Evan Brand tipped us this summer that he’d be traveling to Japan and Korea this fall, and visiting Maker Faires in both countries, and would we like him to report for Make:? Of course we would! Here’s Evan’s dispatch from Maker Faire Seoul, September 27-28, and Maker Faire Tokyo, October 4-5. (For more coverage of the Tokyo event, see Make Books editor Kevin Toyama’s report here.)

Maker Faire Seoul 2025

This past week I had the opportunity to check out Maker Faire Seoul. Hosted at the Seoul Science Centre, this event showed off a large variety of makers and projects. Though I couldn’t cover everything, I have noted a selection of the fantastic exhibits below.

WHEELY-X by Kangsters

A video gaming and workout device using a wheelchair for its controller.  By varying the speed and intensity of spinning each wheel, you are able to control different aspects of each game. The treadmill setup has an accompanying app that can track fitness and give feedback regarding each game or workout! Really cool device with a fun demo to explain the technology.

Interactive Gunpla by Side B Lab

These Bandai Gunpla (Gundam Plastic models) are modified by Ji Hyun Ko, adding lights and control circuitry. The variety of projects light up or can be moved via controllers and different sensors around the models, turning normally inanimate models into interactive experiences closer to their inspiration, the giant robots of the Gundam franchise.

AR Origami by Picker Studio

This booth displayed different books of origami bugs with an accompanying app. When built, the AR app would animate the different bugs and bring a person’s creation to life!

Unimat by The Cool Tool 

This was an all-in-one desktop woodworking tool that allowed for a variety of different configurations to transform it for different uses. Similar to a desktop version of a Shopsmith, the tool was being demoed as a wood lathe by allowing folks to turn their own pen blanks at the event!

Geekble

Lighting Round!  The folks behind YouTube channel Geekble had several projects of note, some of which are listed below:

— MacroController

This large scale 3D print of an ESP32-powered microcontroller that was also designed by the group shows off the design in full 3D printed glory.

— Electric Guitar Bike

This bicycle turns into a fully playable instrument, which was created for the band QWER and presented to them at the Pentaport Rock Festival. When the switch is flipped a pneumatic actuator extends the guitar neck out, primed to play.

— Meat Slapping Machine

Exactly what it sounds like.

3D Printed GLaDOS by Blackout.Retech

This 3D printed bot, a character in the Portal video game series, was printed in parts on a Bambu Lab  P1 S. Somehow the entire thing was built in the month leading up to the event.  Aperture Science would trip over themselves for that type of engineering skill!

Vacuum Light by 유리공방 기미기

A bottle pushed under vacuum to cast dazzling displays of light. Each pedal pressed at the base of the project causes plasma to arc to different points in the bottle. 

Electronics Demo by {w_b} 더블유엔비

Badges! Different badges and electronics projects powered by ESP32-C3 boards. A variety of demos were on display from boards showing the weather to small lamps to sit on your desk. 

Maker Faire Tokyo 2025

Heading to the Tokyo Big Sight Expo Center, I had a chance to explore and talk with many of the makers at this year’s Maker Faire Tokyo. Below is a small selection of the many groups and projects at this year’s event:

OpenAgriTech

This collective wanted to make weighing crops easier and so created an open source scale for agriculture. The scales read off a settable table, being able to categorize objects based on weight. It then saves the data to a spreadsheet so the user can keep track of stock!

Memory Game by Makerspace KM1

This clever  test of skills takes the form of a memory card game that works using RFID stickers. Match the correct cards together and the holder lights up green!

Miniature Concert by Robotics Technology Study Group

This love letter to idol concerts reproduces the magic in miniature. Built from laser-cut acrylic and around 100 servos, LED wands move in sync with the musical performance based on a custom-made movement model. The build also includes a train to move the singers between the crowd to complete the feel of the show.

Bots by Miseclinic

Looking down I happened to spot these Strandbeest-inspired robots. With builds that can be created out of mainly chopsticks, these bots are great to introduce robotics and kinematics to someone looking to jump into making.

Wearable Keyboard by Generative Idea Flow

Always a fan of wearables, I spotted this keyboard sewn into an apron using conductive thread. A microcontroller processes the inputs and sends the information wirelessly to a paired device.  A brilliant way to thread the needle between wearables and electronics; bravo!

