Learn how to use the ESP32 Microcontroller and MicroPython programming in your future projects!
The project book, written by well-known Elektor author Dogan Ibrahim, holds many software- and hardware-based projects especially developed for the MakePython ESP32 Development Kit. The kit comes with several LEDs, sensors, and actuators. The kit will help you acquire the basic knowledge to create IoT projects.
The book’s fully evaluated projects feature all the supplied components. Each project includes a block diagram, a circuit diagram, a full program listing, and a complete program description.
Included in the kit
1x MakePython ESP32 development board with color LCD
1x Ultrasonic ranging module
1x Temperature and humidity sensor
1x Buzzer module
1x DS18B20 module
1x Infrared module
1x Potentiometer
1x WS2812 module
1x Sound sensor
1x Vibration sensor
1x Photosensitive resistance module
1x Pulse sensor
1x Servo motor
1x USB cable
2x Button
2x Breadboard
45x Jumper wire
10x Resistor 330R
10x LED (Red)
10x LED (Green)
1x Project book (206 pages)
46 Projects in the Book
LED Projects
Blinking LED
Flashing SOS
Blinking LED – using a timer
Alternately flashing LEDs
Button control
Changing the LED flashing rate using pushbutton interrupts
Chasing-LEDs
Binary-counting LEDs
Christmas lights (random-flashing 8 LEDs)
Electronic dice
Lucky day of the week
Pulsewidth Modulation (PWM) Projects
Generate a 1000-Hz PWM waveform with 50% duty cycle
LED brightness control
Measuring the frequency and duty cycle of a PWM waveform
Melody maker
Simple electronic organ
Servo motor control
Servo motor DS18B20 thermometer
Analog To Digital Converter (ADC) Projects
Voltmeter
Plotting the analog input voltage
ESP32 internal temperature sensor
Ohmmeter
Photosensitive resistance module
Digital To Analog Converter (DAC) Projects
Generating fixed voltages
Generating a sawtooth-wave signal
Generating a triangular-wave signal
Arbitrary periodic waveform
Generating a sinewave signal
Generating accurate sinewave signal using timer interrupts
Using The OLED Display
Seconds counter
Event counter
DS18B20 OLED based digital thermometer
ON-OFF temperature controller
Measuring the temperature and humidity
Ultrasonic distance measurement
Height of a person (stadiometer)
Heart rate (pulse) measurement
Other Sensors Supplied with the Kit
Theft alarm
Sound-activated light
Infrared obstacle avoidance with buzzer
WS2812 RGB LED ring
Timestamping temperature and humidity readings
Network Programming
Wi-Fi scanner
Remote control from the Internet browser (using a smartphone or PC) – Web Server
Storing temperature and humidity data in the Cloud
Low-Power Operation
Using a timer to wake up the processor
Projects with Arduino, ESPHome, Home Assistant, and Raspberry Pi & Co.
This e-book contains various example projects, beginning with an introduction to electronics. It also explains how to install Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi, how to use indoor climate sensors for temperature and humidity, how to implement the MQTT protocol and other interfaces, and how to use ESPHome to integrate sensors and actuators into Home Assistant. Numerous video tutorials complement the book.
Fundamentals of electrical engineering
The book begins with an introduction to electrical engineering. You will learn the basics of voltage, current, resistors, diodes and transistors.
Arduino and microcontrollers
A complete section is dedicated to the Arduino Uno. You will get to know the structure, write your first programs and work on practical examples.
Home Assistant and automation
You will learn how to set up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi and how to use automations, scenes and devices. In addition, Zigbee, MQTT and ESP-NOW – important technologies for home automation – will be discussed.
ESP8266, ESP32 and ESP32-CAM
The popular ESP microcontrollers are covered in detail. A theoretical introduction is followed by practical projects that show you how to get the most out of these devices.
Sensors and actuators
The book explains the functionality and application of numerous sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors, motion detectors and RFID readers. For actuators, stepper motors, e-ink displays, servo motors and much more are covered. There are practical application examples for all devices.
ESPHome
This chapter shows you how to integrate sensors and actuators into Home Assistant without any programming effort. You will be guided step by step through the setup with ESPHome.
LEDs and lighting technology
In this chapter, you will learn about different types of LEDs and how they can be used. The basics of lighting technology are also explained.
Node-RED
A whole chapter is dedicated to Node-RED. You will learn the basics of this powerful tool and be guided step by step through its setup and use.
Integrated Circuits (ICs)
In electronics, there are numerous ICs that make our lives easier. You will get to know the most important ones and apply your knowledge in practical projects.
Professional programming
Advanced topics such as the correct use of buttons, the use of interrupts and the use of an NTP server for time synchronisation are covered in detail in this chapter.
Downloads
GitHub
This bundle includes both volumes of "KiCad Like a Pro" (4th edition 2024). In Fundamentals and Projects (normal price: €49.95), you'll learn how to use KiCad through a practical approach, helping you quickly become productive and start designing your own boards. Advanced Projects and Recipes (normal price: €44.95) allows you to practice your new KiCad skills by challenging yourself with a series of real-world projects.
The latest iteration of KiCad, the world’s best free-to-use Printed Circuit Board tool, is packed with features usually found only in expensive commercial CAD tools. This modern, cross-platform application suite built around schematic and design editors, with auxiliary applications is a stable and mature PCB tool. KiCad 8 is a perfect fit for electronic engineers and makers.
Here are the most significant improvements and features in KiCad 8, both over and under the hood:
Modern user interface, completely redesigned from earlier versions
Improved and customizable electrical and design rule checkers
Theme editor allowing you to customize KiCad on your screen
Ability to import projects from Eagle, CADSTART, and more
Python scripting API
Improved integrated SPICE circuit simulator
Multi-sheet schematics
Filters define selectable elements
Enhanced interactive router helps you draw single tracks and differential pairs with precision
New or enhanced tools to draw tracks, measure distances, tune track lengths, etc.
