The Halo franchise is full of iconic designs, from vehicles like the Warthog to weapons like the Needler. But the armor, such as the Spartan armor worn by Master Chief, is arguably the most recognizable. The helmets are especially cool, and LeMaster Tech put his own unique spin on an ODST-style helmet by adding an adjustable-transparency RGB-backlit visor.
The ODST helmet that LeMaster Tech used for this project was made by Anthony Andress, AKA “enforce_props,” and it is a solid resin casting. LeMaster Tech’s goal was to make the coolest visor imaginable for that helmet.
He achieved that using a PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) “smart film” that changes from opaque to transparent when it receives current. That film can be cut to shape without causing any harm. He further enhanced the effect with some RGB LED backlighting, which illuminates the interior of the helmet and helps to make the wearer’s face more visible when the visor is transparent.
LeMaster Tech used an Arduino Nano board to the control the PDLC film and the NeoPixel individually addressable RGB LEDs. Momentary buttons in a 3D-printed enclosure control the LED lighting color, the lighting effect modes, and the visor transparency. The PDLC needs 20V to become transparent, so LeMaster Tech used a large battery to power that and a step-down converter to power the Arduino and LEDs.
The result looks fantastic and this helmet is going back to enforce_props, who will finish turning it into a cosplay masterpiece.
Inventive, open-source, and cost-effective – these words perfectly describe CapibaraZero, a multifunctional security and hacking tool developed by young innovator Andrea Canale.
Inspired by the popular Flipper Zero, a portable device used to interact with digital systems, Canale sought to create a more accessible, Arduino-based alternative.
The original Flipper Zero, known for its ability to read, copy, and emulate RFID tags, NFCs, and even remote control signals, has become a valuable tool for tech enthusiasts. Canale’s CapibaraZero captures much of this functionality but adds his own unique approach and vision.
A student’s vision for an accessible, open-source alternative
A passionate student from the University of Turin, Canale began working on CapibaraZero while still in high school, driven by the desire to build a tool that didn’t just replicate Flipper Zero’s capabilities but improved upon them through the power of open-source design.
CapibaraZero, named after Canale’s favorite animal, combines an Arduino Nano ESP32 with custom-designed PCB boards, making it adaptable and expandable. With sections dedicated to Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, infrared, NFC, and even network attacks, CapibaraZero allows users to experiment with multiple forms of wireless communication and digital security protocols in a way that’s affordable and accessible.
A tool for experimentation and learning
What makes CapibaraZero remarkable is not only its functionality but also Canale’s dedication to ensuring it remains open-source, user-friendly, and continually evolving. With additional modules for advanced features like Sub-GHz communication and network attacks (such as ARP poisoning and DHCP starvation), CapibaraZero empowers enthusiasts to expand the tool’s potential beyond traditional hacking devices.
In recent years, tools such as the FlipperZero have become quite popular amongst hobbyists and security professionals alike for their small size and wide array of hacking tools. Inspired by the functionality of the FlipperZero, Project Hub user ‘andreockx’ created a similar multi-radio tool named the CapibaraZero, which has the same core abilities and even a little more.
The project uses an Arduino Nano ESP32 as its processor and as a way to provide Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low-Energy, and human interface features. The chipset can scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, present fake captive portals, prevent other devices from receiving IP addresses through DHCP starvation, and even carry out ARP poisoning attacks. Andre’s inclusion of a LoRa radio module further differentiates his creation by letting it transmit information in the sub-GHz spectrum over long distances. And lastly, the PN532 RFID module can read encrypted MiFare NFC tags and crack them through brute force.
This collection of the Nano ESP32, wireless radios, and a LiPo battery + charging module were all attached to a custom PCB mainboard while five additional buttons were connected via secondary daughterboard before the entire assembly was placed into a 3D printed case.
If you want to add a display to your Arduino project, the easiest solution will likely be an LCD or OLED screen. But though those are affordable and work really well, they may not provide the vibe you’re looking for. If you want a more vintage look, Vaclav Krejci has a great tutorial that will walk you through using old-school LED bubble displays with your Arduino.
Krejci’s video demonstrates how to use HPDL-1414 displays, which are what most people call “bubble” displays, because they have clear bubble-like lenses over each character’s array of LEDs. They were fairly popular in the late ‘70s and ‘80s on certain devices, like calculators. These specific bubble displays can show the full range of alphanumeric characters (uppercase only), plus a handful of punctuation marks and special symbols.
The HPDL-1414 displays Krejci used come on driver boards that set the characters based on serial input. In the video, Krejci first connects those directly to a PC via a serial-to-USB adapter board. That helps to illustrate the control method through manual byte transmission.
Then Krejci gets to the good stuff: connecting the HPDL-1414 bubble displays to an Arduino. He used an Arduino UNO Rev3, but the same setup should work with any Arduino board. As you may have guessed based on the PC demonstration, the Arduino controls the display via Serial.print() commands. The hex code for each character matches the standard ASCII table, which is pretty handy. That makes it possible to Serial.write() those hex codes and even Serial.write() the actual characters.
