End Note

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

On February 7th, the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Universidad de Manizales hosted an intensive series of workshops on IoT, LoRaWAN, and decentralized networks, in collaboration with Seeed Studio. More than 30 students and 5 faculty members from the fields of semiconductors and telecommunications, along with university directors, actively participated in this event, which combined theory, practice, and collaborative prototyping.

Workshop 1: Exploring IoT, LoRaWAN, and DePIN with SenseCAP

The first workshop focused on a theoretical and practical introduction to LoRaWAN, IoT, and DePIN. Participants explored the SenseCAP ecosystem, learning about its connectivity with networks such as Helium and The Things Network. During an interactive session on Miro, they identified challenges within the university campus and proposed solutions using SenseCAP devices.

Among the identified issues, the uncontrolled entry of domestic animals into the campus nature reserve was highlighted, posing risks to wildlife conservation. Additionally, there were concerns about monitoring and preserving water sources, as well as ensuring student safety from encounters with wild animals. Other proposals included monitoring unauthorized parking space usage with sensors such as the SenseCAP S1101 and XIAO ESP32S3 Sense.

Workshop 2: IoT System Architecture and Deployment for the Nature Reserve

In the second session, participants defined system architectures and proceeded with the implementation of a technology-based solution for the nature reserve. The selected devices, SenseCAP S2110 Sensor Builder and SenseCAP S1101, were used for wildlife identification and monitoring, combined with an audible alert system to warn students about the presence of animals.

The workshop included assembling and configuring sensors using the SenseCraft application, setting up SenseCAP CC Portal, and initiating the training of an AI vision model for wildlife identification. Due to adverse weather conditions, the installation in the reserve was postponed, but it will be completed in the coming days, with updates to follow.

Workshop 3: Mission Pack and Mesh Networks for Emergencies

The third workshop, aimed at faculty and senior students in systems and telecommunications, focused on the Mission Pack, emphasizing its application in smart cities, communities, and institutions. A Meshtastic network was deployed using T1000-E Tracker cards, simulating scenarios with no cellular or WiFi connectivity to evaluate its effectiveness in emergencies.

Use cases from across the Americas were analyzed, including flooding in Los Angeles, where deploying SenseCAP M2 and WM1302 within the reComputer of the Mission Pack could optimize rescue operations and disaster mitigation through real-time environmental monitoring.

Impact and Future of the Project

These workshops have enabled students and faculty to explore emerging technologies and prototype solutions for real-world challenges. In the coming days, the final system deployment in the nature reserve will take place in collaboration with the university’s IoT research group. This system will not only benefit the university community but will also provide new opportunities for Data Science students, who can use the collected data for research projects.

Furthermore, a SenseCAP M2 Gateway has been deployed, connecting to the Helium decentralized network, expanding the campus’s connectivity capabilities.

This event marks a significant step forward in adopting IoT technologies in educational settings, demonstrating how open-source hardware and decentralized networks can drive real-world impact in communities.

Our livestream “Making Next Gadgets” will feature a different tech theme weekly, with our product dev teams sharing the latest product updates, project demos, and exclusive deals. Join us on a journey through the tech revolution happening right now!

Get the inside scoop on recent events and news. Gain valuable insights, key takeaways, and highlights from industry experts and thought leaders at the forefront of ML innovation.

Celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of our community members with featured projects and ideas in machine learning. From open-source libraries to DIY solutions, there’s no shortage of inspiration to be found among our talented community.

01. ARMOR: Egocentric Perception for Humanoid Robot Powered by XIAO ESP32S3

Daehwa Kim (Carnegie Mellon University), Mario Srouji, Chen Chen, and Jian Zhang (Apple) have developed ARMOR, an innovative egocentric perception hardware and software system for humanoid robots. By combining Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3-based wearable depth sensor networks and transformer-based policies, ARMOR tackles the challenges of collision avoidance and motion planning in dense environments. Check it out. 

It’s been a while since the conclusion of Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2401, and as we welcome the new year, we reflect on an exciting milestone—Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2501, an initiative that continues to foster collaboration between academic research and industrial innovation.

