Volodymyr explains how to embed any language (that compiles to wasm) into a native module, Matt gives the news round-up.

Volodymyr’s native module work

Compiling Rust, GoLang, Zig, WebAssembly to MicroPython modules

News Round-up

Updates

Moving away from Meetup.com

Despite the 1000-odd users, this will be the last gathering organised with meeetup.com. The service has become very expensive and doesn’t warrant the cost.

I’ll share what we’ll use in the future via all the regular channels (including meetup before we leave).

mpbuild

mpbuild has been overhauled with a much clearer ‘board database’. Further, a request has been made to provide access to the features as a Python module, not just as a CLI app, someething like this:

import mpbuild

mpbuild.build("RPI_PICO2")
# Or build the variant
mpbuild.build("RPI_PICO2", "RISCV")

# Alternatively...
db = mpbuild.database()
db.boards["RPI_PICO2"].build()
db.boards["RPI_PICO2"].variants["RISCV"].build()

That’s not ready yet, but isn’t far away - and will make integration into other tools much easier.

mpbuild is still not quite ready for widespread release…but getting very close! Special thanks to Oliver, Andrew, Jos and Hans for their early contributions.

Hans and his Tentacles

I’ve just received the prototype Tentacles from Hans! If anyone would like to help progress automated HIL testing on MicroPython please get in contact with me; we’re looking for folks that could help run tests on devices using the Tentacles.

MicroPython Memory Profiler

Planet Innovation - the company that employs Andrew and I - have agreed to release the MicroPython Memory Profiler. It’s an in-house tool originally written mostly by Damien for a project where fragmented memory was an issue when running a device for many hours/days.

Quick demo!

Headlines

Raspberry Pi RP2350 Errata 9

After all the excitement of the RP2350 announcement, unfortunately a fairly nasty hardware issue has been discovered. Errata 9 or E9 affects all GPIOs when in input mode - it seems like this means that internal pull-downs can’t be used when the pin is in input mode.

Details are still emerging. Hackaday have been reporting on the issue pretty clearly, take a look at Raspberry Pi RP2350-E9 Erratum Redefined As Input Mode Leakage Current

PyCon AU

Would folks be interested in attending a sprint day or two after the main event?

Espressif DevCon 24

As mentioned last month, Espressif DevCon was on from September 3-5. The 28 talks are now available on YouTube.

Matt’s New Hardware

Not many, but some grunty little ‘toys’, both discussed last month but are now here in the flesh. Haven’t had a chance to use them yet but they sure are pretty.

ESP32-P4

Specs:

• ESP32-P4: Dual-core 400MHz RISC-V
• ESP32-C6 for wifi/ble
• AI acceleration with 32MB PSRAM and 16MB flash
• Optional camera
• Optional display

01Studio K230 Dev Board

Specs:

• Kendryte K230: Dual-core RISC-V 1.6GHz/800MHz
• 1GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Optional 800x480 3.5” display (cap touch also optional)
• 1080P/60fps camera (up to 3x 1080P camera inputs)
• Wired Eth & Wifi
• 5xUART, 5xI2C, 6xPWM, 64xGPIO, 3xSPI
• 1080P HDMI output
• 4 lane 1080P MIPI display output
• 40 pin RPi header
• MicroPython port with OpenMV support
  • Many computer vision examples (Face recognition, Barcode/QR code, YOLO object detection)

Hardware News

M5Stack

AtomS3R

M5Stack have release a second S3-based Atom, the AtomS3R. The improvements over the original AtomS3 is that this has 8MB of PSRAM, a more powerful IMU system and a better antenna arrangement.

US$17.50 (US$2 more expensive than the original)

AtomS3R Cam

There’s a new camera too, the Atom S3R-Cam, the first in the Atom form factor. Take the AtomS3R, remove the display and replace it with a 0.3MP camera.

US$20

Roller485 [Lite]

Two new interesting brushless DC motors were released. The Roller485 and Roller485 Lite are 5/6-16V-powered motors. They have encoders, a built-in STM micro for control and RS-485 or I2C interfaces. There’s even a small display on the rear for configuration.

There’s a Grove port, connected via a slip-ring, on the non-Lite version (to connect Grove to the )

US$37 or $30 for the Lite

Makerdiary i.MX RT1011 Nano Kit

The i.MX RT1011 Nano Kit is a new board for sale at Makerdiary. I’m becoming quite a fan of the RT range from NXP! If you want to try one out, this is a great board to start with.

• NXP i.MX RT1011 500MHz Cortex M7
• 128KB RAM, 16MB flash

US$15

Cytron IRIV IO Controller

Cytron have released the Cytron IRIV IO Controller, an RP2350-based industrial controller.

Control isolated IO (11 input, 4 output, 2 analog in) up to 50V over Ethernet with RS485 thrown in for good measure.

Looks like good documentation and they advertise MicroPython support.

US$65

Other news

C++ vs MicroPython

Kevin McAleer dons the fireproof suit and asks which language is best?

Design an RP2040 board with KiCad (and a handy humble bundle)

Raspberry Pi released a new book: Design an RP2040 board with KiCad. It’s a really clear guide on how to lay out a PCB using KiCAD for the RP2040. It’s £14.99 or you can purchase the Raspberry Pi and Retro Gaming Book Bundle from Humble Bundle for AU$35 until Oct 5.

MicroPython on the Flipper Zero

MicroPython is now available on Flipper Zero via Flipper Labs.

Docs are available as is the full source code.

Just take care if you’re in Canada!

Final Thoughts

ABENICS joint

I can’t stop thinking about this amazing spherical joint.

If you’re interested in reading more, it’s published on IEEE: ABENICS: Active Ball Joint Mechanism With Three-DoF Based on Spherical Gear Meshings.

Thanks folks