A dark workshop bench with scattered electronic components, circuit boards, and glowing LED indicators in blue and red

The Electronics

A collection of build posts covering the astromech's electronic systems — motor controllers, lighting, and RC configuration.

Category Archives: The Electronics

Every circuit, controller, and wire that brings the droid to life is documented here. From motor driver testing to dome lighting micro-controllers, these posts trace the electronic backbone of the build.

4 Build Posts

3 Motor Controllers

Build Posts

December 27, 2013

Lighting Up the Dome, Part 1: Building the Teeces 3.2 Logic Display and PSI System

The first major dome electronics post covers assembling the Teeces 3.2 Logic Display and PSI boards. These drive the signature front-and-rear logic light panels, using CuriousMarc's custom sketch and board sets sourced through Oshpark.

Artoo's First Steps: Testing His Differential Drive System via RC

A milestone post: the first successful drive test using the differential drive system under radio control. Scooter motors, Pololu 18v25 controllers, and the bound RC transmitter all worked together to get the droid rolling for the first time.

Testing My Syren 10 and Pololu 18v25 Motor Controllers with Drive Motors… I Went 2–3 with a Huge Strike Out!!

An honest look at bench-testing motor controllers. Two Pololu Simple High-Power 18v25 units for the foot drives and a Syren 10 for dome rotation were put through their paces — with mixed results and lessons learned.

Configuring, Connecting (Binding) and Testing Artoo's RC Transmitter and Receiver

Before any drive tests could happen, the RC transmitter and receiver needed binding and configuration. This post walks through the setup process that made wireless control of the droid possible.

Read more in Build Journal →

The electronics behind an astromech build form the quiet backbone of its personality, and this archive captures that journey in careful, methodical detail. Each build post walks through the practical work of bringing circuits and controllers to life, from testing motor drivers to wiring up dome lighting micro-controllers that give the droid its expressive glow. The emphasis throughout is on real, hands-on documentation rather than polished theory, so readers can follow the reasoning behind each wiring decision and component choice. Whether it's configuring an RC system or troubleshooting a logic display, the posts reflect the patient, iterative process that any ambitious electronics project demands, and they offer a useful reference for others taking on similar builds.

Motor controllers and scooter motors mounted on a metal test platform with red and black wiring

"The electronics are the nervous system of the droid."

Key Electronic Systems

Motor Controllers: Two Pololu Simple High-Power 18v25 units drive the foot motors; a Syren 10 handles dome rotation.
RC Control: A bound transmitter/receiver pair provides wireless command of the differential drive system.
Dome Lighting: Teeces 3.2 Logic Display and PSI boards, driven by CuriousMarc's custom sketch, animate the front and rear logic panels.
Dome Automation: CuriousMarc's Marcduino Dome Control System manages servo-driven panel animation and holo light sequencing.

Related Sections

Electronics span the entire droid. Explore these categories for more detail:

Build Journal — all electronics posts in chronological order
The Dome — logic displays, PSI, and Marcduino dome control
The Legs — foot drive motor controllers and differential drive
Parts Rundown — complete electronics parts list with sources

"Building an astromech is as much about wiring and code as it is about aluminum and steel." — Ryan, Project Astromech