New open hardware designs released for MSX video emulation and robotics interfaces
Three distinct open-source hardware projects—a breadboard power supply, an RP2350-based MSX video cartridge, and a robot interface—have released or updated their KiCad design files and CERN licenses.
Summary
A collection of open-source hardware projects has released updated design files and clarified licensing terms for various embedded applications. These include a dual-rail breadboard power supply, a retrocomputing video solution for MSX systems, and a wiring reference for the Maknae mobile robot.
Each project provides editable KiCad schematic and PCB files, allowing makers to inspect or modify the hardware. While the designs are open, users are cautioned to verify electrical characteristics and specific licensing restrictions, particularly regarding third-party RTL used in the video emulation component.
Technical breakdown of hardware releases
- MSX VDP Cartridge: Utilizes an RP2350 microcontroller to emulate video hardware on the MSX bus, outputting a DVI signal via HDMI; the Rev0.3 design specifically validates with a Waveshare Core2350B2 module featuring 8 MB PSRAM.
- 01-breadboard Power Supply: A compact circuit providing dual 5 V and 3.3 V supply rails for breadboard experimentation, released under the CERN Open Hardware Licence v1.2.
- Maknae Robot Interface: A Rev B perfboard design used as a wiring reference for mobile robot subsystems, updated with CERN-OHL-P-2.0 licensing and supporting LiDAR, SLAM, and RViz configurations.
- Design Tooling: The projects span multiple versions of KiCad, including files compatible with KiCad 8, 9, and 10.0.
Why it matters
These releases provide valuable reference designs for embedded engineers and retrocomputing enthusiasts working with ARM Cortex-M33 based microcontrollers like the RP2350. The use of CERN Open Hardware Licenses ensures that the schematics and PCB layouts remain accessible for community study and hardware modification.
Original reference: blog.tindie.com →