When you experiment with the Raspberry Pi on a regular basis and you connect a variety of external hardware to the GPIO port via the header you may well have caused some damage in the past. The Elektor Raspberry Pi Buffer Board is there to prevent this! The board is compatible with Raspberry Pi Zero, Zero 2 (W), 3, 4, 5, 400 and 500.
All 26 GPIOs are buffered with bi-directional voltage translators to protect the Raspberry Pi when experimenting with new circuits. The PCB is intended to be inserted in the back of Raspberry Pi 400/500. The connector to connect to the Raspberry Pi is a right angled 40-way receptacle (2x20). The PCB is only a fraction wider. A 40-way flat cable with appropriate 2x20 headers can be connected to the buffer output header to experiment for instance with a circuit on a breadboard or PCB.
The circuit uses 4x TXS0108E ICs by Texas Instruments. The PCB can also be put upright on a Raspberry Pi.
Downloads
Schematics
Layout
This hands-on bundle lets you build real Edge AI applications with the Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ (13 TOPS)
The Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ (13 TOPS) is an expansion board designed for the Raspberry Pi 5, featuring an integrated Hailo AI accelerator. This add-on offers a cost-effective, efficient, and accessible approach to incorporating high-performance AI capabilities, with applications spanning process control, security, home automation, and robotics.
The AI HAT+ connects via the Raspberry Pi 5’s PCIe Gen3 interface. When the Raspberry Pi 5 is running a current version of the Raspberry Pi OS, it automatically detects the onboard Hailo accelerator, making the neural processing unit (NPU) available for AI tasks. Additionally, the rpicam-apps camera applications included in Raspberry Pi OS seamlessly support the AI module, automatically using the NPU for compatible post-processing functions.
Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3
Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 is a compact camera from Raspberry Pi. It offers an IMX708 12-megapixel sensor with HDR, and features phase detection autofocus. Camera Module 3 is available in standard and wide-angle variants, both of which are available with or without an infrared cut filter.
Camera Module 3 can be used to take full HD video as well as stills photographs, and features an HDR mode up to 3 megapixels. Its operation is fully supported by the libcamera library, including Camera Module 3’s rapid autofocus feature: this makes it easy for beginners to use, while offering plenty for advanced users. Camera Module 3 is compatible with all Raspberry Pi computers.
Book: Edge AI Made Practical – AI Projects for the Raspberry Pi with the AI HAT+
Edge AI is transforming everyday devices by putting intelligence where it matters most: directly inside the hardware. With on-device inference, a camera can recognize a visitor instantly, a phone can translate speech without streaming audio to the cloud, and a wearable can detect anomalies in real time—fast, private, and reliable even when the network disappears.
This book is your practical guide to building exactly those kinds of systems with the Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ and the Hailo-8L accelerator. You’ll start with clear foundations: core AI and machine-learning concepts, how neural networks work, and what truly distinguishes Edge AI from cloud AI—plus an honest look at ethical considerations and future impacts.
This bundle contains:
Book: Edge AI Made Practical
Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ (13 TOPS)
Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3
Active Cooler for Raspberry Pi 5
FPC Display Cable for Raspberry Pi 5 (300 mm)
Elektor Component Kit
40-pin GPIO Header
Traffic Light Module
LED red 5 V with built-in resistor
LED yellow 5 V with built-in resistor
LED green 5 V with built-in resistor
LED blue 5 V with built-in resistor
Breadboard (400 Tie-points)
10 Dupont wires male-female
DHT22 sensor module
Servo motor
Required
Raspberry Pi 5
This bundle contains the AI Fusion Lab Kit – which includes over 450 components – and the book Physical AI with Raspberry Pi, offering a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to AI, electronics, and Python programming.
Build practical projects that combine computer vision, voice interaction, sensors, motors, and large language models. The included book guides you step by step from Raspberry Pi setup and hardware control to advanced applications using OpenCV, MediaPipe, YOLO, OpenAI services, and local Ollama models.
SunFounder AI Fusion Lab Kit for Raspberry Pi (450+ parts)
The AI Fusion Lab Kit transforms a Raspberry Pi into a complete platform for learning artificial intelligence, electronics, and Python programming. It supports Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, and Zero 2 W, as well as popular AI models and services including ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Qwen, Doubao, and Ollama.
