🍓 Raspberry Pi systems and applied builds

CubeSats are fascinating learning tools for space (jeffgeerling​.com) . CubeSats and Raspberry Pi-based learning tools, security, and hands-on education with projects like Build a CubeSat and SilverSat

Performant Full-Disk Encryption on a Raspberry Pi, but Foiled by Twisty UARTs (changelog​.complete​.org) . Raspberry Pi full-disk encryption with cryptsetup benchmarks and UART/serial console challenges

Beaks 2 and the Stupid Little Circuits (naich​.net) . Beaks 2 uses Raspberry Pi with simple DIY D/A LED driver, a light meter A/D, and IR vs daylight cameras for birdbox monitoring

Navigating Mars with Rust: Helping the Rover See In Computer Vision (blog​.adacore​.com) . Rust-driven computer vision on a Pi Zero 2W for obstacle detection, D* Lite pathfinding, OpenCV bindings, and a Python bridge

🏠 Home automation, labs, and sensors

Mobile Lab Reloaded – Wheels within Wheels (microship​.com) . 24-foot Wells Cargo mobile lab for Bionode development with folding workbench, 3D printer, rack electronics, solar power, Home Assistant, and Neologism Nomadness

DIY Smart Home Dashboard (thestockpot​.net) . DIY Raspberry Pi 5 wall display using Display 2, PoE, TouchKio, and Home Assistant dashboards

Sunday 14 September 2025 (nedprod​.com) . Ntfy push notifications on OpenWRT with Docker, OpenHAB camera integrations, and battery-friendly Ntfy usage

🐠 Aquarium pH Weirdness (mountainofcode​.co​.uk) . A pH probe shows a light-induced drop; DC mains interference near the pH amplifier; ESP32 data collector; temperature compensation and calibration notes; reworking amplifier

🎮 Playful gadgets: HID, handhelds, and retro controllers

Rumi Sword - KPop Demon Hunters (learn​.adafruit​.com) . Seal Honmoon with Rumi's sword from KPop Demon Hunters; includes TPS61169 LED boost, two pink nOOds, and reinforced 3D-printed blade

How I Turned a $4 Microcontroller into a Rubber Ducky (infosecwriteups​.com) . Using a $4 Raspberry Pi Pico to emulate a USB HID keyboard for rapid payloads, with CircuitPython and Adafruit HID library

Flipper Zero or ESP32 Marauder? (jetgirl​.art) . Comparison of Flipper Zero and ESP32 Marauder for packet testing and security testing on small prototype devices

Use a GBA as a Switch Controller, No Fooling (setsideb​.com) . Using a GBA as a Nintendo Switch controller with Gamecube hardware, cables, and a USB adapter

CL-32 (extrafuture​.com) . Pocketable e-paper terminal with ESP32-S3, backlit QWERTY, d-pad, and expansion port; Hackaday writeup referenced

My Watchy OS (robey​.lag​.net) . DIY Watchy ESP32 with deep sleep, RTC, e-ink UI, NTP, OpenWeather, AirNow, multi-timezone locations, CC0 icons, NVS storage

🧰 Embedded tools, firmware, and debugging

Preview of LibrePCB 2.0's Next-Gen UI (librepcb​.org) . LibrePCB 2.0 adopts a single multi-document window with tabs, Slint declarative UI, Qt coexistence, and improved panels, status bar, and multi-monitor support

Embedded async debugging and inspect-embassy (tweedegolf​.nl) . Prototype inspect-embassy adds async debugging visuals for Embassy on embedded targets with probe-rs and GDB backend

Building Hardware-Enforced Trust into Matter Devices with ESP-TEE (developer​.espressif​.com) . ESP-TEE on ESP32-C6 enables hardware-backed security for Matter devices with DAC/NOC protection and secure OTA via PSA-L2 readiness

Passing a Device Into A FreeBSD Jail With A Stable Name (blog​.feld​.me) . Stabilize FreeBSD device names with devd, devfs, and jail devfs rules to pass a Z-Wave USB controller into a jail via stable symlinks

ESP32 – How to Use Kconfig with ESP-IDF (shawnhymel​.com) . Learn to use Kconfig with ESP-IDF by creating a SAY_HELLO component and configuring it via idf.py menuconfig

What the heck is “sparklinkplayjoy”? (gadgetoid​.com) . SparklinkPlayjoy domain hosts web-based mechanical keyboard software; cross-compatibility across brands like Chilkey, Meletrix, Wuque; driver and firmware quirks discussed

🔧 Repair, rework, and hardware hacks

Use the Force (Feedback) to Solder Small Things (bunniestudios​.com) . Solder small parts by touch using force feedback, knife-edge tips, flux, and temperature-aware technique