Don’t worry if that sounds a little intimidating, because Krejci has sample code that will let you easily turn any arbitrary array of characters into the serial output you need. Now you can use those awesome bubble displays in your own projects!
Playing drums is a lot of fun, but drum sets are very big and very loud. They also aren’t cheap. Those factors keep them from being an option for many people who would otherwise be interested. Conventional electronic drum sets are much quieter and a bit more compact, but they still take up a fair amount of space and come with hefty price tags. That’s why Cybercraftics designed this DIY drum set mat that solves all of those problems.
This is an electronic drum set in the form of a flexible desk mat. It is affordable to build and can be tucked away in a closet or cupboard when not in use. It doesn’t have the same layout as a real drum set, but it can still help new drummers learn fundamentals like paradiddles. Those require a lot of practice to ingrain the motions into muscle memory and this mat makes it possible to run through the rudiments just about anywhere without loud noises disturbing anyone.
Cybercraftics designed this drum mat to work like a standard MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) input device, but with piezoelectric sensors instead of buttons. Those produce a signal when struck. They are analog signals and there are seven sensors, so this project uses an Arduino Leonardo board that has enough analog input pins. The Leonardo also has a Microchip ATmega32U4 microcontroller, which means it is configurable as a USB HID — handy for interfacing with whatever MIDI software you may want to use.
On the physical side, this is just two desk mats cut and glued together, which circular pieces covering the piezoelectric sensors. A small 3D-printed enclosure protects the Arduino.
If you’ve ever wanted to get into drumming, this may the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
At Cornell University, Dr. Anand Kumar Mishra and his team have been conducting groundbreaking research that brings together the fields of robotics, biology, and engineering. Their recent experiments, published in Science, explore how fungal myceliacan be used to control robots. The team has successfully created biohybrid robots that move based on electrical signals generated by fungi – a fascinating development in the world of robotics and biology.
A surprising solution for robotics: fungi
Biohybrid robots have traditionally relied on animal or plant cells to control movements. However, Dr. Mishra’s team is introducing an exciting new component into this field: fungi – which are resilient, easy to culture, and can thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions. This makes them ideal candidates for long-term applications in biohybrid robotics.
Dr. Mishra and his colleagues designed two robots: a soft, starfish-inspired walking one, and a wheeled one. Both can be controlled using the natural electrophysiological signals produced by fungal mycelia. These signals are harnessed using a specially designed electrical interface that allows the fungi to control the robot’s movement.
The implications of this research extend far beyond robotics. The integration of living systems with artificial actuators presents an exciting new frontier in technology, and the potential applications are vast – from environmental sensing to pollution monitoring.
How it works with Arduino
At the heart of this innovative project is the Arduino platform, which served as the main interface to control the robots. As Dr. Mishra explains, he has been using Arduino for over 10 years and naturally turned to it for this experiment: “My first thought was to control the robot using Arduino.” The choice was ideal in terms of accessibility, reliability, and ease of use – and allowed for seamless transition from prototyping with UNO R4 WiFi to final solution with Arduino Mega.
To capture and process the tiny electrical signals from the fungi, the team used a high-resolution 32-bit ADC (analog-to-digital converter) to achieve the necessary precision. “We processed each spike from the fungi and used the delay between spikes to control the robot’s movement. For example, the width of the spike determined the delay in the robot’s action, while the height was used to adjust the motor speed,” Dr. Mishra shares.
The team also experimented with pulse width modulation (PWM) to control the motor speed more precisely, and managed to create a system where the fungi’s spikes could increase or decrease the robot’s speed in real-time. “This wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly rewarding,” says Dr. Mishra.
And it’s only the beginning. Now the researchers are exploring ways to refine the signal processing and enhance accuracy – again relying on Arduino’s expanding ecosystem, making the system even more accessible for future scientific experiments.
All in all, this project is an exciting example of how easy-to-use, open-source, accessible technologies can enable cutting-edge research and experimentation to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the most unexpected fields – even complex biohybrid experiments! As Dr. Mishra says, “I’ve been a huge fan of Arduino for years, and it’s amazing to see how it can be used to drive advancements in scientific research.”
We are thrilled to announce that Alumnus Software, based in India and the United States, has joined our System Integrators Partnership Program (SIPP) at the Gold level. With over 20 years of expertise in embedded software, IoT applications, and Edge AI development, Alumnus has a strong track record of building custom embedded systems and data-driven IoT applications for industries ranging from automotive and healthcare to industrial automation and consumer electronics.
As an official SIPP partner, Alumnus will enable Arduino users to leverage their expertise in resource-constrained environments – overcoming challenges like limited CPU, memory, and storage, low bandwidth, extended battery life requirements, and real-time response demands. This collaboration means faster deployment, quicker revenue generation, and a seamless bridge between connected devices and cloud-based applications for enterprise-scale projects.
Ashis Khan, Board Member at Alumnus Software, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership:
“With Arduino, businesses have achieved a 25-40% faster time-to-market and up to 60% reduction in non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs when connecting their data to the cloud. Through this partnership, Alumnus Software plans to help Arduino users scale enterprise-class applications more efficiently, leveraging data and AI with our two decades of expertise in Data, IoT, Edge AI, Cloud enablement, and embedded software development.”