With its camera, Pan-Tilt HAT, 10-axis sensor module, microphone, speaker, and electronic components, the kit enables users to build interactive AI projects that combine voice, vision, movement, and sensor data. It is suitable for beginners, students, makers, and anyone who wants to explore practical AI applications.
Build Multimodal AI Projects
Combine large language models with speech recognition, text-to-speech, camera vision, sensors, and breadboard circuits. Create projects that can listen, speak, see, react, and interact with their environment while learning how modern AI systems work.
Explore AI Vision and Object Tracking
Use YOLO, OpenCV, and MediaPipe to detect and track objects, colors, faces, and human movement. The motorized Pan-Tilt HAT allows the camera to follow targets automatically, demonstrating how computer vision and motion control work together.
Voice AI with the Fusion HAT+
The Fusion HAT+ simplifies hardware control through a unified Python library and supports safe Raspberry Pi shutdown. Its integrated microphone and speaker make it easy to develop voice-controlled assistants and other conversational AI applications.
Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5, 4B, 3B+, 3B, and Zero 2 W
Supports multiple cloud-based and local AI models
Includes camera, Pan-Tilt HAT, 10DOF module, microphone, and speaker
Projects covering voice AI, computer vision, sensors, and electronics
Video lessons, documentation, and sample code
Book: Physical AI with Raspberry Pi
Using the Raspberry Pi and the AI Fusion Lab Kit, this book takes you step by step from the fundamentals of hardware interfacing to the development of intelligent systems capable of seeing, listening, speaking, and making decisions. Whether you are a student, educator, maker, or professional engineer, you will gain valuable experience through projects designed to build both knowledge and confidence.
Beginning with system setup, GPIO programming, sensors, displays, motors, and automation techniques, the book gradually introduces more advanced topics, including speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, conversational AI, object recognition, and machine learning. Along the way, you will learn how to create voice-controlled devices, intelligent assistants, camera tracking systems, environmental monitoring solutions, and AI-powered embedded applications.
Explore modern technologies such as OpenAI services, Ollama local large language models, OpenCV, MediaPipe, and YOLO object detection while gaining practical experience with real-world applications used in robotics, industrial automation, smart devices, and autonomous systems. You’ll discover how intelligent software can interact with sensors, cameras, motors, and displays to create systems that respond naturally to the world around them.
Rather than simply following code examples, you will be encouraged to experiment, customize, and expand every project. The techniques and skills developed throughout this book provide a solid foundation for future innovation, rapid prototyping, research, and product development. If you are ready to move beyond traditional electronics and explore the future of intelligent embedded systems, this book will guide you every step of the way.
This bundle contains:
SunFounder AI Fusion Lab Kit for Raspberry Pi (normal price: €100)
Book: Physical AI with Raspberry Pi (normal price: €45)
Not included
Raspberry Pi
Hands-on in more than 50 projects
STM32 Nucleo family of processors are manufactured by STMicroelectronics. These are low-cost ARM microcontroller development boards. This book is about developing projects using the popular STM32CubeIDE software with the Nucleo-L476RG development board. In the early Chapters of the book the architecture of the Nucleo family is briefly described.
The book covers many projects using most features of the Nucleo-L476RG development board where the full software listings for the STM32CubeIDE are given for each project together with extensive descriptions. The projects range from simple flashing LEDs to more complex projects using modules, devices, and libraries such as GPIO, ADC, DAC, I²C, SPI, LCD, DMA, analogue inputs, power management, X-CUBE-MEMS1 library, DEBUGGING, and others. In addition, several projects are given using the popular Nucleo Expansion Boards. These Expansion Boards plug on top of the Nucleo development boards and provide sensors, relays, accelerometers, gyroscopes, Wi-Fi, and many others. Using an expansion board together with the X-CUBE-MEMS1 library simplifies the task of project development considerably.
All the projects in the book have been tested and are working. The following sub-headings are given for each project: Project Title, Description, Aim, Block Diagram, Circuit Diagram, and Program Listing for the STM32CubeIDE.
In this book you will learn about
STM32 microcontroller architecture;
the Nucleo-L476RG development board in projects using the STM32CubeIDE integrated software development tool;
external and internal interrupts and DMA;
DEBUG, a program developed using the STM32CubeIDE;
the MCU in Sleep, Stop, and in Standby modes;
Nucleo Expansion Boards with the Nucleo development boards.
