https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/Project Videos provided by our video content partners about electronic builds, gaming and moreen-USTelligent Community 12https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/3748/project-video-release-archiveThu, 14 May 2026 14:06:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:59ab0abe-b32d-47f9-b00c-4b73b01f3bd8e14sbhargavProject Video Releases element14 presents | Meet the Hosts Episode 714: Find EMI Fast with a Low‑Cost, Automated Way to See Where Your PCB Radiates Episode 713: How to Make an LED Sculpture React to Sound with micro:bit Episode 712: Designing a More Capable Dual Motor Driver Beyond the L298N (What worked and what didn't) Episode 711: Modern Edge AI on Raspberry Pi 5 for an Animatronic Tracker: Vision Acceleration with AI Hat+ and AI Camera Episode 710: Your First Real PCB in KiCad : An Arduino Compatible Board Designed from Scratch Episode 709: Was that my Number!? Fixing Café Order Chaos with a Raspberry Pi Announcer Episode 708: Reviving a Vintage LED Sign with Arduino and PS/2 Control Episode 707: Building a Circuit Sculpture with LED Filament Episode 706: ESP32 + RFID = Smart Access Control in a Simple DIY Build Episode 705: Building a Super Smooth Z-Scale Train Controller with Arduino Episode 704: Hacking an IKEA Desk into a Programmable Electric Workstation Episode 703: How to Set Up the Raspberry Pi 5: Complete Beginner Step-by-Step Guide Episode 702: Build Your Own USB Looper for Serial Debugging and File Transfer Episode 701: From Snooze to Launch: The Arduino-Powered LEGO Alarm Clock Inspired by Artemis 2 Episode 700: How Voice Recognition Works on Raspberry Pi (and Why It’s Easy to Break) Episode 699: GimmeGPIO: A Simple Way to Get GPIO on Laptops and Desktops Episode 698: Building a Practical Electronics Workbench for Makers and Engineers Episode 697: A Smart, Safe 3D Printer Cabinet Using Raspberry Pi and Node-RED Episode 696: How a Pulse Metal Detector Works, and How to Build One Episode 695: A DIY Test and Programming Rig Built for Small-Batch Electronics Production Episode 694: Earn Your Fitness Reward with a Smart Cookie Jar Using Strava and ESP32 Episode 693: Open-Source Multicolour 3D Printing Upgrade: Clem’s 3D Chameleon Remix Episode 692: Build Your own ESP32 Fitness Heart Rate Monitor / Tracker Episode 691: How Accurate Is Bluetooth Channel Sounding? A Deep Dive with the nRF54L15 Episode 690: Meet the PlatypusBot: Now Powered by Raspberry Pi & ROS Episode 689: How Clem Built a Handheld Sci-Fi Communicator That Really Works Episode 688: Building the Cylon Pumpkin: Combining a Larson Scanner and Vocoder for Halloween Episode 687: Turning a $10 Air Fryer into an Arduino powered Filament Dryer Episode 686: Creepy Motion-Activated Painting You Can Build Yourself Episode 685: When Your Body Becomes the Instrument: Clem Builds the “Dröne” Synth Episode 684: Building an Audio Reactive LED Matrix with a micro:bit and NeoPixels Episode 683: How to Make a Portable Emergency Radio with an Arduino Nano in a Mint TinT Episode 682: DIY RF Modulator + Raspberry Pi Pico = Gaming on a Sony Watchman FD-10A CRT Episode 681: Turn anything into an Arduino Module: Reusing Everyday Electronics Episode 680: From Kit to Custom Design: Building a Tube-Based FM Radio Episode 679: ESP32 Duolingo Owl Project: Never Miss a Lesson Again Episode 678: Open Source ATtiny3226 Arduino Calculator – Hardware, Case & Code Build Episode 677: Make Your Own Vocoder with Teensy 4.0 - Voice of a Cylon?! Episode 676: I Tried Building 16 ATtiny Robots with Vibration Motors – It Was a Disaster Episode 675:Avoid Conflict with this ESP32 Defcon Task Tracker Episode 674: Building an Open Source Blood Pressure & Heart Signal Monitor Episode 673: Building an ESP32 Powered Warhammer 40k Rhino with Dynamic LED Effects! Episode 672: Building an Autonomous LEGO Train with CircuitPython and LIDAR Episode 671: PlatypusBot - Scavenging for Robotics Parts Episode 670: Build your own Larson Scanner Episode 669: Creating an ESD (Or Lightning!) Detector! Episode 668: Designing an Arduino PID Controlled Micro Drone Episode 667: Emulating a Speech Synthesis Chip with an ESP32 Episode 666: How Far Can I2C Go? Episode 665: Raspberry Pi AI Tracking Eye of Sauron - AI AL Barad Dur Episode 664: Learn how to Make a Photo Booth with the ESP32 and Telegram Automation! Episode 663: Upcycling a Vintage Microphone into an Emergency Radio System Episode 662: Making a Stronger Affordable DIY Robot Arm with 3D Printing with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 661: Clem makes his own LED Wristwatch Episode 660: LoFi Beats to Solder To Episode 659: DIY Single Board Computer with ESP32 and Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 658: A Smart Youtube Counter With An Audio Analyzer Episode 657: How to Control a LEGO Mindstorms kit with AI and Raspberry Pi 5 Episode 656: DIY Jig for your Laser Cutter with Custom Arduino Automation Episode 655: DIY Hot Plate for SMD Soldering Using Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 654: How Do BattleBots Work? In the Pit with HyperShock