VoltJots | Electronics and IoT

NEWS & ARTICLES

Safer, cheaper battery from sodium and sulphur

Scientists have created a sodium–sulphur battery that skips the anode, provides high energy storage and tackles the safety and cost problems common with lithium cells.

Ghost-proof presence sensor explained

A multimodal presence sensor powered by ESP32 detects actual occupants rather than fleeting motion, making smart home automations more reliable and eliminating the need for manual overrides due to slow or incorrect triggers.

Flying micro-robots flip and zoom like bees

With a new AI controller, MIT’s tiny flying robots can execute continuous somersaults and navigate tricky spaces with bumblebee-like speed and precision, even in windy conditions.

The role of position sensors in motor systems

Position sensors haven’t disappeared; they’re essential in complex applications such as autonomous robots and linear transport, even though simpler motors often skip them with sensorless designs. [Note: PDF]

TinyML brings AI to small chips

Open source frameworks are driving TinyML to embed powerful machine learning on ultra-low-power microcontrollers, shifting intelligence from the cloud to the smallest connected devices for smarter, faster responses.

PROJECTS & TUTORIALS

ESP32-powered, 3D-printed ball clock

Instead of traditional hands, this clock uses tiny steel balls rolling in loops along 3D-printed tracks, with an ESP32 syncing time via Wi-Fi and controlling a servo to move the balls precisely.

Build a reliable outdoor Raspberry Pi setup

Running a Raspberry Pi off-grid means picking a low-power model, accurately measuring power use, and matching batteries with solar panels. You’ll also need weatherproof housing and a solid network plan to keep it running smoothly for months.

Use mDNS to name your ESP32 devices

Assign custom names to your ESP32 boards with mDNS so you can reach them via simple URLs like http://esp32-room.local instead of typing their IP addresses every time.

Simple ESP32 radio with manual tuning scale

Combine the CrowPanel ESP32 display module and a TEA5767 radio chip to build a retro-style FM radio with a manual drawn-scale dial. Add a PAM8403 amp and speaker, and use the enclosure as a sound box, connecting everything through the display’s I2C interface for a neat, compact design.

Understanding the PC817 optical isolator

The PC817 is a common 4-pin optocoupler that electrically isolates circuits by using light to transfer signals, effectively separating microcontrollers from noisy or high-voltage systems.

Getting started with Tasmota on ESP8266 devices

Tasmota transforms your ESP8266 into a smart device that you control locally using a web interface. This guide shows how to install the free, open-source Tasmota firmware on ESP8266, configure WiFi, and access its web interface to control relays and sensors without writing any code.

Digital compass with shake to wake feature

Make a self-calibrating digital compass that you can spin to see north on a circular display. It shuts off after nine seconds of inactivity and wakes up when you pick it up, using a Seeed Xiao RP2350 microcontroller, Adafruit BNO055 sensor, and a GC9A01A round display.

Autonomous robotic dog chases ball with vision and AI

This project builds a legged robot that uses computer vision and a lightweight AI model to spot, track, and chase a ball in real time. It runs ROS 2 on a Debian Linux system with an ESP32-powered camera and servo-driven mech dog hardware, all battery-powered for free movement.

PRODUCTS

Lower-cost STM32MP21x targets industrial MPUs

The STM32MP21x line adds a budget-friendly option to ST’s 64-bit MPUs with a single-core Cortex-A35 and Cortex-M33 combo, supporting multiple memory types and real-time Ethernet, making industrial camera applications simpler and cheaper.

Infineon’s new IoT chip runs Wi‑Fi 7 on 20 MHz

Infineon’s latest ACW741x device offers three radios: Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0, and Thread, designed for low-power, reliable IoT connections with Multi-Link support for seamless band hopping in busy wireless spots.

Affordable mini PC with fast storage and AI chops

The Dragon Q6A mini PC challenges rivals by combining Qualcomm’s octa-core QCS6490 SoC with up to 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, blazing-fast UFS and NVMe storage, and 4K video support. Its Raspberry Pi-sized design and strong AI capabilities make it a versatile platform, though it does lack an official cooling solution.

Smart automotive sensor with HDR and parking mode

This sensor combines 8 effective megapixels and industry-leading HDR with a built-in MIPI A-PHY interface to speed up data transmission without extra chips. It detects motion at low power for parking surveillance and works well in tough lighting and temperature conditions, all while meeting strict automotive safety rules.

Modular zone controller kit targets software-defined vehicles

The new zone controller development kit from Infineon and Flex offers a modular setup to simplify early SDV hardware and software development. It features reusable building blocks for quick assembly of different zone control units, supporting extensive power and connectivity channels, plus a dual-MCU module for more demanding applications.

Add four fast Ethernet ports to your Pi 5

This expansion board plugs into the Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe slot and adds four Gigabit or 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports using Realtek controllers, with built-in LEDs and no extra power needed.