What you need
a PC with Internet connection and a USB port;
STM32CubeIDE software (available at STMicroelectronics website free of charge)
the project source files, available from the book’s webpage hosted by Elektor;
Nucleo-L476RG development board;
simple electronic devices such as LEDs, temperature sensor, I²C and SPI chips, and a few more;
Nucleo Expansion Boards (optional).
Die WiFi-Module der chinesischen Firma Espressif haben schon längst die Maker-Community erobert, bieten sie doch zu einem konkurrenzlosen Preis MCU- und WiFi-Funktionalität. Mit einfachen Mitteln lässt sich ein Arduino mit einem ESP-Modul um WiFi erweitern. Die globale Bastler-Gemeinde ersetzte schon bald die integrierte Firmware mit eigener Firmware, sodass Entwickler ESP-Boards wie Arduino-Boards programmieren können. Der neue ESP32 geht einen Schritt weiter und ist in jeder Beziehung leistungsfähiger als der ESP8266. Zudem besitzt er nun Bluetooth-Funktionalität.
Der ESP32 verfügt über einen 240-MHz-Zweikern-Mikroprozessor mit einer Performanz von 600 DMIPS. Neben 520 KByte SRAM befinden sich 16 MByte Flashspeicher an Board. Zur Kommunikation mit der Außenwelt enthält das System-on-a-Chip die 802.11-b/g/n-WiFi-Komponente HT40 und Bluetooth-Funktionalität. Als Sensoren bietet der ESP32 einen Hall-Sensor, eine zehnfache, kapazitive Touch-Schnittstelle, einen analogen Verstärker für niedrige Signale und einen 32-kHz-Kristallquartz.
Der Bestseller-Autor Erik Bartmann hat sich ausführlich mit dem ESP32 beschäftigt. Heraus gekommen ist dabei Das ESP32-Praxisbuch, in dem er die Leser Schritt für Schritt in die Arbeit mit diesem preiswerten WiFi-Mikrocontroller einführt.
Learning Embedded Systems with STM32 Nucleo Boards
Embedded programming has become more accessible than ever before. Development boards are inexpensive, software tools are easy to install, and the Arduino IDE provides a familiar environment for creating embedded applications. Combined with the STM32 Nucleo family of development boards, it offers an excellent platform for learning how modern microcontrollers interact with the physical world.
This book introduces embedded programming using the Arduino environment on STM32 Nucleo boards. You will learn how a microcontroller continuously reads inputs, processes information, and controls outputs in a predictable real-time loop. Through practical examples, you will discover how to control LEDs, read switches and sensors, generate PWM signals, drive motors, and exchange data with other devices, all while becoming familiar with the capabilities of STM32 microcontrollers.
Although the STM32 family includes devices with different performance levels, memory sizes, and peripheral sets, they all share the same architectural concepts. Digital and analog I/O, timers, interrupts, PWM, communication interfaces, and low-power operation are fundamental features found throughout the STM32 ecosystem. Understanding these building blocks will enable you to work confidently with a wide range of STM32 devices, from entry-level microcontrollers to more advanced applications.
By focusing on practical programming techniques rather than hardware complexity, this book develops skills that remain useful well beyond the examples presented. Whether you are taking your first steps in embedded systems or expanding your experience with STM32 microcontrollers, you will gain a solid understanding of both the Arduino development environment and the principles that underpin embedded software design.
Practical Multitasking Fundamentals
Programming embedded systems is difficult because of resource constraints and limited debugging facilities. Why develop your own Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) as well as your application when the proven FreeRTOS software is freely available? Why not start with a validated foundation?
Every software developer knows that you must divide a difficult problem into smaller ones to conquer it. Using separate preemptive tasks and FreeRTOS communication mechanisms, a clean separation of functions is achieved within the entire application. This results in safe and maintainable designs.
Practicing engineers and students alike can use this book and the ESP32 Arduino environment to wade into FreeRTOS concepts at a comfortable pace. The well-organized text enables you to master each concept before starting the next chapter. Practical breadboard experiments and schematics are included to bring the lessons home. Experience is the best teacher.
