Uladzislau Bayouski

  In this episode of Bots, Boards & Brainstorms, we dive into the latest breakthroughs from Google I/O 2025 — including Aloha 2, the open-source robot powered by Gemini AI, and the surprisingly powerful MuJoCo simulator (yes, you can control Spot from your laptop). We break down what it really takes for robots to “see” and “act,” with new research on smarter vision sensors and motion planning using diffusion models. Plus, an autonomous drone that learns in-flight and a shoutout to some wild PCB designs — like a DIY cat feeder and a wearable GPS badge. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, hardware tinkerer, or just want to know how robots are getting smarter (and cooler), this episode delivers sharp insights with zero fluff. Aloha 2 – Stanford's Dual-Arm Robot Platform MuJoCo – Physics Engine for Robotics Simulation “Just Give Me the Outline” – AI Planning for Robot Manipulation (MIT) MIT: Robots Solve Manipulation Tasks in Seconds MIT: AI Control System Stabilizes Drones in Un...

Imagine your basil texting, “Hey, I’m parched,” or your tomatoes tweeting, “Humidity’s dropping — help!” That’s not science fiction anymore. With a bit of maker spirit and some off-the-shelf hardware, you can build your own  smart greenhouse  that talks back — and does the gardening for you. 🪴 The Basics: Smart Automation for Green Thumbs At the core of a DIY smart greenhouse is  affordable hardware  and clever software. Using a  Raspberry Pi  or  ESP32 , you can monitor and control your plant environment automatically. Here’s what a basic setup includes: 🌡️  DHT11 or DHT22 : Monitors temperature and humidity. 🌱  Soil moisture sensors : Detect how dry the soil is. 💧  Relay + water pump : Waters the plants only when they need it. 💡  Light sensors and LED strips : Provide additional lighting when sunlight is insufficient. 📷  Webcam or Pi Camera Module : Captures time-lapse or real-time images of plant growth. These componen...

When it comes to building IoT projects on a budget, two microcontrollers consistently dominate the scene: the  ESP32  and the  Raspberry Pi Pico W . Both are under $10, both support wireless connectivity, and both have thriving communities. But they each come with trade-offs — and your project’s needs will decide the winner. 🧠 ESP32: The Feature-Packed Powerhouse The ESP32 is a veteran in the IoT world. It’s loaded with features: Dual-core Xtensa processor Built-in  Wi-Fi  and  Bluetooth  (classic + BLE) Dozens of GPIOs, many with analog input (ADC), PWM, I2C, SPI, and UART support Real-time capabilities with an RTOS (FreeRTOS) baked in Support for Arduino, ESP-IDF, PlatformIO, and even MicroPython This board is ideal for: Smart home controllers  (lights, sensors, HVAC) Wireless sensor nodes Wearables  or low-latency devices needing Bluetooth Real-time applications , like motor control or gesture recognition ESP32’s support for  deep sl...

You’ve written your code. You’ve flashed it to the board. The LED blinked. Victory! And then… nothing. Welcome to the chaotic, beautiful world of  IoT debugging  — where things almost work, and then don’t. If your board powers on, but behaves unpredictably (or silently), open the  serial monitor . Insert debug print statements ( Serial.println("Here!") ) in your code to track progress through setup and loop functions. You'll quickly see where the logic gets stuck—or if it’s running at all. This moment — the post-blink void — is a rite of passage for anyone building connected devices. It’s not failure. It’s the beginning.

In this episode, we explore projects and products that move intelligence closer to the action—from backyard greenhouses to wildfire zones. In this episode: - ESPHome 2025.5.0 introduces Packet Transport for UART/UDP device-to-device comms—perfect for farm-scale automation with no Wi-Fi stress. https://esphome.io/changelog/2025.5.0.html - A LoRa-based soil monitoring project using Raspberry Pi Pico, solar power, and Home Assistant. https://www.briandorey.com/post/pi-pico-lora-remote-soil-monitor - How a DIY Everything Remote simplified an overcomplicated projector setup—made with ESP32, ESPHome, and a 3D-printed case. https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/theeverythingremote - Meet The Guardian, a fire-seeking robot with YOLO-based flame detection, built to help battle wildfires autonomously. https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/05/25/the-guardian-presenting-a-robot-for-wildland-firefighting/ - New launches: Homey Pro mini and SmartThings developer tools aimed at simplifying smart home integrat...

You wouldn’t expect your smart toaster or coffee machine to gossip, but in a connected world, that’s exactly what they do. Many consumer IoT devices use protocols like Z-Wave, Zigbee, or BLE to communicate with hubs or cloud servers — sometimes without your knowledge. These micro-conversations are usually about temperature, timers, or updates, but they can also expose usage patterns and location data. Take a smart kettle, for instance. It might send regular updates to a cloud service about when it’s activated, how hot it gets, and whether it boiled on schedule. Multiply that by dozens of devices in your home, and you’ve got a stream of behavioral data flowing out of your private space — often unencrypted. These exchanges, though small, paint a picture of your habits: when you wake up, when you leave the house, how often you make coffee. Companies can use this data for analytics or advertising.  Worse, attackers can exploit unsecured protocols to listen in, impersonate devices, or d...