This January, in partnership with SUSTech School of Design, AIRS, SciArt Co-lab, Chaihuo Makerspace, Immersive Design Group, Anker Innovations, Andone, and the Greater Bay ACM SIGCHI Chapter, we hosted 10 distinguished researchers from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) for a month-long Research at Scale residency. The program provided participants with a deep dive into Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem, facilitating engagement with industry leaders, academic peers, and local innovators to explore scalable research applications.

Fostering Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue

The residency commenced with the Scalable HCI Research Symposium, a week-long event designed to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial practice. The symposium featured:

• Academic presentations from leading researchers
• Industry talks addressing current trends and challenges in manufacturing and design
• Cultural and art-tech exhibitions showcasing the intersection of creativity and technology
• Factory visits providing firsthand exposure to Shenzhen’s world-class manufacturing capabilities

The symposium attracted over 50 researchers, engineers, and designers from 20+ globally recognized institutions, including MIT, Harvard, CMU, NYU, Brown, Stanford, and the University of Chicago. This diverse participation facilitated a global exchange of ideas, positioning Shenzhen as a hub for scalable human-computer interaction (HCI) research and innovation.

“How to Make Almost Anything in Shenzhen”

Eric Pan, CEO at Seeed Studio, provided a comprehensive overview of Shenzhen’s evolving manufacturing landscape, covering topics such as design for manufacturing, supplier relationships, intellectual property considerations, and the emergence of ShenzhenGPT. He also introduced the Open Manufacturing Whitepaper, offering practical insights for researchers and entrepreneurs looking to navigate and leverage Shenzhen’s industrial ecosystem.

MIT Media Lab Research Presentations

Alan Han, Andy Kong, Francisco Ramirez, Jason Hou, Lingdong Huang, Patrick Chwalek, Thomas Sanchez, Vineet Padia, Yuhan Wang and Cedric Honnet from the MIT presented their latest works, engaging with local startups, makers, and industry leaders to explore potential collaborations and applications for their technologies.

From Research to Real-World Application: HuaQiangBei and Factory Visits

A core objective of the residency was to bridge theoretical research with hands-on industry engagement. The HuaQiangBei Electronics Market (HQB) and factory visits provided researchers with invaluable exposure to Shenzhen’s fast-paced hardware ecosystem.

Exploring HuaQiangBei: The Epicenter of Electronics Innovation

HQB is often described as the world’s largest electronics market, offering everything from raw components to finished products and prototyping services. For the MIT researchers, HQB served as a living lab, where they could explore:

• Rapid prototyping resources: A vast selection of sensors, microcontrollers, and PCB services available off-the-shelf
• Component sourcing strategies: Direct interaction with suppliers to understand sourcing options, bulk pricing, and lead times
• Emerging trends in consumer electronics: First-hand exposure to cutting-edge AI-driven hardware, robotics, and IoT devices

By engaging with local vendors, the team gained insights into the speed, flexibility, and affordability that make Shenzhen a global leader in agile hardware development.

Factory Visits: From Concept to Production

Beyond sourcing components, the researchers had the opportunity to visit key manufacturing facilities across Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area, covering a wide range of production capabilities:

• PCB Assembly & Flexible PCB Manufacturing: Understanding high-precision board fabrication, surface-mount technology (SMT), and flexible circuits for wearable and embedded applications
• Injection Molding & Industrial Design: Observing the molding and mass-production processes that transform initial designs into scalable products
• MicroLED and E-paper Display Production: Gaining insights into next-generation display technologies, including their applications in smart devices and interactive installations
• Stepper Motors and Servo Systems: Exploring the role of motion control technologies in robotics, automation, and industrial applications

Each visit provided a real-world perspective on the end-to-end product development cycle, reinforcing how research-driven innovations can be translated into scalable, market-ready solutions.

Smart Space Hackathon: Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration

One of the most impactful components of the program was the Smart Space Hackathon, co-hosted by Chaihuo, Seeed, and Anker. The event brought together more than 30 participants, including academic researchers, industry professionals, and members of the local maker community, to develop innovative solutions for smart environments.