Advanced interactive router
Built-in bill of materials generator
Realistic ray-tracing capable 3D viewer
Customizable teardrops
Plug-in manager for quick installation of themes, libraries and functionalities such as autorouters and BOM generators
The first book KiCad Like A Pro – Fundamentals and Projects will teach you to use KiCad through a practical approach. It will help you become productive quickly and start designing your own boards. Example projects illustrate the basic features of KiCad, even if you have no prior knowledge of PCB design. The author describes the entire workflow from schematic entry to the intricacies of finalizing the files for PCB production and offers sound guidance on the process.
The second book KiCad Like A Pro – Advanced Projects and Recipes will help you to practice your new KiCad skills by challenging you in a series of real-world projects. The projects are supported by a comprehensive set of recipes with detailed instructions on how to achieve a variety of simple and complex tasks. Design the PCBs for a solar power supply, an LED matrix array, an Arduino-powered datalogger, and a custom ESP32 board. Understand the finer details of the interactive router, how to manage KiCad project teams with Git, how to use an autorouter on 2 and 4-layer PCBs, and much more.
The book "Node-RED and Raspberry Pi Pico W" describes the Node-RED programming environment in great detail with exciting applications on 527 pages. Only at Elektor, the book gets solid hardware support in the form of the popular SunFounder Kepler Kit with over 450 components including a Raspberry Pico W board. With this bundle, most of the experiments and programming exercises contained in the book can be carried out successfully.
This bundle contains:
Book: Node-Red and the Raspberry Pi Pico W (normal price: €50)
SunFounder Kepler Kit voor Raspberry Pi Pico W (normal price: €70)
Book: Node-RED and Raspberry Pi Pico W
From basics to flows for sensors, automation, motors, MQTT, and cloud services
This book is a learning guide and a reference. Use it to learn Node-RED, Raspberry Pi Pico W, and MicroPython, and add these state-of-the-art tools to your technology toolkit. It will introduce you to virtual machines, Docker, and MySQL in support of IoT projects based on Node-RED and the Raspberry Pi Pico W.
This book combines several elements into a platform that powers the development of modern Internet of Things applications. These elements are a flow-based server, a WiFi-enabled microcontroller, a high-level programming language, and a deployment technology. Combining these elements gives you the tools you need to create automation systems at any scale. From home automation to industrial automation, this book will help you get started.
Node-RED is an open-source flow-based development tool that makes it easy to wire together devices, APIs, and online services. Drag and drop nodes to create a flowchart that turns on your lights at sunset or sends you an email when a sensor detects movement. Raspberry Pi Pico W is a version of the Raspberry Pi Pico with added 802.11n Wi-Fi capability. It is an ideal device for physical computing tasks and an excellent match to the Node-RED.
Quick book facts
Project-based learning approach.
Assumes no prior knowledge of flow-based programming tools.
Learn to use essential infrastructure tools in your projects, such as virtual machines, Docker, MySQL and useful web APIs such as Google Sheets and OpenWeatherMap.
Dozens of mini-projects supported by photographs, wiring schematics, and source code. Get these from the book GitHub repository.
Step-by-step instructions on everything.
All experiments are based on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. A Wi-Fi network is required for all projects.
Downloads
GitHub
SunFounder Kepler Kit voor Raspberry Pi Pico W
Your gateway to IoT and microcontroller programming
With 450+ components and 117 online projects, this comprehensive kit ignites your creativity. The tutorials by Paul McWhorter make learning enjoyable for beginners and advanced users. This kit supports MicroPython, C/C++, and Piper Make, offering diverse programming options.
Explore sensors, actuators, LEDs, and LCDs for endless project possibilities. From home automation to robotics, this kit empowers your tech journey.
Features
IoT Starter Kit for Beginners: This kit offers a rich IoT learning experience for beginners. With 450+ components, 117 projects, and expert-led video lessons, this kit makes learning microcontroller programming and IoT engaging and accessible.
Expert-Guided Video Lessons: The kit includes 27 video tutorials by the renowned educator, Paul McWhorter. His engaging style simplifies complex concepts, ensuring an effective learning experience in microcontroller programming.
Wide Range of Hardware: The kit includes a diverse array of components like sensors, actuators, LEDs, LCDs, and more, enabling you to experiment and create a variety of projects with the Raspberry Pi Pico W.
Supports Multiple Languages: The kit offers versatility with support for three programming languages - MicroPython, C/C++, and Piper Make, providing a diverse programming learning experience.
Dedicated Support: Benefit from our ongoing assistance, including a community forum and timely technical help for a seamless learning experience.
Included
Raspberry Pi Pico W
Breadboard
Jumper Wires
Resistor
Transistor
Capacitor
Diode
Li-po Charger Module
74HC595
TA6586 – Motor Driver Chip
LED
RGB LED
LED Bar Graph
7-segment Display
4-Digit 7-Segment Display
LED Dot Matrix
I²C LCD1602
WS2812 RGB 8 LEDs Strip
Buzzer
DC Motor
Servo
DC Water Pump
Relay
Button
Micro Switch
Slide Switch
Potentiometer
Infrared Receiver
Joystick Module
4x4 Keypad
MPR121 Module
MFRC522 Module
Photoresistor
Thermistor
Tilt Switch
Reed Switch
PIR Motion Sensor Module
Water Level Sensor Module
Ultrasonic Module
DHT11 Humiture Sensor
MPU6050 Module
Documentation
Online Tutorial
Getting started in electronics is not as difficult as you may think. With this bundle (book + kit of parts), you can explore and learn the most important electrical and electronics engineering concepts in a fun way by doing various experiments. You will learn electronics practically without getting into complex technical jargon and long calculations. As a result, you will be creating your own projects soon.