🎥 Exploring Japan’s Advanced Tech Playground – Inside the TEPIA Advanced Technology Gallery In this immersive walkthrough, we visit the TEPIA Advanced Technology Gallery in Tokyo, a hidden gem where science, engineering, and creativity converge. From personal flying machines and 3D printing to robotic assistants and hands-on tech workshops, this experience captures Japan’s cutting-edge innovation—up close and interactive. 🧠 What’s Inside: A sneak peek at futuristic prototypes like SkyDrive and assistive robots Medical tech, expression cameras, and energy-harvesting systems AI-enabled robots with modular designs and 360° maneuvering capabilities Smart traffic systems with person recognition and adaptive lighting Interactive learning stations for kids and families Real-time laser cutting, soldering, 3D printing demos, and hands-on build spaces ✨ Highlights: Creative Lab (2nd Floor): Fully equipped for DIY robotics, IoT, and coding Student-led innovations in robotics, automation, and ...

That $12 Wi-Fi plug might seem like a smart steal — but it could be the dumbest decision for your home network. Cheap IoT devices often sacrifice security for cost. Manufacturers cut corners with outdated firmware, unencrypted communication, and — shockingly — hardcoded credentials like  admin:admin . Some are riddled with known vulnerabilities that never get patched. Others ping unknown servers in countries you’ve never visited, raising serious concerns about data leakage and privacy violations. In many cases, these devices aren’t even designed to receive over-the-air updates. Once shipped, they’re static — and static means exploitable. A common tactic by bad actors is scanning the internet for such vulnerable devices, then enrolling them into massive botnets like Mirai, which have been used in record-breaking DDoS attacks. But it’s not just about internet outages or becoming part of a botnet. A compromised IoT device on your network can be a pivot point to sniff traffic, exfiltra...

🚀 Exciting news! We've just published a new blog post that dives deep into the wildly entertaining creation of the Official IoTuesday Brown Bag! 🎉 In this unique and fun journey, one enthusiastic individual takes the "Brown Bag Session" concept to a whole new level—crafting a custom wooden form and bringing the IoTuesday logo to life with skillful craftsmanship.  It's a delightful blend of creativity, passion, and just a hint of madness! Is it a bit over the top? Maybe. Is it incredibly awesome? Absolutely! Check out this epic blend of IoT love and artisanal flair that shows what happens when no one steps in to say, "Maybe just print a sticker." Don't miss the chance to witness this masterpiece in action! When you love IoT just a little too much… Watch as one brave soul takes “Brown Bag Session” a bit too literally — firing up a lathe, carving a custom wooden form like a caffeinated carpenter, and spraying paint like he's tagging the side of the M...

  What do you get when a new dad with an engineering obsession builds a baby mobile? 🤖 A stepper-motor-powered, Arduino-controlled, 3D-printed masterpiece that could probably launch satellites. Okay, maybe not — but it does rock the crib. In this project, Pavel Korshunov shows how he brought together a NEMA17 stepper motor, Arduino Nano, Fusion 360, carbon fiber rods, and pure dad energy to create the ultimate crib mobile. Is it overkill? Absolutely. Is it awesome? You bet. Perfect mix of DIY, IoT, and dad jokes. 💡👶 Tools & Materials: NEMA17 steeper motor TMC2209 Stepper motor driver Noctua Premium Quiet Fan to keep driver cool Arduino (Elegoo) UNO board during prototyping Arduino NANO in a final product Step-down DC/DC voltage converter to use 12 volt for motor and 5v for logic board 608zz bearings 8 mm Carbon Fiber tubes 5/16" OD Vinyl-Flex PVC tubing Creality Ender 3 3D printer 📡 Stay Connected with IoT Forge: ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/...

  In this episode of IoT Forge Unplugged, we dive into the dynamic world of connected robotics and embedded innovation. From the quirky struggles of humanoid robots at the Beijing half-marathon to the exciting future of bio-based PCBs and cloud-connected devices, this session explores how the Internet of Things is transforming motion, automation, and intelligence. We cover the major stories shaping the IoT and robotics landscape, including: A full-stack Golioth cloud demo and its real-world industrial implications Reolink’s integration with Home Assistant for smarter surveillance Arduino’s bold step toward eco-friendly, bio-based PCB manufacturing Hugging Face’s acquisition of Pollen Robotics and its vision for open-source AI robots Surprising ways Roombas are being reprogrammed to tackle household tasks Stumbling and Overheating, Most Humanoid Robots Fail to Finish Half-Marathon in Beijing Repurposed Roombas: Scientists program domestic robots for additional household tasks ...

Inside Google I/O 2025’s AI Sandbox: Gemini Robots, Smart Glasses & AI Video Magic Step into the AI future with us at Google I/O 2025 as we explore the AI Sandbox experience — a hands-on playground where cutting-edge AI meets the real world. In this video, you'll see: 🤖 Gemini for Robotics in action: giving verbal instructions to a robot that responds (and sometimes gets confused). 🏀 AI Basketball Coach: a system analyzing your throw mechanics and giving real-time tips on improving your shot. 🎬 Google Flow: next-gen AI video generation with creative storytelling tools and synchronized motion — think “Doctor Strange” meets generative media. 🍏 Gemini Smart Glasses: AI-powered wearables that recognize objects and help with tasks using on-device inference. 🔍 Search Playground: experimenting with new AI-powered search capabilities and multimodal intent detection. ✍️ Gemini Canvas for Developers: see how code, queries, and research come together into editable blog posts, busine...

I feel incredibly lucky and excited to have attended  Google I/O 2025  in person. The Shoreline Amphitheater was buzzing with energy, packed with developers, creators, and tech leaders from around the world.  The two-day event delivered a bold, unified vision:  AI isn’t just a tool anymore — it’s the foundation of the future .