Microcontrollers are the brains inside your project. Hook up sensors, lights, and even communicate with computers and the internet by writing a bit of code to run on a microcontroller. Whether it's AVR (Arduino), ARM, PIC, Propeller, or something different, these integrated circuits run programs you write to interact with the physical world. Earn this badge by making an exceptional microcontroller project or sharing excellent instructions for working with microcontrollers online.

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Sam joined the Adafruit electronics show and tell to share his RFID computer mouse project! He added an RFID reader, USB hub, and the Adafruit 32u4 board to his standard computer mouse, enabling him to log into his computer by swiping the rfid tag in his watch band. We were impressed not only with the complexity of his endeavor but also learned it's his first soldering project! Way to go Sam!

The 32u4 board acts as a keyboard to type in Sam's password. When he found that the RFID antenna was using a lot of power, he added a USB hub and a switch to be able to devote all the power to the RFID reader-- he calls it the "login button."

Sam made this for a school project, and we can only hope his teacher and classmates appreciate it as much as we do. We can't wait to see what this rising maker star will make next!

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Watch Sam show off his RFID computer mouse on the Adafruit Electronics Show and Tell!

Adafruit 32u4 breakout board

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