Maker Lab

Arduino, Raspberry Pi & Automation Projects

Blend microcontrollers with station control, sensors, and dashboards that hold up in the field.

Request Starter Sketch Pack Join a Build Night
12

Documented club builds

4

Shared Git repositories

2 wks

Average prototype cycle

Automation projects teach repeatable skills: soldering, firmware updates, data collection, and remote monitoring. This reference gathers code, wiring diagrams, and deployment lessons so you can build reliable helpers for the shack or field.

All featured projects align with the Modern Website Development Guidelines—clean typography, descriptive alt text, and mobile-ready documentation—so you can share them confidently with schools, scouts, or partner agencies.

Project Roadmap

Pick a project based on complexity and mission.

  • Sensor + Telemetry Node
    Arduino or ESP32 feeding APRS, MQTT, or Winlink gateways for weather and battery stats.
  • Station Automation Controller
    Raspberry Pi + Node-RED toggling relays, rotators, fan control, and event logging.
  • Digital Voice Companion
    Touchscreen hotspot enclosure with Pi-Star, OLED status tiles, and auto failover to LTE.

Toolchain & Libraries

Standardize dependencies so projects are easy to hand off.

  • PlatformIO & VS Code
    Portable environment with reproducible builds and automated library installs.
  • CircuitPython & MicroPython
    Great for rapid prototyping, especially when students are involved.
  • Grafana / InfluxDB Starter Stack
    Containerized dashboards for shack metrics. Template JSON exports available from the club repo.

Field Hardening Checklist

Design for abuse before taking a project outside.

  • Fuse every feed line and clearly label voltage + polarity at the enclosure entrance.
  • Add TVS diodes or MOVs on inputs that touch antennas, rotors, or long sensor leads.
  • Use locking connectors (GX12, Weipu, Deutsch) instead of bare Dupont jumpers.
  • Document startup/shutdown sequences and store laminated cards inside the lid.

Teaching & Outreach Kits

Ready-to-run lesson plans for schools and community nights.

  • Intro to Sensors Lab
    Detect temperature, humidity, and light with serial plotting and CSV exports.
  • Radio Direction Finding Puzzle
    Use a micro:bit compass + audio clues to demonstrate RF triangulation indoors.
  • Packet & APRS Visualizer
    Pi decodes packets and displays live maps so students can “see” the network.

Featured Resources

STEM & Non-Ham Resources Analog RF Fundamentals Backup Power Planning

Share Your Code + BOM

Send a Git repository, PDF build sheet, or video walkthrough. We will archive it and schedule a lightning talk.

Submit Project
Updated November 2025
Curator: OBARC Makers Group