🔃 pcb2blender - KiCad to Blender 3D model workflow

The pcb2blender tool revolutionizes the way KiCad projects are rendered in Blender. It streamlines the process of creating professional-looking product renders by allowing users to export their KiCad boards as .pcb3d files and then directly import them into Blender.

This innovation eliminates the tedious cleanup work usually involved, enabling users to focus on scene composition and lighting. Notably faster than previous methods, pcb2blender supports rendering work-in-progress boards or those undergoing last-minute revisions.

More information:
☠️ The Hackaday article
😹 The GitHub page

#libraries #tools #3d_modeling #design #electronics

📺 Running Advanced AI on Raspberry Pi: A Journey with GPT-4 and Beyond

In an innovative exploration of AI's reach beyond high-end hardware, this video delves into the feasibility of deploying advanced language models on accessible technology like the Raspberry Pi 5. The presenter, a seasoned enthusiast in small-tech advancements, embarks on a journey to test a variety of language models including Orca, Fi, and the groundbreaking GPT-4.

With a focus on practicality, the video demonstrates how these models, typically associated with powerful computing resources, can operate on a device as compact and affordable as the Raspberry Pi 5. This approach not only democratizes access to cutting-edge AI but also opens up a realm of possibilities for tech enthusiasts and hobbyists.

The video highlights the Raspberry Pi's capacity to handle models with up to 1.7 trillion parameters, a feat that traditionally requires substantial computing power. The presenter's experiments with local, private AI deployments raise intriguing questions about the potential of small-scale, private AI systems.

⛓ https://youtu.be/Y2ldwg8xsgE

#video #raspberry #artificial_intelligence

🔋 Nuclear battery produces power for 50 years without needing to charge

Betavolt, a Chinese startup, has developed an innovative nuclear battery named Betavolt BV100, which is capable of delivering a constant power output of 3V/100 microwatts for over 50 years without needing a recharge. Measuring just 15x15x5 mm, this battery represents a significant advancement in the miniaturization of atomic energy. While 100 microwatts may not seem substantial, Betavolt has plans to scale up the technology to produce a 1-watt nuclear battery by 2025, potentially revolutionizing power supply in devices like smartphones and drones.

The BV100 utilizes radioactive nickel-63, with a half-life of about 100 years, which decays into non-radioactive copper, generating electricity. This process involves a unique structure comprising a nickel-63 sheet placed between diamond semiconductor converters. Despite the use of radioactive material, safety is a key feature of the BV100. Nickel-63 poses minimal external hazard due to its limited range in air and water, and the battery's design ensures the radioactive material is securely encased. This advancement in nuclear battery technology, echoing the early betavoltaic batteries used in space programs and demonstrates significant progress in power density and safety.

⛓ More information...

#news #energy #battery

📰 Researchers Claim First Functioning Graphene-Based Chip

Researchers at Georgia Tech, led by Professor Walt de Heer, have developed the world's first functioning graphene-based semiconductor, potentially revolutionizing electronics with faster traditional computers and new possibilities for quantum computing.

Published in Nature, their research utilizes epitaxial graphene, a carbon crystal bonded to silicon carbide, to create a novel semiconducting material, semiconducting epitaxial graphene (SEC), also known as epigraphene. This material exhibits enhanced electron mobility compared to silicon, enabling transistors to operate at terahertz frequencies, about 10 times faster than current silicon-based transistors.

This new semiconductor exhibits a significant bandgap, a key requirement for efficient transistors, and could mark a paradigm shift in electronics, moving beyond silicon to more efficient and compatible materials like silicon carbide and boron nitride. While promising, the technology still requires further development to fully realize its potential in digital electronics and quantum computing.

⛓ More information...

#news

📰 Self-powered sensor automatically harvests magnetic energy

MIT researchers have developed a groundbreaking battery-free sensor that harvests energy from its environment, designed for long-term data monitoring in inaccessible locations like ship engines. The published article describes the sensor that captures energy from magnetic fields around electric wires, allowing it to operate without the need for battery replacement or complex wiring. This innovation is particularly beneficial in applications where power access is limited.

The team addressed significant challenges, such as enabling the sensor to start without initial power (cold start) and efficiently storing energy using capacitors instead of batteries. The system's microcontroller effectively manages the stored energy, determining when to activate the sensor and how to adjust energy harvesting for optimal performance. This approach not only simplifies installation but also expands the potential for deploying sensors in various environments, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable monitoring solutions in industrial settings.

⛓ More information...

#news #sensors

📺 Mastering Decision-Making in C: Switch vs. If Statements

In this programming guide, you will learn about decision-making in C, specifically comparing switch statements to if statements. The video demonstrates why switch statements are typically faster and more efficient, especially with multiple conditions. It further explores the underlying assembly language, highlighting the streamlined nature of switch statements against the sequential nature of if statements, making it a practical guide for new programmers.

⛓ https://youtu.be/fjUG_y5ZaL4

#video #programming