This kit contains the components required to build most of the detailed examples of the book on a breadboard and try them out for real.
The kit can, of course, also be used without the book for building other circuits and doing your own experiments.
Kit contents
1x 39 Ω, 1 W resistor
1x 47 Ω resistor
1x 180 Ω resistor
1x 330 Ω resistor
3x 1 kΩ resistor
1x 2.2 kΩ resistor
1x 3.9 kΩ resistor
1x 6.8 kΩ resistor
1x 10 kΩ resistor
1x 15 kΩ resistor
1x 22 kΩ resistor
1x 33 kΩ resistor
1x 47 kΩ resistor
1x 56 kΩ resistor
1x 82 kΩ resistor
1x 120 kΩ resistor
1x 680 kΩ resistor
2x 100 kΩ resistor
1x 10 kΩ trimmer
1x 10 kΩ linear potentiometer
1x 100 kΩ linear potentiometer
1x LDR
1x 1 nF ceramic capacitor
2x 10 nF ceramic capacitor
1x 100 nF ceramic capacitor
1x 1 µF, 25 V aluminium electrolytic capacitor
2x 10 µF, 25 V aluminium electrolytic capacitor
1x 100 µF, 25 V aluminium electrolytic capacitor
1x 470 µF, 25 V aluminium electrolytic capacitor
1x 1000 µF, 25 V aluminium electrolytic capacitor
1x RGB LED, Common-Cathode (CC)
1x 1N4148 small signal diode
1x 1N4733A 5.1 V, 1 W Zener diode
3x LED, red
2x BC337 NPN transistor
1x IRFZ44N N-channel MOSFET
2x NE555 timer
1x LM393 comparator
1x 74HCT08 quad AND gate
3x Tactile switch
2x SPDT switch
1x Relay, SPDT, 9 VDC
1x Active buzzer
1x Passive buzzer
50 cm Solid wire, 16 AWG, unjacketed
2x PP3 9 V battery clip
1x Breadboard
20x Jumper wire
This bundle contains:
Practical Electronics Crash Course Kit (valued at: €45)
Book: Practical Electronics Crash Course (normal price: €45)
Comprehensive Book-Hardware Bundle for the RP2040 Microcontroller with over 80 Projects
Unlock the potential of modern controller technology with the Raspberry Pi Pico in this bundle. Perfect for both beginners and experienced users, the easy-to-follow guide takes you from the basics of electronics to the complexities of digital signal processing. With the Raspberry Pi Pico, the dedicated hardware kit and MicroPython programming, you will learn the key principles of circuit design, data collection, and processing.
Get hands-on with over 80 projects like a stopwatch with an OLED display, a laser distance meter, and a servo-controlled fan. These projects are designed to help you apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios. The book also covers advanced topics like wireless RFID technology, object detection, and sensor integration for robotics.
Whether you're looking to build your skills in electronics or dive deeper into embedded systems, this bundle is the perfect resource to help you explore the full potential of the Raspberry Pi Pico.
Contents of the Bundle
1x Project Book (273 pages)
1x Raspberry Pi Pico WH
1x Raspberry Pi Pico H
1x Smart Car Kit
Electronic Parts
2x Solderless breadboard (400 holes)
1x Solderless breadboard (170 holes)
5x Colorful 5 mm LEDs (green, red, blue, yellow and white)
1x Laser transmitter
1x Passive buzzer
1x Micro USB cable (30 cm)
1x 65 Jumper wires
1x 20 cm male to female Dupont wire
1x Clear case
1x Magnet (diameter: 8 mm, thickness: 5 mm)
1x Rotary potentiometer
10x 2 KΩ resistors
2x M2.5x30 mm copper pillars
10x Phillips pan head screws
10x M2.5 nickel hex nuts
1x 2-inch dual-purpose screwdriver
Modules
1x RGB module
1x 9G servo
1x Dual-axis XY joystick module
1x RC522 RFID module
1x 4 Bits digital LED display module
1x Traffic light display module
1x Rotary Encoder module
1x 1602 LCD Display module (Blue)
1x Photoresistor module
1x DC motor with male Dupont wire
1x Fan blade
1x Raindrops module
1x OLED module
1x Membrane switch keyboard
1x Mini magnetic spring module
1x Infrared remote control
1x Infrared receiver module
1x DC stepper motor driver board
1x Button
Sensors
1x Vibration sensor
1x Soil moisture sensor
1x Sound sensor
1x Mini PIR motion sensor
1x Temperature & Humidity sensor
1x Flame sensor
2x Crash sensor
2x Tracking sensor
1x Ultrasonic sensor
This bundle includes both volumes of "KiCad Like a Pro" (4th edition 2024). In Fundamentals and Projects (normal price: €39.95), you'll learn how to use KiCad through a practical approach, helping you quickly become productive and start designing your own boards. Advanced Projects and Recipes (normal price: €34.95) allows you to practice your new KiCad skills by challenging yourself with a series of real-world projects.
The latest iteration of KiCad, the world’s best free-to-use Printed Circuit Board tool, is packed with features usually found only in expensive commercial CAD tools. This modern, cross-platform application suite built around schematic and design editors, with auxiliary applications is a stable and mature PCB tool. KiCad 8 is a perfect fit for electronic engineers and makers.
Here are the most significant improvements and features in KiCad 8, both over and under the hood:
Modern user interface, completely redesigned from earlier versions
Improved and customizable electrical and design rule checkers
Theme editor allowing you to customize KiCad on your screen
Ability to import projects from Eagle, CADSTART, and more
Python scripting API
Improved integrated SPICE circuit simulator
Multi-sheet schematics
Filters define selectable elements
Enhanced interactive router helps you draw single tracks and differential pairs with precision
New or enhanced tools to draw tracks, measure distances, tune track lengths, etc.