In total, 11 projects were developed, with 8 successfully delivering functional prototypes. Concepts ranged from smart interactive devices and robotic workspace assistants to AI-driven privacy protection solutions and sound-responsive environment. The hackathon underscored the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and demonstrated how rapid prototyping and applied research can drive meaningful innovation.

Maker Camp in Shenzhen 2501 reinforced the value of connecting academia, industry, and the maker community to accelerate real-world impact. Participants left with a deeper understanding of Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem, hands-on experience in sourcing and production, and new perspectives on how to scale their research into tangible innovations.

You can find a vibrant documentation from the MIT students on Seeed Studio’s GitHub Channel (keep updating).

We extend our gratitude to all partners and participants for contributing to this meaningful exchange of knowledge and ideas.

We’ve heard from our community about the limited number of compatible add-on modules for our tiny but powerful Seeed Studio XIAO boards. Starting 2025, we’re addressing this by developing more XIAO add-ons!

Seeed Studio XIAO Add-ons are expansion boards, sensors, connectivity modules, and actuators with a socket where Seeed Studio XIAO dev boards (pre-soldered versions) clip right in. You can explore the full collection on our Seeed Studio XIAO Selector page.

For our first product collection of the year, we’re introducing a new relay, ePaper Driver Board, expansion board, and sensor – all compatible with Seeed Studio XIAO boards!

ePaper Driver Board for XIAO

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (SAMD21, RP2040, nRF52840, nRF52840 Sense, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6, RP2350, RA4M1, The pre-soldered variants for XIAO MG24 and XIAO MG24 Sense will be coming soon)

This ePaper driver board features a 24-pin FPC connector, a built-in charging IC, and a JST 2-pin BAT connector. It’s perfect for creating WiFi-enabled digital photo frames, supporting various ePaper displays (2.13″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 122×250 Pixels, 2.9″ Quadruple Color eInk / ePaper Display with 128×296 Pixels, 5.83″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 648×480 Pixels, 2.9″ Monochrome eInk / ePaper Display with 296×128 Pixels).

Compared to our 2023 ePaper Breakout Board, this new version includes:

• JST 2-pin BAT connector
• Built-in charging IC
• Onboard power switch
• Extra 14 IO pins for expansion
• Standard XIAO add-on dimension (which is the triple size of a XIAO board)

Don’t worry – we’ll keep both versions available to suit different application needs. Currently, this new ePaper Driver Board is available for pre-order at $4.9, with estimated shipping at the end of January 2025.

Relay Add-on Module for XIAO

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (SAMD21, RP2040, nRF52840, nRF52840 Sense, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6, RP2350, RA4M1, The pre-soldered variants for XIAO MG24 and XIAO MG24 Sense will be coming soon)

Need to control DC appliances from your XIAO? This single-channel 5V Relay Add-on Module for XIAO handles all the control with DC. With snap-on compatibility for pre-soldered XIAO boards and screw terminals, no soldering is required! The HF32FA-G relay makes it perfect for IoT and home automation. P.S. Our team also designed a 3D enclosure for this relay add-on with an XIAO dev board and open sourced it on Thingiverse for you to remix.

For dual-load AC control, check out our plug-and-play 2-Channel AC WiFi Relay, based on XIAO ESP32C3. It comes pre-flashed with ESPHome firmware for compatibility with native Home Assistant.

XIAO Logger Hat

Compatibility: all Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (battery voltage monitoring unavailable for XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RP2040)

Looking for a thumb-size temperature, humidity and light sensor? XIAO Logger Hat gets you covered. Created by Westlake University’s Marcel and scaled through Fusion Co-Create, this thumb-sized environmental sensor includes SHT40 temperature, humidity, and BH1750 light sensors, plus RTC and battery voltage monitoring.