Rob Ponsoby, Partner Sales Manager – AMER at Arduino, added: “We are excited to welcome Alumnus to the SIPP program. Their depth of experience in embedded software and IoT solutions will provide valuable resources for Arduino users, helping them bring their innovative ideas to life in faster, more efficient ways.”
Follow Alumnus Software’s journey on LinkedIn and Facebook, and learn more about their contributions to advancing embedded technology by visiting the company website.
The System Integrators Partnership Program by Arduino Pro is an exclusive initiative designed for professionals seeking to implement Arduino technologies in their projects. This program opens up a world of opportunities based on the robust Arduino ecosystem, allowing partners to unlock their full potential in collaboration with us.
The Arduino Plug and Make Kit was designed to open up infinite possibilities, breaking down the idea that technology is a “black box” reserved for experts. With its snap-together system, this kit gives everyone – beginners and seasoned makers alike – the power to create and innovate without barriers. Forget being a passive user! With the Plug and Make Kit, technology is accessible and ready to bring your ideas to life.
Meet Giulio Pilotto, Plug and Make Kit Star
Giulio Pilotto is one of Arduino’s senior software engineers and works closely on Arduino Cloud projects. When we held a “Make Tank” workshop at our Turin office to showcase the potential of the Plug and Make Kit, he joined in with inspiration from a recent escape room experience.
The result was Riddle Treasure, a puzzle-based game that allows you to recreate the excitement of an escape room anywhere you are.
At this year’s Maker Faire, Pilotto had the opportunity to present Riddle Treasure at the Arduino booth. While he had showcased his own creations at previous Maker Faire editions, this time felt special: “The Maker Faire is always a wonderful high-energy event,” he says. “I was happy to represent the Arduino team as we focus more than ever on the community: all our products were presented in the light of what people can do with them.”
Riddle Treasure
To be honest, this is probably the most advanced project our in-house “Make Tank” came up with (so far!). After all, it has to be somewhat complicated to emulate intricate escape room puzzles! However, following Pilotto’s step-by-step instructions on Project Hub and leveraging the easy snap-together mechanism of Modulino nodes, anyone can recreate Riddle Treasure – or even invent a personal, unique variation.
The goal of the game is to unlock a safe. But to get there, you need to complete three steps in order.
1. Combination Lock: First, you must rotate the encoder in Modulino Knob like a safe’s combination lock. When you hit the right position, one of the lights on Modulino Pixels turns from red to green. When you get all five LEDs to turn green, you can move on to the next step.
2. Secret Sentence: Use the banana cables to connect the words in the panel. When you get them all in the right order to form the secret sentence, a password is revealed on the LED matrix of the UNO R4 included in the Plug and Make Kit.
3. Final Unlock: Input the password via Modulino Buttons, and watch the safe unlock!
We take care of the complexity, so you can simply plug into tech!
Arduino has done the hard work so you can play and have fun even with deliberately complex projects like this one.
“Building this without having to solder, or even worry about settings or any electronics aspect at all, is a game changer. With Plug and Make Kit, Arduino has already selected and optimized the Modulino sensors: all you have to do is put them together to get started on your ideas,” Pilotto says.
You’re managing a network of IoT sensors that monitor air quality across multiple locations. Suddenly, one of the sensors goes offline, but you don’t notice until hours later. The result? A gap in your data and a missed opportunity to take corrective action. This is a common challenge when working with IoT devices: staying informed about the real-time status of each device is crucial to ensure smooth operation and timely troubleshooting.
This is where Device Status Notifications, the latest feature in the Arduino Cloud, comes in. Whether you’re an individual maker or an enterprise, this feature empowers you to stay on top of your devices by sending real-time alerts when a device goes online or offline.
What is “Device Status Notifications?”
Device Status Notifications allow you to receive instant alerts whenever one of your devices changes its connectivity status, whether it’s going offline or coming back online. You can customize these alerts for individual devices or all devices under your account, with the flexibility to exclude specific devices from triggering notifications.
We announced it a while ago, Arduino Cloud already supports Triggers and Notifications, allowing you to create alerts based on specific conditions like sensor readings or thresholds. With the addition of Device Status Notifications, you can now monitor device connectivity itself. This means you can now receive an alert the moment a device loses connection, providing a proactive way to manage your IoT ecosystem. For more details on the original feature, check out our Triggers and Notifications blog post.
Key benefits for users
Real-time monitoring: Get notified instantly when a device disconnects or reconnects, helping you take corrective actions promptly.
Customization: Configure your alerts to focus on specific devices or apply rules to all your devices, with the flexibility to add exceptions. You can also decide when the notification should be sent — either immediately upon a status change or after a set period of downtime.
Convenience: Choose to receive notifications via email or directly on your mobile device through the Arduino IoT Remote app, making it easy to stay informed wherever you are.
