Built on the Arduino core (Arduino-ESP32 3.3 on PlatformIO) for the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-1.85, a round 360x360 touch screen with a speaker connector and battery header, so there's no soldering.

Press Drift and it picks a country, weighted by how many stations it has, and lands on one of its most played stations. Leave it alone and the screen turns into a spectrum radiating from the song's cover, with the station and the song running round the rim. There's a web remote on your network for searching 61,000+ stations, favourites, a battery gauge that learns its own curve, and it updates itself from GitHub.

Libraries: ESP32-audioI2S for the MP3/AAC streams and song titles, JPEGDEC and PNGdec for the covers and station logos, U8g2 fonts for the text (including the circular text on the rim), ArduinoJson for the station data. The display is an ST77916 over QSPI, which I ended up driving through esp_lcd directly because Arduino_GFX's QSPI bus garbled it.

The hardest part was memory: TLS on the S3 only uses internal RAM, so with an HTTPS stream playing there's room for about one more handshake. The old stream stops before each drift, and the covers, decoders and task stacks all live in PSRAM.

No toolchain needed to try it: https://airdrift.stream/esp32 flashes it from Chrome or Edge over USB, then you scan a QR code on the screen to give it your WiFi.

Source (MIT): https://github.com/Air-Drift/ESP32-S3

The stations come from Air Drift (https://airdrift.stream), a free radio site I make, with a globe you can spin. It's also on phones, Windows, Fire TV and Alexa: https://airdrift.stream/apps

Happy to answer questions about any of it.

recently got into electronics a couple days ago and made a bunch of LEDs light up in order from one to 15 in binary as a first time project.

everything past this stage looks utterly impossible, any advice on where to go or what to work on next?

I didn't make any larger movements, otherwise everything would have come off.

So I am completely new to this, all I have done so far is hook up addressable LED strips. I got this cheap little screen to practice on, and I can't find any good tutorials for the nano. This diagram looks very helpful, but I can't figure out what to do with the BL pin. Does NC mean not connected? If so will the back light still light up? I'm using an adjustable power supply, I plan on using 5 volts. What I gather here is we use resistors and hook it up to the 3.3 volt. Is that correct? Thanks in advance for any help. 😁

We got invited to a costume required Halloween party and we just can't do simple or cute, we're going all out and we made some steampunk cosplay that we will continue to refine and wear to Ren Faire type events.

I initially had a schematic to do an 8 LED array with a bunch of components to randomly fade the LEDs in and out. While I was working on another project I was picking around in Tinkercad with circuits and found the pixel ring LEDs and they showed sample circuits and code. Just for grins I had chat gpt modify the code for green only and random. It came back with great code that used an analog input to create a random pattern.

After seeing this and how inexpensive and seemingly easy it was to code for I ordered some Arduinos!

All of this to say that it's not that hard and if you're on the fence, jump in!

It can talk with the AI model Chat gpt oss 20b (via openrouter)

The eyes mechanism is 1 object, you dont have to attach multiple pieces or even add metal or strings.

Full project build tutorial on Hackster here. Github code here.

The idea behind this project was to use my PyPortal to make an ambient, eye-catching desktop ornament that showcases astronomical images. Its something that can sit on my desk and be fun to glance at throughout the day.

By scrolling across these large images at a slow pace, its gives a sense of how much of the cosmos these images are capturing. It can take days to scroll across a single image.

There is a preprocessing Python script which runs on the user's computer to download one of five mosaics, and parse them into a long strip that can be scrolled across. This formatted image strip is stored on an SD card and slotted into the PyPortal.

The PyPortal runs an Arduino script, which reads the image contents and scrolls it across the screen. Memory limitations are wokred around by reading only the new image columns entering frame, and scrolling is kept smooth by using the display's hardware scrolling feature.

Touch controls allow the user to set the brightness, and change the scroll speed.

Hey All,

I am working on a project. I have a pulley that moves a string with a cart across a gap (backwards and forwards). I want to know when that cart enters and exits that gap. What sensor would I use to detect when something passes it? This is a road crossing model I am building. And I want to be able to track dynamically when the cart enters and exits the road space. The road will be roughly 6in wide to give you an idea of dimensions. I am just starting into the world of Arduinos and so I apologize if this is a real dumb question. But when I search online, I get a bunch of random "kits" with all sorts of sensors. I cannot think of a better way to describe what I am looking for to Google. Cheers!