XIAO PowerBread, a Breadboard Power Supply and Meter

Compatibility: Seeed Studio XIAO Pre-Soldered Dev Boards (RP2040, ESP32C3, ESP32S3, ESP32S3 Sense, ESP32C6) (XIAO SAMD21 and XIAO RP2350 support coming soon)

Designed by Nicho D through Seeed Fusion Co-Create, XIAO PowerBread is a compact breadboard power supply with built-in monitoring. It provides stable 3.3V and 5V outputs with real-time voltage, current, and power tracking on its LCD display. It’s open-source with comprehensive documentation and customizable code.

That’s our new product roundup! Tell us which product interests you most or share your suggestions. Want to influence our future products? Join the discussion on our Seeed Studio XIAO Open Roadmap – your input shapes what we build next.

Until next time!

Notes at the end.

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!

Seeed se complace en anunciar una alianza estratégica con Atianza Solutions. Esta colaboración tiene como objetivo proporcionar soluciones innovadoras de Edge AI a diversas industrias en América Latina, promoviendo la innovación y las tecnologías de vanguardia en la región.

Acerca de Seeed Studio

Seeed Studio, un destacado socio en hardware de inteligencia artificial (IA), ha sido una empresa líder en hardware abierto desde 2008, empoderando a más de medio millón de usuarios directos para crear soluciones digitales reales. Gracias a un esfuerzo constante y la confianza ganada, las líneas de productos de Seeed ahora abordan escenarios emergentes de IA, tales como:

• Redes de sensores para recopilar extensos datos en tiempo real.
• Computación edge para llevar la inteligencia a nuevas fronteras.

Seeed ofrece módulos y dispositivos listos para la industria, además de facilitar el desarrollo de prototipos y la producción. Innovadores de diferentes sectores trabajan junto a Seeed para hacer que sus creaciones estén ampliamente disponibles en mercados diversos, fomentando el uso de código abierto, la construcción de comunidades y soluciones industriales integradas junto a Seeed.

Acerca de Atianza

Atianza es un equipo multidisciplinario con sede en Santiago de Chile que cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia en la industria. Con presencia en tres países –Chile, Colombia y España – Atianza cruza fronteras para ofrecer soluciones ágiles y personalizadas.

Especialidades de Atianza:

• Arquitectura e Ingeniería
• Diseño y Usabilidad
• Gestión y Control

En Atianza, la innovación, la experiencia y la agilidad convergen para crear una alianza hacia un futuro más conectado y eficiente. No se trata sólo de desarrollar software, sino de co-crear soluciones que transformen y potencien la visión empresarial.

La Alianza

Seeed y Atianza unen fuerzas para ofrecer soluciones integrales de Edge AI en América Latina. Esta colaboración combina el hardware de última generación de Seeed con la experiencia analítica personalizada de Atianza para satisfacer las diversas necesidades del mercado.

Iniciativas Clave:

• Distribución de dispositivos Edge AI y kits de desarrollo de Seeed Studio.
• Soluciones personalizadas de videoanalítica y análisis de datos adaptadas a las industrias de Chile, Colombia y España.

Juntos, Seeed y Atianza buscan crear un futuro más inteligente y eficiente para las empresas de la región, aprovechando sus fortalezas combinadas en hardware, software y experiencia en integración.
¡Contáctanos en support@atianza.com para obtener una solución de IA personalizada que acelere el crecimiento de tu negocio!

Halloo Everyone, welcome to this blog!

The main topic is NEW PRODUCTS! And the keywords are LoRaWAN and Vision AI. You would wonder, “your devices has a camera and it is LoRaWAN?” Yes indeed! I know, I know! You would tell me “You can’t send images or videos via LoRaWAN because the ‘message’ is too large”, or someone else would say “Technically you can, but you need to ‘slice’ the large images or videos to send them ‘bit by bit’ and ‘piece them together’ aferward. Then why bother?”

What if I tell you, you don’t have to send the images or videos? Think about it, the goal is to get the results captured by the camera, not tons of irrelevant footage. In this case, as long as you can get the results, there is no need to send large images or videos.