Advanced interactive router
Built-in bill of materials generator
Realistic ray-tracing capable 3D viewer
Customizable teardrops
Plug-in manager for quick installation of themes, libraries and functionalities such as autorouters and BOM generators
The first book KiCad Like A Pro – Fundamentals and Projects will teach you to use KiCad through a practical approach. It will help you become productive quickly and start designing your own boards. Example projects illustrate the basic features of KiCad, even if you have no prior knowledge of PCB design. The author describes the entire workflow from schematic entry to the intricacies of finalizing the files for PCB production and offers sound guidance on the process.
The second book KiCad Like A Pro – Advanced Projects and Recipes will help you to practice your new KiCad skills by challenging you in a series of real-world projects. The projects are supported by a comprehensive set of recipes with detailed instructions on how to achieve a variety of simple and complex tasks. Design the PCBs for a solar power supply, an LED matrix array, an Arduino-powered datalogger, and a custom ESP32 board. Understand the finer details of the interactive router, how to manage KiCad project teams with Git, how to use an autorouter on 2 and 4-layer PCBs, and much more.
Analogue Electronics and Microcontrollers Projects
Hobbyist electronics can be a fun way to learn new skills that can be helpful to your career. Those who understand the basics of electronics can design their own circuits and projects. However, before you run, you need to learn to walk.
It all starts with analogue electronics. You should be familiar with the simple components and circuits and understand their basic behaviors and the issues you may encounter. The best way to do this is through real experiments. Theory alone is not enough. This book offers a large number of practical entry-level circuits, with which everyone can gain the basic experience.
Through the widespread introduction of microcontrollers, a new chapter in electronics has begun. Microcontrollers are now performing more and more tasks that were originally solved using discrete components and conventional ICs. Starting out has become easier and easier thanks to platforms including Bascom, Arduino, micro:bit. The book introduces numerous manageable microcontroller applications. It’s now a case of less soldering and more programming.
In this book the author presents all essential aspects of microcontroller programming, without overloading the reader with unnecessary or quasi-relevant bits of information. Having read the book, you should be able to understand as well as program, 8-bit microcontrollers.
The introduction to microcontroller programming is worked out using microcontrollers from the PIC series. Not exactly state-of-the-art with just 8 bits, the PIC micro has the advantage of being easy to comprehend. It is offered in a DIP enclosure, widely available and not overly complex. The entire datasheet of the PIC micro is shorter by decades than the description of the architecture outlining the processor section of an advanced microcontroller. Simplicity has its advantages here. Having mastered the fundamental operation of a microcontroller, you can easily enter into the realms of advanced softcores later.
Having placed assembly code as the executive programming language in the foreground in the first part of the book, the author reaches a deeper level with ‘C’ in the second part. Cheerfully alongside the official subject matter, the book presents tips & tricks, interesting measurement technology, practical aspects of microcontroller programming, as well as hands-on options for easier working, debugging and faultfinding.
This bundle contains:
Book: Get Started with the NXP FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board (normal price: €40)
NXP FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board (normal price: €30)
Book: Get Started with the NXP FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board
Develop projects on connectivity, graphics, machine learning, motor control, and sensors
This book is about the use of the FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board, developed by NXP Semiconductors. It integrates the dual Arm Cortex-M33, operating at up to 150 MHz. Ideal for Industrial, IoT, and machine learning applications. It features Hi-Speed USB, CAN 2.0, I³C and 10/100 Ethernet. The board includes an on-board MCU-Link debugger, FlexI/O for LCD control, and dual-bank flash for read-while-write operations, supporting large external serial memory configurations.
One of the important features of the development board is that it features an integrated eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU), thus enabling users to develop AI-based projects. The development board also supports Arduino Uno form factor header pins, making it compatible with many Arduino shields, mikroBUS connector for MikroElektronika Click Boards, and Pmod connector.
One of the nice things of the FRDM-MCXN947 development board is that it includes several on-board debug probes, allowing programmers to debug their programs by communicating directly with the MCU. With the help of the debugger, programmers can single-step through a program, insert breakpoints, view and modify variables and so on.
Many working and tested projects have been developed in the book using the popular MCUXpresso IDE and the SDK with various sensors and actuators. Use of the popular CMSIS-DSP library is also explained with several commonly used matrix operations.
The projects provided in the book can be used without any modifications in many applications. Alternatively, readers can base their projects on those given in the book during the development of their own projects.
NXP FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board
The FRDM-MCXN947 is a compact and versatile development board designed for rapid prototyping with MCX N94 and N54 microcontrollers. It features industry-standard headers for easy access to the MCU's I/Os, integrated open-standard serial interfaces, external flash memory, and an onboard MCU-Link debugger.
Specifications
Microcontroller
MCX-N947 Dual Arm Cortex-M33 cores @ 150 MHz each with optimized performance efficiency, up to 2 MB dual-bank flash with optional full ECC RAM, External flash
Accelerators: Neural Processing Unit, PowerQuad, Smart DMA, etc.
Memory Expansion
*DNP Micro SD card socket
Connectivity
Ethernet Phy and connector
HS USB-C connectors
SPI/I²C/UART connector (PMOD/mikroBUS, DNP)
WiFi connector (PMOD/mikroBUS, DNP)
CAN-FD transceiver
Debug
On-board MCU-Link debugger with CMSIS-DAP
JTAG/SWD connector
Sensor
P3T1755 I³C/I²C Temp Sensor, Touch Pad
Expansion Options
Arduino Header (with FRDM expansion rows)
FRDM Header
FlexIO/LCD Header
SmartDMA/Camera Header
Pmod *DNP
mikroBUS
User Interface
RGB user LED, plus Reset, ISP, Wakeup buttons
Included
1x FRDM-MCXN947 Development Board
1x USB-C Cable
1x Quick Start Guide
Downloads
Datasheet
Block diagram
Getting started with the world’s best open-source PCB tool
The latest iteration of KiCad, the world’s best free-to-use Printed Circuit Board tool, is packed with features usually found only in expensive commercial CAD tools. This modern, cross-platform application suite built around schematic and design editors, with auxiliary applications is a stable and mature PCB tool. KiCad 8 is a perfect fit for electronic engineers and makers.