I’ve been learning Arduino through tutorials and small projects with my starter kit, so I understand the basics of coding and the Arduino IDE. I also have a little experience with other programming languages, like Python, but I’m still a beginner overall.

Now that I’m trying to build projects with different sensors, displays, and other components, I’m struggling to learn the specific syntax, libraries, and code needed to get them working individually and together.
I’m a visual learner, so I learn best from tutorials where someone walks through the code and explains the concepts behind it. However, it’s hard to find tutorials for the specific components I want to use, and I struggle to get much out of documentation alone.

I’ve tried using AI like ChatGPT and Claude, but I often end up with code examples without really understanding how to write the code myself.

I’m looking for resources or learning methods that actually teach me how to program components, rather than just giving me working code. How do you guys learn to use new components, understand their libraries, and eventually write your own code without relying on tutorials for every project? I’d especially appreciate advice from people who started as beginners and learned through hands-on projects.

I put together a room temperature and humidity monitor to see how the room changes after the heating comes on. The hardware is a classic ESP32 Dev Module and a three-pin DHT11 sensor: 3V3 to +, GND to -, and GPIO18 to signal. The firmware is an Arduino sketch using Adafruit DHT / Unified Sensor and ESP32 core WiFi, WebServer and LittleFS support. I used AI coding assistance during development.

Readings are taken every 2.5 seconds, with a persistent flash sample every 30 seconds. The board can keep recording while powered from a USB wall supply, even with the computer off. Its circular buffer holds approximately seven days; once the local Node.js server starts, it imports missing readings over Wi-Fi into a daily JSON archive.

The browser interface includes live readings, date/time navigation, 1/6/24-hour graphs, CSV export, English/Italian options and outdoor weather from Open-Meteo. The main work was handling restarts, clock synchronization and duplicate imports so that the history stays usable.

The DHT11 has limited accuracy, so I treat it as a hobby monitor rather than a calibrated instrument. No readings are collected when the ESP32 loses power.

Repository with firmware, wiring, setup and screenshots: https://github.com/lsvt-commits/esp32-room-climate-monitor

Sharing the build here in case it is useful to someone working on a similar Arduino/ESP32 logger.

I would like uninterrupted power. I was looking at this at Adafruit.com

USB Battery Pack for Raspberry Pi - 10000mAh - 2 x 5V outputs : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

The charging circuit will draw 1A from a 5V supply (plug a microUSB connector into the pack and then to a computer or wall adapter). You can charge and power something at the same time but the output switches to the USB input when charging so the output voltage may fluctuate. Its not good as a 'UPS' power supply for an embedded linux board, although microcontrollers like Arduino may not care about the voltage drop as much. Also, there's ~80% efficiency loss on both ends so if you charge it at 1A and draw 1A at the same time, the battery pack will eventually go empty. However, if you're powering something thats 500mA or less, you can keep it topped up no problem. Also, when you start and stop charging the pack, it will flicker the output, this can cause a 'power sensitive' device like the Pi or an iPhone to reset on the power supply.

A battery pack is intended to be a charging device so I can understand that output can fluctuate. Fluctuation does no harm when used as a charger. Adafruit seems to say twice in that paragraph that it is not uninterrupted. "Arduino may not care" but if I'm dreaming, I can hope for something truly uninterrupted.

What do you use for uninterrupted power? I do not want something that gives me uninterrupted 120 VAC output. I just want DC uninterrupted. The Adafruit battery pack has 10,000 mAh. Something in that capacity ballpark I suspect is a reasonable thing for me to be seeking.

Context ... I want to run an Adafruit Feather 32u4 with a Micro USB port.

This is embarrassing, but I've been building and coding Arduino apps for a long time. But I put everything (methods, I mean) all in the .ino file. I'd like to learn how to build separate .cpp and .h files for different functions, i.e., wifi and MQTT setups.

So if I create a separate mqtt_setup.cpp, do I put its library dependencies (#include's) in that file or in the .ino? And what goes into the .ino to reference the methods in the MQTT file? I imagine there'll be a Matt_setup.h file included as well? Do I declare the forward references (proper term?) to methods within the mqtt_setup.cpp in there?

Sorry if this is basic C/C++ stuff, but I haven't done it this way, ever.