SenseCAP A1102 LoRaWAN Vision AI Sensor

Without further ado, here comes the intro of our main cast of this post – SenseCAP A1102, an IP66-rated LoRaWAN® Vision AI Sensor, ideal for low-power, long-range TinyML Edge AI applications. It comes with 3 pre-deployed models (human detection, people counting, and meter reading) by default. Meanwhile, with SenseCraft AI platform [Note 1], you can use the pre-trained models or train your customized models conveniently within a few clicks. Of course, SenseCAP A1102 also supports TensorFlow Lite and PyTorch.

This Device consists of two main parts: the AI Camera and the LoRaWAN Data Logger. While different technologies are integrated in this nifty device, I would like to highlight 4 key aspects:

• Advanced AI Processor

As a vision AI Sensor, SenseCAP A1102 proudly adopted the advanced Himax WiseEye2 HX6538 processor featuring a dual-core Arm Cortex-M55 and integrated Arm Ethos-U55. (The same AI processor as in Grove Vision AI v2 Kit.) This ensures a high performance in vision processing.

Meanwhile, please keep in mind that lighting and distance will affect the performance, which is common for applications that involve cameras. According to our testing, SenseCAP A1102 can achieve 70% confidence for results within 1 ~ 5 meters in normal lighting.

• Low-Power Consumption, Long-Range Communication

SenseCAP A1102 is built with Wio E5 Module featuring STM32WLE5JC, ARM Cortex M4 MCU, and Semtech SX126X. This ensures low-power consumption and long-range communication, as in SenseCAP S210X LoRaWAN Environmental sensors. Supporting a wide range of 863MHz – 928MHz frequency, you can order the same device for different stages of your projects in multiple continents, saving time, manpower, and costs in testing, inventory management, and shipment, etc.

SenseCAP A1102 opens up new possibilities to perceive the world. The same hardware with different AI models, you have different sensors for detecting “objects” (fruits, poses, and animals) or reading meters (in scale or digits), and many more. With the IP66 rating (waterproof and dustproof), it can endure long-term deployment in outdoor severe environments.

We understand interoperability is important. As a standard LoRaWAN device, SenseCAP A1102 can be used with any standard LoRaWAN gateways. When choosing SenseCAP Outdoor Gateway or SenseCAP M2 Indoor Gateway, it is easier for configuration and provisioning.

• Easy Set-up and Configure with SenseCraft App

We provide SenseCraft App and SenseCAP Web Portal for you to set up, configure, and manage the devices & data more easily.

At SenseCraft App, you can change settings with simple clicks such as choose the platform, change the frequency for the specific region, change data upload intervals (5 ~ 1440min), or packet policy (2C+1N, 1C, 1N) and other settings. 

You can see the live and historical data of your devices on both SenseCraft App and SenseCAP Web Portal easily.

When using SenseCAP Sensors and SenseCAP gateways, you can also choose to use SenseCAP cloud platform, which is free for 6 months for each devices and then it is 0.99usd/device/month, or you can choose to use your own platform or other 3rd-party platforms. We offer API supporting MQTT and HTTP.

• Wi-Fi Connectivity for Transmitting Key Frames

Inside the AI Camera part of this device sits a tiny-yet-powerful XIAO ESP32C3, which is powered by new RISC-V architecture. This adds Wi-Fi connectivity to SenseCAP A1102. In the applications, you can get the reference results via LoRaWAN and at the same time get the key frames via Wi-Fi to validate or further analyze.

While we always demonstrate how much we love LoRaWAN for its ultra-low-power consumption and ultra-long-range communication by continuously adding more and more products in the portfolio of our LoRaWAN products family. We also understand some people might prefer other communication protocols. Rest assured, we have options for you. As mentioned above, we value interoperability a lot. Here comes to the intro of another important cast of this post: RS485 Vision AI Camera!

