VoltJots | Electronics and IoT

NEWS & ARTICLES

Muscle-inspired tech for tiny robots

Researchers have created a low-voltage actuator inspired by molluscs, enabling tiny soft robots to crawl, swim, and jump autonomously while maintaining power and precision, overcoming challenges of traditional rigid motors in robotics.

First AI microcontroller's here

Alif's just shipped the first Ethos U85 AI microcontroller, featuring ARM's neural processing unit for edge computing. It supports small language and transformer vision models, and the next-gen version could boost performance by up to 12 times.

Haptics in motion! An intro...

Vibration motors provide tactile feedback in devices by converting electrical signals into physical sensations, with key types being eccentric rotating mass (ERM) and coin motors, crucial for responsive and reliable hardware design.

Chiplet technology's rise

Chiplets are shaking up chip design by offering modular solutions to meet growing compute demands, tackling challenges like dual foundry integration while introducing new tools and strategies for better performance and efficiency.

Increasing bit resolution with oversampling

Here’s a great article on how oversampling lets an ADC gain extra resolution by sampling faster than required and then averaging the results to cut noise.

2025 One Hertz Challenge: an Arduino-based heart rate sensor

Check out this Arduino-based heart rate sensor that uses a Wemos D1 mini and a MAX30102 sensor to measure your pulse.

PROJECTS & TUTORIALS

Compact LED power supply solution

This 3W Switch Mode Power Supply was designed for LED projects, using the LNK364 chip that combines a power MOSFET and control features into one efficient IC, simplifying your setup without the need for extra circuitry.

Handy tide tracker

Meet your new tide clock! It’s 3D printed, battery-powered, and connects to the internet for accurate tide levels. You can set it up in a minute, and it runs for weeks on a single USB-C charge!

N8n terminal device: ESP32 physical interface for automation

The n8n Terminal Device is an ESP32-based hardware project that enhances n8n automations by adding a physical interface with a screen and buttons, enabling real-time interaction and status updates without needing a computer or smartphone.

Get creative with Raspberry Pi

If you’ve got a Raspberry Pi lying around, here are 11 awesome projects to jump into this weekend. They're easy to follow, fun to create, and perfect for all skill levels! For example, you could create a retro gaming console, a smart mirror, a home automation hub, or a personal web server.

Wearable Geiger counter

With the Beetle ESP32-C6, you can create a handy radiation mapper that monitors background radiation and logs data, giving you real-time insights about your environment in a lightweight design.

Measure distance with Raspberry Pi

This guide shows you how to wire the HC-SR04 sensor to your Raspberry Pi and use Python to calculate distances based on ultrasonic pulses.

PRODUCTS

ESP32-C5 chip is here!

Here's your chance to play with the ESP32-C5. The RISC-V based chip is now in mass production, featuring dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, and 802.15.4 connectivity, with a faster CPU clock and more SRAM than the ESP32-C6.

High-performance LDO for precision tasks

Need low noise and high ripple rejection? The AP7372 LDO regulator delivers up to 200 mA with minimal dropout, making it ideal for ADCs, DACs, and more in demanding environments.

Make your fan smarter

With the AC Infinity AirTap T4/T6 board, you get Wi-Fi, an OLED display, and temperature sensing, all packed into your fan's original case, plus it’s open-source and ready for automation.

TMR technology revolutionises angle sensing

With improved thermal stability and precision, the LF53466 and LF53464 sensors utilise TMR technology for accurate angle detection, making them perfect for both industrial and compact consumer applications.