Each chapter includes exercises to test your knowledge. The coverage of the FreeRTOS Application Programming Interface (API) is complete for the ESP32 Arduino environment. You can apply what you learn to other FreeRTOS environments, including Espressif’s ESP-IDF. The source code is available from GitHub. All of these resources put you in the driver’s seat when it is time to develop your next uber-cool ESP32 project.
What you will learn:
How preemptive scheduling works within FreeRTOS
The Arduino startup “loopTask”
Message queues
FreeRTOS timers and the IDLE task
The semaphore, mutex, and their differences
The mailbox and its application
Real-time task priorities and its effect
Interrupt interaction and use with FreeRTOS
Queue sets
Notifying tasks with events
Event groups
Critical sections
Task local storage
The gatekeeper task
Practical Multitasking Fundamentals
Programming embedded systems is difficult because of resource constraints and limited debugging facilities. Why develop your own Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) as well as your application when the proven FreeRTOS software is freely available? Why not start with a validated foundation?
Every software developer knows that you must divide a difficult problem into smaller ones to conquer it. Using separate preemptive tasks and FreeRTOS communication mechanisms, a clean separation of functions is achieved within the entire application. This results in safe and maintainable designs.
Practicing engineers and students alike can use this book and the ESP32 Arduino environment to wade into FreeRTOS concepts at a comfortable pace. The well-organized text enables you to master each concept before starting the next chapter. Practical breadboard experiments and schematics are included to bring the lessons home. Experience is the best teacher.
Each chapter includes exercises to test your knowledge. The coverage of the FreeRTOS Application Programming Interface (API) is complete for the ESP32 Arduino environment. You can apply what you learn to other FreeRTOS environments, including Espressif’s ESP-IDF. The source code is available from GitHub. All of these resources put you in the driver’s seat when it is time to develop your next uber-cool ESP32 project.
What you will learn:
How preemptive scheduling works within FreeRTOS
The Arduino startup “loopTask”
Message queues
FreeRTOS timers and the IDLE task
The semaphore, mutex, and their differences
The mailbox and its application
Real-time task priorities and its effect
Interrupt interaction and use with FreeRTOS
Queue sets
Notifying tasks with events
Event groups
Critical sections
Task local storage
The gatekeeper task
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 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
Enhance your Raspberry Pi 5 with the Pironman 5, built with sturdy aluminum, superior cooling, NVMe M.2 SSD support, OLED display, RGB lighting, standard HDMI ports x2, and a secure power switch. It is perfect for NAS, Home Assistant, Media and Game Centers. The Pironman 5 is not just a case; it’s an upgrade that transforms your Raspberry Pi 5 into a powerful, efficient, and stylish device.
The Pironman 5 includes the Pi 5 NVMe PIP (PCIe Peripheral Board), a PCIe adapter board specifically designed for NVMe solid-state drives. This board supports four sizes of NVMe SSDs: 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280, all of which can be installed in an M.2 M key slot. The connection is certified for Gen 2.0 speeds (5 GT/sec), but can be forced to Gen 3.0 (10 GT/sec) for faster performance.
Expandable NVMe M.2 SSD Slot
Boost your Raspberry Pi 5's performance with the Pironman 5's NVMe M.2 SSD slot, supporting multiple sizes (2230, 2242, 2260, 2280) for increased storage and faster system response.
Advanced Cooling System
Keep your Raspberry Pi 5 cool and stylish with the Pironman 5's tower cooler and dual RGB fans, featuring dust filters for durable, low-maintenance operation.
OLED Display for Instant Insights
The Pironman 5 includes a 0.96" OLED display, providing immediate updates on CPU and RAM usage, temperature, IP address, and more.
Enhanced Functionality and Safety
The Pironman 5 secures your Raspberry Pi 5 with features like safe shutdown, customizable RGB LEDs, HDMI ports, an IR receiver, and an external GPIO extender, enhancing functionality and connectivity.
Features
Raspberry Pi 5 mini PC
0.96" OLED Display showing Raspberry Pi’s CPU usage, temperature, disk usage, IP address, RAM usage etc.
Tower cooler can cool a 100% CPU load Pi to 39°C at 25°C room temperature
2 RGB Fans, with GPIO control
1 PWM Fan on the Tower Cooler is controlled by the Raspberry Pi system.
Supports four (PCIe Gen 2.0 / PCIe Gen 3.0) NVMe M.2 SSD sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280.
