Press

About Me – Bobricius - The Creator

Hi, I'm "Bobricius", a hardware creator, engineer, and maker with a deep passion for DIY electronics, retro computing, and alternative communication devices. I love pushing the boundaries of what's possible with minimalist and compact hardware, often using the Raspberry Pi Pico and other microcontrollers as the foundation for my creations.

The Journey: From Tiny Beginnings to Global Recognition

My journey into electronics began with small development boards. One of my first projects was the Picoduino – a miniaturized clone of the popular Digispark board, based on the ATtiny85 microcontroller. Measuring just 12×23mm, it was designed to be one of the smallest complete development platforms in the world, featuring an integrated RGB LED, I2C smart header, and motor/relay PWM driver. This tiny board proved that you don't need shields or extra components to create something powerful and useful. Following this success, I created even more miniature development boards like DiXi (SAMD11) and WinXi (SAMD21), pushing the boundaries of how small a functional development platform could be.

From there, I ventured into more ambitious projects like LED watches – energy-harvesting wearable electronics that charge themselves using photodiodes and run indefinitely without batteries. I also created a magnetic 2D motor (a planar stepper motor) that could move objects in two dimensions, opening new possibilities for planar actuation and robotics.

My exploration of flexible electronics and PCB actuators led to innovative designs like flexible stepper motors and various robotic manipulators. I experimented with PCB-based motors, proving that traditional circuit board materials could be transformed into functional electromechanical devices. These projects demonstrated that PCBs aren't just passive substrates – they can be active, moving parts of a system.

I also developed educational soldering kits like the Ledcade game console and various solar-powered LED projects, making electronics accessible and fun for beginners learning to solder. My energy harvesting projects explored sustainable power solutions, from solar-powered accessories to supercapacitor-based lamps that work independently of the grid.

The QWERTY Revolution: Keyboards in the Touch Era

As touchscreens became ubiquitous, I noticed we were forgetting the tactile satisfaction and efficiency of physical QWERTY keyboards. This realization led me to develop numerous projects that bring back the joy of physical typing.

The combination of the chip shortage crisis and the arrival of the Raspberry Pi Pico created a perfect opportunity. This led to the birth of PICOmputer – a universal platform that became the foundation for multiple applications. What started as a single device evolved into a versatile hardware platform where different software solutions could run on the same hardware.

PICOmputer is now the universal retro emulation and communication platform, featuring integrated QWERTY keyboard and IPS display. Rather than being separate hardware projects, my solutions became software applications running on this unified platform:

Armachat – Software for off-grid long-range wireless communication using LoRa radio
PICOZX – Software for ZX Spectrum emulation
MCUME – Multi-platform retro computer and console emulator

This modular approach means that Armachat is essentially software running on the PICOmputer hardware, just as PICOZX and MCUME are different software applications for the same device. This philosophy of "one hardware, multiple purposes" makes the platform incredibly versatile and accessible.

These projects remind us that in our touch-dominated world, there's still immense value in the tactile feedback and precision of physical keys, especially for serious text entry, programming tasks, and resilient communication.

Latest Challenge: Local AI in Your Pocket

In this AI boom era, where cloud services track every query, I've taken on my newest challenge: creating a truly private, offline AI chatbot you can hold in your hand. The ZEPIR AI Terminal is my answer to privacy concerns and dependency on internet connectivity.

ZEPIR wasn't just named as an association with Raspberry Pi Zero – the name also represents "Zero Component", reflecting a unique design philosophy. I managed to utilize all 40 pins on the GPIO connector in an unprecedented way, connecting a matrix keyboard, SPI display, and audio output directly to the Pi without any additional chips. This was particularly challenging (and ultimately advantageous) during the chip shortage crisis.

The beauty of this zero-component approach is complete control – the SPI display and audio are handled directly by the kernel, while the keyboard uses a simple Python script you can modify anytime. Use ZEPIR with a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W as a universal small Linux handheld computer, or plug in a Pi 5 to unlock the full potential of local AI: from LLM chatbots through speech recognition and synthesis to complete integration with language models – all running offline on hardware you control.

Key features of ZEPIR AI Terminal:

No internet required, no data harvesting, no subscriptions
Runs local LLMs (like Qwen3:1.7b, phi4-mini) on Raspberry Pi 5
Voice-enabled AI with speech recognition and text-to-speech
Full Linux terminal computer with Python, Git, and thousands of packages
2.8" IPS display, GPIO matrix keyboard, PWM audio
Complete privacy – your conversations never leave the device

Current Focus: Communication, Computing, and Creativity

My projects range from handheld emulators of classic computers like the ZX Spectrum (PICOZX) to cyberdecks, ultra-compact keyboards, off-grid communication devices (Armachat), and unique PCB-based designs. I enjoy experimenting with low-power electronics, battery emulators, and even artistic circuit boards, proving that hardware can be both functional and visually striking.

Many of my designs aim to revive the spirit of vintage computing while integrating modern technologies, making them accessible, efficient, and fun to use. In addition to retro-inspired projects, I also focus on alternative power solutions, sustainable electronics, and devices for resilient communication in extreme conditions.

My Armachat series explores off-grid messaging using LoRa radio, while my PICOZX brings back the joy of classic gaming in a modern, handheld form. I enjoy working on projects that are not just innovative but also practical, whether it's a Raspberry Pi-powered cyberdeck (Cyberdetox Display), a low-power display system, or educational tools like the PyPrCa programmable calculator.

Recognition and Media Coverage

My work has been featured in many respected tech publications, including Hackaday, Tindie, Tom's Hardware, MagPi, Hackster, Elektor Magazine, Retrododo, NexTech, Make Magazine, HackSpace Magazine, and many more. I've also been a finalist and winner in multiple hardware and design competitions, where my projects have been recognized for their creativity, efficiency, and uniqueness.

Why "Bobricius"?

The name "Bobricius" has an interesting origin. At a summer camp, there were two Peters, so to distinguish us, I was given the nickname "Bobor" (which means "Beaver" in English – Beaver in Slovak is Bobor). Over time, this evolved into "Bobricius" – a more grandiose, Roman emperor-style name, reminiscent of titles like "Magnus et Deus." While I no longer remember the exact moment when Bobor became Bobricius, the name stuck and has become my identity in the maker community.

Philosophy

I believe in creating hardware that is:

Minimalist yet functional – maximum capability in minimum space
Accessible – using readily available components and open-source tools
Resilient – working independently of commercial infrastructure when needed
Artistic – proving that electronics can be beautiful
Practical – solving real problems with elegant solutions
Privacy-focused – putting control back in users' hands
Educational – inspiring the next generation of makers and engineers

Below, you'll find a collection of articles and features covering my work over the years, organized from newest to oldest. These articles showcase the variety of projects I've worked on, from retro computing and alternative communication devices to experimental and artistic PCB designs. If you're into DIY electronics, retro gaming, and cutting-edge yet minimalist engineering, I hope my work will inspire you! 🚀

Articles and Features About My Work

(The following is a list of articles written about my projects, organized from newest to oldest.)