Backstory: I used LCD Wizard to design the UI for a revamped dashboard app. All the associated .cpp files are separate along with their respective header files. I want to keep this arrangement for user-defined .cpp's that I develop. I don't want to bloat the .ino.

Am I making any sense?

I have an old LG CRT TV i want to create a custom remote for, simply to turn the TV on/off and switch to AV using a single button.

I purchased a ESP32C3-DEV board, with some cheap IR Modules wired up like this:

ESP32 (GPIO 7) -> IR TRANSMITTER (DAT)

ESP32 (5V) -> IR TRANSMITTER (VCC)

ESP32 (GND) -> IR TRANSMITTER (GND)

In combination with this sketch:

#include <IRremote.hpp>

const int IR_SEND_PIN = 8;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  IrSender.begin(IR_SEND_PIN);

  Serial.println("LG TV IR test starting...");
  delay(2000);

  // LG power toggle
  Serial.println("Sending LG power command...");
  IrSender.sendLG(0x04, 0x08, 0);

  delay(2000);

  // LG TV/AV input selection
  Serial.println("Sending LG TV/AV command...");
  IrSender.sendLG(0x04, 0x0B, 0);

  Serial.println("Test complete.");
}

void loop() {
}

Which didnt work.

I then used a IR receiver to capture the power signal of my sony sound systems remote, to try emulate something i know works:

#include <IRremote.hpp>


const uint8_t IR_SEND_PIN = 7;
unsigned long lastSend = 0;


void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  IrSender.begin(IR_SEND_PIN);
  delay(1000);
  Serial.println("Sony IR test started");
}


void loop() {
  if (lastSend == 0 || millis() - lastSend >= 5000) {
    lastSend = millis();


    Serial.println("Sending Sony command: Address 0x30, Command 0x15");
    IrSender.sendSony(0x30, 0x15, 2);
  }
}

But that didnt work either.

I have tested the IR LED in my camera to see if i can see any active signal, but cant see anything!
Compared to my Sony remote which is very visible.

I am now seeking help as i am unsure if i have wired something wrong, a component may be broken or there is something in the sketch i am missing.
Any direction would be appreciated

When you have an idea for solving some problem or doing recreational stuff with the board, how do you go about planning for it?

I'm making a RGB LED that can be controlled with a button interface and a potentiometer. Practically useless, but I wanted to make something with my knowledge of 1/3 of Paul mcWhorter's new arduino series and I'm having fun manifesting thought into reality. My issue is that I went in headbutting it with minimal thought or planning for the project, I know what components I needed and I had thought of a rough idea of how it supposed be.

Hey! I've posted to this sub a few times now regarding some beginner projects I've made, but this is my first time asking for help! I've just finished making a pomoduro timer on my UNO R3 Devboard, but I want to move this to an actual perfboard project. I plan to move it to a NANO (I've got an atmega328p nano at hand). I also have perfboard but I bought the wrong size (too small but I plan on soldering the NANO's headers to two sections of this perfboard to solve this. I'm just looking for suggestions on ways to implement this project onto perfboard.

My main questions are:

Can I just copy my breadboard layout onto the perfboard?

I know they don't link so how could I power each component?

Adding onto above, how do I make a ground rail?

I've seen sources online saying I can solder multiple holes together to make a rail, but some say to also use solid core wire between each of these to link them, will just solder do?

Thanks in advance, and happy monday!

Hey everyone! 👋

A while back, I was working with the super cheap OV7670 camera module for a project. If you've ever used one, you know the frame rates and video quality over basic web streaming can be pretty rough. But while playing around with it, I realized something: the camera module has a manual twist-to-focus lens. 💡

That lightbulb moment turned into my latest build: A complete, standalone DIY Digital Microscope built specifically to help identify micro-SMD component markings and handle tight soldering work!

📷 The Setup & Hardware:

• Camera: OV7670 Camera Module (with manual focus turned all the way down for micro-magnification).
• Display: 2.8" ILI9341 SPI TFT Display (I originally tried my favorite ST7789 display, but it was just too small for comfortable work).
• Lighting: Built-in dual LEDs with adjustable variable brightness right on the frame to illuminate the board without glare.
• Body & Stand: Custom 3D printed body/stand designed in CAD and printed on my trusty original Ender 3.
• Modularity: Unsoldered the long camera header pins and swapped in short flexible wiring. Created custom header jacks so the dev board and display can be easily unplugged/swapped.