RS485 Vision AI Camera

RS485 Vision AI Camera is a robust vision AI sensor that supports MODBUS-RS485 [Note 2] protocol and Wi-Fi Connectivity. Simply put, it is the camera part of the SenseCAP A1102, which adopts the Himax AI Processor for AI performance. Its IP66 rating makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

You can use RS485 Vision AI Camera with SenseCAP Sensor Hub 4G Data Logger to transmit the reference results via 4G. If your existing devices or systems support MODBUS-RS485, you can connect it with this RS485 Vision AI Camera for your applications.

In this post, we introduced SenseCAP A1102 and RS485 Vision AI Camera. I hope you like them and will get your hands on these devices for your projects soon! I already envision this device used in different applications from smart home, office, and building managetment to smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and many others. And we look forward to seeing your applications!

If you’ve been using Seeed products or following our updates, you might have noticed that the expertise of Seeed products and services is in smart sensing and edge computing. While we’ve developed a rich collection of products in (1) sensor networks that collect different real-world data and transmit via different communication protocols, and (2) edge computing that brings computing power and AI capabilities to the edge. I think we can say that Seeed is strong in smart sensing, communication, and edge computing. 

There are many more new products on the Seeed roadmap for us to get a deeper perception of the world with AI-powered insight and actions. Stay tuned!

Last but not the least, we understand that you might have requirements in product features, functionalities, or form factors for your specific applications, we offer a wide range of customization services based on the existing standard products. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, to share your experience, your thoughts about new products, wishes for new features, or ideas for cooperation possibilities! Reach us at iot[at]seeed[dot]cc! Thank you!

[Note 1: If you do not know it yet, SenseCraft AI is a web-base platform for AI applications. No-code. Beginner-friendly. I joined the livestream on YouTube with dearest Meilily to introduce this platform last week. If you are interested, check the recording here.]

[Note 2: MODBUS RS485 is a widely-used protocol for many industrial applications. You can learn more here about MODBUS and RS485, and you can explore the full range of all RS485 products here.]

Seeed Studio is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Atianza Solutions. This collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge Edge AI solutions to industries across Latin America, advancing innovation and Edge AI solutions in the region.

About Seeed Studio

Seeed Studio, a leading AI hardware partner, has been a leading Open Hardware company since 2008, empowering over half a million direct users to create real-world digital solutions. Through relentless efforts and earned trust, Seeed’s ever-growing product lines now form around emerging AI scenarios like like AI Sensing, AI Robotics, Sensor Networks, and Maker.
Seeed provides industrial-ready modules and devices, and open up the capability of prototype development and production. Innovators from different vertical domains co-create with Seeed to make their creations widely available for diversified markets by embracing open source, community building, and integrated vertical industry solutions together with Seeed.

About Atianza

Atianza is a multidisciplinary team based in the heart of Santiago de Chile with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. With a presence in three countries – Chile, Colombia and Spain – Atianza bridges borders to deliver agile and personalized solutions.

Atianza specializes in:

• Architecture and Engineering
• Design and Usability
• Management and Control

At Atianza, innovation, experience and agility come together to create an alliance towards a more connected and efficient future. It is not just about developing software, but about co-creating solutions that transform and enhance business vision.

The Partnership

Seeed and Atianza join forces to deliver comprehensive Edge AI solutions across Latin America. This partnership combines Seeed’s state-of-the-art hardware and Atianza’s tailored analytics expertise to address diverse market needs.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Distribution of Seeed Studio’s Edge AI devices and development kits. Including:

1. NVIDIA Jetson, the leading platform for robotics and embedded edge AI applications, highlights the Seeed Studio reComputer Industrial J3010– Fanless Edge AI Device with Jetson Orin Nano 4GB

2. Industrial Raspberry Pi devices, highlights the reTerminal DM, a Panel PC, HMI, IIoT Gateway all-in-one device powered by Raspberry Pi

• Customized video analytics and data analytics solutions tailored for industries in Chile, Colombia, and Spain.

Together, Seeed and Atianza aim to create a more intelligent and efficient future for businesses across the region, leveraging their combined strengths in hardware, software, and integration expertise.

Get in touch at support@atianza.com today for a tailored AI solution designed to accelerate your business growth!

