressif chips: Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) coprocessor (developer.espressif.com, 2025-04-02). Learn to leverage the Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) coprocessor on Espressif chips like the ESP32-C6 to significantly reduce power consumption while executing tasks in deep sleep mode

How to build an air quality monitoring station (wolf.nereid.pl, 2025-04-05). Build an air quality monitoring station using a Teensy microcontroller, I²C communication for sensor data, and programming in Arduino IDE to monitor CO₂ levels and light

Erica Synths DIY Eurorack Modules (github.com, 2025-04-05). Erica Synths has made its DIY Eurorack modules open-source, providing Gerber files for PCBs and front panels, along with schematics and assembly manuals for building synth modules without rare components

Building a Synthesizer, Chapter 11: Debugging Circuits and Software Debugging (craigstuntz.com, 2025-04-07). Debugging hardware circuits involves comparing observed behavior with expected performance using tools like multimeters, oscilloscopes, and desoldering tools, while employing logical and physical models for problem-solving

ESP32-A1S Audio Kit (diyelectromusic.com, 2025-04-07). The ESP32-A1S Audio Kit combines an ESP32 with an audio codec, providing GPIO for projects like MIDI, but comes with limitations on pin assignments and connectivity options for DIY experiments

Duppa I2C MIDI Controller – Part 4 (diyelectromusic.com, 2025-04-06). Duppa I2C MIDI Controller Part 4 explores techniques using Waveshare Zero boards, incorporating I2C MIDI control, LED rings, and various pin configurations for ESP32 and RP2040 devices

YASP (Yet Another Synth Project) Part 2 (maddox.pro, 2025-04-06). The front panel PCB for a personal synth project features 10 switches, MIDI in, USB-C PD power, a 1.44″ TFT display, and is awaiting software development after components arrive

Childhood PC rebuild: A UN-1061 MIO card! (rubenerd.com, 2025-04-05). Ruben Schade embarks on a nostalgic PC rebuild after discovering purchase details of his childhood PC, acquiring a UN-1061 MIO card essential for connecting peripherals, while sourcing other components for the restoration project

Ben Eater vs. Microsoft BASIC (hackaday.com, 2025-04-06). Ben Eater ports a 1977 version of Microsoft BASIC to his 6502-based breadboard computer, exploring string parsing and custom commands like LCDPRINT while utilizing tools like wozmon for low-level operations

Bringing Achievements To The Nintendo Entertainment System (hackaday.com, 2025-04-01). A Raspberry Pi Pico-based RA Adapter brings achievement tracking to the NES, utilizing an LCD screen and ESP32 for Internet communication to notify players of milestones from RetroAchievements

Build your own Apple DTK and save a fortune! (pappp.net, 2025-04-02). Build your own Apple DTK using a Dell Dimension 3100, Intel 915 chipset, and tools like Qemu for disk image conversion, restoring OS X Tiger 10.4 functionality with SSE3 support for retro applications

#shorts – Atari XF551 floppy drive fixes (retrohax.net, 2025-04-03). The Atari XF551 floppy drive repair involved disassembly, PCB inspection, re-soldering cold joints, cleaning, and lubrication, ultimately restoring functionality with minor fixes like jumper replacement and top shield polishing

Developer Creates FPGA Fix for SNES Consoles with Dead CPUs (retronews.com, 2025-04-01). A developer has created an FPGA solution using ICE40HX8K to revive SNES consoles with faulty CPUs, enabling compatibility with original cartridges and controllers, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive chip replacements

NES RetroAchievements Adapter Brings Real-Time Achievements to Original Hardware (retronews.com, 2025-04-02). The NES RetroAchievements Adapter enables real-time achievement tracking in classic NES games using a Raspberry Pi Pico and ESP32 for memory monitoring and internet connectivity, facilitating integration with the RetroAchievements platform

Disney’s Bipedal, BDX-Series Droid Gets the DIY Treatment (hackaday.com, 2025-04-05). A DIY project reimagines Disney's bipedal BDX-Series droid, the Open Duck Mini v2, utilizing accessible components like Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and an IMU to tackle the challenges of walking gait control

Combat Robot (jmeiners.com, 2025-04-05). A personal project to build a 150g combat robot using 3D printing, a spring-loaded flipper mechanism, and N20 motors, demonstrating modern accessibility in robotics for educational purposes

Waveshare CM5 boards (kevsrobots.com, 2025-04-06). Waveshare CM5 boards offer affordable embedded systems for Raspberry Pi projects, ideal for robotics with their compact design and versatile features, suitable for various applications in IoT and automation

Webots Progress (bryukh.com, 2025-04-02). Valentin Briukhanov shares insights from three weeks of learning Robotics in Webots, highlighting basic simulations, the 3D interface, and plans to explore Unity for improved robot simulation experiences

Identifying a defective RAM IC on laptops with soldered memory (blog.piernov.org, 2025-04-02). Identifying defective RAM ICs in soldered memory laptops using Memtest86, decoding physical addresses, and analyzing memory configurations are detailed, alongside replacing faulty ICs with proper microsoldering techniques

Stop Using TRRS for Split-Keyboard Interconnects! (gabevenberg.com, 2025-04-05). TRRS connectors for split keyboards pose risks due to electrical shorts during disconnection. Alternatives like USB-C and JST connectors exist, but 4P4C (RJ9/RJ10/RJ22) connectors provide a sturdy, reliable solution

Rookie mistake – forgot to pin library versions! (circusscientist.com, 2025-04-01). A developer fails to pin library versions in PlatformIO, causing compilation issues. The importance of specifying exact library versions in the platformio.ini file is emphasized to prevent breaking changes from affecting shared code

Dense Neural Network Based Arrhythmia Classification on Low-cost and Low-compute Micro-controller (arxiv:cs, 2025-04-04). A dense neural network implemented on an Arduino Nano detects arrhythmia with 96.38% accuracy using an AD8232 heart rate monitor, featuring 1.267 KB model size and 0.001314 MOps of FLOPs

Linux webserial and webusb problem (lucstechblog.blogspot.com, 2025-04-04). Linux users face challenges with web-based programming tools like Viper IDE for Raspberry Pi Pico and ESP32 due to Webserial and Webusb compatibility, requiring access commands for USB ports via Chromium

Balancing Bytes and Brilliance: Navigating the Hardware Interface Evolution (eliza-ng.me, 2025-04-05). The evolution of hardware interfaces, focusing on USB, SPI, and I²C, highlights the balance between simplicity and scalability, impacting hardware accessibility for beginners and complex technical applications