MicroPython has become one of the most popular ways of programming microcontrollers, and the just-released MicroPython v1.24 adds support for the widely-used Raspberry Pi RP2350 and Espresif ESP32-C6 microcontrollers and a range of other changes. Those include improved RISC-V support with native code generation, an updated Zephyr v3.7.0 RTOS with threading support, unified TinyUSB bindings across ports, a portable UART IRQ API, and enhanced mpremote recursive copy. Damien George goes into more detail about the RISC-V improvements: … include an RV32IMC native code emitter, native NLR and GC register scanning implementations for 32- and 64-bit RISC-V, support for placing RV32IMC native code in .mpy files and also freezing it, and RISC-V semihosting support. Testing for RISC-V is done with the qemu and unix ports, and the support is utilised in the esp32 and rp2 ports. The Raspberry Pi RP2350 comes with both Arm Cortex-M33 and RISC-V cores, and the good […]
MentorPi is a ROS2-compatible, Raspberry Pi 5-based robot car with Mecanum or Ackermann chassis
MentorPi is a ROS2-compatible robot car powered by the Raspberry Pi 5, designed for AI-driven robotics and Python programming. It offers two chassis options: MentorPi-M1, which features a Mecanum-wheel chassis, and MentorPi-A1, equipped with an Ackermann chassis. Both variants come with high-performance components such as closed-loop encoder motors, STL-19P TOF lidar, 3D depth cameras, and high-torque servos. These enable precise navigation, SLAM mapping, path planning, and dynamic obstacle avoidance, making MentorPi an ideal platform for robotics tasks. The system utilizes a dual-controller architecture to optimize performance. The Raspberry Pi 5 handles AI vision processing and strategic functions, while Hiwonder’s RRC Lite expansion board manages motion control and sensor data processing. This task distribution enhances efficiency in machine vision, AI-powered navigation, and robotic control, allowing MentorPi to tackle complex AI and vision-based applications with ease. MentorPi also supports advanced features like 3D visual mapping and YOLOv5-based object detection for recognizing road […]
PCBWay’s 7th project design contest – Win prizes for your electronic, mechanical, or STM32 project (Sponsored)
PCBWay has launched its 7th project design contest in collaboration with Mouser with three categories, namely electronic project, mechanical project, and STM32 project. PCBWay’s design contests aim to encourage participants to engage in open-source innovation projects and inspire more people to join the electronics community. This year’s contest is no different and even adds the new STM32 project category to attract even more entrants. There are three phases in PCBWay’s 7th design contest: Project Release – September 2, 2024 – January 19, 2025 Project Review – January 20, 2024 – February 28, 2025 Result Announcement – March 10, 2025 The contest started last month, but you still have plenty of time to enter before January 19, 2025. As noted in the introduction three categories are available. Here are a few more details about these: Electronic project – Everything about electronic design, from simple circuits to advanced MCU and IoT projects, […]
Flipper Zero hacking tool gets MicroPython support
Developer and engineer Oliver Fabel has developed a port that is designed to run MicroPython on the Flipper Zero. This port allows users to write programs for Flipper Zero in Python, instead of built-in JavaScript. Till now you can access GPIO, ADC, PWM, the speaker, buttons, the display, and infrared communication with this but it doesn’t have support for NFC or RFID yet, and it’s still under development. Previously we have written about various addon boards for the Flipper Zero like the Mayhem v2, the ESP8266 Deauther board, the CAN bus addon board, and other powerful alternatives of the Flipper like The M1 and the HackBat. Feel free to check those out if you are interested in the topic. The process is simple, and you don’t have to do a firmware update to work with MicroPython, you can download the application from the community-driven Flipper app store and are good […]
MYiR Tech MYC-LD25X – A compact STM32MP25 system-on-module running Debian 12
