We just wrapped up our AI Innovation Challenge with NVIDIA and Hackster and are so excited to share the projects! These projects showcase the power of creative and innovative thinking, and we were blown away by quality of entries we received. Thanks to everyone who participated and congrats to the winners! Check Out All The Entries Here! Here are the winning projects from each of the 3 categories: Generative AI Applications Interactive Animatronic GLaDOS - Speech-recognition, LLM and text-to-speech and a 6-axis manipulator combine to make a fully-interactive GLaDOS from Portal! Escalator peo ..read more

Hello hello hello! Welcome back to another Friday Product Post here at SparkFun Electronics! We took a week off last week but we're back again and this time, we have our first of four weeks of new iFixit products joining the SparkFun catalog, and we are going to start it off with five new screwdriver options for you! From Mako, to Marlin, to Moray, you will have plenty to choose from. Let's jump in and take a closer look at these new tools, shall we? added to your cart! iFixit Mako Driver Kit - 64 Precision Bits Out of stock TOL-25567 The Mako Driver Kit includes iFixit's 4mm aluminum scr ..read more

In the advanced landscape of sensing technologies, Pulsed Coherent Radar (PCR), Traditional Radar, and LiDAR have unique approaches to object detection and environmental mapping. These technologies not only differ in their operational mechanics and applications but also in their physical size ranges, which can significantly influence their integration and use in various settings. Let's dive deeper into their characteristics, including an added focus on their size dimensions, to understand their operational contexts better. Signal Type: Radio vs Light The main difference between these techno ..read more

Unveiling the Power of DataLoggers The world is filled with hidden data, waiting to be captured and analyzed. Whether you're a scientist studying environmental changes, a farmer monitoring soil moisture, or a hobbyist tinkering with electronics, the ability to collect sensor data is crucial. But wading through complex wiring and programming can often be a barrier. This is where the SparkFun DataLogger steps in! This powerful product line offers a suite of user-friendly solutions to streamline your data logging endeavors. Why They Shine So, what makes SparkFun DataLoggers stand out? Here are ..read more

We are excited to announce to you today that the first major firmware update of the year for SparkFun's DataLogger IoT boards is out of preview and is now ready for you to use! This update includes several feature and quality of life changes to the DataLogger's plug-and-play functionality! See the Release Notes below. This update is available at no extra charge - if you have purchased one of the DataLogger products below, the updates are a part of your purchase. added to your cart! SparkFun DataLogger IoT In stock DEV-22462 The SparkFun DataLogger IoT comes preprogrammed to automatically ..read more

Hello everyone and welcome back to another Friday Product Post here at SparkFun Electronics! This week we have a single new product to present to you, and it's a big one! We originally announced this board on Tuesday at Embedded World with our friends at Renesas. This board combines a Renesas RA6M5 microcontroller for exceptional speed and efficiency with the familiar Feather form factor. Perfect for real-time applications, the Thing Plus handles demanding tasks with ease. Plus, built-in Bluetooth Low Energy allows for seamless wireless connectivity without reprogramming. Let's take a closer l ..read more

We mention L-band a lot here at SparkFun, from our RTK Facet L-band to our RTK mosaic-x5, which boasts triband reception. Recently on the blog, we discussed the basics of what it is, but didn't get to why we use it - we saved that for today! Buckle in for a history lesson. L-band has been crucial in the development of GPS, helping to transform it from a military tool to the ubiquitous navigation aid we rely on today. Today we'll chart the journey of L-band, from its early adoption in GPS systems to its role in the high-tech positioning hardware we use now. We'll explore how this slice of the r ..read more

Hello everyone, and welcome to a special Tuesday Product Announcement from us here at SparkFun Electronics! Today, we are pleased to announce our newest Thing Plus Development board, this time featuring the RA6M5 200MHz Arm® Cortex®-M33 module from our friends at Renesas! The SparkFun RA6M5 Thing+ is a high-performance, Qwiic-enabled pocket development board perfect for real-time applications. Clocking in at 200MHz, the SparkFun RA6M5 Thing+ is a brilliant choice for new and experienced users! added to your cart! SparkFun Thing Plus - RA6M5 20 available WRL-24243 Clocking in at 200MHz, t ..read more

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another Friday Product Post here at SparkFun Electronics. This week, we spend some extra time to focus on three of some of our favorite new products from a few of our friends in the industry. We start the week with another new Digi XBee® RR module for you, a new GNSS antenna from u-blox, and finally a new No-Tack Flux syringe from Chip Quick. Let's jump in and taker a closer look at each of this week's new products! added to your cart! Digi XBee® RR Module - PCB Antenna In stock WRL-22626 XBee RR 802.15.4 RF Modules are embedded solutions providing wireless ..read more

Last year we released the Experiential Robotics Platform (XRP). The platform has experienced widespread adoption already and as people finish the Introduction to Robotics activities, they want to do more with their robot - add Qwiic sensors, add GPS, modify or add to the chassis.... To take his XRP to more advanced levels, Shawn Hymel has added object detection. Essentially, he removes the line-following sensor and the ultrasonic distance sensor in favor of the Coral Dev Board Micro. Ultimately, he wants his XRP to identify a basket, pick it up and deliver it to a target zone marked with tape ..read more