Here are the most significant improvements and features in KiCad 8, both over and under the hood:
Modern user interface, completely redesigned from earlier versions
Improved and customizable electrical and design rule checkers
Theme editor allowing you to customize KiCad on your screen
Ability to import projects from Eagle, CADSTART, and more
Python scripting API
Improved integrated SPICE circuit simulator
Multi-sheet schematics
Filters define selectable elements
Enhanced interactive router helps you draw single tracks and differential pairs with precision
New or enhanced tools to draw tracks, measure distances, tune track lengths, etc.
Advanced interactive router
Built-in bill of materials generator
Realistic ray-tracing capable 3D viewer
Customizable teardrops
Plug-in manager for quick installation of themes, libraries and functionalities such as autorouters and BOM generators
This book will teach you to use KiCad through a practical approach. It will help you become productive quickly and start designing your own boards. Example projects illustrate the basic features of KiCad, even if you have no prior knowledge of PCB design.
The author describes the entire workflow from schematic entry to the intricacies of finalizing the files for PCB production and offers sound guidance on the process. Further full-fledged projects, of incremental difficulty, will be presented in a second book, together with a variety of advanced recipes.
Mastering Surface Mount Technology takes you on a crash course in techniques, tips and know-how to successfully introduce surface mount technology in your workflow. Even if you are on a budget you too can jumpstart your designs with advanced fine pitch parts.
Besides explaining methodology and equipment, attention is given to SMT parts technologies and soldering methods. In a step by step way, several projects introduce you to handling surface mount parts and the required skills to successfully build SMT assemblies. Many practical tips and tricks are disclosed that bring surface mount technology into everyone's reach without breaking the bank.
Mastering PCB design with real-world projects
This book builts on KiCad Like a Pro – Fundamentals and Projects and aims to help you practice your new KiCad skills by challenging you in a series of real-world projects. The projects are supported by a comprehensive set of recipes with detailed instructions on how to achieve a variety of simple and complex tasks. Design the PCBs for a solar power supply, an LED matrix array, an Arduino-powered datalogger, and a custom ESP32 board. Understand the finer details of the interactive router, how to manage KiCad project teams with Git, how to use an autorouter on 2 and 4-layer PCBs, and much more.
KiCad 8 is a modern, cross-platform application suite built around schematic and design editors. This stable and mature PCB tool is a perfect fit for electronic engineers and makers. With KiCad 8, you can create PCBs of any complexity and size without the constraints associated with the commercial packages.
Here are the most significant improvements and features in KiCad 8, both over and under the hood:
Modern user interface, completely redesigned from earlier versions
Improved and customizable electrical and design rule checkers
Theme editor allowing you to fully customize the look of KiCad on your screen
Ability to import projects from Eagle, CADSTART, and more
An improved and tightly integrated SPICE circuit simulator
Autorouting with the Freerouting plugin
Filters define which elements of a layout are selectable
Enhanced interactive router helps you draw single tracks and differential pairs with precision
New or enhanced tools to draw tracks, measure distances, tune track lengths, etc.
Enhanced tool for creating filled zones
A customizable coordinate system facilitates data exchange with other CAD applications
Realistic ray-tracing capable 3D viewer
Differential pair routing
Rich repositories of symbol, footprint, and 3D shape libraries
Python scripting API for programmatic customization and extensions
Improved footprint wizard for fast custom footprints
Learning circuit design the fun way
Welcome to the world of electronics!
Getting started in electronics is not as difficult as you may think. Using this book, you will explore and learn the most important electrical and electronics engineering concepts in a fun way by doing various experiments and by simulating circuits. It will teach you electronics practically without getting into complex technical jargon and long calculations. As a result, you will be creating your own projects soon.
No prior knowledge of electronics is required, only some basic algebra is used in a few simple calculations. Many tested and working projects and simulations are presented to familiarise yourself with the construction of electronic circuits. Circuit simulation is introduced at an early stage to enable you to experiment with circuits easily without breaking anything.
You will learn:
The concepts of voltage, current, and power
AC and DC
Basic lamp circuits with switches
Passive components: resistors, capacitors & inductors
RC & RCL circuits
Electromagnetism
Loudspeakers, relays, buzzers, and transformers
Active components: diodes & LEDs, bipolar transistors & MOSFETs
Transistor-based switching circuits
Optocoupler circuits
Astable & monostable multivibrators
Using the 555 timer IC
The operational amplifier
Digital logic
Advanced examples: amplifiers, oscillators, filters, and sensors
Test and measurement tools
Microcontrollers: Arduino UNO, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico, and Raspberry Pi
Reading datasheets and best practices for selecting components
EMC & EMI and norms & regulations
From Theory to Practical Applications in Wireless Energy Transfer and Harvesting
Wireless power transmission has gained significant global interest, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles and the Internet of Things (IoT). It’s a technology that allows the transfer of electricity without physical connections, offering solutions for everything from powering small devices over short distances to long-range energy transmission for more complex systems.
Wireless Power Design provides a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and practical insights, helping you explore the potential of wireless energy transfer and harvesting technologies. The book presents a series of hands-on projects that cover various aspects of wireless power systems, each accompanied by detailed explanations and parameter listings.