Episode 653: Edge-lit 7-Segment Display Clock Using Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 652: Smart Windows and Blinds with Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 651: Design for Manufacturing - Project to Product by Modifying Off-the-Shelf Cases Episode 650: Using Nordic's nRF7002, My Dehumidifier Tells Me When It's Full! Episode 649: Giant Retro Gaming Magic Mirror with a Raspberry Pi 5! Episode 648: Home AI Image Generation Server with LattePanda and Stable Diffusion Episode 647: Building an Open-Source Tool for Cave Surveying Episode 646: Creating a Digital Roulette Table with an ESP32 DevKit Episode 645: Practical DIY Pi Pico Current Load Circuits Episode 644: Turning a Raspberry Pi Pico into a GPU! Episode 643: Making a Tribble that Detects Klingons Episode 642: Making a Time-lapse Camera with a Raspberry Pi 5 Episode 641: Moon Phase Display with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 640: Tinkering vs Engineering: Can You Build a Laptop from Scratch? Episode 639: Off-Grid Remote Generator Starter? Episode 638: RP2040 PCB: Design, Turn-On, and Debug - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 637: Making Music with a Lego Guitar and Capacitive Touch Episode 636: Creating an IMU based 3D Mouse with an ESP32-S3 Episode 635: Vintage Electronics Exploration with a Bally Cypress Gardens Bingo Machine Episode 634: Craft a Festive LED Christmas Sweater Featuring the ATtiny416 Episode 633: Spying Under the Christmas Tree with an Arduino-powered Ornament Episode 632: Revamping Old School Pinball with an ESP32 Episode 631: All-Purpose Debugging: A Practical Universal Screen with LCD Displays Episode 630: Mega IIe: First Fully Functional Computer built around the Apple Mega-II Chip Episode 629: Backpack Splash: Mark's Water Gun Upgrade for Epic Outdoor Water Wars! Episode 628: Affordable DIY Robot Arm - A Deep Dive into 3D Printing and Servo Motors Episode 627: Creating sudostick - From Prototype to Product Episode 626: Catching you Up on Bonesnapper Ridge - Off-Grid Maker Shop Episode 625: Interactive Magic - Creating an Enchanted Cauldron Episode 624: Modding A Smoke Machine to Add Motion Detection Episode 623: How to Run Linux on an ESP32 Episode 622: Building Spooky Fun: Halloween Sound Pranks with nRF 5340 BLE Audio Episode 621: Color Sensor-Based Water Quality Tracker: DIY Environmental Monitoring Episode 620: Stey-by-Step Guide to Creating your own Speaking Animatronic Hat Episode 619: How to Build an Open Source Bluetooth Mechanical Keyboard Episode 618: Upgrading My Racing Sim with a Force-Sensitive Keyboard Episode 617: Simplify Network Monitoring: Building an ESP32-Powered Solution Episode 616: Mastering Oven Control: Precision Resin Curing with DIY Modifications - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 615: Building a Unique USB Card Reader: From Idea to Prototype Episode 614: Using PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) in Robotics - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 613: Building a Magic Wand Talking Sound Board Episode 612: Handheld BASIC computer in Badge Format with the Arduino Uno Episode 611: How to Run the Distance to the Moon with Strava Data and a Pico W Board Episode 610: How to Embroider with Circuits and Conductive Thread Episode 609: Updating a Fujitsu N860-2500-T111 Keyboard to Work with a PS2 Standard Episode 608: Making the Simplest DIY Wind Energy Generator - How Hard Could it Be? Episode 607: From Strava to Motion: Creating an Arduino-Powered Arcade Game with Running Data Episode 606: How to Use LoRaWAN to Launch Model Rockets Wirelessly Episode 605: Arduino and LEDs Make Solitaire Easier to Solve Episode 604: Charlieplexing Buttons and LEDs at the Same Time - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 603: Create Your Own Air Hockey Table with Arduino Scoring Episode 602: DIY AC Dimmer Circuit: Control Your Lights with a Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 601: How to Reverse Engineer Electronics: Building a Developer Board for a Coding Class Episode 600: Building My Dream Digital Clock: DIY 7 Segment Display with a Cute Robot Twist! Episode 599: How to Build a Spectrum Analyzer with Lego Bricks & Discrete Electronics Episode 598: How To Build a Portable, Solar-Charged Off-Grid Power Station Episode 597: How to Build a Robot that Celebrates Good Grades with Arduino Episode 596: How to Build Your Own Voice Assistant with MyCroft AI - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 595: Member Challenge Accepted - Universal LANC Controller for DSLR cameras Episode 594: Repairing a Neewer 660 Studio light - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 593: Playing 3D Famicom Games Wirelessly on the NES - How Hard Could It Be? Episode 592: Lamptopus: Spinning LED Desk Lamp Episode 591: Building A Bluetooth Speaker in 5 Minutes - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 590: Seven Kingdoms Open Source Bartop Arcade Episode 589: Upgrading the iMac G4 With a NUC Episode 588: Highlights from element14 presents 2022 Episode 587: Create Your Own Talking Stress Indicator Episode 