VoltJots | Electronics and IoT

NEWS & ARTICLES

Concrete that stores electricity like a battery

A breakthrough in electron-conducting carbon concrete means it can now store enough electricity in just 5 cubic meters—down from 45—to meet a home's daily energy needs, thanks to nanoscale carbon and optimised electrolytes.

AI-powered robot handles chores through vision and language

The Apollo humanoid robot combines vision sensors with language models Gemini Robotics 1.5 and ER 1.5 to perceive its environment and perform multi-step tasks like packing bags, but experts say it’s still a long way from real thinking.

Why on-board chargers need new ideas

The push for quicker charging and advanced features like vehicle-to-grid is testing current on-board charger designs. ST’s white paper highlights these ongoing challenges and suggests ways engineers can overcome them.

Ever thought of turning your hobby into a side hustle?

Tech-savvy folks can channel creativity into side hustles like digital content creation, consulting, or prototyping with Raspberry Pi, turning hobbies into confidence-building ventures that could supplement your income beyond the usual 9-5 grind.

Dual monitoring with one interior camera

STMicroelectronics and Tobii teamed up to create a single-camera system that handles driver monitoring and occupancy detection by processing two video streams with advanced interior sensing tech.

PROJECTS & TUTORIALS

Build a solar-powered AI mesh for forest safety

Build a solar-powered LoRa mesh network with AI-equipped sensor nodes that detect gunshots, smoke, and environmental changes to protect forests without relying on internet or cellular coverage. The system sends real-time alerts through a decentralised network, syncing data to the cloud when possible and visualising activity on an easy web dashboard.

Ultrasonic distance sensing on Raspberry Pi Pico

Hook up the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor to your Raspberry Pi Pico and run a simple MicroPython program that calculates how far away an object is and outputs the result on an OLED display.

Build an Arduino-based Pulse Oximeter with the MAX30102 Sensor

Learn how to interface the low-power MAX30102 sensor with Arduino to track heart rate and SpO2, with clear wiring steps and practical examples like temperature and presence detection to try out.

Build a smart plant monitor with ESP32

Monitor your plant’s soil moisture in real-time using ESP32 and a capacitive sensor, then automate watering or control a pump remotely or by voice with Sinric Pro and Alexa, all displayed on an easy-to-use mobile app dashboard.

Sensing motion and sound on XIAO BLE nRF52840 Sense

Learn how to read accelerometer, gyroscope, and temperature data from the LSM6DS3 IMU sensor on the XIAO BLE nRF52840 Sense, then build a pedometer to count steps. Plus, get the PDM microphone working to detect sound, setting you up for machine learning and AI projects.

Back to basics: using a potentiometer to adjust RGB LED colours

Learn to connect a potentiometer to your Arduino and manipulate an RGB LED’s output, while understanding how this common input device works.

Tiny bike alarm with secure magnet reset

This compact bike alarm uses a vibration switch to spot tampering and sounds a buzzer through a MOSFET driver. It keeps things safe with a PC817 optocoupler for isolation and a Hall-effect sensor that only lets you reset it by placing a magnet nearby.

LA3600-based 5-band equaliser circuit explained

Summary: Using Sanyo’s LA3600 IC, this circuit divides audio into five bands from low bass to high treble, allowing you to boost or cut each band separately. It’s a classic design for tuning audio systems with precise frequency control.

PRODUCTS

PowerBaby-100: USB-C breadboard power supply with built-in safety

The PowerBaby-100 breadboard power supply offers up to 100 W of power from USB-C PD 3.0 sources, with output options from 5 V to 20 V and current limits from 0.5 A to 5.25 A. It fits standard breadboards, includes short-circuit and voltage protection, and shows output voltage on an LED display. Its compact size and open design make it handy for students, hobbyists, and engineers alike.

MOSFETs tuned for better current sharing

Nexperia’s new 80 V and 100 V application-specific MOSFETs (ASFETs) are designed to improve dynamic current sharing in high-power 48 V setups by matching MOSFETs closely when used in parallel.

40 watt dc-dc converters with wide input range

Designed for tight spaces, XP Power’s BCT40T series delivers 40W power in a compact 25.4mm square package. These converters support nominal 24V and 48V inputs across a wide voltage span, ideal for industrial, test, and communications gear needing efficient PCB mounting.

Dual retriggerable monostable pulse generator

Texas Instruments' TPUL2G123 offers two RC-timed monostable multivibrator channels that generate precise, fixed-width pulses and come in both commercial and automotive-qualified versions.

New SiC module shrinks industrial power setups

The DOT-247 from ROHM combines two SiC chips in a familiar TO-247 package, helping you simplify system design and increase power density in applications such as semiconductor relays and energy converters.