The following five projects guide you through key areas of wireless power:
Project 1: Wireless Powering of Advanced IoT Devices
Project 2: Wireless Powered Devices on the Frontline – The Future and Challenges
Project 3: Wireless Powering of Devices Using Inductive Technology
Project 4: Wireless Power Transmission for IoT Devices
Project 5: Charging Robot Crawler Inside the Pipeline
These projects explore different aspects of wireless power, from inductive charging to wireless energy transmission, offering practical solutions for real-world applications. The book includes projects that use simulation tools like CST Microwave Studio and Keysight ADS for design and analysis, with a focus on practical design considerations and real-world implementation techniques.
EAGLE – the “Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor“ is a professional-grade CAD (computer aided design) software package for the design and drafting of electronic schematics as well as the design and fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs).
This publication, the ‘EAGLE Advanced User Guide’ provides the experienced EAGLE user with insight into using some of the more advanced features of EAGLE software. It is not a guide to teach the reader the basic concepts of EAGLE, nor does it discuss the ‘how to’ of the EAGLE interface and the simpler operations and commands of the software. That is the purpose of the author’s previous title EAGLE V6 Getting Started Guide also published by Elektor.
This book is intended as an enduring document covering the more advanced modules, commands, and functions which make up EAGLE. It is hoped that this book will sit on the desk or the bookshelf of the EAGLE user, and provide a quick, succinct reference to assist with more complex applications and uses of EAGLE – an ‘EAGLE User’s Companion’, if you like.
Complementing the EAGLE Advanced User Guide, the EAGLE User Language manual is included in this book in unabridged form, reproduced with permission of CadSoft GmbH.
At the time of writing, the material in this book covers version 7 of the EAGLE software suite.
32 new Projects, Practical Examples and Exercises with the Elektor Arduino Nano MCCAB Training Board
Electronics and microcontroller technology offer the opportunity to be creative. This practical microcontroller course provides you with the chance to bring your own Arduino projects and experience such moments of success. Ideally, everything works as you imagined when you switch it on for the first time. In practice, however, things rarely work as expected. At that point, you need knowledge to efficiently search for and find the reason for the malfunction.
In this book for advanced users, we delve deep into the world of microcontrollers and the Arduino IDE to learn new procedures and details, enabling you to successfully tackle and solve even more challenging situations.
With this book, the author gives the reader the necessary tools to create projects independently and also to be able to find errors quickly. Instead of just offering ready-made solutions, he explains the background, the hardware used, and any tools required. He sets tasks in which the reader contributes their own creativity and writes the Arduino sketch themselves.
If you don’t have a good idea and get stuck, there is, of course, a suggested solution for every project and every task, along with the corresponding software, which is commented on and explained in detail in the book.
This practical course will teach you more about the inner workings of the Arduino Nano and its microcontroller. You will get to know hardware modules that you can use to realize new and interesting projects. You will familiarize yourself with software methods such as ‘state machines,’ which can often be used to solve problems more easily and clearly.
The numerous practical projects and exercise sketches are once again realized on the Arduino Nano MCCAB Training Board, which you may already be familiar with from the course book ‘Microcontrollers Hands-on Course for Arduino Starters’, and which contains all the hardware peripherals and operating elements we need for the input/output operations of our sketches.
Readers who do not yet own the Arduino Nano MCCAB Training Board can purchase the required hardware separately, or alternatively, build it on a breadboard.
From Rubbing Amber to Swiping Glass
"The story of electricity, told one connection at a time."Why does rubbing amber attract dust? How did we go from that curious effect to a world where screens respond to a single touch? And how did we get from mysterious sparks to tiny chips packed with billions of transistors?
For centuries, electricity puzzled and fascinated those who encountered its curious effects—long before it even had a name. From the earliest observations of static charge to the complex electronics that shape our lives today, this book traces the gradual, and often surprising, story of how humanity came to understand and harness this powerful force.
This book offers an engaging and accessible account of the people, ideas, and inventions that transformed electricity from a scientific curiosity into the foundation of our digital age. Along the way, you’ll meet a host of inquisitive minds—some famous, others less so—whose persistence and creativity helped unravel the mysteries of the natural world and gave rise to the technologies we now take for granted.
Covering everything from Leyden jars and batteries to transistors, microcontrollers and the internet, this book presents a clear and enjoyable overview of electronics and its relatively short, yet rich, history.
Whether you have a technical background or simply a curiosity about how things work, From Rubbing Amber to Swiping Glass offers a thoughtful look at how far we’ve come—and a gentle nudge to wonder what might come next.
Your gateway to IoT and microcontroller programming
With 450+ components and 117 online projects, this comprehensive kit ignites your creativity. The tutorials by Paul McWhorter make learning enjoyable for beginners and advanced users. This kit supports MicroPython, C/C++, and Piper Make, offering diverse programming options.
Explore sensors, actuators, LEDs, and LCDs for endless project possibilities. From home automation to robotics, this kit empowers your tech journey.
Features
IoT Starter Kit for Beginners: This kit offers a rich IoT learning experience for beginners. With 450+ components, 117 projects, and expert-led video lessons, this kit makes learning microcontroller programming and IoT engaging and accessible.
Expert-Guided Video Lessons: The kit includes 27 video tutorials by the renowned educator, Paul McWhorter. His engaging style simplifies complex concepts, ensuring an effective learning experience in microcontroller programming.
Wide Range of Hardware: The kit includes a diverse array of components like sensors, actuators, LEDs, LCDs, and more, enabling you to experiment and create a variety of projects with the Raspberry Pi Pico W.
Supports Multiple Languages: The kit offers versatility with support for three programming languages - MicroPython, C/C++, and Piper Make, providing a diverse programming learning experience.
Dedicated Support: Benefit from our ongoing assistance, including a community forum and timely technical help for a seamless learning experience.