586: DIY Open Source Bluetooth Headphones Episode 585: Enhancing a Magnifying Headband with Auto Sensing Light Episode 584: Going Beyond Periodic Wakes: Using WiFi to Revive a Sleeping Device Episode 583: Epic Neopixel Birthday Cake Episode 582: Smart Christmas Decoration with Raspberry Pi Pico and MQTT Episode 581: Bee-Saving Electronics Prototype Episode 580: DIY Low Cost Capacitance Meter Using a 555 Timer Episode 579: How to Make a Basketball Auto Score Keeper Using Colour Sensing Episode 578: Build your Own Bat Detector with Analog Parts Episode 577: The Game Guy Mini, Upgrading the Unportable Game Boy! Episode 576: Build your own Underwater Drone with 3D Printed Parts Episode 575: How to Make a Secured Parcel Pickup Box with Arduino Episode 574: Ghost Rider Halloween Costume Episode 573: Using a Pi Pico to Convert Keyboard Input to Morse Code Episode 572: How to Use an ESP32 & Camera to Know You've Got Mail! Episode 571: Using Dead Batteries to Test for Dead Batteries Episode 570: Making a WiFi Connected Audio Spectrum Analyzer with ESP32 Episode 569: Multi-Spectrum UV Resin Curing Station with Würth LEDs Episode 568: How to Make a Custom Soundboard with the STM32F4 using FreeCAD Episode 567: Synced NeoPixel Mickey Mouse Ears Episode 566: How to Automate Industrial Welding Positioners with Arduino Episode 565: Measuring Destructive Testing Force with a 20 Ton Hydraulic Press Episode 564: Build a VU Meter with LED Pixelated Nixie Tubes Episode 563: Creating Augmented Reality Circuits with Meta Quest 2 and Unity Episode 562: Pi Home Temperature Monitoring System Episode 561: WiFi to Parallel Port Ascii Art Dot-Matrix Printer Episode 560: Raspberry Pi Controlled Lego Train with Build HAT Episode 559: Create a Magic Makeup Mirror with Pose Detection Episode 558: 3D Object Rendering Using an FPGA Episode 557: Create your own Handheld Serial Monitor for Project Debugging Episode 556: Hacking a Hotel POS Tablet - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 555: Dance Central Pose Estimation Game with Tensorflow and Raspberry Pi Episode 554: Arduino Uno Mini Limited Edition LED Necklace Episode 553: Adding a Parallel Printer Port to an Android Phone Episode 552: Magical Potion Bottle Rack Episode 551: Can We Rebuild a 1930s Accounting Machine? Episode 550: DIY Electronic Controlled Motorized Wheelchair Episode 549: Using a Teletype Machine as a USB Printer with Arduino Episode 548: Electronic Fidget Cube, Building Your Ideas! Episode 547: Creating a “Mummy” Wake Word Detector with Raspberry Pi and Edge Impulse Episode 546: Mapping the Outputs of a 1960s Teletype Machine - How Hard Can it Be? Episode 545: Designing a Custom PCB for Microsoft Jacdac Episode 544: Reviving the 1984 IBM 5155 - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 543: Lego Spike Prime Weather Station with Raspberry Pi Episode 542: A Noise-Free DIY Switching Power Supply - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 541: Vintage Laptop Battery Replaced with USB Power - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 540: Object Detection for Smart Recycling Episode 539: Training a Machine to Recognize Objects - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 538: How to Build a Quadruped Robot - NO MATH! Episode 537: Build a Phonograph Preamplifier - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 536: Interactive Light-Up Window with Pose Detection using a Raspberry Pi and micro:bit Episode 535: Repair a Sega Game Gear - How Hard Can It Be? Episode 534: Open Source Inventory Warehousing System Episode 533: Jumbo DIY LED Episode 532: World’s First Single-Chip Apple II Boots! Episode 531: Game Guy - The Unportable Game Boy Episode 530: MQTT controlled LED Christmas Baubles with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 529: UPDI Program for new ATTiny Episode 528: Let's Build an Electronic Fidget Cube! Episode 527: Interactive Light Up Window using a Raspberry Pi and micro:bit Episode 526: CNC Router Remote Control Episode 525: DIY Helmholtz Snow Globe Episode 524: Arduino IoT Cloud Weather Station Episode 523: Make your Own Auto-Sensing Solder Fume Extractor Episode 522: Siren Head Halloween Wearable Costume Episode 521: DIY Static Grass Applicator Episode 520: Adding Android Auto as Non-Permanent Add-On with Raspberry Pi Episode 519: Make Your Own Ye Olde Book Nook Diorama with Arduino Episode 518: Guitar Vacuum Tube Distortion Pedal Episode 517: Emulate an EPROM - How Hard Could it Be? Episode 516: Modding a Wireless Doorbell with Raspberry Pi and ESP8266 Episode 515: Upcycling a Lenovo PC into a Raspberry Pi WiFi Access Point Episode 514: Making a 3D Graphics Card for the Atari 800 XL Episode 513: Bike Speedometer with Arduino and GPS Episode 512: You Cannot Buy This Vacuum Tube Tester. You Build It! Episode 511: Raspberry Pi Powered Cheeseball Launcher Episode 510: Laser Cutter Command Station Episode 509: DIY Discrete Logic LED Countdown Timer Episode 508: Raspberry Pi FPV Rover Easy Robot Arm Upgrade Episode 507: Massive Raspberry Pi Episode 506: DIY Star Trek Tricorder from Build Inside the Box Episode 505: Super 8 Camera