How to set up Device Status Notifications
Video link
1. Set up a Trigger
Go to the Triggers section and select “+ TRIGGER”
2. Choose “Device Status” as your condition
Decide whether to monitor the status of:
A specific device (select “Single device”), or
Any device (select “Any device (existing and upcoming)”).
If you select “Single device,” you can choose the device that you want to be monitored.
If your selection is “Any device,” you can add exceptions for devices you don’t want to trigger the alert.
3. Configure what you are going to monitor
Choose whether to monitor when the device goes online, offline, or both. Then decide if the notification should be sent immediately or after a set period (options range from 10 minutes to 48 hours).
4. Customize the notification settings
Notifications are configured in the same way as any other Trigger. You can add the action of sending an email or a push notification to your phone via a push notification on the Arduino IoT Remote app.
Ready to test Device Notifications?
Want to make sure your IoT devices stay connected and functioning? Start using the Device Status Notifications feature today. Simply log in to your Arduino IoT Cloud account, and configure your notifications to stay informed whenever your devices go online or offline.
Make sure you’re on a Maker, Enterprise, or School plan to access this feature.
Take your IoT projects to the next level this Black Friday!
For a limited time, enjoy 25% off the Arduino Cloud Maker Yearly plan with code BLACKFRIDAY. Don’t miss this opportunity to access premium features and elevate your creativity. Hurry—this offer is valid for new Maker Yearly plan subscriptions only and ends on December 1st, 2024.
At Arduino, we believe coding should be accessible to everyone – including the youngest learners. With this in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that the Arduino Alvik robot now officially supports block-based coding!
Coding has never been easier thanks to Alvik’s seamless integration with mBlock, one of the most widely used platforms for educational hardware, available in both desktop and web-based versions compatible with Chromebook, MacBook, and Windows PC. With mBlock’s intuitive block-based coding and Alvik as a tangible, interactive robot companion, elementary students and teachers can explore robotics, mathematics, astronomy, and other engaging projects.
With the release of the public beta version of the integration in mBlock, Alvik’s new features and improvements will be implemented over time based on feedback from educators.
Beyond coding: bringing all areas of learning to life
Alvik provides a unique, hands-on learning experience. This makes it the ideal tool for elementary-aged students who benefit from interacting with something they can see, touch, and control. They can get immediate feedback on their commands and see the robot’s reactions and movements in real time.
But Alvik is more than just a gateway to coding; it’s a multidisciplinary tool that can enrich learning across all subjects. This classroom companion truly reflects the spirit of STEAM education, enabling teachers to bring learning to life in creative and often unexpected ways.
Teaching abstract concepts to elementary-aged students can be tough. However, young children grasp abstract concepts and problem-solving skills more effectively when “learning becomes more hands-on, tangible and interactive”. This is where physical tools like Alvik can make a significant difference.
Through Arduino’s engaging Block-Based Coding and Robotics lesson, children can program their Alvik to perform an array of exciting tasks. These step-by-step project-based activities cover a diverse range of subjects, allowing students to convert abstract concepts into concrete, relatable experiences. This immersive approach is a great way to nurture kids’ natural curiosity and deepen their understanding of challenging topics and ideas.
And it doesn’t stop there. With LEGO® Technic compatibility and M3 screw connectors, Alvik becomes a canvas for creativity. Students can customize and decorate their robot for special occasions like Halloween and Christmas, blending art design with engineering and making the learning process even more personal and engaging.
With Alvik, kids aren’t just learning to code – they’re learning to think creatively and critically, and explore a wide range of subjects in a way of solving real-life tasks.
Why choose Alvik with block-based coding for primary school?
1. Enhances engagement with a child-friendly interface – Based on the popular Scratch platform created by MIT, mBlock is crafted specifically for elementary-aged students. With its game-like elements, vibrant colors, and instant visual feedback, block-based coding lowers the entry barrier and makes programming fun and engaging for learners of all ages.
2. Builds confidence at an early age – Block-based coding helps eliminate common frustrations like syntax errors, which can hinder young learners in text-based programming. Instead, students experience early success as they watch the Alvik robot follow their commands – boosting their confidence and love for creating more.
3. Makes interdisciplinary learning easy – Following the lessons available in Arduino’s dedicated online platform, elementary-aged teachers could enhance the students’ knowledge of various subject matters through playing and hands-on creative projects.
4. Simplifies abstract concepts – Abstract coding concepts such as loops, conditionals, and variables can be difficult for young students to grasp. Block-based coding provides a visual and interactive way to understand these concepts. Blocks represent specific functions and operations, making abstract ideas more concrete.
5. Supports the transition to text-based coding – Block-based coding with Alvik isn’t just a fun starting point – it’s a bridge to more advanced learning. As students advance, they can easily transition from blocks to text-based coding languages like MicroPython with a simple click of a button. This seamless shift lets students build on their skills and dive deeper into the world of programming at their own pace. And you won’t have to worry about purchasing separate hardware either, as students can program their Alvik robot by following the lessons in Arduino’s Explore Robotics in MicroPython course.
6. Supports Chromebook –The mBlock web platform works across Chromebooks, Windows PCs, and MacBooks, so students and teachers can jump into their projects on any device, anytime.