HPR4464: Replacing the Trackpad on my Laptop (hackerpublicradio​.org) . Claudio replaces a faulty trackpad on a Clevo XPG Xenia 15 laptop with a replacement part (TDA147011T20) from ebay, detailing hardware repair and upgrade process

New case for AuxPower1U (medo64​.com) . Upgrading to a Cheval PF19AL1UD1 1U case, redesigning aluminium mounting, and addressing venting and grounding for AuxPower1U project

WattBox hacking (nelsonslog​.wordpress​.com) . Hacking a WattBox power strip: Telnet API, Firmware 2.3.0.2, LEDs, FaceplateLedLevel, OvrC, Home Assistant wrappers

1130 MRAM board - failed chips identified and replaced (rescue1130​.blogspot​.com) . MRAM board repair: identifying failed NAND gates and MRAM chip after power interference during Arduino-driven memory tests

SteamDeck upgrades (screamingatmyscreen​.com) . Upgrading a Steam Deck with a new NVMe, hall-effect sticks, re-paste, and Arch Linux setup, plus impressions on performance and components

Rediscovering an old friend… (paxton-road​.blogspot​.com) . Kit design and OO industrial prototypes with James Hilton's Planet Industrials RTR approach and 009 precursor methods

📡 RF, wireless, and radio tinkering

Adventures with a $10 LTE MiFi Dongle (nickvsnetworking​.com) . Explores a $10 LTE MiFi dongle, enabling ADB, DIAG, and ASUS-like diag modes on a UZ801 Android modem using rndis, with QC/diags and Qualcomm Settings

Arkansas Club Shares Ham Radio at Maker Faire (arrl​.org) . BVRC promotes ham radio at Maker Faire, engaging 100+ visitors and highlighting the maker community's information gap on amateur radio

The Cudy AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 System (with OpenWRT) (taoofmac​.com) . Upgrading to OpenWRT on Cudy M3000/AX3000 with OpenWRT, set up via TFTP, and multi-node OpenWRT configuration for 2.5GbE/10GbE network

RFSTAMP44 RF Signal Generator ADF4351 35M to 4.4Ghz Stamp size castellated (circuitvalley​.com) . RFSTAMP44: ADF4351-based 35M–4.4Ghz stamp-size RF signal generator with castellated edges and PIC USB MCU control

Some Fun with Boolean Algebra (n1fd​.org) . Boolean algebra approach to hardware logic: AND, NAND, inverter, and practical lockout circuit using CD4011 on an Arduino-based SSB/ham transceiver

📚 Academic Research

FlexEmu: Towards Flexible MCU Peripheral Emulation (Extended Version) (arxiv:cs) . Flexible MCU peripheral emulation using semantic models to auto-generate hardware simulators across 12 peripherals and 15 platforms

Dynamic Vulnerability Patching for Heterogeneous Embedded Systems Using Stack Frame Reconstruction (arxiv:cs) . StackPatch enables stack-frame reconstruction for hot patching on ARM, RISC-V, and Xtensa MCUs to fix RTOS vulnerabilities in under 260 cycles

Efficient and Accurate Downfacing Visual Inertial Odometry (arxiv:cs) . Efficient VIO pipeline for micro- and nano-UAVs using SuperPoint, PX4FLOW, ORB on RISCV-based ultra-low-power SoCs with rigid body motion easing planar estimation

Securing LLM-Generated Embedded Firmware through AI Agent-Driven Validation and Patching (arxiv:cs) . LLMs generate firmware for FreeRTOS via QEMU; AI agents validate, patch, and optimize security and performance using CWE-guided analysis

TurboFuzz: FPGA Accelerated Hardware Fuzzing for Processor Agile Verification (arxiv:cs) . TurboFuzz: end-to-end FPGA-accelerated verification framework for processor fuzzing, test generation, and coverage feedback on a single device

👋 Before you go

I've got a big favor to ask - keeping Blaze running isn't expensive, but it does all add up, so I'm asking readers like you to help, if you can. That's why I'm launching a Patreon page! . Nothing flashy, just a way for folks who find value in these newsletters to chip in a little each month. In return, you'll get:

• Real say in how Blaze evolves — vote on new topics, features, topic curation ideas
• First dibs on merch (details still cooking)
• That warm fuzzy feeling knowing you're supporting something that saves you time and keeps you plugged into great tech writing

If you are getting value from blaze, checking this out would mean the world. And if you can't contribute, no worries—the newsletters keep coming either way, and you can follow along on patreon for free. Thanks for reading and being part of this nerdy corner of the internet. All the best - Alastair.