https://github.com/eagrahamjr/kobots-buttonboard
"World's Most Expensive" 8-button HomeAssistant remote control
https://github.com/eagrahamjr/kobots-buttonboard
adafruit diozero home-assistant home-automation raspberry-pi
Last synced: 3 months ago
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"World's Most Expensive" 8-button HomeAssistant remote control
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/eagrahamjr/kobots-buttonboard
- Owner: EAGrahamJr
- License: apache-2.0
- Created: 2023-05-30T15:26:26.000Z (about 3 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-01-29T05:51:50.000Z (6 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-01-29T21:44:51.109Z (5 months ago)
- Topics: adafruit, diozero, home-assistant, home-automation, raspberry-pi
- Language: Kotlin
- Homepage:
- Size: 11.2 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 1
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# I2C Button Board
The world's most expensive remote control for HomeAssistant. Uses
- [HAssK client](https://github.com/EAGrahamJr/HAssK)
- [kobots-devices](https://github.com/EAGrahamJr/kobots-devices)
- and by extension [diozero](https://www.diozero.com/)
- Lightbend's [Typesafe config](https://github.com/lightbend/config) for the configuration.
- [Kobots "Parts"](https://github.com/EAGrahamJr/kobots-parts) for application management, control, and all the pretty graphical elements.
### Cost
Does **not** count the Raspberry Pi, as it's been swapped out a few times.
| Item | ~Price |
|---------------------------|---------:|
| SparkFun Qwiic pHat v2 | $8 |
| 128x128 OLED display | $23 |
| I2C Multiplexer | $7 |
| 128x32 OLED display x 2 | $8 |
| NeoKey 1x4 I2C x 2 | $20 |
| Keys (4 x 2) | $7 |
| Key caps (4 x 2) | $5 |
| Neopixel strip, 1/2 meter | $13 |
| Neopixel ring (8 pixels) | $4 |
| Neopixel controller | $8 |
| SparkFun Qwiic Twist | $25 |
| Swirly board | $11 |
| Extra STEMMA cables | $12 |
| **TOTAL** | **$151** |
### V1, Mk 2
- The secondary screen shows a continually updating list of temperatures (rooms, CPU, and "outside").
- Each button corresponds to a menu selection on the larger screen (next/prev buttons on others)
- Also has a "sleep" mode to prevent screen burn in (from Mk 1)
- Exit button is active, others just "wake up" the menu
### V2
There were some timing issues, as well as the buttons not responding quickly. This was also a case of trying to do too
much for no real reason.
- Mode defined for time of day
- Single icon display for each button based on mode/action
- Button colors corespond to icons (more or less)
- Button actions based on mode
- Neopixel strip just runs on its own
- shutdown actually works now (?)
- App exit on multiple buttons pressed
- Snazzy minifig to help hold the I2C cable
### V5
**MORE BUTTONS!!! MORE SCREEN!!! MORE JUNK!!!***
Added an I2C multiplexer and a lot more "self-handling" code. The "front bench" of buttons is configurable by an external signal because I don't have a rotary encoder (yet). The NeoPixel ring shows "liveness" of various hosts and there's a NeoPixel strip just for (more) color.
### V6
ToF to handle menu switching and built on a "swirly plate" for a new **`Industrial`** look.
### V7+
This is likely the last hardware iteration as it's now quite easy to re-arrange buttons on whims...
Removed ToF (not working that well), re-arranged stuff and added some 3D printed frames to make it look less janky. Added the rotary encoder for additional media support when I get to it.
And, just for grins, added a ["Matrix Rain" animation](make-it-rain.mp4) (from the `kobots-parts` library).
#### Prints
- Frame for large OLED - https://www.printables.com/model/923637-15-oled-frame-for-m25
- Cover for NeoKeys - https://www.printables.com/model/904353-neokey-1x4-cover
- Frame for small OLED - https://www.printables.com/model/927362-ssd-1306-frame