A developer created a compact texting device by combining a $20 4G wireless hotspot, a Clicks keyboard, and a sharp display, then installed Linux using the OpenStick project and created a custom PCB to integrate the components into the Clicks case form factor.
OrthoRoute is a GPU-accelerated PCB autorouter plugin for KiCad that uses Manhattan lattice routing and the PathFinder algorithm to handle high-density boards with thousands of nets. Developed to route a complex 17,600-pad backplane that existing autorouters couldn't handle efficiently, it leverages KiCad's new IPC plugin system for improved performance and flexibility compared to traditional Python-based routers.
A fast Rust-accelerated A* autorouter for KiCad PCB design files, compatible with KiCad 9 and 10. Available as a GUI plugin and command-line tool, featuring multi-layer routing, differential pair support, power plane handling, signal integrity optimization, and post-route verification.
An article describing AI-powered automation for PCB routing and placement in KiCad, a free open-source electronics design tool. The automation pipeline analyzes schematics to extract design intent, then uses KiCad's Python scripting interface to automatically place components and route connections, reducing manual design work from days to minutes. The approach was tested on real-world boards including an aerospace avionics project.
A developer successfully designed a PCB for an RP2350-based development board with an E-ink display using Claude (Fable 5) with minimal manual intervention, following strict rules of no manual edits. The 31.8 × 37.32 mm, 4-layer board cost €26 per unit, though the design process revealed component package mismatches and routing challenges that were resolved through iteration with Claude.
OpenAI's announcement of Astra, an LLM model that automates PCB layout in KiCad, sparked concern among embedded engineers about job displacement. The article argues that while LLMs will likely automate routine design tasks like schematic and board layout work, the future of engineering lies in systems-level thinking, requirements development, and verification—skills where human experience remains irreplaceable.
A hardware designer discusses troubleshooting PCB impedance calculations for a Sensor Hub RF layout with a colleague named Paul. The confusion stemmed from misunderstanding KiCad's layer visualization and selecting different board stackup options in JLC's calculator, which significantly affected trace width calculations for achieving 50-ohm characteristic impedance.