📠 ClockworkPi PicoCalc - Modular Open-Source Calculator

ClockworkPi PicoCalc is an open-source, modular device that resembles a scientific calculator but functions as a powerful microcontroller development platform. It features a QWERTY keyboard and a 🍓 Raspberry Pi Pico carrier board, making it ideal for customization.

Features of the project:
➡️Compatible with multiple Raspberry Pi Pico models.
➡️4-inch IPS screen, SD card slot, speakers, and 8MB PSRAM.
➡️Runs on two 18650 batteries with USB-C charging.
➡️Open-source firmware and hardware for easy modifications.
➡️QWERTY layout with backlight, connected via I2C.

By digging into PicoCalc, users can explore hardware design, firmware development, and embedded programming. The open-source nature provides an excellent opportunity to study schematics, experiment with software, and even create custom enclosures using 3D printing or CNC machining.

This project is perfect for electronics enthusiasts, programmers, and makers who enjoy building and customizing their own devices. Whether for learning, prototyping, or developing unique applications, PicoCalc offers a hands-on experience in open-source hardware and embedded systems.

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#projects #raspberry

🪟 Windows 95 running on ESP32 (Tiny386 Emulator)

Tiny386 is a lightweight x86 PC emulator that transforms the low-cost 🇨🇳 ESP32-S3 microcontroller into a fully functional retro desktop computer capable of running classic operating systems like Microsoft Windows 95 and various 16- and 32-bit software. The project showcases the surprising power of modern microcontrollers when paired with efficient emulation techniques.

The features of the project:
➡️Written in C99 with only around 6,000 lines of code for the CPU emulator.
➡️Emulates an Intel i386 CPU, supporting most 16/32-bit software with added 486/586 instructions for newer OS compatibility.
➡️Runs directly on the ESP32-S3 (dual 240 MHz cores) with optional external PSRAM for memory expansion.
➡️Features include VGA graphics, Ethernet emulation, and multiple sound options (PC Speaker, AdLib OPL2, Sound Blaster 16).
➡️Incorporates SeaBIOS firmware for BIOS/VGABIOS functionality, with the option to boot Linux kernels directly.
➡️Fully open-source under the BSD 3-Clause license, with browser-based and hardware demos available.

Tiny386 impressively demonstrates how modern embedded hardware can recreate classic computing environments once reserved for full-sized PCs.

More information:
🔗 The main article
😹 The GitHub repository

#projects #esp32 #windows95 #emulator

💍 Open Ring - Open-Source Smart Ring

This series follows the development of Open Ring — an open-source Smart Ring engineered to pack full wireless connectivity, sensing, haptics, and charging into a tiny, finger-sized wearable. Parts 1 and 2 uncover both the early research phase and the deep hardware design decisions that make such a compact device possible.

Key features of the project:
➡️Provides market research, product teardowns, and early prototyping insights
➡️Rigid-flex PCB design enabling ultra-thin construction and dense component placement
➡️Detailed exploration of BLE SoC selection, antenna engineering, and RF constraints
➡️Power management, curved batteries, and a fully custom wireless charging system
➡️Scalable design for multiple ring sizes with reusable PCB sections
➡️Mutual-capacitance touch sensing paired with dual-MCU control for gesture input
➡️Miniaturized haptic feedback achieved through tiny motors boosted by a high-capacity capacitor bank

With the first two parts laying out both the research journey and the hardware engineering behind Open Ring, the series gives a clear and honest look at what it takes to turn a small idea into a real piece of wearable tech. The project has its own 😹 GitHub repository. The project is still in progress, and the upcoming Part 3 will dive into the firmware that brings all of this hardware to life.

More information:
🔗 Part 1: Research and Prototype
🔗 Part 2: Hardware Design

#projects #articles #smart_ring

💻 The smallest ESP32 board (Open-Source)

The f32 is an ultra-miniature open-source ESP32-C3 development board measuring just slightly larger than a USB-C connector. It integrates an ESP32-C3FH4 MCU with USB-C power and programming in an extremely compact form factor.

Features of the project:
➡️ESP32-C3FH4 RISC-V SoC with 400 KB SRAM and 4 MB flash
➡️2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0
➡️USB-C port for power/programming
➡️Single GPIO connected to an onboard LED
➡️Ceramic antenna with tested wireless range up to ~38 m
➡️Open-source PCB design using very small components

This board is ideal for advanced makers who need Wi-Fi connectivity in the smallest possible footprint. Its minimal I/O and challenging assembly make it best suited for experimental ultra-compact devices rather than general-purpose IoT development.

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#projects #esp32

📊 Semiconductor Sovereignty Policies (2025 Report)

Governments are accelerating local semiconductor manufacturing to reduce foreign dependency and geopolitical risk, including lower-power IoT chips. Policies now treat these technologies as critical digital infrastructure, expanding export controls to cover microcontrollers, connectivity, sensors, and security chips. Notable examples include the following:

➡️US – The CHIPS and Science Act allocated $52.7 billion to boost domestic manufacturing and R&D. Further, the government has expanded funding to semiconductor production companies like Intel, TSMC, and Samsung.

➡️China – China has countered the US’s actions with a $47.5 billion “Big Fund” to boost domestic chipmaking and close its technology gap by 2030.

➡️Japan – The government of Japan has committed approximately $65 billion by 2030 to expand its semiconductor and AI sectors, supporting domestic fabs and R&D partnerships.

➡️South Korea – Republic of Korea officials announced a $19 billion support package in 2024 to strengthen its chip supply chain and SME competitiveness.

➡️EU – Leading national efforts include Italy’s €10 billion investment to become one of the largest microelectronics producers in Europe and the Netherlands’ €2.5 billion Brainport Eindhoven initiative, which aims to enhance collaboration between businesses, academia, and governments for technological development, including semiconductors.

Semiconductor localization is becoming a strategic priority as countries aim for more resilient, self-sufficient IoT and tech supply chains. These investments signal a long-term shift toward regional chip ecosystems and reduced foreign dependency.

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#articles

📺 Why Fighter Jets Ban 90% of C++ Features

The video’s story highlights how reliability comes from strict control over language features rather than from the language’s full power. The F-35’s C++ subset demonstrates how banning exceptions, implicit conversions, and unpredictable allocation paths leads to code that behaves the same way every time, under every condition.

⛓ https://youtu.be/Gv4sDL9Ljww

#video #programming

🌊 Waveshare has released ESP32-C6-Touch-AMOLED-1.8

The Waveshare ESP32-C6-Touch-AMOLED-1.8 is a compact development board built around 🇨🇳 Espressif’s ESP32-C6 wireless SoC. It combines modern wireless connectivity with a high-quality AMOLED touch display and a rich set of onboard peripherals, making it well suited for interactive IoT and HMI-focused projects.

Key features of the board:
➡️ESP32-C6 SoC with single-core RISC-V CPU, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, and Thread
➡️1.8-inch capacitive AMOLED display (368 × 448, 16.7M colors)
➡️Built-in microphone, speaker, and low-power audio codec
➡️6-axis IMU, real-time clock with backup support, and microSD card slot
➡️USB-C for power and programming, Li-ion battery support with PMIC

Overall, this development board stands out as a highly integrated, display-centric ESP32-C6 platform. It would be especially interesting for developers working on smart home panels, wearable or handheld IoT devices and portable dashboards.

⛓ More information...

#boards #esp32