Freefall

Freefall

a PCB with an accelerometer… (built with help from https://hermes.hackclub.com/!)
About the folders: /code has all the code, /prod has all the production files!
3d models are in pcb/3dmodels

The idea is, each LED is linked to a specific direction. For example, left is the first LED, up is the second LED and so on. By 'entering' a the directions into the PCB, you find the combination of directions that make up a certain code!
note: PCB models are in pcb/kicad! other 3D models that were used were not sourced by me :)

The motivation for this project was mainly to work more on my PCB skills, as well as my ability to read through documentation of a component and get the addresses right. I think that adding the 'code' feature with the lights was also a fun thing I just wanted to add.
In terms of code, I haven't fully done the firmware as I don't have the actual thing yet, but here's a guide for setting up the XIAO_RP2040 with Arduino: https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-RP2040-with-Arduino/ The firmware I've added is in progress as of now (26/04/26) and I will add setup steps in the future, when I have the physical PCB itself.

image of PCB:

setup:

Connect to the XIAO, using the Arduino IDE -This link might help: https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-RP2040-with-Arduino/ -The code should work… once I've finished polishing it (not completely done as of now…)

schematics:

pcb editor/wiring:
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# Setup:
Wiring:
LED1 = D0
LED2 = D1
LED3 = D2
LED4 = D3
Accelerometer & Screen = [various, see schematics]
Cap1 = C1
Cap2 = C2
# Assembly instructions, for now:
~ Solder these things onto the PCB, according to the schematics:
~ - XIAO_RP_2040
~ - four LEDs
~ - four resistors
~ - OLED screen
~ - Accelerometer
~ - two capacitors
~ After this, connect the board to the power, this link could help: https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/XIAO-RP2040-with-Arduino/

also Flash instructions:
- install ArduinoIDE, https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide/
- add the support for the RP2040 (Preferences > Additional Board Manager URLs > "https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json")
- connect the XIAO RP_2040 via USB
- upload the code from this repo in /firmware!

frefallzine.pdf

PCB BOM:

planning to source from JLCPCB (apologies if the BOM is wrong, I'm new to this)