AI-Powered Coding: GitHub Copilot Writes Arduino Blink Sketch & WiFi Setup - Find out how GitHub Co-Pilot's AI impressively handles a blink sketch and Wi-Fi setup in an Arduino project!

ESP32-TV Version 3 - Is it done? - In today's project update, I'm excited to share that my ESP32-TV boards, fresh from PCBWay, are operating flawlessly! We've successfully dealt with the USB2244 conflict with the ESP32, and the battery charging issue is now a thing of the past. We've also made some awesome additions like a microphone to our board. The real MVP though, is the USB2244 chip that’s given us significantly improved read/write speeds - making it perfect for handling video files. Next on the agenda, figuring out a solution for the non-standard display connector. As ever, there’s progress, there’s problems, and there's David Bowie animated gifs!

Vibing a PCB - surprisingly good - In my latest adventure, I challenged AI to design a working ESP32-S3 development board from scratch using Atopile and Claude. The idea was as simple as vibe-coding actual hardware without diving into the code. It was a chaotic yet fascinating journey, with some misses like unwired components and a forgotten capacitor. After a few prompts, the AI delivered a surprisingly functional board featuring USB-C, an AMS1117 regulator, and status LEDs. While not yet perfect, vibe-coding feels like a glimpse into the future of hardware design.

Esp32 s3 zx spectrum - In a bid to quench my nostalgia and flex my ESP32 chops, I managed to get a ZX Spectrum emulator running on my ESP32-TV board! Then, spurred on by PCBWay's new full color silk screen service, I pursuit the audacious task of recreating the ZX Spectrum's iconic keyboard. It's been quite the joyride - wrangling touch pins, shrinking screens and creating a thing of beauty on PCB. It's not quite ready for the spotlight, but keep an eye on my newsletter for more eagerly-awaited updates. It's like the Spectrum is reborn!

The PCBs are in production - what have I messed up? - After some stress and trepidation, I finally took the plunge and sent my PCB design off for manufacturing. My design centers around building a large seven-segment clock with LED filaments. Jumping hurdles such as voltages, pin usage, and limiting the load on my power supply, I've settled on the ESP32 as the system's heart and come up with a final circuit design. While doing this, I've quickly realized I could improve my layout and fixed a small mistake. Also, I've prepared for either types of LED filaments - the high-voltage ones or the larger, 3v ones. However, I did bungle up a couple of things on the enable line of the shift registers and board layout. But hey, this is a learning curve, right? Can't wait to get the boards and see what other exciting errors surface!

ESP32 TV Version 3 - In the latest board revision, I've successfully resolved some key issues, including a USB interface conflict between the USB2244 and the ESP32 and a risky battery charging mistake—no more direct USB 5V to the battery! Plus, I managed to wrap this up without any clumsy bodge wiring. I've even introduced a new feature: a microphone is now on board, setting the stage for some exciting future projects. Stay tuned for what's coming!

1 touch pin 8 touch pads - To make my ESP32 ZX Spectrum touch keyboard work even better, I needed to ensure every key was independent. The ESP32-S3 only has 14 touch pins, so I’ve been using a matrix approach. While this works well, it struggles with key combinations, critical for the ZX Spectrum. I explored touch detection and experimented with analog multiplexer ICs (4051 series) to expand the touch pins. Initial tests were promising. After prototyping with breadboard-friendly versions and ordering parts, the new keyboard was not only functional but exceeded my expectations. Scanning the keyboard now takes around 20ms, and the solution is ready for production. This was the last big challenge, and I’m thrilled with the results!