Rising Edge Digital
Hardware & Embedded Systems for Software Developers
The Business Card That Lights Up Without Batteries
Kevin Tang created an innovative business card that incorporates a circuit board, an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, and LEDs, all without the need for batteries. When you tap the card against a compatible phone, it not only transfers your contact information but also draws power from the phone’s NFC field to light up its LEDs.
Refurbishing a Tektronix TDS7104 oscilloscope
The article details the refurbishment of a Tektronix TDS7104 oscilloscope, a high-performance 4-channel, 1 GHz device that the author purchased for $300 at a flea market. The scope runs on Windows 2000 Pro Embedded and features a RadiSys NLX motherboard with an 850 MHz Celeron processor. Upon receiving it, the author encountered a CMOS battery error that was resolved by replacing the CR2032 battery, allowing the scope to boot properly.
Halloween Costume Detector #Raspberry Pi
This article details a fun Halloween project that combines a Raspberry Pi 5, a NoIR PiCamera, and a speaker bonnet to create a costume detector. The setup features a skull that acts as a master of ceremonies at your Halloween party. It uses a Python script along with OpenCV, a computer vision library, to detect when someone walks by.
Building a DIY handheld thermal camera for work and play
Katie Dumont created a DIY handheld thermal camera using an Arduino UNO R4 Minima board and a Seeed Studio MLX90640 thermal imaging sensor. The MLX90640 features a 32×24 pixel grid that detects infrared radiation, allowing the camera to visualize temperature differences. Dumont utilized the I2C interface to transmit data from the sensor to the Arduino, which processes this data to generate thermal images.
Build an internet radio
This article outlines a tutorial for building an internet radio using a Raspberry Pi and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) chip, specifically the MCP3008. The project involves connecting two potentiometers to the MCP3008: one to control the radio station and the other to adjust the volume. This setup allows for a hands-on way to learn about interfacing analog components with a Raspberry Pi.
Pi-Sky flight-tracking dashboard
The Pi-Sky flight-tracking dashboard is a project that allows you to create your own local flight-tracking system using a Raspberry Pi and an ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) receiver. This setup enables you to decode signals from nearby aircraft broadcasting information like their position, altitude, and speed, all while visualizing the data on live maps.
OpenTrailPaper transforms LILYGO T5 E-Paper S3 Pro devkit into a DIY e‑paper bike computer
OpenTrailPaper is an open-source project that turns the LILYGO T5 E-Paper S3 Pro development kit into a DIY e-paper bike computer. It features firmware compatible with the ESP32-S3-based T5 E-Paper devkit and includes companion apps for Android and iOS. The system displays ride data, supports offline maps, and can follow GPX (GPS Exchange Format) routes. It also records FIT (Flexible and Interoperable Data Transfer) files and connects to various Bluetooth sensors for heart rate, power, and cadence.
DIY ESP32-P4 weather station & air quality monitor connects to LoRa and ESP-NOW sensors, various weather APIs
Harald Kreuzer has created a DIY weather station and air quality monitor using the ESP32-P4 microcontroller. The setup includes a 10.1-inch dashboard display and a Sensirion SEN66 sensor to measure particulate matter, carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOX). It connects wirelessly to LoRa (Long Range) and ESP-NOW sensors, making it versatile for gathering environmental data.
Building a 5 V Single-Supply Electret Microphone Preamp
This article outlines how to build a compact, single-supply preamplifier module specifically designed for electret microphones. The goal is to convert the low-level audio signals from the microphone into a stronger line-level audio signal that can be used for various audio applications.
The XIAO ESP32-C3 Book Is Now Available in English
The XIAO ESP32-C3 handbook, originally published in German, is now available in English. Written by Dr. Günter Spanner and published by Elektor, this comprehensive 245-page guide walks users through the fundamentals of the XIAO ESP32-C3 development board, advancing to complex, real-world projects.
JetPack 7.2: What’s New, Performance, Migration, and AI Deployment on NVIDIA Jetson
JetPack 7.2 is the latest software release from NVIDIA for their Jetson platform, featuring a significant update to the software foundation that includes Jetson Linux 39.2, Ubuntu 24.04, Linux kernel 6.8, and CUDA 13.2.1. This version marks a shift for Jetson Orin and Jetson Thor into a unified software ecosystem, which is not just a simple upgrade but a change that impacts how developers will work on their projects.
UPDATED GUIDE: Adafruit Sparkle Motion Mini #AdafruitLearningSystem #WipperSnapper @Adafruit
The Adafruit Sparkle Motion Mini is a compact smart LED driving board designed to work seamlessly with WLED, which is popular for creating colorful lighting effects. This updated guide provides all the necessary information to get started, including details on pinouts, connecting LEDs, and using it with different platforms like CircuitPython and Arduino.
UPDATED GUIDE: Adafruit MAX98357 I2S Class-D Amps – Stereo and Mono #AdafruitLearningSystem @Adafruit
The article discusses the updated guide for the Adafruit MAX98357 I2S Class-D amplifiers, highlighting the new Adafruit Stereo I2S 3W Amplifier Breakout, which features dual MAX98357A chips. This update allows users to take advantage of stereo audio output while using the same drivers and examples previously available for the mono version.
This Mini PC Cyberdeck Runs Its Own Self-Contained Internet
Michael Klements has created a compact and portable server that provides an offline version of the internet, packaged into a rugged cyberdeck. This project leverages the open-source Project NOMAD software stack, which includes offline maps, a local copy of Wikipedia, media servers, and AI models, all accessible through a web browser without needing an internet connection.
Turn Your NES Into a Live Flight Tracker
Levi Maaia created NES Radar, a unique flight tracking device that turns a classic NES console into a live display of airplane traffic. By using a custom game cartridge, users can input an airport's ICAO code via the NES controller, and the system presents a radar-like view of aircraft flying within nine nautical miles of that airport. The display can show up to eight aircraft simultaneously, making it suitable for smaller airports, though busier hubs may present challenges.