Open Hardware & RISC-V

The Linux Kernel project is dropping the requirement to tag LLM-assisted commits and is integrating Meta's LLMs to assist with patch reviews and commit messages.

Framework Computer has opened pre-orders for a new 192GB configuration of Framework Desktop with AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor, targeting local AI inference workloads.

Alibaba's XuanTie team has achieved an on-chip AI milestone by running a 27-billion-parameter large language model at over 30 tokens per second on a RISC-V-based C950 processor without a separate GPU or NPU.

SpacemiT's V100 is claimed to be the first processor to fully comply with the RISC-V Server Specification, enabling mainstream Linux distributions to boot without platform-specific modifications.

The 192GB Framework Desktop features AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processor, allowing for larger AI models to be loaded into memory.

An open-source project by Samuel Reynolds uses an undocumented ROM command to expose raw I/Q samples from the Semtech LR2021 LoRa transceiver, turning it into a wideband SDR without external hardware.

A homebrew method for fabricating silicon photovoltaic cells using a microwave kiln and spin-coating has demonstrated approximately 5% efficiency with room for improvement.

Adafruit released Crankfruit, an open hardware game console built on the Fruit Jam board that plays Playdate-style Lua games with a crank controller over HDMI.

A developer used Claude Opus 5.5 to reverse-engineer dozens of classic 68000 Macintosh programs into native macOS apps running on Swift or C with SDL.

StubbyDevs released a driver that uses the ESP32-S3's LCD_CAM peripheral with GDMA to drive SM16380 S-PWM HUB75 LED panels without flicker or tearing.

Etherbulb is GPL-3.0-or-later firmware that repurposes an ESP32-C3 smart bulb as a receive-only 2.4 GHz RF monitor, displaying signal types through color-coded light output with no cloud dependency.

Robin Cole published a self-contained UK train departure board that runs directly on the Pimoroni Presto without any Raspberry Pi, server, or cloud proxy.

Vacuula published a self-hosted open-source replacement server that restores functionality to Neato robot vacuums orphaned when the company shut down in 2023.

TechPaula released a second revision of the LT6502 open hardware laptop, dropping the expansion port in favor of an integrated modem and SID sound chip.

A developer released a bare-metal NTSC NES emulator for Raspberry Pi Pico W, Pico 2 W, and Pi 4 that runs without any SDK or RTOS, using a custom toolchain called PureMetalForge.

DragonOS radio-forward Linux distribution now includes a standalone C-based sniffer that can detect and decode Meshtastic traffic across the protocol's bandwidth without requiring GNU Radio.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed TwinX, a pair of wheeled-legged robots that connect via a retractable Dyneema wire to form a quadruped, swerve-drive vehicle, or mobile manipulator.

An open-source 3D-printable micro-manipulator project released version 4.0 with redesigned ball joints, improved mechanical constraints, and g-code tool support.

Adafruit released a new open hardware breakout board that converts a single USB connection to two independent UART serial ports using the CP2105 chip.

A new Pimoroni Learn tutorial demonstrates WAV audio playback and tone generation on the Tiny FX board using MicroPython, with a sample Ghostbusters ECTO-1 siren project.

Kristijonas Adomaitis released OnAir, a GPL v3+ SDR receiver supporting 120 modes including digital TV, DAB+, satellite, and amateur radio protocols across macOS, Windows, Linux and Android.

The Open Embedded Probe project has released its first protocol specification aiming to let embedded-development probes and host software from different vendors interoperate.

RemoveMacAI is an open-source debloater that gives Mac users centralized control to disable Apple Intelligence features, delete their multi-gigabyte models, and block re-downloads.

CircuitPython 11 enables real-time text-to-speech synthesis directly on microcontrollers using two open-source speech models selected for different hardware capabilities.

Adafruit released a USB-C breakout board built around the Silicon Labs CP2105 that exposes two independent UART ports through a single USB connection.

