Rising Edge Digital • Hardware & Embedded Systems for Software Developers
An IR Blaster Project, in a Nutshell · Raspberry Pi Security Camera · Adafruit TMF8806 Time of Flight Distance Sensor @Adafruit
An IR Blaster Project, in a Nutshell
This article showcases a creative project where a maker has turned a walnut shell into an infrared (IR) blaster. The project utilizes a tiny ESP32-C3 microcontroller, which is small enough to fit inside the walnut, along with strategically placed LEDs. After enjoying the walnut as a snack, the maker sealed the shell with neodymium magnets and set up the electronics to control the LEDs.
HalloWing M4 Animated Eye Candy Bowl
The HalloWing M4 Animated Eye Candy Bowl is a fun Halloween project that combines an Adafruit HalloWing M4 microcontroller with NeoPixel LEDs to create an interactive candy bowl. It features touch-sensitive pads that let you change the LED animations, making it a visually engaging piece for trick-or-treaters.
Raspberry Pi Security Camera
The article outlines a project for building a security camera network using a Raspberry Pi and motionEye software. This setup allows users to create a cost-effective surveillance system that can record video based on motion detection. The project utilizes the standard Raspberry Pi camera, similar to what was used in a previous time-lapse tutorial.
Get Ready for Electronic Halloween with NeoPixel Jewel
The NeoPixel Jewel is a compact, round printed circuit board (PCB) featuring seven tiny RGB LEDs, designed for creating eye-catching Halloween accessories and decorations. With its elegant design and chainable feature, it stands out as one of the more stylish NeoPixel options available, making it perfect for festive events.
Making retail smarter: build context-aware experiences with the Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q board
The article discusses the Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q board and its application in creating a Smart Mirror that enhances retail experiences. This Smart Mirror utilizes a USB camera and local visual AI to analyze what a customer is wearing, providing real-time outfit suggestions and styling advice. When a user taps "Scan your look," the mirror captures a frame from the camera, identifies the clothing items, and displays recommendations, all in a user-friendly interface.
Animate a Halloween skeleton — Raspberry Pi Book of Making 2027
The article discusses a fun Halloween project from the *Raspberry Pi Book of Making 2027*: animating a glow-in-the-dark skeleton using a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. The project is timely for October, allowing you to create your own animated decorations, perfect for the spooky season.
Turn text input into actions with Needle, a 14MB function-calling LLM
Needle is a compact 14MB function-calling model designed to execute local actions on a Raspberry Pi 5 using only its CPU, without needing any extra hardware. Developed by Cactus Compute, Needle is not a chatbot; it specifically focuses on converting plain English commands into structured actions. For example, you can simply type "Turn the LED on," and within 78 milliseconds, the LED will light up.
KryonOS turns ESP32 boards into JavaScript-powered mini computer
KryonOS is a new lightweight operating system that enables ESP32 development boards to function as standalone mini computers. It leverages JavaScript for application execution, providing a graphical interface, an application launcher, and file storage without the need to reflash firmware for every new application. This approach keeps applications separate from the core system, allowing for easier updates and management.
MemBrowse continuously tracks firmware memory footprint, is free for open-source projects
MemBrowse is a new tool designed to help embedded software developers track the memory footprint of their firmware throughout the continuous integration (CI) process. It integrates with popular CI systems like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, and Jenkins, allowing engineers to monitor their RAM and flash memory usage every time they commit code. This proactive approach helps prevent issues where the firmware might exceed the memory limits of the target hardware.
An Arduino-Compatible Joystick Interface for RS-485 Motion Control
This article outlines a project for creating an Arduino-compatible interface that connects a 2-axis thumb joystick to an RS-485 network for motion control. The project allows you to read the joystick's position and transmit that data over the RS-485 protocol, which is commonly used for long-distance communication in industrial applications.
From Zero to Edge Intelligence: A TinyML Workshop at CET
The article covers a hands-on workshop titled "TinyML: From Zero to Edge Intelligence," held at the College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) during their tech fest, Drishti ’26. Over two days, 56 participants learned to create and deploy machine learning models for edge devices, going from zero experience to developing functional AI applications. The workshop was organized by IEEE student branches and aimed to provide practical skills in edge AI technologies.
Build AI-Powered Robots with reBot Arm and NVIDIA Isaac ROS 5.0
NVIDIA's Isaac ROS 5.0 is a significant update to their robotics software, designed to enhance the capabilities of robots by enabling them to perceive, reason, plan, and act in dynamic environments. This version introduces new features for developers, including GPU-accelerated packages that integrate seamlessly with the open-source Robot Operating System (ROS). The update also supports ROS 2 Lyrical and Ubuntu 24.04, allowing developers to leverage the latest tools while benefiting from NVIDIA's accelerated computing.
PMSG™: Build Your Own Modular Smart Glasses with Seeed Studio XIAO
PMSG™ (Prototype Modular Smart Glasses) is an innovative platform that allows makers to build their own smart glasses using Seeed Studio XIAO boards. Unlike typical commercial smart glasses that are often expensive and closed off to modifications, PMSG™ is designed for DIY enthusiasts. The project was initiated by Amsterdam-based designer Paul Stefaan Mooij, who aims to create a modular, open-design face-computing system.
NEW GUIDE: Adafruit TMF8806 Time of Flight Distance Sensor #AdafruitLearningSystem @Adafruit
The Adafruit TMF8806 Time of Flight (ToF) Distance Sensor is a compact device designed for precise distance measurements ranging from 20mm to 5 meters, with an update rate of up to 30 Hz. This sensor is part of ams Osram's TMF series and features a low-power mode for short-range detection (200mm) and a wider field-of-view, making it versatile for various applications. It uses an invisible laser source to calculate distances, which is useful for projects requiring reliable proximity sensing.
NEW GUIDE: Adafruit TSL2585 Digital UVA and Ambient Light Sensor #AdafruitLearningSystem @Adafruit
The Adafruit TSL2585 is a versatile digital sensor that measures both ambient light and UVA radiation, specifically in the 315nm-400nm range. This makes it a unique option for applications requiring narrow-band UVA sensing, which is not commonly found in I2C sensors. It's particularly useful for outdoor light monitoring and can also help measure outputs from curing lights, blacklights, and reptile lamps.