Included
Raspberry Pi Pico W
Breadboard
Jumper Wires
Resistor
Transistor
Capacitor
Diode
Li-po Charger Module
74HC595
TA6586 – Motor Driver Chip
LED
RGB LED
LED Bar Graph
7-segment Display
4-Digit 7-Segment Display
LED Dot Matrix
I²C LCD1602
WS2812 RGB 8 LEDs Strip
Buzzer
DC Motor
Servo
DC Water Pump
Relay
Button
Micro Switch
Slide Switch
Potentiometer
Infrared Receiver
Joystick Module
4x4 Keypad
MPR121 Module
MFRC522 Module
Photoresistor
Thermistor
Tilt Switch
Reed Switch
PIR Motion Sensor Module
Water Level Sensor Module
Ultrasonic Module
DHT11 Humiture Sensor
MPU6050 Module
Documentation
Online Tutorials in 3 languages (EN, DE and JP)
The Arduino Student Kit is a hands-on, step-by-step remote learning tool for ages 11+: get started with the basics of electronics, programming, and coding at home. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary as the kit guides you through step by step. Educators can teach their class remotely using the kits, and parents can use the kit as a homeschool tool for their child to learn at their own pace. Everyone will gain confidence in programming and electronics with guided lessons and open experimentation.
Learn the basics of programming, coding and electronics including current, voltage, and digital logic. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary as the kit guides you through step by step.
You’ll get all the hardware and software you need for one person, making it ideal to use for remote teaching, homeschooling, and for self-learning. There are step-by-step lessons, exercises, and for a complete and in-depth experience, there’s also extra content including invention spotlights, concepts, and interesting facts about electronics, technology, and programming.
Lessons and projects can be paced according to individual abilities, allowing them to learn from home at their own level. The kit can also be integrated into different subjects such as physics, chemistry, and even history. In fact, there’s enough content for an entire semester.
How educators can use the kit for remote teaching
The online platform contains all the content you need to teach remotely: exclusive learning guidance content, tips for remote learning, nine 90-minute lessons, and two open-ended projects. Each lesson builds off the previous one, providing a further opportunity to apply the skills and concepts students have already learned. They also get a logbook to complete as they work through the lessons.
The beginning of each lesson provides an overview, estimated completion times, and learning objectives. Throughout each lesson, there are tips and information that will help to make the learning experience easier. Key answers and extension ideas are also provided.
How the kit helps parents homeschool their children
This is your hands-on, step-by-step remote learning tool that will help your child learn the basics of programming, coding, and electronics at home. As a parent, you don’t need any prior knowledge or experience as you are guided through step-by-step. The kit is linked directly into the curriculum so you can be confident that your children are learning what they should be, and it provides the opportunity for them to become confident in programming and electronics. You’ll also be helping them learn vital skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
Self-learning with the Arduino Student Kit
Students can use this kit to teach themselves the basics of electronics, programming, and coding. As all the lessons follow step-by-step instructions, it’s easy for them to work their way through and learn on their own. They can work at their own pace, have fun with all the real-world projects, and increase their confidence as they go. They don’t need any previous knowledge as everything is clearly explained, coding is pre-written, and there’s a vocabulary of concepts to refer to.
The Arduino Student Kit comes with several parts and components that will be used to build circuits while completing the lessons and projects throughout the course.
Included in the kit
Access code to exclusive online content including learning guidance notes, step-by-step lessons and extra materials such as resources, invention spotlights and a digital logbook with solutions.
1x Arduino Uno
1x USB cable
1x Board mounting base
1x Multimeter
1x 9 V battery snap
1x 9 V battery
20x LEDs (5x red, 5x green, 5x yellow & 5x blue )
5x Resistors 560 Ω
5x Resistors 220 Ω
1x Breadboard 400 points
1x Resistor 1 kΩ
1x Resistor 10 kΩ
1x Small Servo motor
2x Potentiometers 10 kΩ
2x Knob potentiometers
2x Capacitors 100 uF
Solid core jumper wires
5x Pushbuttons
1x Phototransistor
2x Resistors 4.7 kΩ
1x Jumper wire black
1x Jumper wire red
1x Temperature sensor
1x Piezo
1x Jumper wire female to male red
1x Jumper wire female to male black
3x Nuts and Bolts
Build your own AI microcontroller applications from scratch
The MAX78000FTHR from Maxim Integrated is a small development board based on the MAX78000 MCU. The main usage of this board is in artificial intelligence applications (AI) which generally require large amounts of processing power and memory. It marries an Arm Cortex-M4 processor with a floating-point unit (FPU), convolutional neural network (CNN) accelerator, and RISC-V core into a single device. It is designed for ultra-low power consumption, making it ideal for many portable AI-based applications.
This book is project-based and aims to teach the basic features of the MAX78000FTHR. It demonstrates how it can be used in various classical and AI-based projects. Each project is described in detail and complete program listings are provided. Readers should be able to use the projects as they are, or modify them to suit their applications. This book covers the following features of the MAX78000FTHR microcontroller development board:
Onboard LEDs and buttons
External LEDs and buttons
Using analog-to-digital converters
I²C projects
SPI projects
UART projects
External interrupts and timer interrupts
Using the onboard microphone
Using the onboard camera
Convolutional Neural Network
STmicroelectronics’ wireless IoT & wearable sensor development kit
‘SensorTile.box’ is a portable multi-sensor circuit board housed in a plastic box and developed by STMicroelectronics. It is equipped with a high-performance 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor with DSP and FPU, and various sensor modules, such as accelerometer, gyroscope, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, atmospheric pressure sensor, microphone, and so on. SensorTile.box is ready to use with wireless IoT and Bluetooth connectivity that can easily be used with an iOS or Android compatible smartphone, regardless of the level of expertise of the users. SensorTile.box is shipped with a long-life battery and all the user has to do is connect the battery to the circuit to start using the box.
The SensorTile.box can be operated in three modes: Basic mode, Expert mode, and Pro mode. Basic mode is the easiest way of using the box since it is pre-loaded with demo apps and all the user has to do is choose the required apps and display or plot the measured data on a smartphone using an app called STE BLE Sensor. In Expert mode users can develop simple apps using a graphical wizard provided with the STE BLE Sensor. Pro mode is the most complex mode allowing users to develop programs and upload them to the SensorTile.box.