Digitizer Episode 504: DIY Sump Pump Alarm Episode 503: Meet Cheesoid - The Robot That Smells! Episode 502: Make Your Bike a Pokebike! Episode 501: Raspberry Pi NFC Button-Free Music Player Episode 500: Build Inside The Box Challenge! Episode 499: DIY Four Channel Arduino Servo Tester Episode 498: Raspberry Pi Smart Water Dispenser Episode 497: RFID Pocket Money Keeper Episode 496: Compute Module 4 Powered 3D Printer Board Episode 495: Magic GIF Ball Powered By Raspberry Pi Episode 494: Keyboard Shortcuts Keypad with Raspberry Pi Pico Episode 493: NeoPixel 7 Segment Display Clock Update Episode 492: Arduino vs 555 Timer - Tiny Slot Car Racers Episode 491: Arduino Single-Wheel Balancing Robot Episode 490: DIY Raspberry Pi Pico Fizz Buzz Multiplication Game Episode 489: Build An FPV Rover with Raspberry Pi Episode 488: DIY Raspberry Pi Cyberdeck Episode 487: DIY MagSafe Battery Charger Episode 486: Make The Ultimate Phone Charging Camping Flashlight Episode 485: How To Make A Custom PCB From Design To Assembly Episode 484: Raspberry Pi Bird Watching Camera Episode 483: DIY Miniature Multimeter Episode 482: Gigantic 3D Printed 7 Segment Display Clock Episode 481: DIY LOST Swan Station Split Flap Display Timer Episode 480: DIY Toothbrush Timer Episode 479: Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 2 Episode 478: Upgrading A Christmas Train Episode 477: Metal Plate Your 3D Prints with a DIY Galvanizing Machine Episode 476: IoT Arduino NTP World Clock with SPI Display Episode 475: DIY Wall Mounted Arduino Barometer Episode 474: Continuum Robot Tentacle Prototype Episode 473: Mendel 3D Printer Upgrade and Maintenance Episode 472: DIY Hydration Reminder System Episode 471: DIY Dance Dance Revolution Mat Episode 470: Voice Activated Inspector Gadget Hat Episode 469: Nintendo Super Scope Modded For Modern Televisions Episode 468: Socially Distanced Halloween Candy Dispenser Episode 467: Repairing the World's First Laptop! (Epson HX-20) Episode 466: Arduino-powered Hexadecimal Color Code Clock Episode 465: Lego Raspberry Pi HQ Camera Episode 464: Particle Voice Recognition for Home Appliances Episode 463: Raspberry Pi Speech to Text LED Face Mask Episode 462: Joycon Controlled Electronic Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots Episode 461: Portal 2 Security Camera with Raspberry Pi 2 Episode 460: Trinamic Open Source Ventilator (TOSV) Teardown Episode 459: Raspberry Pi 4 VR Conference Call Assistant Episode 458: DIY Arduino Automated Metal Bending Machine Episode 457: Raspberry Pi 4 Animatronic Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons Episode 456: Unhackable Arduino Switch Matrix Episode 455: Arduino Unit Conversion Calculator Episode 454: Soldering Up the rc2014 Homebrew Z80 Computer Kit Episode 453: Build an Anti-Troll Bot Using TensorFlow and Arduino Episode 452: Raspberry Pi 4 Experimental Resin 3D Printer Updated! Episode 451: Build an Off Grid Wikipedia with Raspberry Pi Episode 450: Sega GameGear Rebuild with LEDs Episode 449: DIY Tamagotchi - Build a Virtual Pet Episode 448: DIY Raspberry Pi 4 Boxing Game Episode 447: DIY Stop Motion Rig with LattePanda Episode 446: Raspberry Pi 2XL Robot Assistant Part 1 Episode 445: Raspberry Pi 4 Animatronic BD-1 Companion Robot Episode 444: Raspberry Pi 4 DVR Episode 443: Arduino Uno RC Remote - Can It Be Done? Episode 442: Make Your Own Giant Servo Episode 441: Raspberry Pi 4 International Space Station Tracker Episode 440: DIY Arduino Helicopter Collective Joystick Control Episode 439 - Mechanical Arcade Game with Barebones Arduino Episode 438: Smartphone Controlled DIY Rover Using Websockets Episode 437: DIY Motorized Zoom for Your DSLR Episode 436: Automated Raspberry Pi Planet Tracking GOTO Telescope Episode 435: Raspberry Pi 4 Music Player w/Analog Controls Episode 434: Infineon Smart City Model Episode 433: Arduino Based Love Tester Episode 432: Super FX Sword using the BBC micro:bit Episode 431: Room-Sized Studio Light Speakers Combo Episode 430: Flaming Xylophone Rubens' Tube Episode 429: YouTuber "On Air" Light with Particle Mesh Network Episode 428: Raspberry Pi 4 CRT-based VR Headset Episode 427: DIY Retro Gaming Portable on a Budget! Episode 426: Retro TV Ads Holiday Ornament Episode 425: Make Your Own Raspberry Pi 4 Photobooth! Episode 424: DIY Escape Room Puzzle Episode 423: Programmable Arduino Synthesizer Watch Episode 422: Raspberry Pi E-Ink Task Organizer Episode 421: Raspberry Pi 4 Commodore SX-64 Inspired Portable Computer Episode 420: DIY Shapeoko CNC Pendant Episode 419: Altair 8800 Laptop Episode 418: Animatronic Terminator Skull with BeagleBone ® AI Episode 417: #Pipboy 2000 Mk II Episode 416: DIY #3DPrinted Label Spooler Episode 415: Iron Man Helmet Heads Up Display Episode 414: Raspberry Pi 4 Experimental Resin 3D Printer Episode 413: Animatronic Claptrap Case Mod Part 2 Episode 412: Get to Know Your ADC with a DIY Temperature Probe Episode 411: Animatronic Claptrap Computer Case - Part 1 Episode 410: MacPro G5 Cheese Grater with Raspberry Pi 4 Episode 409: Commodore SX-64 Restoration Episode 408: Hand Soldered LED Oscilloscope Episode 407: The