2 layers96.6 × 82.8 mm
2 layers140.1 × 97 mm
Starbie
vincentchen18/starbiemy first hardware project (a desktop pet)
- Size
- 140.1 × 97 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 18
- Nets
- 28
- Pads
- 78
- Tracks, vias
- 87, 0
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 10.0 (file 20260206)
- Created
- 7 Oct 2026
- Updated
- 27 Oct 2026
Overview
Starbie is an open-source printed circuit board by vincentchen18, from the vincentchen18/starbie repository on GitHub. It is a 2-layer board of 140.1 × 97 mm with 18 parts on 28 nets, routed with 87 tracks and 0 vias.
It is built around the DHT11. Its parts include 4 resistors, 3 connectors, 3 switches, 2 ICs and 1 diode. It belongs with the ESP32 and RISC-V boards of this library.
Main components
1README
README.mdStarbie
Overview
Starbie is a tiny motion controlled desktop pet, powered by USB or battery. It is a star-shaped PCB hosting a little digital creature on an OLED Screen. It includes multiple interactive functionalities. Tilt it to navigate menus, shake it to wake it up, and watch its mood light change as you neglect it. (you probably shouldn't neglect it but this is also a functionality, not a recommendation.) Also has multiple sensors that track gyroscopic and accelerometric position, as well as tracking temperature and humidity.
This project was built for Hack Club's hardware program Half Life, a 10 week YSWS to help beginners learn hardware project, and incidentally, it is my first hardware project!!! :DDD
I will also note that this is based off a tutorial from one of Half Life's organisers, and you can find the tutorial repo here. I added some additional features myself, but thank you SharKingStudios this tutorial as it was a great starting point.
Additionally, I have also created a storage case for Starbie (although it is irregularly shaped due to how I shaped the printed circuit board)
Schematic, PCB and Components
The final schematic is shown in the above picture, featuring a XIAO-ESP32-C3, Environment and MPU6050 sensor, as well as a menu button and an on/off switch as well as a battery connector.
The desktop pet can be powered both by battery or by USB connection
Features
- Wandering pet: a 32×32 pixel creature walks across the OLED.
- Tilt-controlled radial menu: press the menu button, then tilt to pick an option, and press again to select the option. The interactive options are:
- --> Nap: Starbie just falls asleep with zzz's until you shake it to wake it up
- --> Play: Starbie sprints in laps with hearts
- --> Feed: Starbie wiggles and jumps and gains fullness
- --> Pet: Increases Starbie's joy
- Stats: Joy, Energy, and Fullness, saved to flash so they save when you turn Starbie back on
- Shake to wake: shaking it wakes it and gets a reaction
- Environment sensing: Starbie can detect the temperature (and it will complain if it's too hot or cold!)
- RGB Mood Light: this shows how starbie is feeling: Dark blue: napping Pink: being loved Red: too hot! ice blue: too cold! amber: hungry or tired green: happy (brighter = morer happierness) purple: dizzy
Hardware
A storage case for Starbie has also been included, and you can find the box and lid STEP files in 3D Models
Full list in BOM.csv. Gerbers in gerbers/.
Firmware
Arduino IDE was used to program Starbie.
AI Usage
AI was not used in any way for this project besides as a guide to help me learn to use KiCad
Bill of Materials
Grant-funded ($30 tier 1)
| Item | Purpose | Qty | Unit (USD) | Total (USD) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbie PCB (2-layer, 97.3×140.3mm) | Custom star-shaped board | 5 | 2.12 | 10.60 | JLCPCB |
| JLCPCB New User PCB coupon | Discount | 1 | -6.00 | -6.00 | — |
| JLCPCB shipping (Global Standard Direct Line → AU) | Shipping | 1 | 8.52 | 8.52 | JLCPCB |
| Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C3 | Main microcontroller | 1 | 6.31 | 6.31 | AliExpress |
| 0.96" 128×64 I2C OLED (SSD1306) | Display | 1 | 2.20 | 2.20 | AliExpress |
| DHT11 (bare 4-pin) | Temp + humidity sensor | 1 | 1.60 | 1.60 | AliExpress |
| MPU-6050 (GY-521) | Accelerometer/gyro for tilt + shake | 1 | 1.03 | 1.03 | AliExpress |
| 5mm RGB LED, common cathode (pack) | Mood light | 1 | 2.17 | 2.17 | AliExpress |
| Resistor kit, 1/4W 300pcs (10k + 220Ω used) | DHT11 pull-up + LED current limiting | 1 | 3.23 | 3.23 | AliExpress |
| Grant total | 29.66 |
Paid out of pocket
| Item | Purpose | Qty | Unit (USD) | Total (USD) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateron G Pro 3.0 MX switches (pack) | MENU + STATS buttons | 1 | 4.02 | 4.02 | AliExpress |
| AliExpress shipping + 10% GST | Shipping + tax | 1 | 6.51 | 6.51 | — |
| Out-of-pocket total | 10.53 |
Project total: $40.19
Parts
18| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 220 | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0204_L3.6mm_D1.6mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R2, R3, R4 |
| 2 | LOGO | Imported_Parts:star_silkscreen | , |
| 2 | SW_Push | Button_Switch_Keyboard:SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u_PCB | SW1, SW2 |
| 1 | 10k | Resistor_THT:R_Axial_DIN0204_L3.6mm_D1.6mm_P7.62mm_Horizontal | R1 |
| 1 | Conn_01x02_Socket | Connector_JST:JST_PH_B2B-PH-K_1x02_P2.00mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | Conn_01x04_Pin | Imported_Parts:Display_128x64_096_I2C | J1 |
| 1 | Conn_01x08_Pin | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x08_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | DHT11 | Sensor:Aosong_DHT11_5.5x12.0_P2.54mm | U2 |
| 1 | LED_RKGB | LED_THT:LED_D5.0mm-4_RGB_Staggered_Pins | D1 |
| 1 | LOGO | Imported_Parts:uplook | |
| 1 | LOGO | Imported_Parts:gh_qr | |
| 1 | SW_SPDT | Button_Switch_THT:SW_Slide_SPDT_Straight_CK_OS102011MS2Q | SW3 |
| 1 | TestPoint | TestPoint:TestPoint_THTPad_D1.5mm_Drill0.7mm | TP1 |
| 1 | XIAO-ESP32-C3-SMD | Imported_Parts:XIAO-ESP32-C6-DIP | U1 |
Questions
How big is the Starbie PCB?
It measures 140.1 × 97 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Starbie use?
18 parts, built around the DHT11. 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 Starbie KiCad files?
From the vincentchen18/starbie repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Starbie/Starbie.kicad_pcb and its schematic Starbie/Starbie.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Starbie design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask vincentchen18 before reusing the design.
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