Skip to the content
PCBKitNew board
11 layers28.3 × 12.3 mmRFController, the printed circuit board in 3D

electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

Size
28.3 × 12.3 mm
Copper layers
11
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
19
Nets
56
Pads
56
Tracks, vias
0, 0
Routed
Not yet
KiCad
KiCad 8.99 (file 20241030)
Created
12 Sep 2024
Updated
10 Sep 2025

Overview

RFController is an open-source printed circuit board by dodotronix, from the dodotronix/RemBrake repository on GitHub. It is an 11-layer board of 28.3 × 12.3 mm with 19 parts on 56 nets.

Its parts include 5 capacitors, 4 resistors, 3 inductors, 2 diodes and 2 connectors. It belongs with the radio and wireless and robots and motor control boards of this library.

README

README.md

RemBrake - remote brake system for handbikes

PCB picture

Introduction

  • TODO explain what the RemBrake, why we decided to create this project

Assembling RemBrake

  • TODO explain how to use the kicad data
  • TODO how to solder the modules on the RemBrake PCB
  • TODO how to connect the wires

Prepare the module

  1. load the circuitpython to the QT Py RP2040
  2. press and hold BOOT button and then press RST button
  3. you should see now RPI partition mounted to your PC
  4. download CircuitPython bootloader (.uf2 file) from circuitpython.org
  5. drag and drop the file onto the partition
  6. it takes few moments and you should see your partition name turn to CIRCUITPYTHON

Upload RemBrake files + necessary modules

  1. go to the folder fw folder
  2. run $ make prepare
  3. move the folder target to your CIRCPITPYTHON partition

Features

  • TODO how the PCB behaves (charging, running, error)
  • TODO what the different colors mean

Possible further development

  • Bidirectional remote contoller that the assistant can see the battery status
  • Accelerometer feedback, to adjust braking power according to the situation
  • Using hydraulic piston actuator to move with the brake directly, which could shrink significantly the size of the package
  • designing custom usb-c charger to avoid the hustle with unprecise power management of the chinese module

Development

PCB inactive breakout modules PCB active breakout modules

Parts

19
QtyValueFootprintReferences
5CCapacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608MetricC1, C2, C3, C4, C5
4RResistor_SMD:R_0603_1608MetricR2, R3, R4, R5
3LInductor_SMD:L_0603_1608MetricL1, L2, L3
1ADC128D818Package_SO:TSSOP-16_4.4x5mm_P0.65mmU1
1Conn_01x01TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_2.0x2.0mmJ2
1Conn_01x07Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x07_P2.54mm_VerticalJ1
1CrystalCrystal:Crystal_SMD_ECS_CSM3X-2Pin_7.6x4.1mmY1
1DIODEDiode_SMD:D_0603_1608MetricD2
1LEDLED_SMD:LED_0603_1608MetricD1
1SW_PushButton_Switch_SMD:SW_SPST_CK_RS282G05A3SW1

Questions

How big is the RFController PCB?

It measures 28.3 × 12.3 mm and has 11 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the RFController use?

19 parts. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the RFController KiCad files?

From the dodotronix/RemBrake repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is hw/RFController/RFController.kicad_pcb and its schematic hw/AccelSensor/AccelSensor.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the RFController design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask dodotronix before reusing the design.

More from dodotronix/RemBrake

6
  • 2 layers40 × 80 mmRemBrake, the printed circuit board in 3D

    RemBrake

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    127 parts
  • 2 layers143.8 × 99.6 mmBreakoutpcbs, the printed circuit board in 3D

    Breakoutpcbs

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    108 parts
  • 11 layers31 × 18 mmUSBcharger, the printed circuit board in 3D

    USBcharger

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    36 parts
  • 11 layers42 × 24 mmLEDbar, the printed circuit board in 3D

    LEDbar

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    26 parts
  • 11 layers50 × 28 mmBoostConverter, the printed circuit board in 3D

    BoostConverter

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    18 parts
  • 11 layers21 × 16 mmAccelSensor, the printed circuit board in 3D

    AccelSensor

    dodotronix/RemBrake

    electronic system to control breaks on handbikes remotely

    15 parts

Similar boards

  • 11 layers106.1 × 55.1 mmIDEFlex, the printed circuit board in 3D

    IDEFlex

    Redherring32/Xbox-Portable

    Fully portable original (2001) Xbox handheld using real hardware

    20 parts93
  • 11 layers44 × 73 mmGb video pico breakout, the printed circuit board in 3D

    Gb video pico breakout

    chromalock/CGBLinkVideo

    Playing media on a gameboy color over the link cable, with the help of an RPi Pico

    15 parts39
  • 11 layers64 × 41.4 mmESPCB, the printed circuit board in 3D

    ESPCB

    shvmm/espcb-bms-comms

    An ESP32 series based PCB for implementing BMS comms to Solar Inverters

    13 partsLGPL-2.1
  • 11 layers68.8 × 53.6 mmTesla seat controller shield, the printed circuit board in 3D

    Tesla seat controller shield

    ForestKatsch/unofficial-tesla-seat-controller

    STM32G0-based controller for four seat motors, two ventilation fans, and the seat switchpack. Input is a regulated 12 V Mean Well power supply; record the exact model before system testing.

    12 parts