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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has experienced unprecedented expansion in recent years. The spread of AI tools has exceeded the boundaries of data centers and high-performance devices to enter embedded systems ranging from IoT sensors to portable medical devices, up to the most complex industrial applications. Running AI models efficiently in embedded environments has some limitations due to the scarce computational and energy resources available.

One of the most important truths I’ve learned after 20 years of building and scaling technology is this: software is never done. This isn’t a controversial topic within the engineering world. Most developers know it instinctively. But even amongst experienced developers, the “why” is rarely understood and frequently accepted without any evaluation or introspection. As products combine hardware and software in more complex ways, the implications of this reality are becoming more severe.

RISC-V democratised processor design and even forced the existing ISAs to create room for custom instructions. The outcome was a movement of adoption and experimentation throughout the world's semiconductor ecosystem. But the speed and nature of these initiatives are diverse across geographic regions. This difference stems from the unique priorities and pain areas of leading market participants, whether in enabling data sovereignty, attaining energy efficiency, driving costs down, or supporting large-scale commercialization.

Electronics and the Internet of Things (IoT) constantly evolve with increasingly compact, powerful, and easy-to-use devices. Among these, the CrowPanel ESP32 Display 1.28 inch stands out as an all-in-one solution for projects that require integrated graphic displays, wireless connectivity, and high performance. In this article, we will delve into the features, advantages, and possible applications of this innovative device.

In the previous article, we provided an overview of the CrowPanel ESP32 device, observing its general features and creating some basic examples of use. In this article, however, we focus on programming the 1.28-inch display, analyzing its behavior, and discovering its possible applications. Introduction The CrowPanel ESP32 Display 1.28 inch. stands out as an all-in-one solution for projects that require an integrated graphic display, wireless connectivity, and high performance.

In modern engineering, embedded systems occupy a unique position — deeply integrated into the physical world, often invisible to end users, and tasked with responsibilities that tolerate no failure. From medical implants to automotive control units to spacecraft guidance systems, these systems must function with extraordinary reliability. Yet, for the engineers behind them, ensuring such reliability often feels less like precise science and more like navigating a minefield of invisible threats.

Congatec has introduced a new COM Express 3.1 Type 6 Compact module family, the conga-TCRP1, built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Embedded P100 Series processors. The modules feature four- or six-core variants and are qualified for industrial temperature ranges from -40°C to 85°C. They are targeted at edge-class AI workloads deployed in transportation, healthcare, gaming, smart city infrastructure, point-of-sale terminals, robotics, and industrial automation.

The industry has pinned a lot of optimism to RISC-V, considering the Instruction Set Architecture’s flexibility and open-source nature. While initially planned to be a tool exclusive to academic circles for learning and teaching, RISC-V is now much more than that. As the technology marks its 15th anniversary this year, its widespread adoption (see Figure 1) calls for a perusal of where RISC-V stands.

This second installment, dedicated to the CrowPanel Pico 2.8, examines how to make the display interactive. It is possible to use the touchscreen just like on smartphones, tapping the screen to set values, change pages, activate alarms, and much more. Some techniques are explained step-by-step, starting with reading screen touches and using them in your MicroPython project. The CrowPanel Pico 2.8 already has a display and touchscreen built in, so nothing else is needed, at least for a basic project.

In the first part of this article, we examined how the SLG46533V was used to build a Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) clock, combining an LED time display and button-based time setting in a compact design.In this second part, we focus on the design of the “B” chip used in the BCD Binary Clock and explore the implementation of a Binary-Coded Sexagesimal version, showing how the…

In a world dominated by digital displays and smart devices, the binary clock stands out as a fascinating fusion of technology, education, and design. Unlike traditional clocks, a binary clock represents time using the binary number system - the same language understood by microprocessors and digital circuits. While such a device might seem like a novelty at first glance, it serves multiple purposes.

Embedded developers think from the hardware up. But here’s the problem: that’s an antiquated way to think about developing firmware. In the old days, embedded software was designed and built like a hot rod. Everything was custom and finely tuned, so the system purred with power and performance. Today’s systems? They’re not finely tuned hot rods; they’re run-of-the-mill family minivans.

In the last instalment, we took an overview of the new CrowPi 3 Station, presenting its main features. Today, we will delve into its operational vision and test some of its functions. Although the possibilities are potentially endless, we will focus on the most significant ones to fully understand their potential and effectiveness in practical contexts. Introduction After a general overview of the device, illustrating its fundamental characteristics and the context of use, we will now move on with our in-depth analysis of its operational architecture and the way in which it interfaces with the surrounding environment.

Modern traffic demands quick decisions – whether it’s a child running into the street, a car braking suddenly, or an unexpected obstacle appearing out of nowhere. For autonomous vehicles, reacting swiftly and correctly in these moments is just as crucial as it is for human drivers. This challenge becomes even more intense in small-scale racing scenarios, where the capabilities of the vehicle far exceed those of a human driver.

Last year, when I walked into the 2024 RISC-V summits in China and North America, the energy was high, but it felt like the message was still a bit cautious. RISC-V was emerging, but not yet central. Fast forward to 2025, and the tone has shifted. This year, the pressure is on. The question is no longer whether RISC-V can attract interest—it’s when it will truly deliver.

When a connected embedded device is being developased - and by "connected", we mean TCP/IP connectivity - it usually implements one or both of the following use cases: (a) a device hosts a web dashboard for easy configuration, status checks, and remote control, and (b) a device connects to a remote cloud for data reporting and remote control. Having a web dashboard on a device provides handy, user-friendly local access that is much simpler than serial consoles or custom desktop applications, as it is accessible through any modern browser—no drivers or installations required.

The Embedded Systems Design (ESD) Tech Forum Virtual Event, scheduled for September 17, 2025, is a premier one-day conference dedicated to the latest advancements in embedded computing technologies that power edge intelligence and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This event will focus on the critical role of embedded boards and modules—including System-on-Modules (SoMs), Single Board Computers (SBCs), and Computer-on-Modules (COMs)—which serve as the backbone for real-time data processing, networking, and localized decision-making across diverse sectors such as industrial automation, transportation, energy, healthcare, and smart city infrastructure.

In professional embedded projects, ranging from industrial automation to medical devices and commercial IoT products, developers increasingly favor high-level, lightweight, and easy-to-use environments. While MicroPython has earned praise for rapid prototyping and field deployments on microcontrollers, its active ecosystem is largely centered around hobbyist boards. It is important to note that Python's greatest strength, its vast library ecosystem with tools like NumPy and pandas, is not available in MicroPython.

The market finally sees the release of the CrowPi 3 by ELECROW, an extremely educational kit that contains devices and tools suitable for developing your knowledge of electronics and computer science. It is specifically made for young people, students, designers, and programmers who want to experiment with their projects. Introduction With CrowPi 3, you will learn how to create and program more quickly, dynamically, and effectively, without having to face technical or instrumental limitations, expressing your freedom and creativity to the fullest (see the packaging in Figure 1).