DIY Kid Cartridge Story Box

After a lot of work, I finished version 2 of the story box. Same cartridge system, same buttons, but I added a screen to navigate through the songs. 

I used:

An ESP32

A TFT screen

A MP3 player

A USB interface

A battery charging Module

The ESP32 reads files on the USB stick when inserted, displays an image located on the drive.

I also added + / - volume buttons that where missing on V1

Some pictures of the inside of the cartridge based on standard 8 gb USB sticks:

Some pictures of the inside of the box (a bit messy...)

Here are some of the details about the case (dimensions ar 130mm x 130mm):

the bottom part of the case with the cartridget reader:

the cartridge reader and USB plug:

The cartridge itself (dimensions are 64mm x 59mm don't ask me why...):

the inside of the cartridge:

The cartridge dock:

and the inside:

For a first version, I used a easily available MP3 playerboard:

• MP3 Player: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005002420437473.html
• this is so cheap and working so well, it'is incredible...

This board is connecte to a power bank:

• 18650 power bank: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32969695165.html

and a small 2x3W 5V amplifier:

• Amplifier: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005004226201772.html

The Amplifier board is connected to 2 loud speakers (2 because stereo is COOOOL):

• loud speakers: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005004832493500.html

and some nice buttons: 

• buttons: https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005001683893211.html

The wiring diagram is straight forward:

The MP3 player is connected to the power bank. The sound output of the MP3 player is connected to the input of the amplifier. The USB plug / buttons are deported to the faces of the box, also the USB-C plug to recharge the box.

And I printed :

• a nice box designed in Fusion 360
• a cartridge reader slot
• some cartridges containing a USB stick

in addition, to connect the USB cartridges to a computer or to a CD / external MP3 palyer accepting USB sticks, I designed slot with the USB extension cord.

Competition analysis:

• The Loel Story Cinema: https://toppingskids.com/products/story-cinema-1?variant=39571608371255
• Lunii: https://lunii.com/fr-fr/
• Flam: https://lunii.com/fr-fr/flam-baladeur-audio-interactif/
• Yoto: https://eu.yotoplay.com/fr
• Merlin: https://www.hello-merlin.com/
• Tonies: https://tonies.com/fr-fr/
• StoriKid VTech: https://www.vtech-jouets.com/vtech/storikid-conteur-histoires-vert
• Faba: https://www.myfaba.fr/
• Maïa: https://maiasaura.life/
• LivLab Hoomkid / Hoombook: https://shop.livlab.care/products/hoomkid-boite-a-histoires-enfants-gestion-emotions?variant=48069007147357
• Disney Story Reader System (2003): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA1WwP_08KI
• Tonuino (DIY): https://www.voss.earth/tonuin