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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments on Open Book Touch – A DRM-free, WiFi-connected 4.26-inch open-source hardware e-reader (Crowdfunding)

Open Book Touch – A DRM-free, WiFi-connected 4.26-inch open-source hardware e-reader (Crowdfunding)

Open Book Touch

Oddly Specific Objects has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Open Book Touch, an ESP32-S3-based e-reader with a 4.26-inch e-paper display with 480 x 800 resolution and a capacitive touch screen. The open-source hardware device comes with 16 MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, a frontlight with warm and cool LEDs, a microSD card for storage, and an 800 mAh user-replaceable LiPo battery with everything housed in a 3D printed enclosure. Open Book Touch specifications: SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 dual-core MCU with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE connectivity Memory – 8 MB octal SPI PSRAM Storage 16 MB quad SPI flash MicroSD card slot Display 4.26-inch, 480 × 800 e-paper; 1-bit and 2-bit grayscale with dithering Capacitive touchscreen based on FT6336 low-power controller Frontlight – five warm + five cool LEDs, independently dimmable USB – USB Type-C for power/charging and programming Misc – 3D-printed plastic enclosure; snap-fit, with 3D-printable CAD for custom shells; […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments on ESP32-C5 dual-band WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE IoT board features 1.47-inch color LCD

ESP32-C5 dual-band WiFi 6 and Bluetooth LE IoT board features 1.47-inch color LCD

ESP32-C5-LCD-1.47 board

We’ve covered plenty of connected displays based on ESP32 chips over the years, but the Waveshare ESP32-C5-LCD-1.47 is a little different, since it’s the first to feature an ESP32-C5 chip for dual-band WiFi 6 connectivity. It’s basically based on the ESP32-C6-LCD-1.47 design, but replaces the ESP32-C6 supporting 2.4 GHz WiFi 6 with an ESP32-C5 capable of handling both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi 6. Other features mostly remain the same: a 1.47-inch 262K-color display with 320 x 172 resolution, 4MB of flash, an RGB LED, a microSD card slot, and two 9-pin headers for GPIO expansion. Waveshare ESP32-C5-LCD-1.47 specifications: Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-C5FH4 CPU Single-core 32-bit RISC-V processor @ up to 240 MHz Low-power RISC-V core @ 40 MHz acting as the main processor for power-sensitive applications Memory – 384 KB SRAM on-chip Storage – 320 KB ROM, 4MB flash Wireless Connectivity Dual-band (2.4GHz/5 GHz) 802.11ax WiFi […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Raspberry Pi RP2350 board offers NB-IoT cellular connectivity, GNSS, and Wi-Fi indoor location

Raspberry Pi RP2350 board offers NB-IoT cellular connectivity, GNSS, and Wi-Fi indoor location

Raspberry Pi RP2350 board NB-IoT cellular

Challenger+ RP2350 NB-IoT is a Feather-compatible board pairing a Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller and a certified NB-IoT cellular module with built-in GNSS, suitable for long-range, low-power connectivity. It looks to be a variant of the earlier Challenger+ RP2350 WiFi6/BLE5 board that replaces an ESP32-C6 WiFi 6, BLE, and 802.15.4 module with an STMicroelectronics ST87M01 NB-IoT and GNSS module. It still offers Challenger+ RP2350 NB-IoT specifications: Microcontroller – Raspberry Pi RP2350A MCU CPU Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor @ 150MHz Dual-core 32-bit RISC-V processor @ 150MHz Up to two cores can be used at a given time Memory – 520KB internal RAM 8KB OTP Storage Package – QFN-60; 7×7 mm Memory – 8MB PSRAM Storage – 8MB SPI flash Cellular connectivity Module – STMicro ST87M01-1301 LTE Cat NB2 (NB-IoT), 3GPP Release 15 Worldwide regional bands coverage – B1, B3, B5, B8, B20, and B28 Single-tone / Multi-tone / Extended TBS and 2 […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 1 Comment on ACEBOTT QD023 ESP32-based gesture control glove tracks finger movements with potentiometers

ACEBOTT QD023 ESP32-based gesture control glove tracks finger movements with potentiometers

ACEBOTT QD023 ESP32 Motion Sensing Glove

ACEBOTT QD023 is an ESP32-based wearable gesture control glove that tracks finger movements with potentiometers instead of more traditional flex sensors. The glove transmits data via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to control various robotics kits, such as bipedal walkers, mecanum-wheeled cars, and robotic arms. The glove integrates five potentiometers for finger bending detection, and a 6-axis MPU6050 IMU for wrist rotation, tilt, and hand posture detection in real time. Other Hardware features include a USB Type-C port for programming and debugging, four AAA batteries for power, buttons, LEDs, and more. Tutorials and assembly guides make it suitable for K-12 education, classrooms, and hobbyist robotics projects. ACEBOTT QD023 specifications: Wireless Module  – ESP32-WROOM-32D (soldered on the backside of the PCB) SoC –  ESP32 dual-core wireless microcontroller CPU – Dual-core Xtensa 32-bit microprocessor @ 240MHz Memory –  520KB internal SRAM Wireless – Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, and Bluetooth (4.2 and BLE) PCB antenna USB – […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 7 Comments on RP2350 Tiny and Tiny XL boards clone Solder Party’s RP2350 stamp layouts at nearly half the price