MYiR Tech’s MYC-LD25X is a compact 39x37mm system-on-module built around the STMicro STM32MP25 dual-core Cortex-A35 SoC running at 1.5GHz with a Cortex-M33 core, and an NPU capable of 1.35 TOPS. The module comes with up to 2GB LPDDR4 RAM, 8GB eMMC storage, and a range of connectivity options, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB, CAN FD, UART, and SPI. Designed for industrial HMI, edge computing, energy systems, and automation, the MYC-LD25X is suitable for high-performance applications in these fields. Previously, we covered other development boards from MYiR, including the MYD-J7A100T, MYD-YG2UL, MYD-YG2LX, and MYD-J1028X. We also wrote about other STM32MP25-based system-in-package and system-on-module namely the Digi ConnectCore MP25 and Octavo OSD32MP2. Feel free to check them out if you’re interested. MYC-LD25X STM32MP25-based System-On-Module MYC-LD25X specifications: SoC – STMicro STM32MP257D processor CPU – Dual-core Arm Cortex-A35 64-bit RISC core operating at up to 1.5 GHz MPU – 32-bit Arm Cortex-M33 RISC core clocked at […]
STMicro STM32C071 Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU adds USB FS interface, targets inexpensive GUI implementations
STMicro has just announced the availability of the STM32C071 Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller part of the STM32C0 series with 128 KB of flash and 24 KB of RAM suitable for driving a small 320 x 240 display using an SPI interface and building affordable graphical user interfaces (GUI) for appliances. The microcontroller also adds a crystal-less USB FS device interface, additional SPI and I2C interfaces, and extra GPIOs (up to 61) all of which are 5V tolerant. For evaluation and quickly get started with firmware development, STMicro also offers the NUCLEO-C071RB development board and X-NUCLEO-GFX01M2 display expansion board. STM32C071 low-cost Cortex-M0+ MCU for GUI in appliances STM32C071 specifications: MCU Core -Arm 32-bit Cortex-M0+ CPU @ up to 48 MHz Memory – Up to 24KB SRAM with HW parity check Storage – Up to 128KB flash with protection and securable area Peripheral interfaces Up to 61x fast I/Os, all 5V tolerant 5-channel […]
$49 Rejeee multiple external temperature sensor for LoRaWAN ships with three DS18B20 temperature sensors
The “Rejeee multiple external temperature sensor for LoRaWAN” is a LoRaWAN solution for temperature sensing that includes three waterproof DS18B20 temperature sensors that could be useful for cold storage, kitchen, and greenhouse monitoring. The device has a waterproof design that can withstand moisture and wet environments, is equipped with sensors measuring temperature within the -40°C to 125°C range, plus low-power LoRaWAN connectivity and Lithium AA batteries that can last up to five years when sending data every 10 minutes. Rejeee multiple external temperature sensor for LoRaWAN specifications: Microcontroller – Unnamed Arm Cortex-M MCU; potentially STMicro STM32L151 Cortex M3 @ 32 MHz based on another temperature sensor from Rejeee. LoRaWAN Data Rate – 300 bps ~ 62.5 kbps Transmit Power – 22 dBm Max. Receiver Sensitivity – -140 dBm (BW = 125 kHz, SF12) Operating Frequency – LF: 433 ~ 510 MHz; HF: 863 ~ 928 MHz Bands EU868, IN865, RU864 […]
Flipper Zero hacking tool gets CAN bus add-on board for vehicle diagnostics and security research
Electronic Cats’ Flipper Add-On CANBus is a new add-on board for the Flipper Zero adding CAN bus communication to the popular wireless hacking tool. Built around the MCP2515 CAN controller chip this add-on card communicates with the Flipper Zero through an SPI interface. It allows users to sniff, send, and log CAN bus packets directly from the Flipper Zero, which means now you can analyze and manipulate CAN bus traffic for vehicle diagnostics, security research, and DIY projects. Previously we have seen Flipper Zero add an RP2040-powered video game module, and before that, we noted the developers launched their own app store with open-source apps. Additionally, we have written about Flipper Zero alternatives such as the M1 multitool so feel free to check those to know more about those solutions. Electronic Cats Flipper Add-On CANBus specifications Compatibility – Flipper Zero CAN Controller – Microchip MCP2515 CAN bus controller with SPI […]