This book is an introduction to the SensorTile.box and includes the following:
Brief specifications of the SensorTile.box; description of how to install the STE BLE Sensor app on an iOS or Android compatible smartphone required to communicate with the box.
Operation of the SensorTile.box in Basic mode is described in detail by going through all of the pre-loaded demo apps, explaining how to run these apps through a smartphone.
An introduction to the Expert mode with many example apps developed and explained in detail enabling users to develop their own apps in this mode. Again, the STE BLE Sensor app is used on the smartphone to communicate with the SensorTile.box and to run the developed apps.
The book then describes in detail how to upload the sensor data to the cloud. This is an important topic since it allows the sensor measurements to be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection, at any time.
Finally, Pro mode is described in detail where more experienced people can use the SensorTile.box to develop, debug, and test their own apps using the STM32 open development environment (STM32 ODE). The Chapter explains how to upload the developed firmware to the SensorTile.box using several methods. Additionally, the installation and use of the Unicleo-GUI package is described with reference to the SensorTile.box. This PC software package enables all of the SensorTile.box sensor measurements to be displayed or plotted in real time on the PC.
Learn KiCad with Peter Dalmaris
The Academy Pro Box "Design PCBs like a Pro" offers a complete, structured training programme in PCB design, combining online learning with practical application. Based on Peter Dalmaris’ KiCad course, the 15-week programme integrates video lessons, printed materials (2 books), and hands-on projects to ensure participants not only understand the theory but also develop the skills to apply it in practice.
Unlike standard courses, the Academy Pro Box provides a guided learning path with weekly milestones and physical components to design, test, and produce working PCBs. This approach supports a deeper learning experience and better knowledge retention.
The box is ideal for engineers, students, and professionals who want to develop practical PCB design expertise using open-source tools. With the added option to have their final project manufactured, participants complete the programme with real results – ready for use, testing, or further development.
Learn by doing
Build skills. Design real boards. Generate Gerbers. Place your first order. This isn’t just a course – it’s a complete project journey from idea to product.
You’ll walk away with:
Working knowledge of KiCad’s tools
Confidence designing your own PCBs
A fully manufacturable circuit board – made by you
What's inside the Box (Course)?
Both volumes of "KiCad Like a Pro" (valued at €105)
Vol 1: Fundamentals and Projects
Vol 2: Advanced Projects and Recipes
Coupon code to join the bestselling KiCad 9 online course by Peter Dalmaris on Udemy, featuring 20+ hours of video training. You'll complete three full design projects:
Breadboard Power Supply
Tiny Solar Power Supply
Datalogger with EEPROM and Clock
Voucher from Eurocircuits for the production of PCBs (worth €85 excl. VAT)
Learning Material (of this Box/Course)
15-Week Learning Program
▶ Click here to open
Week 1: Setup, Fundamentals, and First Steps in PCB Design
Week 2: Starting Your First PCB Project – Schematic Capture
Week 3: PCB Layout – From Netlist to Board Design
Week 4: Design Principles, Libraries, and Workflow
Week 5: Your First Real-World PCB Project
Week 6: Custom Libraries – Symbols, Footprints, and Workflow
Week 7: Advanced Tools – Net Classes, Rules, Zones, Routing
Week 8: Manufacturing Files, BOMs, and PCB Ordering
Week 9: Advanced Finishing Techniques – Graphics, Refinement, and Production Quality
Week 10: Tiny Solar Power Supply – From Schematic to Layout
Week 11: Tiny Solar Power Supply – PCB Layout and Production Prep
Week 12: ESP32 Clone Project – Schematic Design and Layout Prep
Week 13: ESP32 Clone – PCB Layout and Manufacturing Prep
Week 14: Final Improvements and Advanced Features
Week 15: Productivity Tools, Simulation, and Automation
KiCad Course with 18 Lessons on Udemy (by Peter Dalmaris)
▶ Click here to open
Introduction
Getting started with PCB design
Getting started with KiCad
Project: A hands-on tour of KiCad (Schematic Design)
Project: A hands-on tour of KiCad (Layout)
Design principles and PCB terms
Design workflow and considerations
Fundamental KiCad how-to: Symbols and Eeschema
Fundamental KiCad how-to: Footprints and Pcbnew
Project: Design a simple breadboard power supply PCB
Project: Tiny Solar Power Supply
Project: MCU datalogger with build-in 512K EEPROM and clock
Recipes
KiCad 9 new features and improvements
Legacy (from previous versions of KiCad)
KiCad 7 update (Legacy)
(Legacy) Gettings started with KiCad
Bonus lecture
About the Author
Dr. Peter Dalmaris, PhD is an educator, an electrical engineer and Maker. Creator of online video courses on DIY electronics and author of several technical books. As a Chief Tech Explorer since 2013 at Tech Explorations, the company he founded in Sydney, Australia, Peter's mission is to explore technology and help educate the world.
What is Elektor Academy Pro?
Elektor Academy Pro delivers specialized learning solutions designed for professionals, engineering teams, and technical experts in the electronics and embedded systems industry. It enables individuals and organizations to expand their practical knowledge, enhance their skills, and stay ahead of the curve through high-quality resources and hands-on training tools.
From real-world projects and expert-led courses to in-depth technical insights, Elektor empowers engineers to tackle today’s electronics and embedded systems challenges. Our educational offerings include Academy Books, Pro Boxes, Webinars, Conferences, and industry-focused B2B magazines – all created with professional development in mind.
Whether you're an engineer, R&D specialist, or technical decision-maker, Elektor Academy Pro bridges the gap between theory and practice, helping you master emerging technologies and drive innovation within your organization.