Electronics: 16th September 2025
Published 16th September 2025
đ Raspberry Pi systems and applied builds
CubeSats are fascinating learning tools for space (jeffgeerlingâ.com). CubeSats and Raspberry Pi-based learning tools, security, and hands-on education with projects like Build a CubeSat and SilverSat
Performant Full-Disk Encryption on a Raspberry Pi, but Foiled by Twisty UARTs (changelogâ.completeâ.org). Raspberry Pi full-disk encryption with cryptsetup benchmarks and UART/serial console challenges
Beaks 2 and the Stupid Little Circuits (naichâ.net). Beaks 2 uses Raspberry Pi with simple DIY D/A LED driver, a light meter A/D, and IR vs daylight cameras for birdbox monitoring
Navigating Mars with Rust: Helping the Rover See In Computer Vision (blogâ.adacoreâ.com). Rust-driven computer vision on a Pi Zero 2W for obstacle detection, D* Lite pathfinding, OpenCV bindings, and a Python bridge
đ Home automation, labs, and sensors
Mobile Lab Reloaded â Wheels within Wheels (microshipâ.com). 24-foot Wells Cargo mobile lab for Bionode development with folding workbench, 3D printer, rack electronics, solar power, Home Assistant, and Neologism Nomadness
DIY Smart Home Dashboard (thestockpotâ.net). DIY Raspberry Pi 5 wall display using Display 2, PoE, TouchKio, and Home Assistant dashboards
Sunday 14 September 2025 (nedprodâ.com). Ntfy push notifications on OpenWRT with Docker, OpenHAB camera integrations, and battery-friendly Ntfy usage
đ Aquarium pH Weirdness (mountainofcodeâ.coâ.uk). A pH probe shows a light-induced drop; DC mains interference near the pH amplifier; ESP32 data collector; temperature compensation and calibration notes; reworking amplifier
đź Playful gadgets: HID, handhelds, and retro controllers
Rumi Sword - KPop Demon Hunters (learnâ.adafruitâ.com). Seal Honmoon with Rumi's sword from KPop Demon Hunters; includes TPS61169 LED boost, two pink nOOds, and reinforced 3D-printed blade
How I Turned a $4 Microcontroller into a Rubber Ducky (infosecwriteupsâ.com). Using a $4 Raspberry Pi Pico to emulate a USB HID keyboard for rapid payloads, with CircuitPython and Adafruit HID library
Flipper Zero or ESP32 Marauder? (jetgirlâ.art). Comparison of Flipper Zero and ESP32 Marauder for packet testing and security testing on small prototype devices
Use a GBA as a Switch Controller, No Fooling (setsidebâ.com). Using a GBA as a Nintendo Switch controller with Gamecube hardware, cables, and a USB adapter
CL-32 (extrafutureâ.com). Pocketable e-paper terminal with ESP32-S3, backlit QWERTY, d-pad, and expansion port; Hackaday writeup referenced
My Watchy OS (robeyâ.lagâ.net). DIY Watchy ESP32 with deep sleep, RTC, e-ink UI, NTP, OpenWeather, AirNow, multi-timezone locations, CC0 icons, NVS storage
đ§° Embedded tools, firmware, and debugging
Preview of LibrePCB 2.0's Next-Gen UI (librepcbâ.org). LibrePCB 2.0 adopts a single multi-document window with tabs, Slint declarative UI, Qt coexistence, and improved panels, status bar, and multi-monitor support
Embedded async debugging and inspect-embassy (tweedegolfâ.nl). Prototype inspect-embassy adds async debugging visuals for Embassy on embedded targets with probe-rs and GDB backend
Building Hardware-Enforced Trust into Matter Devices with ESP-TEE (developerâ.espressifâ.com). ESP-TEE on ESP32-C6 enables hardware-backed security for Matter devices with DAC/NOC protection and secure OTA via PSA-L2 readiness
Passing a Device Into A FreeBSD Jail With A Stable Name (blogâ.feldâ.me). Stabilize FreeBSD device names with devd, devfs, and jail devfs rules to pass a Z-Wave USB controller into a jail via stable symlinks
ESP32 â How to Use Kconfig with ESP-IDF (shawnhymelâ.com). Learn to use Kconfig with ESP-IDF by creating a SAY_HELLO component and configuring it via idf.py menuconfig
What the heck is âsparklinkplayjoyâ? (gadgetoidâ.com). SparklinkPlayjoy domain hosts web-based mechanical keyboard software; cross-compatibility across brands like Chilkey, Meletrix, Wuque; driver and firmware quirks discussed