Controllable Mech

For anyone looking to build big, but unsure what they can do with their machines at home, this 8-foot-tall mech from Brave was largely 3D printed. The controls on the side of the display allow passersby to move the robot in real time!

Micro Electric Bikes

These extremely tiny electric bicycles are actually rideable! Balance is tricky, but there is an impressive amount of torque behind the motors.  Just don’t kick up any rocks!

Walking T-Rex

This costume is made out of corrugated plastic sheet and zip ties. Outside of the large costume, the team worked to teach kids how to make smaller versions of the dino for themselves!

Joshibi Robot Research and Development

A pleasant departure from the hyper-optimized project sphere, this group aims to bring the fun back into robotics. Coming at the problem from the design angle instead of engineering, these makers are trying to make friendlier and emotion driven bots.

Kuquri

This articulated robot caught my attention dancing around the exhibit booth. Using spherical wheels it moved in all directions, bobbing up and down as it went.

Robot Band

Following the sound of bells I came across a small band or bots playing music. The songs varied over the course of the event but always lent a cheery tune as folks walked around!

Non Planar 3D Printer

This 3D printer can adjust its build plate to allow for printing at different angles. The group also created the software necessary to slice the 3D models to run on such a machine.

Street Legal Kotatsu

You know it’s a Maker Faire when someone turns a household object into a car. This heated table is ready for the road. Not only is it drivable but it is actually street legal and registered, classified as an e-scooter.

Pneu Logics

A fun use to show off pneumatics. Each button press actuates the physical logic gates to perform addition., forming a mechanical computer!

Hermit Cone

It can’t be a Maker Faire without a hidden robot wandering around. When it feels the need for some new scenery, this hermit crab bot flips up its cone and walks about.

Circuit in a Bottle

A truly impressive show of patience. Combining the attention-to-detail of model shipbuilding and the intricacies of electronics, the project is a testament to persistence.  Every circuit at the booth was assembled by hand in the bottles and are fully functional.

TwinHAM

An amazing wheelchair add on. The pieces of this project attach onto an existing wheelchair and turn it into an electric powered device. The device is still a prototype but from the demo was extremely easy to operate and pick up.

Desktop EDM Machine

For those looking into subtractive manufacturing, this EDM device can cleanly cut into metal parts. It uses a geared motor to get some extremely precise cuts.

Particle Accelerator 

Against all odds, my expectations were blown away by a particle accelerator in miniature on display. The build was completed by a high-school club, with other high schools building them and planning to compete to see which one has the best build!

An exciting new Maker Faire arrives in the bustling center of the other Bay Area — the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, the most populous built-up metropolitan region in the world. With all those people, there are a lot of great ideas flying around! Produced by robotics innovators Hosted at the prestigious Guangzhou (International) Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Tianhe Base, this event promises to be the ultimate celebration of creativity and resourcefulness. Dive into a world of fascinating projects, from cutting-edge technology demonstrations to artistic masterpieces. Meet and network with fellow engineers, artists, scientists, and crafters who are eager to share their unique skills and experiments.

Read on for some project highlights and check back in for live updates throughout the weekend from Make: Community Editor David Groom in Guangzhou.

Featured Makers + Projects

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) MoSense, a team established by a multidisciplinary group of doctoral researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has expertise spanning microelectronics, robotics, physics, and advanced materials. The team currently consists of more than ten postgraduate researchers who possess extensive research and development experience in multimodal sensing, embodied intelligence, robotic design, and ergonomics. MoSense’s full-body tactile solution offers customizable electronic skins with various shapes and functions for different body parts, enabling robots to achieve multimodal perception. This solution has won championship titles in robotics competitions.

《Mechanical Reverence: The Bonds of Data and the Awakening Eye》
This artwork, themed around “awe,” features a hybrid human-mechanical model that delves into
AI’s impact on human identity. Set in a neon-lit, futuristic setting inspired by sci-fi films like “Westworld” and “Blade Runner,” the model resembles a puppet, symbolizing the human gazeunder technological control. It gazes at a TV showing a tiny human image, alluding to “The Truman Show” and the disintegration of self-awareness. The project includes research, sketches, model making, and a final display with dark lighting to emphasize the technological and artistic impact, encouraging reflection on humanity, control, and the future.

Olfactory Simulator: The current human-computer interaction heavily relies on sight and sound, but lacks olfactory engagement. Advances in AI, particularly in image recognition with CNNs and Transformers, along with IoT hardware improvements, make it possible to create a system that can analyze images and generate corresponding smells in real time. This project aims to use AI to interpret
visual content and trigger an olfactory device to produce matching scents, offering a new,
immersive multisensory experience.

Sensory Innovation in the Alleviation of Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom limb pain is a common neuropathic symptom experienced by amputees, and traditional
treatments like mirror therapy have limited effectiveness and lack immersion and personalized
experience. This project aims to use multimodal interaction technology, combining visual, tactile, and auditory feedback, to construct an immersive rehabilitation training system to alleviate the
phantom limb pain of patients.

EdTech Integration

Project 1: AI Smart Parking

An AI system that automatically recognizes vehicle plates for parking lots, communities, andfactories, enabling automated vehicle entry/exit and reducing costs.

Project 2: AI Plant Identification Camera

A camera kit that uses AI to identify over 20,000 plants and 8,000 flowers, useful for educationand image analysis.

Project 3: Universal Infrared Remote

A multi-functional remote that consolidates controls for various home appliances, featuring auser-friendly interface.

Project 4: CherryFamily Creation Kit

A platform for beginners to create tech projects easily, offering kits like CherryBoard for development and CherryCube for quick sensor integration. More educational kits are planned.

Day One: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Day Two: Sunday, October 19, 2025

I’m here on-site at MAUTO for Arduino’s big announcement today, and having been briefed in advance and given preview of the hardware as part of our upcoming annual boards guide, I can now share, as the embargo lifts, that there are not one, not two, but at least three surprises being unveiled. I will try to add more throughout the event, so please refresh often and scroll down to make sure you see the latest!

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Can’t wait for the new hardware? Check out this special free PDF download featuring Arduino projects and more!

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Arduino UNO Q

Most exciting is the announcement of the presciently-named Arduino UNO Q. Referred to as “Project Imola” during earlier briefings, the “Q” — a radical naming departure from the R4 and R3 before it, seems to point to the Qualcomm Dragonwing SoC that powers it; though as we’ll see later, there may be more to the name. In addition to the drastic departure in naming convention, the device itself is a huge break from prior UNOs capability-wise — despite the common form factor (enabling the use of voltage-compatible classic Shields), the Q has a 2.0 GHz 64-bit quad-core application processor, which dwarfs 48MHz 32-bit microcontroller RA4M1 from the R4; itself already a mammoth leap from the 8-bit ATmega328P of its predecessors. As such, the board can run Linux, and in fact ships with a version of Debian and Arduino’s new App Lab software (below). The SoC is paired with an STM32U585 microcontroller, which means that you can connect a monitor and keyboard/mouse to use the Linux OS interactively, and program the “Arduino” (MCU) from the Arduino (SBC). The App Lab software allows you to, for example, connect a camera for Python-based image recognition on the SoC side, while a “traditional” C++ or MicroPython sketch gathers sensor values via 3.3V GPIO or Modulino nodes via the Qwiic connector. This “dual brain” approach revolutionizes the capabilities of the UNO form factor, as well as obviating the need for a separate host computer to program it.

Arduino App Lab

The new UNO Q requires new software to take advantage of its groundbreaking new capabilities, and this comes in the form of the Arduino App Lab IDE. Designed to simplify integration of Python and AI on the SoC with traditional Arduino applications on the microcontroller, the open-source platform also integrates with recent Qualcomm acquisition Edge Impulse for simplified machine learning integration.

Qualcomm Acquisition

Perhaps not the greatest surprise — there has been talk or expectation of something like this happening since Arduino raised $54MM two years ago — but as soon as I saw that “Q” silkscreened on the new UNO, I guessed the implication: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. have announced an agreement to acquire Arduino. According to Arduino CEO Fabio Violante:

“Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation. The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning— we’re excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable, and open to everyone.”

During a press briefing last night, their commitment to remaining agnostic (i.e. not removing support for other silicon) was made clear, although my question of “for how long?” did not have a definitive answer. Optimistically, the new resources, access to other acquisitions like Edge Impulse, and ability to leverage Qualcomm’s own IP (the €44 retail price tag on the Q was another clue before the announcement that Qualcomm had a particular interest in this board!) may indicate an exciting new era for the now two-decade-old project.

What do you think about today’s announcements? Let me know via social media or drop me an email at [email protected].

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Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi does the “please silence your phones” announcement as the official event is five minutes from starting…

Maker Faire mentioned as Massimo hands the mic to CEO Fabio Violante!

And there it is:

Qualcomm’s “most complicated title in the business” (according to Fabio) Nakul Duggal explains that Arduino will remain an independent subsidiary. Support for other silicon vendors will continue, as it has with other acquisition Edge Impulse.

“Arduino meets Linux”

“Upstream First” Linux instead of letting patches pile up for

<<< internet stops working; updates lost >>>

“Upstream first” means patches don’t pile up for Arduino’s new board.

QRB2210 SoC is fanless at 1.2W

Make: cover model and Zephyr zealot Benjamin Cabe takes the stage…

play, tinker, learn, master with the new Arduino App Lab.

Alessandro Grande demos face recognition with Edge Impulse’s easy model development cycle.

Guy from TKO grills a panel of rock stars on heritage, responsibility, and the next 20 years of Arduino.

and that’s a wrap! (for now!)

Maker Faire’s never been about just sitting back and watching all the cool things (though there are lots of cool things to watch), it’s about making stuff yourself! There’s a ton of workshops to help you discover your new favorite hobby, and here are a few:

Kat Ammann’s Jewelry Making Basics

Get an intro into the creative world of jewelry making while crafting your own earring designs from an assortment of colorful pieces. No prior skills required! All tools & supplies will be provided. Attendees will leave with 1-2 pairs of earrings, as time allows.

mycraftedstudio.com

Darcy Neal’s EMF Explorer Badge Soldering Workshop

Get ready to solder your own circuit board art piece that unlocks the ability to listen to the electromagnetic frequencies around you! The world is full of hidden electromagnetic frequencies, and so much can be learned by listening to their sounds! Explore the hidden frequencies produced by electronics, learn what different functions sound like, and walk away with a completed circuit board that can be worn on a lanyard for extra bling. Accessible to anyone who can safely use a soldering iron, with adult supervision necessary.

sporklogic.com/product/emf-explorer-soldering-kit

Scatha G. Allison’s Upcycled T-Shirt Charm

Come to a workshop session for a DIY upcycle t-shirt into a cute bag charm! Participants will knot their own charms – clips and T-shirts strips provided. Learn how to do a basic 4-strand braid and finish a personalized project from beginning to end that you take with you! Hosted by indie clothing artist and designer Scatha G Allison for Miss Velvet Cream Neocouture. Beginner skill levels OK! Youth ages 10 & under will need adult support. Approximate time is 40 minutes from start to finish for first timers.

missvelvetcream.com

Margaret Caragan’s Fight Club: Special FX

This is an introductory special makeup effects workshop, good for beginners, teens, artists and anyone looking to learn about the world of makeup. We’ll do demonstrations and try out materials to create several looks: bruises, cuts, wounds, and blood. Have fun and enjoy taking individual pictures of your work with us. Be sure to pose for fight photos with each other and group pics or it didn’t happen! You may work on yourselves or a model. Minors should be accompanied by an adult, who can double as their model. You may take your left over makeup supplies with you to practice more on your own (sponges, makeup, palette).

pandora-fx.com

Creative Play Lab by SnackNotes

Come make your animations come alive with a mini-zoetrope you can build at the Maker Faire, try out “Meg-a-Sketch”, our giant whiteboard Etch-a-Sketch contraption, and play with our DIY electronic music toys. We’ll also share other fun maker projects designed to inspire young makers and their grownups to experiment, build, and create together at home.

Last year, our”Animation Studio for Junior Makers”delighted kids and grownups alike with hands-on animation activities and this year we’re bringing even more ways to spark creativity.

SnackNotes is a project by Brian (dad of two and engineer) who develops these creative projects with his own kids and shares them so other families can easily explore artistic and engineering ideas together with simple, engaging activities and free educational resources.

snacknotes.com

Douglass Brown’s Glass Blowing Experience. Make It and Take It!

Join us at CS-A02 and try your hand at making a stamped glass coin or one of many different styles of vases, terrarium or a milk jug. Come back in an hour and pick up your work fully annealed with our special equipment on our trailer. We use this trailer to go out into the public to schools, art fairs and concerts.

miartglass.com

Maker Nexus

At the Maker Nexus booth you’ll be able to make your own custom polymer clay keyboard cap to take home, as well as work cooperatively with your friends to complete our 4-person ball maze. Stop by to say Hi to Binny, the wacky robot trash can as well! 

www.makernexus.org

Hammer, Tongs, Fire and Friends

Clay and Steel returns for some fiery forging demos. Celeste Flores, owner of Clay and Steel will be leading hands on hammer striking for a select number of people each day. (age 16+ with a signed waiver) Watch a team of smiths forge some fiery creations. Or come take some fun photos with forged props.

All ages can participate in the small metal arts and hammer out some copper charms. 

clayandsteel.com

Learn Chip Design by Making Games on FPGA!

Ever wondered how a chip designer does their job? In the Verilog Meetup booth at Maker Faire, you can learn the basics of SystemVerilog hardware description language in a fun way by creating circuits that implement graphical games. We can show you how to use FPGA boards to prototype your designs with reconfigurable logic. We are also compatible with TinyTapeout infrastructure, which allows you to manufacture your design in an ASIC chip.

verilog-meetup.com

The Hidden Life of Spices

Discover the chemistry of spices, their colors and flavors, their uses in cooking, medicine, fabric dyeing, and more. In this hands-on activity, visitors will learn how to use spices as dyes, and will discovery the chemistry behind their colors and aromas by building molecular models of key color and flavor components.

calacs.org/outreach/earth-week/earth-day-celebration-at-the-john-muir-historical-site-in-martinez

Debra Ansell’s Make an Edge-Lit Pendant

Turn a super simple circuit into a pretty pendant while learning a bit about LEDs. No soldering is required to turn a color-changing LED and laser-cut acrylic into a glowy accessory that will brighten up any outfit. Children under 12 may require adult assistance to help with the hand-eye coordination required for precise wire bending and handling small screws and nuts.

geekmomprojects.com/layered-edge-lit-pendants

Fireflies know it, anglerfish know it, even Panellus stipticus knows it – some things look better in the dark. And with too many glowing things to fit in a single warehouse, Maker Faire Bay Area has multiple zones to escape the sun and enjoy the twilight.

Luminarium

Inside, visitors are immersed in “luminaria” sculptures, a sensory world of light and vibrant color. It’s an experience that is both visually stimulating and surprisingly calming. The luminaria create a unique, transporting environment, bringing unexpected visual art to public spaces for all ages to enjoy. Alan Parkinson’s Architects of Air has toured 43 countries, captivating global audiences. Now, the Luminarium is making its Bay Area debut. 

Dark Room

Over 25,000 sq ft of a mesmerizing, immersive environment featuring light-based art and installations from renowned artists and makers that have been on display at galleries, music shows, Burning Man, and beyond. A few pieces recently returned from the playa that can be enjoyed without fending off the dust and rain include: 

Anna Gribovsky’s Aquatica

A 15′ mutant glowing kelp tree (steel) grows  jellyfish with colorful, glass-like bodies (resin, inks) and optical fiber tentacles (lit by 500 LEDs). This aquatic canopy undulates in the wind as ocean sounds float from below the tree, immersing participants in an ethereal seascape.

Nikki Alice’s Tesseract

Tesseract is an interactive light installation that explores the enigmatic nature of the fourth dimension. The internal design creates a multidimensional light experience that invites viewers to step into the unknown. As they engage with the illusion, audiences are immersed in a visceral appreciation for higher dimensions, blurring the boundaries between science, art, and imagination.

The CooLab’s Flash the Tortoise Art Car

This is an art car inspired by a living tortoise named Flash. A 2002 Gem Car converted to a moving, lighted tortoise. Custom designed and welded aluminum frame, custom built lithium battery pack, vacuum formed HDPE scutes (panels), led back lighting and pebble lighting. 

Interactive Art

The dark room isn’t only a collection of work to marvel at. You’re invited to take part in the art as well! There are multiple interactive pieces ready for your participation, including:

Ralph Monteath’s Spyntonia

Experience three, 6 foot tall tornadoes of light – that react to music and brain waves. This art installation went to Burningman and other fairs. Made using 1mile of optic fiber and other recycled parts. People say it’s like looking at a real life, eyes arresting screen saver.

Tom Hansen’s Immersive Fluid Flow Experience

​​An interactive display showing the fascinating nature of air and water flow. The Immersive Fluid Flow Experience projects a fluid flow model that is interrupted by people or objects, creating spinning vortexes.

The DynaMandala

The DynaMandala (by Stefan Biskup, Darcy Neal, and Daniel Young) is a celebration of exploring the combination of Sight, Sound, AND Input. Input is a critical part of the work. When you play the DynaMandala, You complete the art. It is a rich and responsive instrument that each player will bring to a unique swirl of dazzling pattern and sound.

Two Minute Film Festival

Because great films deserve great light and sound, there will also be a luxury mobile theater, courtesy of Chill Theaters! A panel of judges including Kayte Sabicer (The Dark Knight Rises, The Mandalorian), Jesse Velez (Netflix’s robotic Thing hand, Alien 40th Anniversary), and Hannah Chu (Elio, Gatto (2027) will share their 120-second favorites submitted by the Maker Community, so visitors can experience the visual creativity of makers turned filmmakers.

If you haven’t heard, Maker Faire is coming to the Bay Area September 26th. It’s an incredible collection of exhibits you won’t find in a store. And it only happens one weekend, so if you’re looking to optimize the quality time you spend meeting amazing makers, that’s really a great idea. But there’s also tons of stuff to play instead. From team-building exercises to non-linear puzzles, from handmade alternative controllers to vintage video games, there are a plethora of unproductive ways to spend your time. It’s far more than we can reasonably list, so here’s an amuse-bouche of standout experiences.

Maker Faire Temporal Anomaly

A temporal anomaly has fractured time at Maker Faire, and we need your help to solve the mystery!

Your mission is to uncover the full story. As you explore the Faire, you will discover special Voice Over IP (VoIP) phones connected to the event’s WiFi network.

Inspired by Meow Wolf, Allen Ajello and the rest of the team at Crexendo will be running a faire-wide puzzle using VOIP phones and clues hidden around the event. I have no idea what to expect other than surprises that challenge the space-time continuum. Of course, not knowing is the point.

Badger Badger Badger

Badger Badger Badger is an alternative control game reflecting a modern-day corporate employee’s life. You play a corporate employee and your goal is to get PROMOTION without losing your SANITY. You play the game by using your corporate assigned badge to tap on different badge readers to navigate the office maze and build rapport with your coworkers. Once you’ve done enough favors for those people, you’ll be ready for promo. How to actually get promoted? Come and play to find out!

Sam Brown, Justin Chang, and Ruby Chen built this Severance-esque office simulator. It’s perfect for someone who, upon seeing all the art and robots on display, wishes they were at a desk. The rhythm game starts out simple but gets tricky fast. 

Game On

Game On offers hand-crafted cooperative challenges at our location in Berkeley. Come sample our travelling game and ask us anything about our game design and build process.

The innovative puzzle builders James Hopkin, Tim Alley, and Eric Mittler from Game On have devised a scaled-down experience just for Faire visitors. I expect a lot of the good kind of problem-solving, as well as inspiration for anyone who was itching to build their own puzzle box.

Connect 4 Musical Instrument

The Connect 4 Musical Instrument transforms a classic game of Connect 4 into a live musical performance. Two players face off in a standard game, but with each move, they collaboratively generate a unique musical composition.

Kids always seem to beat grown-ups at Connect 4, but Ben Einstein’s instrument takes things a step further. Can you defeat your opponent and compose a recognizable track at the same time?

Sashimi Slayer

Sashimi Slayer is an alternative controller rhythm game that uses a modified martial arts sword as a controller. Slice and parry away enemy fish and the kraken’s tentacle, then chop them into sushi! 

This rhythm game is naturally inspired by sword sounds in movies. I played it earlier this year and I am pleased to say that the team at Shrimp Fried Rice Games (Shenwei Zhu, Kay Krachenfels, Alex Ling, and Arthur Gan) improved an already fantastic experience with new modes and UI upgrades. Since I don’t know where to buy a sword controller, Maker Faire might be my last chance to beat my old score. 

Open Sauce, the irreverent engineering convention started by YouTuber William Osman, filled the San Mateo Event Center last week with robots, games, and skeletons. Oh, and 150 featured creators. It was a fun show, if a little surreal. We failed to see everything, even though we really tried. But here’s a selection of a lot, though still not all, of terrific exhibits from the show. 

Metalmancy Arcade Cabinets

Metalmancy’s arcade machines, built by Carlo Supina, are powered by Framework boards and built like tanks. They were running games by developer Joanna May, who was promoting her Chickensoft tools for devs.

Framework PC

Framework was also on site, challenging people to see how quickly they could assemble a laptop from their modular parts. 

Bash Em! Bop Em!

Presumably beating their own record for assembly, this dance-controlled robot battle was first played the night before Open Sauce. Each team member lives in a different city and couldn’t bring everything together before Friday. But the mashup of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Dance Dance Revolution floor pad controllers, little hydraulic cylinders, and 3D printed connections came together for the show. Attendees had a great time playing. And apparently I’m awesome at it. – Sam

Engineezy

Sashimi Slayer

We spotted this sword-controlled rhythm game earlier at alt.ctrl.GDC, and the internals are still holding up better than the toy swords around them. They’ve improved the GUI and added a bonus level since March.

3D Snake

Maker Nexus and Their Team Building Labyrinth

This four-person ball maze by Maker Nexus is heavier than it looks, but it will make you some instant new friends.

DIY “Benchtop” CNC Mill

Compass CNC Router

Shariff DMC: Desktop CNC Machines

Fernside Dragons

Paul Bunyan’s Pocket Watch

This mechanical wooden pocket watch by Nick Allen was mesmerizing, probably because it was 300 lbs. If you doubted it belonged to Paul Bunyan, there was a bell jar of Paul Bunyan-sized pocket lint to prove it. 

Wooden Mechanical Calculator

Open Workout System

“No subscriptions and no bricked hardware” is the driving ethos behind this open source workout system. Users can program in the exact weight they want to simulate, and it will provide the equivalent level of resistance while taking up a fraction of the space of a traditional set of weights. Not a bad tool for physical therapy.

Novoloom

Evette’s Niche

Evette’s Niche displayed a wide range of whimsical machines, from costumes and accessories to musical art nouveau instruments. She taught herself Blender to pull off the organic designs.

SkyTech Electronics

SkyTech Electronics put old hardware to practical use by building one Mac Classic into a robot tank, and another into a thermal photo booth. They also had the oldest electronic guestbook I signed. – Sam

BAYLUG

The Bay Area Lego User Group brought vintage space models and wild new designs, like a Blacktron Strandbeest. 

Extrastellar Entity Labs

Mace Morningstar and Peter Turnbull built Alphonse, an animatronic goat head, for a heavy metal pagan ritual performance. People trusted the NFC tag enough to feed it their phones.

SF Bay Area Japan Maker Community

AdamCAD

Those interested in making their own 3D shapes could stop by the AdamCAD booth, which demoed their parametric text-to-3D AI CAD software at Maker Faire Bay Area 2024. They’ve since added a “creative mode” for organic shapes.

Open Source Special Needs Devices

Adaptive tech tools for special needs kids are surprisingly expensive and still may not do exactly what you want. T-Rex Successful, Slightly Famous, Autistic Adult builds projects like the Python-programmable communication board (left), which are a perfect fit for open source solutions.

Austin Bradley’s Bad Ideas

Some games make sense being larger, others definitely don’t. Two people were trying to play a game with Ausin Bradley’s giant Wii remote which, like the sign says, probably shouldn’t exist.

The Gateway

Stochastic Volumetric Display

Geoff Peterson Talking Animatronic Robot Skeleton Sidekick

Talk Tips

There were three stages where YouTubers spoke and shared advice. Some sage wisdom for aspiring video creators included “make your content as long as it needs to be”, and to think of your first five videos as learning experiences, since no one will watch them.

They also proved it was possible for a grown adult to get beat at a giant game of Operation by a child.

But the most important thing to look forward to is friends! Editor-in-Chief Keith Hammond ran into Kayte Sabicer and Jorvon Moss (aka Odd Jayy), and proved that the real sauce is the sauce we made along the way. 

Today and through the weekend makers, innovators, and creatives of all ages will have the opportunity to show off their skills and learn new ones–not only at Maker Faire Lille, the country’s flagship event, and Maker Faire Lens (also in Northern France), but at over 100 “mini” events across France and as far away as Corsica. Since 2016, Maker Faires in France have been co-developed with Leroy Merlin. Each edition highlights innovative projects by craftspeople and connects communities to encourage cooperation. Visitors become participants, the events inviting everyone to become a maker in their turn.

Maker Faire Lille: June 13-15th

MAKER FAIRE LILLE is back (already) in June and is taking over the EURATECHNOLOGIES spaces for the first time in the heart of the Bois Blancs district of Lille on June 13, 14 and 15, 2025. It’s going to be big… and also beautiful, inspiring, innovative! Last year, the event was held in November, so its been just over 6 months of incroyable planning to deliver this weekend’s many delights.

Friday, June 13th is designated an Education Day — a time when Maker Faires focus on students and youth activation, building the next generation of makers. This free event is dedicated to school audiences, from CP to Terminale and beyond. A unique opportunity to discover the world of makers and innovation through a series of exciting activities! “We believe it is essential to help young people better understand the world in which they are growing up, to give them the keys to become actors/makers themselves and to make them aware that living in the world is everyone’s responsibility and that we can all be actors by becoming makers.” On the program:

• Interactive stands to discover inspiring projects
• Creative workshops to learn while having fun
• Conferences led by experts

A day not to be missed to stimulate curiosity, develop new skills and inspire vocations!

Makers + Activations

There are makers engaging in every sort of work at Lille this year. Here are a few of our favorites!

aequo.design studio: HANGER GAME

MaxiCat by Maxime Catteau

A former graphic designer and printer turned successful precarious artist, in his Lille studio MaxiCat creates silkscreen prints of posters, stickers and other badges, as well as packaging for parodic consumer products; fast food packaging guaranteed to cause food poisoning, depressing toys, deadly candies, always disappointing scratch cards, and other vinyl records by artists as distressing as they are fictional. Between criticism of consumer society, punk outlet and meticulous diversion, his colorful and detailed works address subjects such as depression, junk food, nostalgia or sexuality, all buried under 4 passages of fluorescent ink, dark humor and references to pop culture.

Performance!

Ponytrap: Musician Quentin Oliver has been away from his home base in Austin, TX the last few years and sharing his unique “post-industrial music for modern primitives” across Europe. He started building MAX, Ponytrap’s giant mechanical drum, because he couldn’t find the right people to join the band.

YMNK is a multi-instrumentalist, hyperactive tinkerer of synths that he makes himself, developer, researcher, and tinkerer. “Since I was very young, I have always been passionate about two things: music and technology. So I composed my first pieces as a teenager while programming my first video games on the family computer. After studying audiovisual engineering, I joined a computer company. As for music, I joined the band Shiko Shiko with whom we recorded 2 albums and played more than 200 concert dates across Europe and Japan. With these experiences, I created with friends the company BLEASS, specialized in the development of musical applications for phones and tablets. This led me to develop, among other things, Jean-Michel JARRE’s application: EōN. For several years I have been making my own synthesizers and using them in my musical project.

Archil & Leon, both drummers, share a very specific vision of music. Their studios are filled with strange instruments: machines with disconcerting sounds created by Archil. He explores the boundaries between art and science. LEARN MORE ABOUT MAISON KITSUNE

DOC PIXEL – A multifaceted artist, Doc Pixel stands out for his universe that oscillates between art and science. Inventive and passionate, he develops interactive devices that combine image, sound, and light.

Perennial Maker Faire favorite EXOOT is coming to Lille this year. Maker Tristan Kruithof – who also makes some incredibly cool sculptures that we saw at Maker Faire Prague last year.

A Citroën with a healthy dose of positivism: it grooves, flirts and flies along the streets. A street phenomenon with a headstrong personality, AMI6 plays with – and frequently surprises – the audience.Exoot is the company that brings together Tristan Kruithof’s objects, installations, and performances. Exoot is a collective that operates under his artistic direction and performs at festivals and events.

MORE MAKERS + ACTIVATIONS!

Check out Maker Faire Lille 2024 for a taste of what’s to come