Ultimate Raspberry Pi 4 Laptop Episode 406: Automated Robot Artist Episode 405: RC Ornithopter Concept Episode 404: Arduino Powered Close Encounters Midi Light Board Episode 403: Upcycled IoT Coffee Pot Ramen Maker Episode 402: PiPhone++ The Giant Raspberry Pi Flip Phone Episode 401: Matrix Voice Controlled Robot Episode 400: The Ultimate Raspberry Pi Stress Test Episode 399: Candle-Powered Robotl Episode 398: Let Me Out Hooman! Bluetooth Dog Doorbell Episode 397: Steam Powered Retropie Console Episode 396: Arduino Retro LED Matrix Handheld Episode 395: Raspberry Pi Stop Motion Machine Episode 394: Animatronic GLaDOS Head with Raspberry Pi Episode 393: GameBoy Walkman Episode 392: Multi-Line Telephone Intercom Episode 391: First Person View RC Car with PS2 Steering Wheel Episode 390: Retro Texting Smart Watch of the Future! Episode 389: PlayStation Classic Portable Prototype Episode 388: FPGA MIDI Music Synthesizer Episode 387: Rotocell - The Rotary Cell Phone of the Future! Episode 386: Xybernaut Wearable PC Episode 385: 20 PCB Design Pitfalls Episode 384: Retro Gaming Handheld Without a PCB Episode 383: Gameboy Wireless Link Cable (DMG1) Episode 382: Modding a Super 8 Camera into a Digital Episode 381: Reverse Music Box Episode 380: NES Zapper on RetroPie Episode 379: Macroscope Soldering Tool Episode 378: Invader ZIM Animatronic GIR Episode 377: Altair 8800 Replica Episode 376: 4D Gaming with the Matrix Creator Episode 375: Hacked Fetal Detector Music Synthesizer Episode 374: Raspberry Pi Donkey Kong Holiday Ornament Episode 373: Raspberry Pi Fallout Terminal PC Episode 372: Raspberry Pi Auto Etch A Sketch ™ Episode 371: FPGA "Game Genie" for Atari 2600 Episode 370: Raspberry Pi NOAA Satellite Receiver Episode 369: Recreating the Atari Portfolio Episode 368: Arduino Automatic Wire Cutter and Stripper Episode 367: Most Useless IoT Device Ever - Part 2 Episode 366: Infinity Icosahedron Episode 365: Twilight Zone Fortune Telling Machine Episode 364: Raspberry Pi Virtual Reality Arcade #VR Episode 363 - Add a Motor to your Bike with Arduino Episode 362: Most Worthless IoT Device Ever Pt. 1 Episode 361: R.O.B Rebuild and Upgrade Episode 360: Make Your Own Raspberry Pi Cell Phone Episode 359: Make Your Own CNC Pyrography Wood Burner Episode 358: The Shrimp of Terror! Episode 357: Raspberry Pi Asteroid Tracker Episode 356: Bank to the Future with Arduino & TI Episode 355: Raspberry Pi Pirate Radio Episode 354: Tiny Vacuum Forming Machine Episode 353: Program Your Own FPGA Video Game Episode 352: Pripyat - DIY Geiger Counter Episode 349: Raspberry Pi Selfie Rocket See All Previous Episodesepisode releasesfriday_release_archiveelement14 presentsproject videosepisodesfriday releasesepisode release archiveepisode archivefriday release archiveproject_videoshttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/72062/find-emi-fast-with-a-low-cost-automated-way-to-see-where-your-pcb-radiatesThu, 14 May 2026 12:48:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:275ee3d2-d4d7-4986-9692-52a8acf84394e14sbhargavJoin Clem as he builds an automated CNC‑style EMI heatmapping scanner to remove guesswork from near‑field probing during pre‑compliance testing. Using an Arduino Uno with GRBL, professional near‑field probes, and a low‑cost RTL‑SDR, the system scans a PCB in a controlled grid and turns raw measurements into clear EMI heatmaps. Along the way, Clem highlights real engineering challenges, including firmware choices, SDR software limitations, and the critical importance of lowering the noise floor through proper shielding, showing how automation and good measurement practice work together. Watch the Build https://youtu.be/Vh7laroqxZ0 Automating Near‑Field Probing In this element14 presents project, Clem tackles one of the most frustrating and experience‑dependent problems in electronics design: locating EMI emission sources before they turn into expensive compliance failures. Anyone who has been through pre‑compliance testing will recognize the situation immediately. A specific frequency spike, or a narrow band, appears uncomfortably close to the regulatory limit. The test setup shows it clearly, but physically locating where that emission originates on the PCB is a very different challenge. Traditionally, this process involves manually sweeping a near‑field probe across a powered board while watching a spectrum analyzer. It is slow, requires significant experience, and is highly sensitive to probe orientation and positioning. Small changes in angle or height can produce noticeably different results, making repeatability difficult. Clem’s goal was to remove as much subjectivity from this process as possible. Rather than relying on careful hand movements and interpretation, he wanted a system that could probe a PCB in a controlled, repeatable way and generate structured data automatically. “I want to make this process a lot more controllable, repeatable and less dependent on actual expert usage to find the culprit.” The result is a dedicated EMC heatmapping scanner that behaves more like a CNC machine than a traditional test setup. Using Multicomp Pro