Been there, did that. And rub-on transfers, and tape, and paint, and UV exposure using sunlight (and using a proper UV exposure unit), and paper toner transfer, and milling, and permanent marker, and nail polish, and conductive ink, and … 🤣

Get the #MicroPython VL53L4CD driver here: github.com/mirobotech/B... or the #Arduino VL53L4CD driver here: github.com/mirobotech/B...

It's freebie Friday!! I've created a tiny QWIIC (I2C) ToF (Time-of-Flight) distance sensor module for my BEAPER #robots and shared it on @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social here: www.pcbway.com/project/shar... #electronics #robotics

Whoa, it's Wednesday!! I was so busy yesterday I missed my teacher Tuesday post. 😢 Never fear, I'm here for my fellow teachers! 😄 Are you starting to plan for next school year? Here's a complete beginner microcontroller curriculum you might wanna look at: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

It's mirobo Monday!! I've slowly been working away on some QWIIC things (see what I did there? 😉)! I made my robots a tiny little VL53L4CD ToF distance sensor module. 🤖 And, I made a matching QWIIC adapter for other I2C devices. Find them on @PCBWay: www.pcbway.com/project/memb...

It's freebie Friday!! I've just shared my new Adapt-2-QWIIC circuit on @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social – it'll pop up after review and join my other shared circuits, here: www.pcbway.com/project/memb... Adapt-2-QWIIC is designed to make it easy to connect cheap I2C peripherals using QWIIC cables!

Below the drop-out voltage, LDOs are well behaved but the 7805 isn't! 9V batteries also have much less capacity (measured in mAh) – they're not meant to drive motors! See what's inside and look up typical mAh values here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-vo... Then, compare them with AA cells... 🧐

It's teacher Tuesday!! If you're new to electronics and/or robotics, and making battery-powered circuits, here's a helpful tip: Use 4-AA batteries and an LDO (low drop-out regulator) such as an LF50ABV, LM2940CT-5, or L4940V5 instead of a 9V battery and a 7805. This is why 👇

#TodaysAwesomeness I'm on Summer Schedule but still doing Education. Teachers don't really "break" we just change schedules. Today I recorded 2 videos for classes in an online class; started learning @godotengine.org for game design class; wrote rough draft chapter of a book. #EduSky #SummerTime

It's mirobo Monday!! I've been working on some things... You know those Aliexpress ToF modules? I created an adapter board to make it easy to connect them to QWIIC I2C cables. But, I wanted an all-in-one solution so I also designed my own VL53L4CD ToF module with dual QWIIC connectors. 😊

I'm not sure if anyone knows yet, as I'v only been at it for 23 weeks, but I'm working on getting a robot working every week, I failed again last week to get a robot finished, but decided to keep going anyhow. I need to assemble some electronics for it. breakfast first...

I'm really happy with how the voltage switching idea I had for my UBB-Pro (USB-C Breadboard Break-out – coming soon!) circuit prototype is working out. 😁 😁 😁

It's freebie Friday!! Hey, you know that free beginner curriculum I've been sharing? You can use it learn all about #Arduino programming without buying any hardware by programming my virtual ARPS-2 circuit in TinkerCad. Check it out: www.tinkercad.com/things/86Zfs...

I essentially 3D-printed a circuit using a Voltera V-One, and then programmed it to be a BCD clock. Can you tell what time it is?

It's teacher Tuesday!! LCD graphics can be bitmap images, or can be created using a combination of shape primitives. Shapes are faster to draw and easy to modify and animate! See the #MicroPython source code here: github.com/mirobotech/B... #STEMeducation

github.com/bitbank2/Fas... New - I shared a low power eink clock project that updates every minute (no flickering). It pulls the correct time/date from NTP every day and a half and uses the ESP32's RTC to keep the time. It can last for months on a small battery using ESP32's deep sleep.

It’s truly astonishing to see how comprehensively the US government is tearing down every part of the system that has made it up until now a world-leading power in science, research, and technological development. The entire world will suffer from this wanton destruction.

Glad it’s not just me having this same problem. 🤣

Reflowing a prototype circuit on my hot plate. Sadly, I didn't notice the two LEDs that were mis-aligned. 😢 But at least one fixed itself! 😂

It's freebie Friday!! Create a radar-like parameter display in #MicroPython using either a VL53L0X, VL53L4CD, or SONAR distance sensor! I've uploaded the demo program for both BEAPER Pico and BEAPER Nano (BEAPER Nano version here: github.com/mirobotech/B...) along with my VL53L4CD ToF driver.

Hey 🇨🇦, here's a petition to block bill C-22: www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

The first two are new prototype breadboard power supply circuits with break-away level shifter and I/O modules (the other three are my existing beginner robot circuits – BEAPER Nano, BEAPER Pico, and ARPS-2). Once a few more parts arrive, I can turn my dreams into solder smoke and reality... 😆

Ooh, I got my new prototypes from @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social 😃 Yes, I do have a break-away fetish – why do you ask? 🤣

Clean Up Traces and Vias in KiCAD's PCB Editor youtube.com/shorts/XeUSP...

