Connor's Stuff
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Projects

A collection of some projects I worked on

2026-____

Digital Clock

CAD of PCB

Digital Clock

Attempting to make a fully discrete digial logic clock. Build with 14/16 DIP ICs and using a 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator to keep time.

No microcontrollers, or firmware.

Made with KiCad.

Circuit

AS OF 2026-10-10 THIS STILL NEEDS TO BE TESTED AND VERIFIED

7 Segment Display

Each display is powered by a SN74LS247N with a common annode 7 segment display with an array of resistors between each segment.

Display schematic for a single digit

1Hz Clock

The clock was designed using a CD4060BE and a 32.768 crystal. The output only divided to 2Hz so an additional CD4013BE flip-flop was required to divide it into a 1Hz signal we can use for the clock.

< Connor Insert image >

PWM

PWM control was added to control the brightness of the 7 segment displays as well as the clock’s colon LEDs. It is designed using a TLC555N driving a 2N7000 transistor for the common cathode of all the LEDs.

< Connor insert image >

Counter Logic

The counting circuit was designed using a CD4518BE BCD (Binary-Coded Decimal) counter. This means it goes from 0-9 and after 9 it resets back to 0. Not all digits need to go from 0-9:

  • Seconds Tens digit -> Need to reset after 0-5
  • Minutes Tens digit -> Need to reset after 0-5
  • Hour (ones and tens digit) -> Need to reset after hours reach 0-23
2025-____

Balance Bot

Balance Bot

This project started around mid 2025. An inverted pendulum or balance bot would be cool to work on.

I added some actuating legs that could extend and change height independently, to add some more dynamic capabilities.

I also added a 2-axis head and a face for personality.

Balance bot with actuating legs
Balance bot balancingBalance bot with animated face

Upcoming upgrades:

  • Custom PCB
  • BLDC Motors
  • Stronger or more compact servos
2025-2026

Micromouse

Micromouse

Stuart the Micromouse was created following the IEEE Micromouse Competition rules, built for a capstone project. It traverses a (sized down) 8x8 physical maze to find the shortest path to the center. It is a mixture of Embedded, PCB design, controls systems, shortest path algorithms, and reinforcement learning.

The capstone project achieved IEEE Winnipeg Section 1st Place Prize.

2026

UMIEEE SumoBot

Fighting Sumobot

UMIEEE SumoBot

UMIEEE/UMRT Sumobot competed in RoboWars 2026, a competition hosted by IEEE Concordia in Montreal, QB.

The main controller is an ESP32-S3 using both cores for sensors and control logic. The bot uses a mixture of IR sensors underneath the scoop and facing forward to identify the sumo ring perimeter and the opponent sumobot. The controller also drives the two left and right motor drivers, and perform our sumobot’s strategies.

System Diagram

UMIEEE was able to qualify for the final tournament and finished in the top 12 of about 23 teams.

Draw between UMIEEE Fun sumobot battle
2023-2026

UMRT Rover

UMRT Rover

Prairie Pioneer (2023-2024)

Assisted in the communications system as a member

Prairie Pioneer in the field

Project Perry (2024-2025)

Lead the communications system as Team Lead

  • Introduced a Base Station Case containing monitors and any other devices we need on the field
  • Upgraded antenna stand
Project Perry in the field
Base station case proposalBase station made

Prairie Panther (2025-2026)

Lead the communications system as Team Lead

  • Implemented dual network system
Year 3 antenna stand
2025

CRT Audio Visualizer

CRT Audio Visualizer

CRT Audio Visualizer

[Audio Signal Analysis]

Parts:

  • ESP32 DevKitC
  • 13” CRT Display

Audio signal DC bias circuit

Audio signals for this use case use an RMS voltage of 1.0 V, giving peak voltages of** ±1.414 V**. For the ESP32 to safely read these signals, a DC bias circuit shifts the signal to a 1.65 V center point, for a safe final peak to peak range from ** 0.24 V to 3.06 V.**

Audio input schematic

Note that this circuit is effectively a high-pass filter with a cut-off frequency at 31.8 Hz, so the audio signals are not perfectly extracted.

User input schematics

FFT

The script

2025

UMRT RC Outreach Robot

Project

University of Manitoba Robotics Team (UMRT), ESP32

2024 - ____

Portfolio Website

portfolio-minimal

This website!

Come visit it at https://localhost:4321 :))))))))))))

Assets

3D models on /playground were designed by me using MagicaVoxel https://ephtracy.github.io/

2023

[UMRT] Website

Project

University of Manitoba Robotics Team (UMRT), ESP32

2021

Arduino Gameboi

Arduino Gameboi

3D printed game console

Playthough
2021

Chimp Want Banana (Game Jam)

Project

Brackeys Game Jam 2021.1

https://alphaq.itch.io/chimp-want-banana

2020

Bodyguard (Game Jam)

Project

Ludum Dare 46 Game Jam

https://alphaq.itch.io/bodyguard-ld46

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