Arduino's VENTUNO Q AI board moves from its $299 introductory price to a permanent $399 retail price, citing rising memory component costs.

Seeed Studio supplied Grove hardware and on-site mentorship to 100 engineers at hackTurin, a 48-hour hardware hackathon in Arduino's hometown.

Yeo Kheng Meng released open-source USB3.0 and experimental USB4/Thunderbolt drivers for Windows 98 through Windows 7, along with a QEMU fork that emulates USB4/Thunderbolt hardware for retro-computing development.

A framed datagram carried by carrier pigeon in a 2001 BLUG networking experiment sold at Christie's for $20,480, far exceeding the $3,000 estimate.

A home-built absorption cooling system achieved 5°C using only a fire-heated saltwater solution, a small solar panel for pumps, and no conventional refrigerants.

Adafruit released Pixie, a 3W chainable smart LED with an onboard Microchip PIC that handles PWM and forwards data along chains at 115200 baud.

A BeagleBoard.org developer documented setting up TFTP/NFS network boot on BeaglePlay, eliminating physical SD card transfers for kernel and module testing.

An ESP32-based open hardware board runs an evolutionary algorithm to dynamically reconfigure RC filter circuits for changing signal environments.

Two projects, BirriaSDR and Mtk79ICAP, have independently developed open-source drivers that turn the common MediaTek MT7921AU Wi-Fi adapter into a software-defined radio.

A maker built a dollhouse-sized arcade cabinet that streams DOS games over Wi-Fi from a PC, using only the built-in motion sensor and screen-press button of an M5Stack AtomS3R for controls.

Joshua Bird's experimental single-propeller drone uses a hinged propeller hub and custom motor control to achieve stable flight, with project files now available on GitHub.

A new open source game engine written in Go allows games to run on both web browsers and custom Raspberry Pi-based Nokia 3310 hardware.

Independent researchers have discovered ways to access raw IQ data and transmission capabilities in common chips like the ESP32 and LR2021 LoRa.

SolidCraft is an open source, Rust-based parametric CAD suite designed for desktop, browser, and automated workflows.

TAKTO is an open-source hand-tracking system that uses magnetic encoders and actuators to provide both tracking and haptic feedback.

The Fairbuds 2 earbuds feature a design that allows for easy battery swaps and PCB access with minimal use of glue.

A new CircuitPython Parsec implementation allows users to use STEMMA QT connectors as plug-and-play GPIO pins.

Braino! is a GPLv3 software suite that transforms the low-cost Cheap Yellow Display into an offline, ad-free educational device for children.

The DNSSEC root key has undergone its second major rotation since implementation, while hardware wallet users face sophisticated physical implants in the supply chain.

A new research paper analyzes the practical performance differences between Zigbee and Matter over Thread in real-world IoT deployments.

Microsoft is forming a new group called Xbox Labs to embrace and work with AI-driven game decompilation efforts.

The LR2021 LoRa chip has been found to have a hidden software-defined radio mode, similar to the recently discovered ESP32 capability.

Researchers have developed a method to create shape-sensing sheets using optical waveguide arrays, which can track the configuration of objects.

The original design documents for the Ferranti ULA used in Sinclair computers have been made available after being purchased on eBay.

The Arduino Nano Matter board can now communicate using the Zigbee protocol after updating the Arduino core for Silicon Labs to version 5.0.

Arduino has released a new USB-connected camera designed to simplify edge AI and computer vision projects with its single-board computers.

Mukesh Sankhla designed an affordable automated PCB inspection system using an Arduino UNO Q board and Edge Impulse vision models.

Khronos has ratified and published OpenXR extensions that let XR applications create system-managed spatial containers for multitasking, with implementations expected across the ecosystem during 2026.

The Raspberry Pi team has released Maker Lab, a free iPhone game developed with the assistance of AI tools in just 12 days.

A RISC-V International mentee developed two new tools, the ISA Configuration Builder and the Extension Sandbox, to aid in RISC-V processor core development.