The beloved Seeed Studio XIAO boards, with their surface-mount device (SMD) design and Castellated Mounting Holes, have become popular integrated system modules in countless creative designs, projects, and even commercial products. Their board-to-board soldering capability allows XIAO boards to be easily integrated into carrier boards, enabling faster assembly and scalable production.

1: The Zilpzalp Keyboard by Keeb Supply;  2:ANAVI Knobs 3 by Anavi Technology;
3:300A | 80V Smart Shunt by Steve Willson Kujur;  4:ANAVI Dev Mic by Anavi Technology;
5:Smart Key Finder by Hamid Sheibani;   6: 6-Channel Temperature Meter by Gokux;

Since launching our first XIAO SAMD21 (formerly Seeeduino XIAO) in 2019, we’ve received countless community requests for more than the standard 14 castellated mounting holes on two edges, as these weren’t sufficient for complex projects requiring additional IOs. Now, please meet Seeed Studio XIAO Plus – our response to this community feedback.

Inspired by the cool SMD pins design of the RICK TNY, Seeed Studio XIAO Plus represents a new iteration of our regular XIAO Boards, featuring redesigned 23 castellation pins (20 GPIOs, 3 power pins) and back solder points specifically for projects needing expanded IOs. We’re launching XIAO Plus versions for three models: XIAO ESP32S3 Plus, XIAO nRF52840 Plus, and XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus, which are all available for instant order at our webstore and AliExpress Store.

Why only these three XIAOs?

While we’d love to upgrade all XIAO boards, the limited pins on some integrated chips (SAMD21, RP2040, RA4M1, ESP32-C3, and ESP32-C6) restrict the IO expansion. These three models were selected based on overwhelming user demand for additional castellated IOs. Moreover, the XIAO ESP32S3 Plus also doubles its Flash memory to 16MB, supporting more complex applications.

What's new with the back solder points?

Previously, XIAO boards lacked uniformity in their back-side solder points and layouts, hampering our ability to develop universal expansion boards. Our latest XIAO boards (RP2350, RA4M1, MG24 and MG24 Sense) share nearly identical back layouts. The XIAO Plus boards follow suit, with aligned battery and debugger pads.

This standardization means our upcoming expansion boards (such as the XIAO Clip Board) will work with all seven boards (3 XIAO Plus models, XIAO RP2350, RA4M1, and MG24/Sense). We’re actively working on compatibility solutions for other XIAO boards and will share updates once available.

Is XIAO Plus harder to solder?

The through-holes for 7-pin headers remain unchanged, but the castellated mounting holes are slightly smaller and closer together (13 on the left, 10 on the right). While this does make board-to-board soldering more challenging, our 11-person product team successfully tested it with early samples.

We’ll be honest – it requires more precision, but proper tools make a significant difference. Essential items include a brass sponge, water-soluble flux pen, tweezers, acid brush, and rubbing alcohol. For detailed guidance, check out SparkFun’s excellent tutorial on How to Solder: Castellated Mounting Holes.

Join Seeed Studio XIAO Adopter Program

Ready to showcase your soldering skills? Share your XIAO Plus project ideas in the comments! I’ll select three winners to receive their chosen XIAO Plus board (via coupon). Winners will be announced on January 10, 2025. Share now! To assist developers in adapting their projects to the XIAO Plus quickly, we’re adding all the XIAO Plus Boards to the Seeed Studio XIAO Adopter Program. If you’re an author or maintainer of a popular open-source project on GitHub, or an influencer on platforms like YouTube or Tiktok or Instagram, make sure your users can run your code on the XIAO Plus. Join to receive 2 free boards and technical support to make your code compatible with these exciting new boards.

Notes at the end.

Hey community, we’re curating a monthly newsletter centering around the beloved Seeed Studio XIAO. If you want to stay up-to-date with:

 Cool Projects from the Community to get inspiration and tutorials
 Product Updates: firmware update, new product spoiler
 Wiki Updates: new wikis + wiki contribution
 News: events, contests, and other community stuff

Please click the image below to subscribe now!