A wealth of support at your fingertips
We know that stepping into the world of coding can feel like a challenge, especially for elementary teachers without a computer science background. That’s why Alvik comes with free access to dedicated learning resources with project-based lesson plans, step-by-step tutorials, and engaging activities. These are currently available in English, Italian and Spanish, with more lessons coming soon. Utilizing both Alvik and mBlock means teachers can lead their students into the world of coding and robotics (and beyond!) with confidence.
Ready to get started?
With Arduino’s strong reputation for innovation and mBlock’s child-friendly platform, we’re combining our strengths to make learning robotics and coding more engaging and enjoyable than ever before.
Are you ready to inspire the next generation of innovators? Bring the joy of coding into your classroom with Alvik!
Arduino and Microchip are excited to open electronica – the “world’s leading trade fair and conference for electronics” – by introducing the Arduino UNO SPE Shield, a powerful ally to bring advanced connectivity to new and existing projects, with Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) and RS485.
SPE is a new Ethernet communication standard that enables power and data to coexist on a single pair of wires, referred to as Power over Data Line (PoDL). This allows for faster data transfer and reduced wiring complexity and costs, leading to more streamlined and rapid deployment of integrated strategies for the automation of buildings, factories, and processes, in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
By incorporating RS485 connectivity, the Arduino UNO SPE Shield becomes a versatile tool for upgrading RS485 legacy systems or integrating modern technologies with current infrastructures, creating a seamless bridge between the old and the new.
As a valuable new addition to the Arduino ecosystem, the Arduino UNO SPE Shield offers plug-and-play compatibility with Arduino UNO R4 – catering to a broad spectrum of innovators, from DIY enthusiasts to engineers developing cutting-edge solutions for industrial applications.
In recognition of this joint effort, Martin Miller, Director of Automotive Information Systems at Microchip remarked: “Our collaborationwith Arduino in launching the new SPE Shield aims to empower the maker and engineering communities by providing them with advanced tools to drive new breakthroughs. This solution represents our commitment to developing and delivering flexible, connected and scalable solutions for the future.”
Indeed, the partnership has allowed for a product that delivers both cutting-edge, reliable technology as well as versatility and a user-friendly experience.
Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, commented: “The Arduino UNO SPE Shield represents a pivotal step in accelerating the adoption of 10BASE-T1S technology across industry and maker communities alike. By bringing single-pair Ethernet to our globally trusted platform, we’re making this game-changing standard accessible to millions of innovators worldwide. What sets our implementation apart is our unique addition of Power over Data Lines capabilities – an industry-first feature that extends beyond the standard specifications to unlock entirely new possibilities for powered, single-cable solutions. This powerful combination of standardized communication and innovative power delivery empowers developers to create more elegant, cost-effective connected systems that bridge today’s industrial requirements with tomorrow’s possibilities. Whether you’re retrofitting legacy equipment or prototyping next-generation IoT devices, the UNO SPE Shield delivers the essential building blocks for modern industrial communication in our signature easy-to-use Arduino format.”
Key benefits of the Arduino UNO SPE Shield
Fast and reliable data transfer with Single-Pair Ethernet.
Reduced wiring complexity and lower project costs.
Versatile use across industries from smart factories to energy monitoring.
Seamless integration with the widest range of technologies, ensuring a quick start with minimal setup.
Plug-and-play compatibility with Arduino’s major maker platform for makers at all levels.
Open-source support with a dedicated Arduino library to streamline programming and development.
Revolutionizing connectivity across industries
The Arduino UNO SPE Shield enables enhanced innovation across a wide array of fields, solving real-world challenges from smart buildings to prototyping IoT devices.
For instance, with the Arduino UNO SPE Shield interconnected building management solutions can easily combine smart lighting, HVAC, and security devices with energy monitoring systems – all integrated via a central control system powered by SPE and RS485.
In general, the new SPE standard is considered a game changer for the connection of field devices and sensors. For example, in smart-grid monitoring the SPE Shield provides seamless connectivity between energy meters, solar inverters, and battery storage systems, delivering real-time data to the cloud.
In factory automation, adopting SPE can reduce wiring costs, node costs, and power consumption, while enabling data communications via a single pair of wires. Being able to effortlessly retrofit legacy RS485 equipment with this technology only adds to the benefits of the Arduino UNO SPE Shield.
In the automotive industry, combining SPE and RS485 allows for solutions that bridge advanced systems with legacy components, enabling comprehensive monitoring of engine health and fuel efficiency in connected vehicles.
Last but not least, the SPE Shield’s unique combination of ultra-fast data transfer, real-time connectivity and seamless integration with legacy components facilitates quick testing and refinement of prototypes, accelerating the development of new ideas.
Connect to your next innovation, withArduino UNO SPE Shield. Sign up for the waiting list to be the first to know when it’s available for purchase!
We’re thrilled to announce that Arduino Education has been shortlisted for the Bett Awards 2025, this time in the AV, VR/AR, Robotics, or Digital Device category with our Alvik robot! This recognition highlights our dedication to innovation, inclusivity, and the advancement of practical STEM education.
