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 sending you a message: "Hey, I'm parched." Or your tomatoes flagging a humidity drop before you even walk into the greenhouse. That's not science fiction. That's a Raspberry Pi, a soil moisture sensor, and about a weekend of building. 🌱 The Short Version A DIY smart greenhouse is one of the most satisfying IoT builds you can do — genuinely useful, surprisingly affordable, and a brilliant excuse to learn automation, computer vision, and data visualisation all at once. The core hardware stack: DHT22 — temperature and humidity monitoring Soil moisture sensors — know exactly when your plants need water, not just when you remember to check Relay + water pump — automatic watering triggered by sensor thresholds, not guesswork 💧 Light sensors + LED strips — extend daylight hours and compensate for cloudy days automatically Raspberry Pi or ESP32 — the brain, running ESPHome, Home Assistant, or a lightweight Flask app Pi Camera or webcam ...

Both are under $10. Both have Wi-Fi. Both have dual cores and thriving communities. Both are sitting in the parts drawers of every serious IoT maker on the planet. So which one do you actually reach for? The Short Version The ESP32 and the Raspberry Pi Pico W are the two microcontrollers that dominate budget IoT — but they have genuinely different personalities, and the right choice depends entirely on what you're building. ESP32 is the veteran. Feature-packed, battle-tested, and wireless-first: Dual-core Xtensa processor with FreeRTOS baked in Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (classic + BLE) 📶 30+ GPIOs with analog input, PWM, I2C, SPI, UART Deep sleep modes that stretch battery life for years Arduino, ESP-IDF, PlatformIO, MicroPython — pick your stack Best for: smart home controllers, wireless sensor nodes, wearables, anything needing Bluetooth or real-time RTOS tasks. Raspberry Pi Pico W is the precise one. Efficient, predictable, Python-friendly: Dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+...

You've written your code. You've flashed it to the board. The LED blinked. Victory! And then… nothing. Welcome to IoT debugging — where things almost work, and then don't. This moment isn't failure. It's your first clue. 🔦 The Short Version Every IoT maker hits the post-blink void. Here's the checklist that gets you out of it: 1. Open the serial monitor first. Insert Serial.println("Here!") debug prints to track where your code gets stuck. Don't forget Serial.begin() and the correct baud rate — without those, your messages disappear into the void. More than half of "mysterious" failures are solved here. 2. Check the hardware before touching the code. Loose jumper wires. Wrong GPIO pin declared. Sensor not getting enough voltage. These cause the majority of IoT failures. Many sensors won't run on 3.3V logic, and some draw more current than a microcontroller pin can supply — add a separate power source with common ground and watch ...

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...

Your coffee machine knows when you wake up. Your TV knows what you watch and for how long. Your robot vacuum has mapped every room in your home. None of them asked permission. None of them told you where that data goes. The Short Version The "smart" in smart home comes with a side effect most manufacturers don't advertise: your devices are constantly collecting behavioural data and transmitting it upstream. Not maliciously — it's just how the business model works. Usage telemetry, preference data, and behavioural patterns are valuable. Your appliances are part of that pipeline whether you know it or not. Here's what's actually talking: Smart TVs — viewing habits, content preferences, watch duration, and ad engagement sent to manufacturers and third-party data brokers. ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) identifies exactly what's on screen, including content from HDMI inputs 📺 Coffee machines & kitchen appliances — brew schedules, usage frequency, ...

🎥 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 looks like a bargain. It might also be the dumbest decision you make for your home network this year. The Short Version Cheap IoT devices don't just cut costs on plastic. They cut corners on everything that matters for security — and then they sit on your network, connected 24/7, completely forgotten. Here's what you're actually buying: Outdated firmware — shipped with software from two years ago, never updated, full of known unpatched vulnerabilities 🛠️ Hardcoded credentials — admin:admin, root:root. Literally. In 2025. Unencrypted communication — data transmitted in plaintext, readable by anyone on the same network or between you and the cloud Unknown server pings — many cheap devices routinely contact servers in jurisdictions with zero data protection laws. You'll never know what's being sent No OTA updates — static firmware means static attack surface. Once shipped, it's frozen and exploitable forever Botnet recruitment — att...

🚀 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 .