Pimoroni Unveils New Expandable Electronic Badges: Introducing Badgeware
Sheffield, UK – Pimoroni, a renowned name in hobbyist electronics, has launched its latest innovation, Badgeware, a series of expandable electronic badges centered around the Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller. This new product line enhances the user experience with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, appealing to tech enthusiasts and developers alike.
The company describes Badgeware as “the next generation of wearable, hackable badges,” indicating a robust upgrade from its previous smart displays and wearables. Pimoroni highlights the rigorous design improvements, featuring durable and colorful exteriors. Each badge comes equipped with built-in batteries and various functionalities that enhance both usability and appeal.
The initial Badgeware collection comprises three distinct models: the Badger, Tufty, and Blinky. The Badger features a 2.7-inch 264×176 grayscale ePaper display, while the Tufty offers a more vibrant 2.8-inch 320×240 color IPS display. For those seeking enhanced visual stimulation, the Blinky model showcases a 3.6-inch matrix composed of 872 brilliant white LEDs, providing maximum brightness and versatility in displays. Each badge maintains a core design that includes customizable buttons, four-zone rear lighting, a protective casing, and connection points for an accompanying lanyard, thus catering to a wide range of applications.
At the heart of these badges lies the Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller, accompanied by 16MB of flash storage and 8MB of pseudo-static RAM (PSRAM), in addition to the on-chip 520kB SRAM. Enhancing connectivity options, the badges feature an unbranded module reminiscent of the Espressif ESP32 that facilitates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 communication. The design also includes a USB Type-C port for programming and recharging a built-in 1,000mAh battery. An integrated real-time clock module adds further functionality, while the Qwiic/STEMMA QT compatible expansion headers facilitate additional hardware integration.
Moreover, Pimoroni has introduced a Badgeware STEM kit, which includes add-ons called the Multi-Sensor Stick and Gamepad. The Multi-Sensor Stick expands capabilities with sensors measuring temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, light, proximity, and rotational motion through an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Meanwhile, the Gamepad features a four-way direction pad and multiple buttons designed for engaging gameplay, equipped with cuttable traces allowing for multiple device connectivity, ideal for group activities.
The Badgeware models come pre-flashed with MIT-licensed firmware that includes a variety of graphical applications, ranging from a familiar app launcher to engaging games such as Flappy Bird, Etch-A-Sketch, and Snake, alongside a virtual pet and an ISS tracker. Pimoroni has plans to facilitate a user-driven app sharing platform, allowing Badgeware owners to develop and disseminate their own applications once the hardware becomes available to developers.
Pre-orders for the Badgeware line-up have begun, priced at £49.50 (approximately ) for badge-only purchases or £67.50 (around ) when bundled with the STEM kit. For further details, prospective customers can visit the dedicated product site here. As wearable technology continues to evolve, Pimoroni’s Badgeware exemplifies innovation and creativity in the realm of user-interactive electronics.