DIY haptic input knob: BLDC motor + round LCD

Introducing the SmartKnob View: an open-source input device with software-configurable endstops, virtual detents, haptic touch feedback, and a round LCD.

Since you can't feel the detents through the video, make sure to turn up the volume so you can at least hear them, particularly the fine-grained detents toward the end of the video.

A brushless gimbal motor is paired with a magnetic encoder to provide closed-loop torque feedback control, enabling virtual endstops and detents. Internally, everything is powered by an ESP32, with a TMC6300 BLDC motor driver, HX711 strain gauge ADC, VEML7700 ambient light sensor, and more!

I'll have a lot more to share about this project in the future, like a design and assembly overview, so make sure you're subscribed if you want to see more!

🛒 Related hobby electronics items (affiliate links help support the channel, at no cost to you):

[RECT_]

why are open source designs always far superior to anything commercially manufactured. This is so impressive.

[MrNoipe]

This is absolutely brilliant. Thank you for open sourcing it! I would love to see a build video.

[davidgoncalvesalvarez]

Bro really dropped the coolest knob I’ve ever seen in a less than 3 min video, and open-sourced it. This is awesome.

[asemibrahim]

This technology suits many markets but as soon as I saw it I couldn't help but imagine it in a car especially with the new minimalistic approach many manufacturers are taking. This really can be a game changer and an incredible solution for the fine balance between reducing cost and maintaining customer experience. Incredible work!

[bitluni]

I can cross a similar project off my todo list. this has everything I wanted! Well done!

[zachpw]

UI tip: pick a font that has “lining numbers” in the OpenType feature set. All the numbers will have the same bounding box width, so they won’t jump around when you go from skinny numbers to fat numbers, like 11 to 12.

[johnlocke_]

You gave us an insanely cool project and then abandoned us.

Please, come back!

[ChromiumProtogen]

I watched this 2 years ago and even 2 years later i find this really freaking cool

[QuintBUILDs]

I don't have a project for this yet but need one in my life! VERY cool! 👍

[ChippyGaming]

This seems like the sort of thing I could imagine Elgato selling

[RaphaelGP]

We definitely NEED this in synthesizers

[stefang]

Scott, you need to bring this to market or find a partner that can. I saw your videos on this years ago, and there still hasn't been something like it available.

It has so many use cases and I can imagine it being used a ton by creatives, WFH, smart home enthusiasts, music fans, and movie/tv lovers just to name a few. The possibilities would be endless if it had integrations like the Elgato Stream Deck products.

I know that you open sourced this (huge props), but a ton of people like myself don't have enough time / aren't smart enough to make anything of it and would be willing to pay top dollar for it prebuilt. Cheers!

[KastaRules]

I love the relative simplicity, yet deep complexity of this device!
Absolutely a masterpiece of ingenuity.

[Dithermaster]

This is super cool! I built one similar to this about 24 years ago using a DC motor and an optical rotary encoder. It did not have an LCD display nor button. Watching your demo brought back memories and now I want to build one like yours!

[R_Stoelwinder]

Dude! I would love to see a "how to build" video or written series, this seems like such a fun project to learn and build something that is sooo tactile and useful in my real world. Appreciate your work Scott!

[chaosplan]

As cool as this is I’d love to see an attempt at inertia! Give the wheel a flick and depending on detents and friction the wheel could spin a few revs before slowing to a stop. Video editors have mechanical shuttle jog wheels like this. It’s a gas watching a skilled operator flick them around with high speed and precision.

[adfjasjhf]

I realllly hope that this will be implemented to Home assistant. This is a killer device for smart home! Glad I opened my recommendations today.

[ahmedessam]

This is neat, what really amazes me is how intuitive the configurations are and how you smoothly fuses everything together in a clean design.

[TimBlume]

You show here the solution to what the car manufacturers got wrong with their touchscreen only concept. Amazing, I can't wait to see this in action.

[biomerl]

Man, you ought to be selling this to a company because this is absolutely astounding.