Samwise Makers' News
Friday, September 25, 2026
FPGA For All — CERN Releases “colibri” VHDL Library
CERN has released colibri, an open-source VHDL library aimed at lowering the barrier to FPGA development. Published under the Apache 2.0 licence, colibri provides reusable IP cores targeting Xilinx and Intel FPGA families, with standardized AXI and Wishbone bus interfaces, timing constraint files, and simulation testbenches. The project complements CERN's earlier open hardware work, including KiCad component libraries and the CERN Open Hardware Licence, and is designed to eliminate redundant development of common FPGA building blocks across engineering teams. Hackaday described the release as a meaningful step toward broader FPGA adoption outside specialist environments.
Standalone DJ System Runs On ESP32
A maker has demonstrated a fully standalone DJ system built around Espressif's ESP32 microcontroller, requiring no laptop or dedicated mixer. The dual-deck system supports real-time BPM detection and sync, enabling beatmatching via a custom touchscreen interface. Audio output uses the ESP32's I2S interface connected to an external DAC, with tracks stored on a microSD card. The firmware implements cue points, a three-band EQ, and a crossfader. A 3D-printed enclosure houses the electronics. The project shows the expanding capability of single-chip microcontrollers for audio-intensive real-time applications that previously required purpose-built hardware.
Handheld Scanner Is A Radio Multi-tool
An open-source handheld radio scanner featured on Hackaday functions as an RF multi-tool receiving across HF, VHF, and UHF bands from a single portable device. Built on software-defined radio principles, the unit includes a spectrum analyzer display showing real-time signal strength without a connected PC. The hardware pairs an embedded processor with a wideband RF front end supporting AM, FM, SSB, and digital mode demodulation. Rechargeable batteries power field-portable operation. Design files and firmware are published openly, targeting amateur radio operators, security researchers, and RF hobbyists wanting a capable wideband handheld receiver.
A 7-Segment Clock Built With No Digital Electronics
A hardware maker has built a functional 7-segment display clock using exclusively analog components, with no microcontrollers, digital ICs, or programmable logic. Timekeeping relies on resistor-capacitor oscillators and comparators generating stable clock pulses, while decade counter logic is implemented from discrete transistors and resistors. Each display digit is driven by analog decoder circuits reconstructing the correct segment patterns through voltage comparisons. Careful component tolerance selection was required to maintain long-term accuracy. The maker published full schematics, framing the project as an educational exercise in analog fundamentals and a demonstration of what is achievable without digital abstraction.
What Should Pine64 Build With Microcontrollers?
Open hardware company Pine64 has issued a community survey asking which microcontroller-based products its users most want to see developed next. Pine64, known for the PinePhone, PineBook Pro, and PineCone RISC-V board, is considering expanding further into the microcontroller ecosystem with dedicated development kits, sensor hubs, or wireless embedded modules. The company has previously explored microcontroller territory with RISC-V and Arm Cortex-M targets but has yet to release a dedicated MCU platform rivaling Arduino or Raspberry Pi Pico. Early community response shows strongest interest in a Pine64 RISC-V MCU with native open-source toolchain support, integrated Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for IoT applications.
Commodore 128 Becomes Marine Vessel Tracker
A hobbyist has converted a Commodore 128 home computer into a functional AIS marine vessel tracker. The Commodore 128, introduced by Commodore Business Machines in 1985, receives AIS signal data via an external RTL-SDR software-defined radio dongle connected to a companion Raspberry Pi Zero, which decodes the automatic identification system transmissions. Decoded vessel data including MMSI numbers, vessel names, GPS coordinates, speed, and heading are passed over a serial link to the C128, where a custom BASIC program displays ship positions on the machine's 80-column display. The system has successfully tracked real vessel traffic in a nearby waterway.
Solar Powered Traffic Monitoring
Researchers at the University of Cyprus have developed a solar-powered autonomous traffic monitoring system under the AIS4CBM project, led by researcher Marios Christoforou. The unit combines an embedded processor with a solar panel and LiPo battery for off-grid operation, using a camera and edge inference to detect, count, and classify passing vehicles without transmitting raw video. Processed data including vehicle counts, speed estimates, and type classifications are logged locally and reported via cellular connectivity. The solar design enables deployment on rural roads and cross-border checkpoints where mains power is unavailable.
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
OpenMote — $120,345 raised, 827 backers (Crowd Supply, 35 days left)
GB-Link USB V2 — 2,289% funded, $45,792 (Crowd Supply, ends today)
Patternflow LED Synthesizer — 169% funded, $16,920 (Crowd Supply, 14 days left)
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
dsp56300/gearmulator — 80 stars this week (VA synth emulation)
torvalds/GuitarPedal — 48 stars this week (Linus learns analog circuits)
hathach/tinyusb — 20 stars this week (embedded USB stack)
Upcoming Events
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency