A feature-packed, no-solder electronics playground with a colour display, mini breadboard, speaker, buttons, servo outputs, analog inputs, GPIO, Qw/ST connectors and battery support.
Explorer is made for the kind of projects that begin with “I wonder what happens if...?” Add components to the breadboard, clip onto unusual inputs, plug in a sensor or get something moving with the servo outputs.
The screen, buttons and speaker let your creations show you what they’re doing and give you plenty of ways to interact with them. Explorer arrives fully assembled and preloaded with our MicroPython firmware and examples, so you can start experimenting straight away.
Lots to explore
| Display and controls | A vibrant 2.8″ IPS display with six chunky programmable buttons. |
|---|---|
| Built-in breadboard | Add components and prototype circuits directly on the board. |
| Flexible connections | Experiment with digital and analog signals using headers, crocodile clips and two Qw/ST connectors. |
| Four servo outputs | Control wheels, creatures, mechanisms and other moving projects. |
| Built-in sound | Make your projects beep, chirp and react with the piezo speaker. |
| Portable power | Add a battery and use the included feet to create self-contained projects. |
What will you make?
Turn Explorer into an environmental dashboard, a roaming two-wheel robot, a servo-controlled creature, an electronic puzzle or a portable data logger. You could build an interactive sound machine, experiment with unusual sensors or invent something we haven’t thought of yet. That is rather the point.
Features
- Fast RP2350B processor with 16MB of storage
- Bright 2.8″ colour display
- Six chunky programmable buttons
- Built-in mini breadboard for adding your own components
- Digital and analog connections via headers and crocodile clips
- Four servo outputs for making things move
- Two Qw/ST connectors for plugging in compatible sensors and breakouts
- Built-in piezo speaker
- USB-C for programming and power
- Battery connector for portable projects
- Two removable feet for propping Explorer up on your desk
- Fully assembled—no soldering required
- Programmable with C/C++ or MicroPython
- Schematic
Starter Kit contents
The Starter Kit adds a hand-picked collection of sensors, controls, lights, servos, wheels, wiring and power hardware, giving you plenty to experiment with straight out of the box.
- Pimoroni Explorer
- Multi-Sensor Stick for environmental, light and movement sensing
- A selection of red, yellow, green, blue, white and RGB LEDs
- Potentiometer
- Three 12mm switches with different coloured caps
- Two continuous-rotation servos
- Two 60mm wheels for the servos
- AAA battery holder—batteries are not included
- Hook-and-loop fastener for attaching the battery holder to Explorer
- 20 pin-to-pin and 20 pin-to-socket jumper wires
- Qw/ST cable for connecting the Multi-Sensor Stick
- USB-C cable
Getting started
Pimoroni Explorer comes preloaded with our MicroPython firmware and a selection of examples showing off what it can do. Plug it in and use the on-screen menu to start exploring.
If you would prefer to use CircuitPython, take a look at Tyeth’s guide to installing CircuitPython on Pimoroni Explorer.
Notes
- Dimensions: approximately 107 × 85 × 16mm assembled
- We suggest bending the two metal tabs on the included Starter Kit potentiometer sideways—or removing them with side cutters—so they do not obstruct the breadboard.
- If the Starter Kit switches do not slot securely into the breadboard, try carefully straightening their legs with pliers.