The Bett Awards celebrate leading-edge technology in education, with entries evaluated on key criteria such as innovation, curriculum suitability, online safety, research evidence, customer support and more.
About the Alvik robot
Alvik is an adaptable, lifelong learning robot that supports educators and students as they transition from block-based programming to text-based coding using MicroPython and Arduino language. It enables them to explore robotics and tackle real-life challenges with comprehensive learning content. However, Alvik isn’t just designed to teach programming and robotics; it can also enhance students’ understanding of topics like mathematics and astronomy, along with other engaging projects. Alvik’s curriculum-aligned course makes it an ideal fit for today’s classrooms, empowering students with hands-on skills and a strong foundation in STEAM.
But what truly sets Alvik apart from other educational robots is its limitless potential for customization. Students and teachers can easily add external sensors using the I2C Grove and Qwiic plug-and-play connectors, eliminating the need for soldering or complex wiring. Additionally, the LEGO® Technic and M3 screw connectors encourage hands-on creativity, allowing users to build custom components and further expand Alvik’s capabilities.
We’re honored to be recognized once again, and we can’t wait to attend Bett in just a couple of months. The winners will be announced at the Bett Awards 2025 Ceremony on January 22nd at The Brewery, London. We look forward to seeing you there!
Good designers prioritize the user experience — particularly the experience of users with disabilities that affect their perception and fine motor skills. A young person without disabilities, for example, may feel that jars are easy to open, while an elderly person with reduced hand strength may have the complete opposite experience. To help designers better understand the experience of people living with disabilities related to hand dexterity, a team of graduate students from Keio University and the University of Maryland developed DexteriSync.
DexteriSync is an exoskeleton-like device worn on the hand. But unlike most exoskeletons, DexteriSync reduces the user’s ability instead of expanding it. It does so via thermal manipulation. If you’ve ever had numb hands following a snowball fight, you know how much the cold can affect your dexterity. In fact, skin temperature is one of the biggest factors related to hand and finger dexterity. By controlling the user’s skin temperature, DexteriSync is able to induce a reduction in dexterity and that could be useful to designers that want to make their products accessible to those living with disabilities.
DexteriSync is able to cool the wearer’s skin by pumping cold water through tubes attached to the 3D-printed exoskeleton frame. Copper contacts on the tubes help to make the thermal transfer more efficient. Peltier coolers remove heat from the pumped water, with an Arduino UNO Rev3 board controlling that process and monitoring the water temperature with a K-type thermocouple paired with a MAX6675 amplifier.
The team performed two user studies to evaluate DexteriSync. The first was intended to test the dexterity of users. The goal of the second was to determine if DexteriSync could affect user thermal perception. Both studies found that DexteriSync did have a noticeable effect.
Wouldn’t it be great if, while playing a virtual reality game, you could feel the heat of a fire on your arm? Or the cold of chilly water? Engineers around the world have been trying to make that happen, but there is a big problem: temperature changes are slow. The immersive effect diminishes when the thermal feedback lags behind the virtual cause. That’s why a team from South Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology turned to motors to dramatically speed up the process.
The Flip-Pelt wearable device relies on Peltier elements to create heating and cooling effects, which is a common strategy for thermal feedback. Peltier elements use electricity to produce thermal transfer, heating one side of the element while simultaneously cooling the other side. By placing a Peltier element against the skin, it is possible to create a cooling or heating sensation on demand.
But it takes a long time to reverse the thermal transfer — changing a side of the Peltier element from hot to cold is too slow to be useful for VR thermal feedback. So, the Flip-Pelt prototype doesn’t even bother. Instead, it keeps the Peltier elements going in just one direction and physically swaps the side of the elements that touch the user’s skin.
The prototype Flip-Pelt device contains eight Peltier elements arranged in two rows along the inside of the user’s forearm. Eight servo motors, controlled by an Arduino Nano 33 IoT board, can flip the elements from the cool side to the hot side in response to events in the VR world. The Arduino also controls the Peltier elements themselves through H-bridges, so it can adjust the power going to each.
While this is relatively complex, it does create almost instant changes in perceived temperature.
OPC Unified Architecture – OPC UA in short – is a cross-platform, open-source machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation. It was developed by the Open Platform Communications (OPC) Foundation and is defined in detail in the IEC 62541 standard.
Step-by-step guide to setting up OPC UA on Arduino Opta
It’s as simple as uploading a single sketch onto your Opta and connecting it to an Ethernet network. Once uploaded, the OPC UA firmware exposes the Arduino Opta’s analog and digital inputs, the user button and LED (only Arduino Opta WiFi), as well as its relay outputs as properties that can be read from or written to using OPC UA. OPC UA communication is performed using OPC UA binary encoding via TCP sockets.
Arduino_OPC_UA is a port of the Fraunhofer open62541 library implementing IEC 62541 in highly portable C99 for both Windows and Linux targets. One serious challenge during the porting of open62541 was to decide on sensible tradeoffs concerning RAM consumption, as using OPC UAs full namespace zero (NS0) requires up to 8 MB of RAM while the STM32H747 powering the Arduino Opta has a total of 1 MB of SRAM to offer – some of which already allocated by the the Arduino framework for the Arduino Opta.