4 WS2812 Addressable RGB LED light up the whole case with cool light effect
IR Receiver for multi-media center like Kodi or Volumio
Retro metal power button for safe shut down
External GPIO extender with pin name label, for easy access
Equipped with a spring-loaded socket for easy card removal
Aluminum main body with clear Acrylic side panel
Features two standard HDMI ports
Downloads
Documentation
Pull Down Lever For Highest Score!
This Elektor Circuit Classic from 1984 shows a playful application of CMOS 400x series logic ICs in combination with LEDs, a highly popular combination at the time. The project imitates a spinning-digit type slot machine.
The Game
To play the game, first agree on the number of rounds. Player 1 actuates the switch lever as long as desired and releases it. The LEDs then show the score which is the sum of the 50-20-10-5 digits lit up. If the Play Again! LED lights, Player 1 has another, “free” round. If not, it’s Player 2’s turn. The players keep tab of their scores, and the highest score wins.
Features
LEDs Indicate Score
Multi-Player and Play Again!
Elektor Heritage Circuit Symbols
Tried & Tested by Elektor Labs
Educational & Geeky Project
Through-Hole Parts Only
Included
Printed Circuit Board
All Components
Wooden Stand
Bill of Materials
Resistors (5%, 250 mW)
R1,R2,R3,R4 = 100kΩ
R5,R6,R7,R8,R9,R10 = 1kΩ
Capacitors
C1 = 4.7nF, 10%, 50V, 5mm
C2 = 4.7μF, 10%, 63V, axial
C3,C4 = 100nF, 10 %, 50V, ceramic X7R, 5mm
Semiconductors
LED1-LED6 = red, 5mm (T1 3/4)
IC1 = 74HC4024
IC2 = 74HC132
Miscellaneous
S1 = switch, toggle, 21mm lever, SPDT, momentary
S2 = switch, tactile, 24V, 50mA, 6x6mm
S3 = switch, slide, SPDT
IC1,IC2 = IC socket, DIP14
BT1 = PCB-mount CR2032 battery retainer clip
Desktop Stand
PCB 230098-1
Not included: BT1 = CR2032 coin cell battery
This bundle contains the popular Elektor Sand Clock for Raspberry Pi Pico and the new Elektor Laser Head Upgrade, offering even more options for displaying the time. Not only can you "engrave" the current time in sand, you can now alternatively write it on a glow-in-the-dark foil or create green drawings.
Contents of the bundle
Elektor Sand Clock for Raspberry Pi Pico (normal price: €50)
Elektor Laser Head Upgrade for Sand Clock (normal price: €35)
Elektor Sand Clock for Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi-based Eye Catcher)
A standard sand clock just shows how time passes. In contrast, this Raspberry Pi Pico-controlled sand clock shows the exact time by "engraving" the four digits for hour and minute into the layer of sand. After an adjustable time the sand is flattened out by two vibration motors and everything begins all over again.
At the heart of the sand clock are two servo motors driving a writing pen through a pantograph mechanism. A third servo motor lifts the pen up and down. The sand container is equipped with two vibration motors to flatten the sand. The electronic part of the sand clock consists of a Raspberry Pi Pico and an RTC/driver board with a real-time clock, plus driver circuits for the servo motors.
A detailed construction manual is available for downloading.
Features
Dimensions: 135 x 110 x 80 mm
Build time: approx. 1.5 to 2 hours
Included
3x Precut acrylic sheets with all mechanical parts
3x Mini servo motors
2x Vibration motors
1x Raspberry Pi Pico
1x RTC/driver board with assembled parts
Nuts, bolts, spacers, and wires for the assembly
Fine-grained white sand
Elektor Laser Head Upgrade for Sand Clock
The new Elektor Laser Head transforms the Sand Clock into a clock that writes the time on glow-in-the-dark film instead of sand. In addition to displaying the time, it can also be used to create ephemeral drawings. The 5 mW laser pointer, with a wavelength of 405 nm, produces bright green drawings on the glow-in-the-dark film. For best results, use the kit in a dimly lit room. Warning: Never look directly into the laser beam!
The kit includes all the necessary components, but soldering three wires is required.
Note: This kit is also compatible with the original Arduino-based Sand Clock from 2017. For more details, see Elektor Magazine 1-2/2017 and Elektor Magazine 1-2/2018.
