ML01 project

ML01 is a DIY LED board I designed as a learning-oriented hardware project built around the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W. The idea was simple: create a board that is easy to assemble, easy to understand, and fun to extend, while still being robust enough for daily use.

The result is a 100% through-hole kit featuring:

✅ 16 LEDs driven by TPIC power shift registers
✅ physical buttons for local control
✅ a built-in MicroPython web server (Microdot) for remote control and logs
✅ time-based LED modes synchronized via NTP

ML01 is not just a gadget — it’s meant as a learning platform for electronics, firmware, and embedded web interfaces. Firmware and documentation are open source, and the PCB design is intentionally kept proprietary to protect the project’s sustainability.

📚 I've published the schematics, drawing, BOM, firmware, 3d models, and a complete documentation.
⏳ The PCB will be available on Tindie soon.
🤝 Feedback, issues, and contributions to the firmware or documentation are very welcome.
⭐ Don't hesitate to add a star if you find my project cool and useful. Thank you very much.

Links:

🔗 Hackaday project: https://hackaday.io/project/204896-ml01-project

🔗 GitHub repository: https://github.com/RELEASE255/ML01_project

🔗 Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@release255

🔗 3D stand on Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/1552197-pcb-stand

🔗 Official website: https://release255.com/

Developing the firmware for the ML01 proved to be even more complex than the hardware design itself. Running a web server on a microcontroller like the Pico 2W while managing 16 LEDs and real-time logs requires a delicate balance.

The "Memory Wall": The main challenge lay in RAM management. Using the Microdot framework offers great flexibility, but it can quickly saturate the Pico's memory, especially when streaming HTML content and running background tasks.

Fortunately, even after several days of operation, the ML01 remains stable, responsive, and ready to light up your desk.