near‑field probes and a precisely controlled motion system, the machine scans a PCB in a defined grid pattern, producing consistent measurements that can be directly compared across frequencies and design revisions. Standing on Shoulders Then Starting Fresh Clem is clear that the core idea behind the project is not new. Several years ago, other engineers demonstrated that an RTL‑SDR could be used as a low‑cost EMI receiver for comparative near‑field measurements. Inspired by this earlier work, Clem initially attempted to reproduce one of those implementations. In practice, this proved difficult. Software libraries had evolved, dependencies had changed, and the original code no longer worked reliably. Even more importantly, the older project did not align with Clem’s vision for automation, flexibility, and structured scanning. “I tried to get this to run. It’s dependent on some software that since had updates, so it doesn’t work as expected anymore, at least not in my setup.” Rather than patching an aging codebase, Clem made the decision to start over completely. This allowed him to redesign both the hardware control and the software architecture around his own requirements, rather than being constrained by assumptions baked into someone else’s workflow. The result is a system built cleanly and modularly from the ground up. Each part of the workflow, motion control, scan definition, data acquisition, and visualisation, is implemented as a distinct software component, making the overall system easier to understand, debug, and extend. Smart Recycling, Smart Engineering Mechanically, the scanner reflects a pragmatic engineering mindset. Clem reused components from previous projects wherever possible. The frame of an old 3D printer forms the mechanical base, with salvaged stepper motors and drivers handling motion. This approach keeps costs low and reinforces that the project is a functional tool rather than a polished commercial product. The probe itself only moves in X and Y. The Z height is set manually once and remains fixed for the duration of a scan. This simplification reduces mechanical complexity and removes another variable that could affect measurement repeatability. Once the user interactively defines the scan area by jogging the probe to the lower‑left and upper‑right corners of the region of interest, GRBL dynamically generates the zig‑zag toolpath. Clem deliberately chose GRBL 1.1 running on an Arduino Uno because it provides CNC‑style control without imposing the assumptions typical of modern 3D printer firmware. “What I need is not homing and then executing a job. What I need is total control during the process, like a CNC where it can start and stop and resume.” This design choice is reflected in the software as well. The system does not rely on homing at all. If position is lost, the user simply redefines the scan area. For EMI debugging, where scans often focus on specific subsections of a board, this flexibility is more valuable than absolute positioning. A small camera is mounted above the device under test, but it is not used for alignment or vision‑based scanning. Instead, it serves a documentation role, capturing an image of the DUT after a scan so that measurement data can be visually associated with the physical board. SDR Instead of Spectrum Analyzer One of the most notable aspects of the project is Clem’s decision to use a low‑cost RTL‑SDR instead of a traditional spectrum analyzer. This is not positioned as a replacement for lab‑grade equipment, but as a practical alternative for comparative analysis and source localisation. Clem explicitly warns against poor‑quality SDR clones, noting that unstable hardware can introduce measurement artifacts and waste debugging time. When paired with professional near‑field probes, however, a reliable RTL‑SDR proves more than capable of revealing relative emission hotspots across a PCB. The software is designed to scan multiple frequencies in a single run. At each X‑Y coordinate, the system measures all selected frequencies before moving on to the next point. This approach is reflected in the scanner module, which parses the generated G‑code and interleaves motion with data acquisition. Each scan produces a plain text file per frequency containing X and Y coordinates along with received power in dBm. A secondary script converts this data into heatmap images. This separation allows raw data to be preserved for further analysis while still producing visuals that are easy for humans to interpret. Clem designed the Python code as a collection of reusable modules rather than a single monolithic script. While AI assistance helped with some of the repetitive coding, SDR‑specific functionality required significant manual correction, particularly where libraries had changed since earlier projects. Lowering the Noise Floor In the final section of the video, Clem turns his attention to a topic that is often misunderstood: noise floor reduction. He emphasises that meaningful EMI localisation is only possible if the measurement environment itself is properly controlled. “If the noise doesn’t get any