Hardware Guide
Recommended Hardware for Level 3 Exercises
This guide helps you choose the right hardware for hands-on device deployment.
Start with an Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense (~$35). It includes sensors and is used in multiple labs.
Core Devices
Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense
Best for: LAB04, LAB05, LAB08
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | nRF52840 (Cortex-M4F @ 64MHz) |
| RAM | 256 KB |
| Flash | 1 MB |
| Built-in Sensors | IMU, microphone, temperature, humidity, pressure, light, gesture |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Price | ~$35 |
Why this board? - Official TensorFlow Lite Micro support - Built-in microphone for keyword spotting - IMU for gesture recognition - No external sensors needed to start
ESP32 DevKit
Best for: LAB09, LAB14
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Xtensa LX6 (dual-core @ 240MHz) |
| RAM | 520 KB |
| Flash | 4 MB |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth |
| Price | ~$10 |
Why this board? - WiFi for IoT applications - Very affordable - Large community - TensorFlow Lite Micro support
[Buy from various sources]
Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB)
Best for: LAB07, LAB12, LAB16, LAB17
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | BCM2711 (Cortex-A72 @ 1.5GHz) |
| RAM | 4 GB (recommended) |
| Storage | microSD |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet |
| Price | ~$55 |
Why this board? - Full Linux environment - Runs TensorFlow (not just TFLite) - Camera support for vision projects - Powerful enough for edge servers
Buy from Raspberry Pi Foundation
Sensors and Peripherals
For LAB08: Multi-Sensor Projects
| Sensor | Interface | Price | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHT22 | Digital | ~$5 | Temperature/humidity |
| MPU6050 | I2C | ~$3 | Accelerometer/gyroscope |
| BMP280 | I2C | ~$3 | Pressure/altitude |
| HC-SR04 | Digital | ~$2 | Ultrasonic distance |
| Photoresistor | Analog | ~$1 | Light level |
For LAB10: EMG Project
| Component | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MyoWare 2.0 Muscle Sensor | ~$40 | Includes electrodes |
| Servo motor (SG90) | ~$3 | For actuation |
| EMG electrodes (disposable) | ~$15/100 | Replacement electrodes |
For LAB15: Power Measurement
| Component | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| INA219 Current Sensor | ~$8 | I2C interface |
| USB Power Meter | ~$15 | For system-level measurement |
| 18650 Battery + Holder | ~$10 | For battery-powered tests |
For LAB16: Computer Vision
| Component | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Camera v2 | ~$25 | 8MP camera |
| Pi Camera HQ | ~$50 | 12MP, interchangeable lens |
| USB Webcam | ~$20 | Alternative to Pi Camera |
Complete Kits
Starter Kit (~$50)
For LAB04, LAB05, LAB08:
- Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense: $35
- Breadboard + jumper wires: $5
- USB cable: $5
- LED + resistors: $5
IoT Kit (~$30)
For LAB09, LAB13, LAB14:
- ESP32 DevKit: $10
- DHT22 sensor: $5
- Breadboard + wires: $5
- LED + resistors: $5
- Power supply: $5
Vision Kit (~$100)
For LAB07, LAB16:
- Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB): $55
- Pi Camera v2: $25
- Power supply: $10
- microSD card (32GB): $10
Advanced Kit (~$200)
For LAB15, LAB17, LAB18:
- 2x Raspberry Pi 4: $110
- INA219 current sensor: $8
- Pi Camera: $25
- Networking switch: $20
- Power supplies + cables: $37
Where to Buy
Official Stores
Budget Options
- AliExpress - Lowest prices, slow shipping
- Amazon - Fast shipping, moderate prices
- eBay - Variable quality
Very cheap clones may have compatibility issues. For learning, official boards are recommended.
Software Requirements
| Device | IDE | Frameworks |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino | Arduino IDE, PlatformIO | TensorFlow Lite Micro |
| ESP32 | Arduino IDE, ESP-IDF | TensorFlow Lite Micro, ESP-NN |
| Raspberry Pi | VS Code, Thonny | TensorFlow, OpenCV, Flower |