I am making a cool and easy-to-use RP2040 board that I want to deliver to many people.

Background and Purpose

This project started because I wanted to give back to many people by using the electronic parts I received when I won the Grand Prize at MOUSER MAKE AWARD 2024 in Japan. I focused on making a cost-effective RP2040 board that even beginners can use easily. It is a simple yet powerful Pico-compatible board that everyone can enjoy. By balancing cost reduction, ease of use, and good design, I want to bring the joy of electronics to many people.

MOUSER MAKE AWARD 2024 in Japan

Component Selection and Considerations

• Microcontroller: RP2040 - A good balance of performance and cost, suitable for beginners to advanced users, supporting C++ and MicroPython.
• Power Source: 3.3V regulator  IC- Reduced component count to prioritize cost savings. A simple regulator is used instead of a DCDC converter.
• Oscillator: Ceramic resonator (Ceralock) - Used instead of a crystal oscillator to keep costs down.
• USB Connection: USB Type-C connector made with PCB - to reduce component costs.

  USB-C receptacle connector made with PCB (design data on GitHub)

• PCB Design: EasyEDA - Simplified design with color silk screen to ensure visual appeal.

After distributing the board, this project was featured by the official Raspberry Pi

Suzan won an electronic design contest hosted by Mouser Electronics and instead of buying Raspberry Pis with her winnings, she decided to design and produce her own RP2040-based boards.

The colourful silkscreen and electronic components were all hand-soldered and, because… pic.twitter.com/kK3gvQpxyd

— Raspberry Pi (@Raspberry_Pi) December 6, 2024