lower, you basically will always measure just a guess.” Simply enclosing the system in a metal box is not sufficient. Effective shielding requires continuous conductive paths, low‑impedance connections between panels, and careful treatment of seams, gaps, and cable pass‑throughs. Clem demonstrates how improper bonding can allow high‑frequency energy to leak through even seemingly solid enclosures. Using conductive tape, proper grounding techniques, and purpose‑built EMI gaskets, Clem shows how reducing the noise floor dramatically improves scan clarity. Once background noise is sufficiently suppressed, subtle emission sources become visible in the heatmaps, allowing engineers to draw much more confident conclusions. This focus on shielding and attenuation reinforces one of the project’s key themes: automation alone is not enough. Reliable results depend on understanding EMI fundamentals and applying good measurement practice alongside clever tooling. Taken as a whole, the automated EMI heatmapping scanner demonstrates a practical, fitness‑for‑purpose approach to a complex engineering problem. It does not claim to replace formal compliance testing, but it provides engineers with a powerful tool for understanding where emissions originate, how they change under different operating conditions, and whether design changes are having the desired effect before committing to expensive laboratory testing. By combining controlled motion, repeatable measurements, and careful attention to the measurement environment itself, Clem shows that EMI debugging does not have to remain an opaque or purely experience‑driven exercise. Instead, it can be approached systematically, with data that supports informed design decisions earlier in the development process, and with some hardware that you have available. Supporting Links and Files - Episode 714 Resources - software license - EMI Mapper on github - RTL SDR Parts and Products Used Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit Ardunio Uno R3 ARDUINO 1 Buy Now Test Equipment Kit, 4x Near Field Probe, 1m Cable, N-SMA Adaptor, Case Multicomp pro 1 Buy NowRTL SDR EMI testingemi heatmap scannere14presents_mayermakesARduino GRBL CNC projectEMC heatmap visualisationpcb emission testingCNC near field probingemc debugging toolsnear field probe PCB scanningEMI source localisationsoftware defined radio emiautomated EMI debuggingdiy emc scannerPCB emi troubleshootingelectronics compliance engineeringEMC pre compliance testingfriday_releasehttps://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/72061/how-to-make-an-led-sculpture-react-to-sound-with-micro-bitThu, 07 May 2026 13:31:00 GMT93d5dcb4-84c2-446f-b2cb-99731719e767:55dfd15b-1653-4f0f-b72c-288e19c21104cstantonIn this video, Natasha continues her LED snowflake circuit sculpture by connecting it to a micro:bit and bringing it to life with animation and sound interaction. She walks through how the LED filament groups are mapped to pins, how early animation ideas evolved once everything was powered up, and how she had to rethink her approach after running into the micro:bit’s analog pin limitations. Along the way, she shares practical build decisions, small problems that nearly derailed the project, and why switching from smooth fades to bold digital animation actually made the final result stronger. The finished snowflake reacts to sound using the micro:bit’s built‑in microphone and sits somewhere between a piece of art, a toy, and a display. Watch the Build https://youtu.be/7b-Bn6DNPyg Animating an LED Snowflake with micro:bit This project continues Natasha’s LED Snowflake circuit sculpture, moving on from the physical build and into animation and interaction. After spending time working with LED filament as a material, learning how fragile it is and how bright it can be, this stage of the project is about figuring out how to animate the sculpture in a way that feels natural once it is powered up. Animation is not treated as a separate technical step, but as part of the same process that shaped the original build. The aim is not to add movement just for the sake of it, but to work out what kind of animation actually makes sense for the shape and layout of the snowflake. From LED Groups to Early Animation Ideas The snowflake is made up of eight separate groups of LED filament, each forming a visible section of the overall design. Electrically, each group is bundled together and connected to a single wire. This means the sculpture is animated by sections rather than by individual LEDs. Before connecting anything to a micro:bit, Natasha powered the LED groups directly to see how they looked when switched on in different combinations. This simple step made a big difference later on. By turning sections on and off by hand, it became much easier to see which parts of the snowflake naturally stood out and which worked better as supporting elements. Some activation orders felt messy very quickly, while others immediately suggested a direction for animation. It became clear early on that the order in which the sections were lit mattered far more than how fast they