Expand functionality with Arduino Opta Modules and OPC UA integration
Additionally, Arduino_OPC_UA supports the automatic discovery, configuration and exposure as OPC UA objects of the recently released Arduino Opta expansion modules. Currently three different expansion modules exist: Arduino Opta Analog Expansion (A0602), Arduino Opta Digital Expansion with electro-mechanical relay outputs (D1608E), and with solid-state relay outputs (DS1608S). During system start-up, the Arduino Opta’s expansion bus is queried for connected expansion modules and automatically configures them and brings them online for interfacing via OPC UA.
You can extend the default OPC UA server to add additional OPC UA properties such as data collected from a sensor device connected to the Arduino Opta. As a demonstration, we’ve created an example showing how to collect temperature and humidity data from a Modbus RTU device (connected to the Opta’s RS485 port) and subsequently expose this data via OPC UA properties.
Arduino is excited to announce a strategic new partnership with RS/OKdo, a prominent leader in the distribution of industrial and electronic equipment. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in bringing Arduino’s technology closer to China’s thriving maker community and enterprise sector, offering enhanced local support and access to original Arduino boards and resources.
Empowering a growing community in China
With over 2.7 million active users of the Arduino IDE in China, one of our top priorities is to deliver an even better experience for the Arduino Community. This partnership with RS/OKdo means users will enjoy more local language content, technical support, competitive pricing, and most importantly, easier access to official Arduino products.
Official Arduino boards, certified for China
As part of this initiative, a range of classic and most popular Arduino boards has been specifically manufactured for the Chinese market. These boards are exactly the same as Arduino’s global versions of the same products, produced in Italy to Arduino’s highest standards, tested rigorously for quality and performance. Each product , although certified exclusively for the Chinese market, matches the same technical specifications and high-quality benchmarks as those sold worldwide. The boards are available only through RS/OKdo and Arduino/OKdo’s authorized sub-distributors. They have unique Arduino MPNs but with a _CN suffix:
Front & back of official UNO R4 WiFi – SKU ABX00087_CN
Front & back of official UNO R3 – SKU A000066_CN
Expanding local support for enterprise transformation
In addition to supporting makers, RS/OKdo will provide enhanced technical support to enterprise customers, empowering companies to transform their business operations with Arduino Pro solutions. This deeper level of assistance will help bridge the gap between local businesses and advanced IoT and industrial automation tools.
A stronger connection to China’s maker community
Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, commented: “This partnership with RS/OKdo is a strategic step to bring Arduino closer to China’s vibrant maker community and local enterprises,” said Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino. “Through this collaboration, we’re able to make our technology more accessible, offering Chinese users an authentic Arduino experience with localized technical support, certified products, and our renowned quality. We’re excited to see how this synergy will foster innovation and support digital transformation in such a dynamic market.”
David Shen, Vice President – Asia Pacific of RS/OKdo added, “This partnership opens up new & exciting opportunities for both companies in the dynamic markets of China and, most importantly, for our customers to access genuine Arduino products and technical support through a network of authorized sub-distributors. Arduino and RS/OKdo are working together to bring even better customer experience to purchase genuine Arduino products backed by an iron-clad product warranty in China. We’re excited to see the amazing possibilities that Arduino and RS/OKdo can bring to the local market together.”
Join us on this journey!
Our partnership with RS/OKdo is a commitment to fostering innovation and expanding access to Arduino’s world-class technology in China. Whether you’re an individual maker or a company ready to transform with IoT, Arduino and RS/OKdo are here to support your journey. Keep an eye out for official Arduino boards at RS/OKdo, and get ready to create, innovate, and inspire!
Halloween is popular for a lot of reasons and it is safe to say that “creative expression” is near the top of the list. That extends beyond store-bought costumes and decorations to DIY projects. If you want an excuse to make something impractical, Halloween can provide that. And if you want that thing to move, an Arduino and Bottango software are there to help, as proven by this disturbing animatronic Halloween doll built by Cameron Coward.
Coward started with a creepy doll procured at a thrift store, putting its porcelain head, hands, and feet onto a 3D-printed skeleton. The skeleton’s arms and legs are four-bar linkages, which produce the unnerving motion that falls into the uncanny valley. In total, there are five servo motors: one for rotating the head and four for actuating the limbs.
An Arduino UNO Rev3 board controls the servo motors through an Adafruit 16-channel PWM servo driver board. That Arduino acts as a hardware driver for Bottango, which is software that was developed specifically for animatronics projects like this one.
Using Bottango, Coward was able to create complex animations that involve all of the servo motors moving simultaneously. A child-size onesie (another thrift store find) covers the skeleton and electronics, completing the illusion of a doll come to life.
Want to upgrade your skills and become a certified Arduino engineer? Welcome to the Arduino Academy, the go-to platform for hands-on, interactive learning designed to prepare you for the future of technology. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your career, the Academy offers cutting-edge courses that will give you a competitive edge leveraging the leading open-source ecosystem in the world.
