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Make: Volume 83 — 2022 Boards Guide
It’s been another tumultuous year in the world of embedded electronics: Supply chain snags have scarcely relented, while new chips jostle for position as the go-to for makers. In this issue of Make:, we look at how scarcity is affecting the industry and impacting new and stalwart boards alike (page 36). We explore how RISC-V chip architecture is putting open silicon in the hands of makers (page 42). And if your favorite board is out of stock, we offer smart substitutes (page 46). Also included is our annual Make: Guide to Boards comparing 79 of the hottest microcontrollers, single-board computers, and FPGAs — with an emphasis on those you can actually get your hands on.
Plus, 25 projects to make, including:
- Use full-color LED strings and a Pixelblaze controller to make cuddly animated pillows.
- Stitch a stylish and sturdy roll-up tool carrier for on-the-go fixes and builds.
- Convert your 3D printer to 5-axis and print the impossible.
- Take control of smart home gadgets with Z-Wave and Raspberry Pi.
- Make a fun paper airplane that blows bubbles as it soars.
- And much more!
On the cover: From left to right: Adafruit Feather RP2040, Arducam Pico4ML, Raspberry Pi Pico W, M5Stack M5Stamp C3U Mate, and Seeed Xiao RP2040. Photos: Mark Madeo and ElectroMage.
Table of Contents
Columns
Welcome: Tilling the Fields of Scarcity
David J. Groom
Flexibility is built into the maker mindset — perfect for weathering today’s supply chain woes.Page 06
MacGyver Challenge: Wildfire Escape
Lee D. Zlotoff and Rhett Allain
Can you MacGyver your way out of a hot spot?Page 07
Made on Earth
Backyard builds from around the globe.Page 10
Features
The Amazing Maker Awards: The Winner's Circle
Meet the prize winners and standout projects from our inaugural Amazing Maker Awards — the Makeys.Page 14
The Amazing Maker Awards: Community Maker Award
Noelle Conover
Given to a person or organization whose work expands the maker community, this year’s award goes to Noelle Conover for her groundbreaking work developing Matt’s Maker Space.Page 21
Best Maker Schools 2022
Dale Dougherty and Jen Blakeslee
College and university makerspaces and programs are on the rise. Here are this year’s standouts.Page 24
A Perfect Circle
David J. Groom
An LED “supergroup” collaborates to create the tiny, mesmerizing Lux Lavalier pendantPage 28
California Fresh
Emma Fletcher
Three California women makers tell why they launched new businesses building and selling kits.Page 30
Now Boarding
Now Boarding
David J. Groom
Need a board? Buckle up for a bumpy ride through all that’s new in 2022.Page 34
When Chips Are Scarce
David J. Groom
Maker companies share how they’ve been impacted by shortages, and what the future looks like. Page 36
A RISC-V Revolution
Gareth Halfacree
Free and open-source silicon is poised to take the maker ecosystem by storm.Page 42
The Replacements
David J. Groom
Unsatisfied with back-orders for your favorite Pi or Arduino? Consider these alternatives.Page 46
Build-a-Board Synth-Pop
David J. Groom
Get an exclusive sneak peek at Arduino’s back-to-basics Uno kit! Page 47
Projects
Pixelblaze Pillows
Debra Ansel
Use full-color LED strings and a Pixelblaze controller to make these cuddly animated throws.Page 48
Waxed Canvas Tool Roll
Becky Stern
Stitch a stylish and sturdy roll-up tool carrier that will last for many tough jobs.Page 56
1+2+3: LED Pendant
Charlyn Gonda
Build a glowing, wearable circuit sculpture. Page 61
Power Through Thin Air
Fredrik Jansson with Charles Platt
Learn how to transmit and receive audio signals on an AM radio carrier wave.Page 62
LED Love!
Lee Wilkins
Cover the LED basics and create amazing light patterns with addressable LEDs and controllers.Page 70
Pi Cam Speed Trap
Ed Hume
Build a motion recorder that analyzes video to catch speeding vehicles on your street.Page 76
Make a Mac Mini Mobile
Nico Jan and Scott Yu-Jan
Hack that powerful Mini M1 with an iPad Mini to make a badass portable computer.Page 84
Kit Cards
Caleb Kraft
Modern model method: 3D print the parts on an old-school “sprue” then snap them off and build. Page 86
The Fifth Dimension
Freddie Hong
Convert your 3D printer to 5-axis, and print the impossible.Page 88
One-Shot Wonders
Caleb Kraft
Design simple mechanisms with moving parts that print in place — no assembly required.Page 92
Long-Distance Emoji Lamp
Bryan Serinese
Build an interactive lamp that sends emojis to its partner — miles away — using LoRa radio modules.Page 94
Remaking History: Christiaan Huygens and the Pendulum Clock
William Grustelle
Build the ingenious gravity-driven mechanism that kept the world’s time for 270 years.Page 100
Electronics Fun & Fundamentals: Analog Reborn
Charles Platt
Before the digital revolution there was analog computing — and it’s making a comeback.Page 104
Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Bubble Plane
Bob Knetzger
Rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper — but bubbles rule them all.Page 108
Skill Builder
Find My: DIY AirTag Tracker
Fabian Bräunlein
Understanding, (ab)using, and extending Apple’s offline finding protocol. Page 110
RaZberry Rescue
Sean Nolan
Take control of smart home gadgets — and revive those zombie bulbs — with a Z-Wave hat for Raspberry Pi.Page 118
Toolbox
Toolbox
Caleb Kraft and David Groom
Gear up with the latest tools and kits for makers.Page 124
Maker Faire Hannover Returns
Maker Faire Hannover Returns
Dale Dougherty
After a two-year hiatus, Maker Faire returned to Hannover, Germany. Here are a few of our favorite moments.Page 128