changed. Prototyping with micro:bit and MakeCode To keep things flexible, Natasha started with a temporary setup using a breadboard‑compatible micro:bit adapter that already had pins soldered on. This made it easy to connect and disconnect the LED groups using jumper wires and spring‑hook leads, without committing to solder before the behaviour was understood. Because the LED groups were not wired to the micro:bit in numerical order, the first challenge in MakeCode was simply keeping things organised. Instead of rewiring the sculpture, Natasha created an array of pin assignments in the code. This made it much easier to experiment with different animation orders without touching the hardware. Early test programs stepped through this array and turned each LED group on and off. While this confirmed that everything was wired correctly, it also showed that a basic linear sequence did not really suit the snowflake. From there, the focus shifted to how the snowflake is actually laid out. The centre sections felt like obvious starting points, with outer layers responding after. Animations began to feel more like bursts that spread outward, with secondary sections filling in behind the main movement. Learning the Limits of Analogue Control The original plan was to fade all of the LED groups smoothly using analogue PWM outputs. With the number of pins available on the micro:bit, this seemed like it should work. In practice, only a few groups would fade correctly at the same time. After some troubleshooting, the reason became clear. Even though many micro:bit pins appear to support PWM, only three analogue outputs can be used at once. Trying to use more than that causes the others to stop working. At that point, there was a decision to make. Switching to a different microcontroller would have solved the problem, but it would also have meant rethinking parts that had already been chosen for this build, including the edge connector and mounting method. Instead, Natasha chose to work within the limitation. By dropping the idea of smooth fades and focusing on digital on and off animation, the sculpture actually started to look better. The sharper transitions suited the snowflake’s graphic shape, and the animations felt clearer and more intentional. What started as a frustration ended up defining the final look of the piece. Final Assembly and Practical Details Once the pin assignments and animation approach were decided, the sculpture was soldered permanently to a micro:bit edge connector. Each copper wire was bent into a small hook, threaded through the connector holes, and soldered securely. Excess wire was trimmed away to keep everything neat. Mounting the connector brought its own challenges. Because it sat close to the edge of the wooden block, machine screws were used instead of wood screws to avoid damaging the edge. The micro:bit was mounted upside down on the back of the block, keeping it out of sight while still easy to access. One last practical issue came up late in the build. With the micro:bit mounted so close to the block, a standard USB cable would not fit. A USB turnaround adapter solved the problem, redirecting the cable and switching the connection to USB‑C at the same time. It is a small part, but without it the whole mounting approach would have needed to change. Adding Sound Interaction and Looking Ahead For interactivity, Natasha used the micro:bit’s built‑in microphone. This kept the project simple while still allowing the snowflake to respond to its surroundings. Loud sounds trigger bursts of animation, making the sculpture react to voices, laughter, and music. Using analogue volume levels was tested briefly, but the results did not look right. Differences in brightness between layers felt accidental rather than deliberate, which reinforced the decision to stick with bold digital animation. In its finished form, the animated snowflake feels playful and responsive. It invites interaction and rewards experimentation, working equally well as a decorative object, a light sculpture, and something to simply play with. More than anything, this project shows how useful constraints can be. Limits in hardware, pins, and physical space did not get in the way of the outcome. They shaped it. With LED filament now firmly established as a favourite material, this snowflake feels less like a final piece and more like the start of whatever comes next. Supporting Links and Files - Building a Circuit Sculpture with LED Filament -- Episode 707 Bill of Materials Product Name Manufacturer Quantity Buy Kit Micro:bit SBC, BBC MICRO:BIT SINGLE, V2.21, nRF52833 micro:bit 1 Buy Now micro:bit Edge Connector kitronik 1 Buy Now Perf Board phoenix contact 1 Buy Now Additional Parts Product Name Manufacturer Quantity LED Filaments Pretyzoom 1 20 Guage Copper Wire Therwen 1 Small LED Snowflake anso 1 .LED sculpturecircuit sculpturesound controlled LEDsmicro:bit projectsound reactive LEDsdigital LED animationsoldered LED projectmicro:bit animationinteractive light sculptureLED art electronicse14presents_natashaLED filament sculpturemicro:bit microphone projectfriday_release