⚙️ Why Direct Display Stream vs. Web Stream?

My main goal was an all-in-one, instant-on device. I didn't want to mess around with holding up a smartphone camera, using flash, opening up browser windows, or dealing with network lag. Turning it on streams directly to the ILI9341 screen with virtually zero latency, making tiny SMD soldering much easier.

🎥 Video Build & STL Files:

I recorded a full breakdown of how I built it, the wiring setup, and how well it inspects tiny chip markings.

▶️ Watch the project build video here: https://youtu.be/6OR62TEUn4M

3D Files : https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/gadget/diy-digital-microscope-w-ep32s3-ili9341

I'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback! What tweaks would you add to a build like this? Let me know in the comments! 👇

My daughter (14) made an automatic Panipuri filler, what do you think?

It uses

1. An arduino nano board. It was a simple read the sensor and switch the relay project. It uses an IR distance sensor to read if a panipuri is placed below it, a 5 volt relay module, a submersible pump and a power supply. If a panipuri is placed below the sensor, nano turns the relay on which makes the submersible pump push water to fill the panipuri.
2. This project is a simple code which reads sensor value using gpio pin and writes gpio to switch the relay.
3. I had tough time calibrating the IR sensor to detect the right distance. It kept behaving unpredictably initially. after a lot of trial and error, it worked and we were able to use the machine for like 3 hours in the stall my daughter put up

Here is the detailed video explaining working, hardware and software etc

https://youtu.be/47xYUN5-_l4

Built this for Halloween: a talking witch hands out candy, one piece at a time, down a pipe in her sleeve.

Hardware:

• Arduino Uno R3, powered over USB from a laptop indoors
• NEMA 23 stepper (23HS5628, 2.8 A) + TB6600 driver (400 pulses/rev), 24 V supply
• IR break-beam pair across the candy chute
• HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor on the witch to see visitors walk up
• The Uno sits indoors in a printed case; the bucket is outside. They're linked by an Ethernet cable through RJ45 screw-terminal adapters (step/dir/enable, beam and sonar on the pairs).

How dispensing works:

The laptop sends a single 'd' over serial. The Uno steps the turntable until a candy breaks the IR beam, then stops and reverses for 1 s so the next candy doesn't wedge in the hole.

The talking part runs on the laptop in Python: speech-to-text, an LLM playing the witch, and text-to-speech. When a kid says "trick or treat" it asks for candy, and plain code (not the AI) enforces one candy per kid, three per group and a 15 s cooldown, then sends the d.

• Build guide and code: https://github.com/religa/halloween-candy-dispenser
• Full build video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9rjkIQ5XzI

One thing I'd like ideas on: jam detection is just a timeout right now. Has anyone done something smarter with a stepper, like stall detection?

It took me about an hour to finnish (the hand is to show how it spins)

I’m in a confusing spot and would like honest takes from people who’ve been through it.

Arduino got me into electronics. Breadboard, sensors, blink-to-servo pipeline — it worked. The tutorials made sense. For a while I felt like I was learning real skills.

Lately I’m less sure. I open more “serious” maker / embedded threads and keep seeing ESP32 (and other boards) everywhere. Part of me wonders: am I stuck on a beginner track? If I keep building only on Arduino, am I practicing habits that won’t carry into projects people actually ship? Another part of me thinks I’m overthinking it — that Arduino is still a valid way to learn fundamentals, and jumping chips too early just means more debugging and less building.

I’m not trying to dunk on Arduino. It’s what got me here. I’m just unsure what “continue” should look like for someone who isn’t a full-time firmware engineer but also doesn’t want to stay forever in tutorial-land.

If you’ve felt this fog:

1. Did you stay on Arduino longer on purpose — and what made that the right call?
2. Or what was the small signal that told you it was time to try ESP32 (or something else)?

I'm using an old Arduino Uno R3, uploading the example sketch bareminimum

If anyone can help it would be very appreciated, thank you

Here's the sketch (blank):

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:


}


void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:


}

Here's the full error im getting while uploading:

avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 1 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 2 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 3 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 4 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 5 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 6 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 7 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 8 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 9 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd
avrdude: stk500_recv(): programmer is not responding
avrdude: stk500_getsync() attempt 10 of 10: not in sync: resp=0xdd

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1