Feeling dumb is what actual learning feels like.

Do you ❤️ electrons? Of course you do! New tall mugs arrived! I'll be taking these to a local Hamfest in June, along with my robots and learn-to-solder kits. 😁 You don't have to come all the way to the Central Ontario Hamfest 🇨🇦 to get one – grab one from my site: mirobo.tech/store/mirobo...

The Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: subscribe for free blog.adafruit.com/2026/05/21/t...

It's teacher Tuesday!! The ST7789 LCD display on this BEAPER Pico is driven by an easy to use #MicroPython module. Find both the distance sensor and LCD code as well as a full set of beginner programming activities on GitHub: github.com/mirobotech

It's teacher Tuesday!! Hey teachers, did you know that not all HC-SR04 (5V) and HC-SR04P (3.3V) SONAR modules behave the same way? I've created a SONAR timing test program, and built SONAR measurement functions into ARPS-2, BEAPER Nano, and BEAPER Pico C header files and MicroPython board modules.

Despite it being a 2-qwiic time-of-flight module I'm apparently not very quick – it took me all day to design it! 😉

I, uh, did a thing... One Claude (free tier) prompt to convert a C driver to MicroPython. A second prompt to refine the result. Literally 5 minutes. Me checking the code and testing it. Way more than 5 minutes. 🤣 I now have a MicroPython VL54L4CD driver for BEAPER. 🤷 github.com/mirobotech/B...

So tempted to add this to my 'another project I have no time for' pile. 😂

Oh, hey, it's meeee!!! 🤖 😁 Thanks for the feature, @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social – www.pcbway.com/project/

ARPS-2 is an #Arduino UNO shield that includes all of the typical beginner starter components on-board! I've shared its circuit design on @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social here: www.pcbway.com/project/shar...

BEAPER Pico is BEAPER Nano's Raspberry Pi Pico sibling! They share similar circuits and #MicroPython programs. Find out more on @hacksterio.bsky.social here: www.hackster.io/mirobotech/b...

BEAPER Nano is a beginner circuit kit for Arduino Nano ESP32 that can be programmed using #Arduino C/C++ or #MicroPython. Find out more on @hacksterio.bsky.social here: www.hackster.io/mirobotech/b...

It's teacher Tuesday!! If you're teaching (or just want to learn about) electronics and microcontroller programming, I've got three different beginner circuits and a full beginner learning curriculum with lesson activities to help you! See the curriculum: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

BEAPER Nano is controlled by an #Arduino Nano #esp32 and is designed to be a versatile beginner development system that can be programmed using either C/C++ or #MicroPython !

It’s mirobo Monday!! I’ve shared my latest BEAPER Nano circuit on @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social to enable schools, robotics clubs, and maker spaces to order PCBs for the lowest costs. Find it here: www.pcbway.com/project/shar...

It’s mirobo Monday!! I just published my BEAPER Nano project on @hacksterio.bsky.social – check it out here: www.hackster.io/mirobotech/b...

It's freebie Friday!! Looking for an easy way to mount an N20 metal gear motor? Don't worry, I've got you! 3D-print your own and you'll be ready to go: makerworld.com/en/models/69...

Here's a quick way to place an image or logo onto a PCB silkscreen in KiCad: youtu.be/DZ0T5gWkHgs

It's teacher Tuesday!! Hey #EduSky, unlock your students' learning with a complete beginner microcontroller curriculum using #Arduino C/C++ or #MicroPython. See the curriculum overview: docs.google.com/document/d/1... Get all of the lesson activities: github.com/mirobotech

“Basic income has been shown to reduce health care costs, including an 8.5% reduction in hospitalizations. As Dr. Danielle Martin [the newly elected Liberal MP in today’s by-election] has so pointedly said, “If we discovered a drug that reduced hospitalizations by 8.5%, we’d put it in the water.”

May the robots be with you!! 🤖 🤖 There are only two days left to save 20% on ARPS-2, BEAPER Nano and BEAPER Pico kits on @lectronz.com using code MAYDAY10: lectronz.com/stores/mirob... #STEMeducation #EduSky #robotics #programming

It's freebie Friday!! Hey, wanna put that old UNO to use, or make it easy for someone to learn programming using it? My ARPS-2 is freely downloadable from @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social here: www.pcbway.com/project/shar... There's also a complete beginner curriculum for it on GitHub! Go, make a 🤖!

This is for you teacher & students... Paticularly those of us who are different ❤️❤️🙏

Yes, some days I, too, am out of bounce. 🤣

Build a NeoPixel lightsaber for revenge of the 6th! Yesterday I got strange Arduino Nano ESP32 NeoPixel output until I checked back to some earlier code – in which my comments told me that the Adafruit NeoPixel library uses ESP32 pin numbers, not Arduino pin numbers. 😂 So, yay! It's now shared. 😃

Off by one error-- "May the 4th" Did you mean-- "Cinco de Mayo"? Whatever you celebrate, there are 5 days left to pick up an ARPS-2, BEAPER Nano, or BEAPER Pico kit at a special price! Use the force! Build a robot! 🤖 Win a battle! 🤷 🤣