Techbot4

Vibe coded the software, I did this using Google Anitgravity which is so cool and now I can order the part I think, I am going to check with a buddy but I think it’s finished. The main things I needed to code were the features on the Github, I didn’t code the USB HID as it is meant to have custom code from users and the CC1101 I have never used and I have no experience with so I will test it when I get it. (edit: they added a new rule that you shouldn’t show pictures of your code so I just made a mock of what the boot screen will look like using Lopaka, I also can’t delete the old photo)

I forgot to click the enable extension button when working so I only tracked 30 min of work :(. Big changes, first I decided to add a CC1101 module that you can solder directly onto the board. Then I moved some parts around and made the CC1101 module and antenna line up with the board from the bottom so that the USB HID plug in still worked. I then had to move the board out a little to make it have more room and it wouldn’t be in an akward place. I designed it to my liking and there we go, hope that this is the last time I have to change it.

(Edit: I looked back and already had the CC1101 Module talked about)

So I had a massive setback, my current project costs around $180 dollars for 2 full PCBs and I set of battery, screen & connector and buttons. This was a huge problem, I needed to use Economic PCBA but because of the WROOM module it would be impossible. I decided to FULLY restart, I know sounds stupid but I needed to update the whole microchip, screen and all parts so it was like I was starting a new project. I decided to add a few more features onto the board. I added a USB A male to be used as a BadUSB and have pin holes for a CC1101 module to transmit 433MHZ radio waves. It still has the old features as the ESP32 WROOM but now I used the bare ESP32 S3 R8 chip and learned to wire it all myself which I’m very happy about. I picked all parts, wired the schematic and PCB and started designing. I’m not going to lie I had to restart about 3 times, the first was because I couldn’t find a datasheet that matched my chip so I switched back to the ESP32 WROOM but found that there was no way I could get it to use economic PCBA so I switched back to the bare chip and finally got it working. This took around 12 hours but I forgot to click the EasyEDA Wakatime Enable button so it only tracked about 4 hours of work, oh well it’s fine. The PCB was a big task to create as wiring all of those parts so close together was INSANE but I got it and used a copper ground pad and now we are good!

This devlog is just made as I didn’t know that Hackatime made different versions of the same project get logged as different projects. What I did in these 5 hours was really just tweak the design, I made the pillars that sit the PCB higher so the buttons would stick through, and made the holes for the USB-C and Switch line up better, the reason why the holes are so wide is so that I have lots of extra room for the PCB or different types of wires and they still work such as an angled charger. The extra room on the switch is so I can fit my whole finger inside to turn it on and off easily. I also had to make sure the poles that connected the 2 parts worked and then after that I even printed out a test version which worked so good and I’m pumped.

Man it has been a lot I have done, here are the big ones: Fully designed and tested/assembled online the 3D case, Coded the entire project using Googles Antigravity (coolest thing ever %100 recommend) & even had to go back and rewire some of the PCB which was a bummer but its okay because I learned a lot. Google Anitgravity was completly new and the person who introduced it to me? My Dad, the least one I would have expected, he doesn’t code or do any techy things but he had heard about businesses using it and suggested it to me. I tried it with no expectiation but it was in fact absolutly amazing and helped me code it so much faster (and a lot better probably). The rewiring of the PCB was to save money as it cost $25 extra dollars to do one more side which I am NOT trying to do. I am so excited that I’m am almost done the project, LET’S GOO

I worked on routing the rest of the PCB and personalized it to my liking. I then designed the 3D case in Fusion360 and made sure to make holes for all the parts that need to be accessed, created guide poles and filleted it to give it a better look. The PCB creation part was cool to learn how to create a full PCB from scratch without a guide and learned how to add images to the silkscreen on EasyEDA and found out how to make a 3D model directly in the software which is pretty cool. Then I used my knowledge of 3D model design to make an alright looking 3D case. I then used Bambu Labs assembly tool in the design space and found out different parts of my case that needed to be changed. To make sure everything fit together I had to import the PCB, Case and a display model of the display I was using but the model didn’t include the screen part but it was okay and looked pretty cool.

I created the working test device and now know with confidence the code will work on ESP32. I also started to work o the schematic and wiring which was tough with the FPC connector for the EYESPI display but I eventually found the correct pinout(I hope). The test device only uses a OLED and Joystick and a ESP32 Dev Module but I’m glad I have the right working code for that so I can implement it into my real device. I am happy to say the work is coming along much nicer then before, last time I tried to make the TechBot4 I was stuck on the schematic after reading conflicting pins and everything just not working. Today was a big success and I hope do keep the momentum up.

I started working on TechBot4! The main things I acomplished was really just learning how to use different software and hardware. I had tried and failed many things that still take up space on my computer(I’ll delete it later(probably not)). I put together a full part list and why I am making the project as I get sidetracked easily and need to have a clear goal that won’t change unless it needs too. I also started to test some of the code bits I put together on an ESP32 WROOM that I got off amazon. I also got Hackatime on all the programs I think I need so I can save time in the future. The schematic in the photo was just all the parts I had put together, and now that I have a wiring diagram I can start to connect each part. The picture of the Joystick, OLED and ESP32 were from trying to get a few functions of the final product to work so I can see if I need to change anything. Unfortonatly I had some trouble and decided to come back to it another time. Today was just a big learning day about all the neat tech things out there.