Arduino Education Goes Pro
Capitalizing on Arduino’s extensive experience in the education space and the success of the industrial-grade professional products in the Arduino Pro range, the Arduino Academyoffers self-paced courses that facilitate deep learning with hands-on labs.
Designed for all skill levels, it provides certifications and badges for LinkedIn integration and allows progress tracking, flexible navigation, and personalized learning paths.
Each course includes built-in quizzes, discussions, and multimedia content and is mobile-friendly for learning on the go. Like all Arduino initiatives, it comes with the support of a dynamic global community of 33+ million active users, always ready to help and contribute!
Master PLC Programming Basics with ACE-100
The first course in the Arduino Academy is Opta Essentials (ACE-100), where you’ll jump right into industrial automation, gaining essential PLC programming skills using Ladder Diagram and Arduino Language (based on C++).
Designed to engage you in hands-on projects, ACE-100 gives you practical experience for real-world applications – like designing a bottle-filling conveyor system. You’ll learn to connect the Arduino Opta with Arduino Cloud, enhancing your automation capabilities, and unlock your creativity with the cost-effective Opta Trainer Kit, available through authorized partners, PLC Cables and DigiKey.
This self-paced, 16-hour course is perfect for those eager to learn PLC programming using Arduino IDE and PLC IDE. It covers the five languages in the IEC 61131-3 standard. ACE-100 is the ideal starting point for diving into Industrial IoT (IIoT) and was designed by the Arduino team for a broad audience, including students, professional embedded engineers, and companies looking to train their employees or provide them with valuable self-training.
Last but not least, ACE-100 isfree! Enroll now to take advantage of this transformative learning experience.
Stay tuned; more courses are in the works and will be released soon! Ready to take the plunge? Head to the Arduino Academy and begin your journey toward becoming an expert in the fields of embedded and automation technologies, with Arduino.
We are excited to announce our latest partnership with Truesense, a leader in ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, known for its innovative software and hardware solutions.
This collaboration enhances our ecosystem of hardware products, software solutions, and cloud services, providing developers worldwide with professional-grade tools. Our focus is on delivering highly accurate real-time location systems and tracking solutions.
Compared to other wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®, UWB offers superior accuracy for ranging and positioning, operates within a less congested radio spectrum, and coexists with technologies like Wi-Fi® and NFC without interference. Additionally, UWB’s enhanced physical layer (PHY) supports advanced security features such as cryptography and random number generation, making it ideal for applications requiring secure communication.
Through our partnership with Truesense, we envision a future where seamless applications gather precise, real-time information from the environment, allowing machines to make quick, accurate decisions without human intervention.
Collaborating with Truesense empowers us to enrich our offerings with advanced technology that meets the needs of the growing number of users who rely on Arduino’s open-source solutions for innovation. Partnerships like these are essential to expanding possibilities within the Arduino community.
Armando Caltabiano, CEO of Truesense, commented, “We are excited to partner with Arduino to bring innovative UWB solutions to the market. We are combining the accuracy and secure ranging of our UWB technology with the leading open-source ecosystem, to provide developers with powerful tools to quickly build robust smart IoT and Industrial real-time tracking systems. This partnership showcases our commitment to making UWB technology widely accessible for developers and innovators.”
Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, added, “This partnership with Truesense is crucial for the Arduino community as it provides access to advanced UWB technology through open and accessible Arduino libraries. By integrating cutting-edge hardware into our ecosystem, we’re empowering developers to create sophisticated applications without barriers. These tools will enable our users to push the boundaries of innovation, bringing highly accurate, real-time tracking and secure communication to a wider audience.”
Together, Arduino and Truesense are committed to delivering high-performance, accessible solutions that enable the development of next-generation projects, from industrial applications to consumer electronics, empowering developers to create cutting-edge UWB applications.
Raising chickens can be a very rewarding endeavor, as they can provide fresh daily eggs and help get rid of pests in the yard. But, like all animals, they require care. Most importantly, you’ll need to ensure that they have regular food and water, and you’ll need to protect them from predators like coyotes, foxes, and cats. To ease the workload, you may want to consider building Coders Cafe’s DIY smart chicken coop that features AI-based predator detection.
The purpose of a coop, aside from being a comfy place for chickens to roost, is to provide protection from weather and predators. This design is pretty small and is probably only suitable for one or two chickens, but the concepts can be applied to larger coops. It provides a few very useful features: remote or automated feeding, remote or automated door operation, and predator detection with remote notifications. You’ll never have to worry that you forgot to feed the chickens or that you left the door open, and you can respond immediately if you get a notification about a predator.
An Arduino UNO R4 WiFi board oversees those features, operating the door and dispensing food using simple motor-driven mechanisms. A companion app lets the user set an automated door and food schedule, or perform those actions with the tap of the button. A Twilio app integration enables SMS alerts.
The predator-detecting magic works thanks to DFRobot’s HuskyLens AI camera sensor. Users can train that to recognize specific predators and then it will tell the Arduino if it sees one. That communication occurs over I2C and is easy to setup, removing all of the difficulty of implementing AI.
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