đ§ Repair, rework, and hardware hacks
Use the Force (Feedback) to Solder Small Things (bunniestudiosâ.com). Solder small parts by touch using force feedback, knife-edge tips, flux, and temperature-aware technique
HPR4464: Replacing the Trackpad on my Laptop (hackerpublicradioâ.org). Claudio replaces a faulty trackpad on a Clevo XPG Xenia 15 laptop with a replacement part (TDA147011T20) from ebay, detailing hardware repair and upgrade process
New case for AuxPower1U (medo64â.com). Upgrading to a Cheval PF19AL1UD1 1U case, redesigning aluminium mounting, and addressing venting and grounding for AuxPower1U project
WattBox hacking (nelsonslogâ.wordpressâ.com). Hacking a WattBox power strip: Telnet API, Firmware 2.3.0.2, LEDs, FaceplateLedLevel, OvrC, Home Assistant wrappers
1130 MRAM board - failed chips identified and replaced (rescue1130â.blogspotâ.com). MRAM board repair: identifying failed NAND gates and MRAM chip after power interference during Arduino-driven memory tests
SteamDeck upgrades (screamingatmyscreenâ.com). Upgrading a Steam Deck with a new NVMe, hall-effect sticks, re-paste, and Arch Linux setup, plus impressions on performance and components
Rediscovering an old friend⊠(paxton-roadâ.blogspotâ.com). Kit design and OO industrial prototypes with James Hilton's Planet Industrials RTR approach and 009 precursor methods
đĄ RF, wireless, and radio tinkering
Adventures with a $10 LTE MiFi Dongle (nickvsnetworkingâ.com). Explores a $10 LTE MiFi dongle, enabling ADB, DIAG, and ASUS-like diag modes on a UZ801 Android modem using rndis, with QC/diags and Qualcomm Settings
Arkansas Club Shares Ham Radio at Maker Faire (arrlâ.org). BVRC promotes ham radio at Maker Faire, engaging 100+ visitors and highlighting the maker community's information gap on amateur radio
The Cudy AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 System (with OpenWRT) (taoofmacâ.com). Upgrading to OpenWRT on Cudy M3000/AX3000 with OpenWRT, set up via TFTP, and multi-node OpenWRT configuration for 2.5GbE/10GbE network
RFSTAMP44 RF Signal Generator ADF4351 35M to 4.4Ghz Stamp size castellated (circuitvalleyâ.com). RFSTAMP44: ADF4351-based 35Mâ4.4Ghz stamp-size RF signal generator with castellated edges and PIC USB MCU control
Some Fun with Boolean Algebra (n1fdâ.org). Boolean algebra approach to hardware logic: AND, NAND, inverter, and practical lockout circuit using CD4011 on an Arduino-based SSB/ham transceiver
đ Academic Research
FlexEmu: Towards Flexible MCU Peripheral Emulation (Extended Version) (arxiv:cs). Flexible MCU peripheral emulation using semantic models to auto-generate hardware simulators across 12 peripherals and 15 platforms
Dynamic Vulnerability Patching for Heterogeneous Embedded Systems Using Stack Frame Reconstruction (arxiv:cs). StackPatch enables stack-frame reconstruction for hot patching on ARM, RISC-V, and Xtensa MCUs to fix RTOS vulnerabilities in under 260 cycles
Efficient and Accurate Downfacing Visual Inertial Odometry (arxiv:cs). Efficient VIO pipeline for micro- and nano-UAVs using SuperPoint, PX4FLOW, ORB on RISCV-based ultra-low-power SoCs with rigid body motion easing planar estimation
Securing LLM-Generated Embedded Firmware through AI Agent-Driven Validation and Patching (arxiv:cs). LLMs generate firmware for FreeRTOS via QEMU; AI agents validate, patch, and optimize security and performance using CWE-guided analysis
TurboFuzz: FPGA Accelerated Hardware Fuzzing for Processor Agile Verification (arxiv:cs). TurboFuzz: end-to-end FPGA-accelerated verification framework for processor fuzzing, test generation, and coverage feedback on a single device
đ Before you go
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Thanks for reading and being part of this nerdy corner of the internet. All the best - Alastair.
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