RP2350 Tiny and Tiny XL boards clone Solder Party’s RP2350 stamp layouts at nearly half the price

RP2350 Tiny and Tiny XL boards

While searching Aliexpress, I stumbled upon the RP2350 Tiny and Tiny XL, both of which are RP2350-based low-cost stamp-size development boards that look exactly like the Solder Party’s “RP2350 Stamp” modules, but are available at nearly half the price. Both modules feature the Raspberry Pi RP2350 dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 microcontroller and an integrated LiPo charging circuitry. The RP2350 Tiny offers 30x GPIOs, while the larger RP2350 Tiny XL breaks out 48x GPIOs, adds PSRAM, and includes SWD/UART JST connectors. Key interfaces include USB host/device, UART, SPI, I²C, PWM, ADC, and PIO state machines, along with Secure Boot and Arm TrustZone. These features make this board suitable for rapid prototyping and testing with CircuitPython support. RP2350 Tiny and Tiny XL specifications: Microcontroller RP2350 Tiny – Raspberry Pi RP2350A MCU, QFN-60; 7×7 mm RP2350 Tiny XL – Raspberry Pi RP2350B MCU,QFN-80; 10×10 mm Memory – 520KB internal RAM, 8KB OTP storage Storage – 16MB […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - No Comments on Olimex RP2350-PICO2 open hardware boards expose all 48 GPIOs for breadboard prototyping

Olimex RP2350-PICO2 open hardware boards expose all 48 GPIOs for breadboard prototyping

Olimex RP2350 PICO2 BB48 Open Source Development Board

Olimex RP2350-PICO2-BB48 and RP2350-PICO2-BB48R open hardware development boards are built around the Raspberry Pi RP2350B MCU, and expose all 48 GPIOs in a 0.6-inch dual-inline PCB layout. Compared to the earlier PICO2-XL and PICO2-XXL boards, this new board features a breadboard-friendly design with options for PSRAM and microSD on the BB48R version. Other features include USB-C power/data, BOOT and RESET buttons, a 2A 3.3V regulator, UEXT and Qwiic/Stemma connectors, status LED, and debug pads. With pre-soldered headers, it can be plugged directly into a breadboard, making it ideal for DIY projects, IoT, retro computing, and hardware prototyping. Olimex RP2350-PICO2-BB48 and RP2350-PICO2-BB48R specifications: MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2350B CPU Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz with Arm Trustzone, Secure boot OR Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz Either two cores can be used. Memory – 520 KB on-chip SRAM Package – QFN-80 Memory – 8 MB external QSPI PSRAM (only on […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on WiFIRCard – A credit card-sized WiFi and IR-controlled dual relay board (Crowdfunding)

WiFIRCard – A credit card-sized WiFi and IR-controlled dual relay board (Crowdfunding)

WiFiRCard

WiFIRCard is a credit card-sized ESP32-S3 board designed for home automation with two relays and a few GPIOs (headers and screw terminals) that can be controlled over WiFi 4 or an IR (infrared) remote control. The board also features a microSD card slot for data logging or other storage uses, a buzzer for audio feedback, a USB-C port for power and programming, and a few buttons and LEDs. WiFiRCard specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 with Xtensa® LX7 dual-core 32-bit SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads RAM – 512KB SRAM, up to 8MB PSRAM Storage – Up to 16MB flash Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5 Antenna – PCB antenna Storage – MicroSD card slot for data logging/storage USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power and programming Relays 2x HLS8L-DC5V-S-C relays 10A/250V AC, 15A/120V AC, […]

Posted on by Debashis Das - 2 Comments on Genesis IoT Discovery Lab is a modular ESP32-S3-based wire-free prototyping platform (Crowdfunding)

Genesis IoT Discovery Lab is a modular ESP32-S3-based wire-free prototyping platform (Crowdfunding)

Genesis IoT Discovery Lab ESP32 S3 prototyping platform

Developed by Axiometa in Lithuania, the Genesis IoT Discovery Lab is a modular Wi-Fi-enabled prototyping platform built around the ESP32-S3 and a standardized module with AX22 connectors, designed to replace messy breadboards with a structured, plug-and-play system. Designed to simplify hardware development and education, this prototyping module features eight universal AX22 ports, a USB OTG Type-C port, a battery module with charging, and support for over 50 sensors and peripherals. Modules include sensors, buttons, motors, LEDs, relays, and displays, all secured with robust connectors. With open-source hardware and various expansion add-ons, it’s suitable for education, IoT prototyping, and fast hardware iterations. Genesis IoT Discovery Lab specifications: Wireless Module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads RAM – 512KB SRAM Storage – 8MB flash Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5 Antenna – PCB antenna USB […]