Year 2025 One-Hertz Challenge: Wake Up and Create Your Exceptional Pokémon Team
In a bid to address the common frustration with the quality and performance of consumer electronics, an individual named Mathieu has breathed new life into a power-hungry Pokémon alarm clock. By reusing the clock's original shell but replacing its internals with modern components, Mathieu has created a well-built, efficient, and network-synced timepiece that beautifully blends nostalgia with modern functionality.
The transformation process began by removing the original electronics and antique LCD from the Pokémon alarm clock while retaining its original casing. Mathieu then installed an ESP32 microcontroller, a versatile device that supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling network time synchronization from internet NTP servers. This feature eliminates the need for manual resetting when power is lost.
To enhance the user interface, Mathieu replaced the old LCD with a full-color TFT LCD display, which he purchased affordably from AliExpress for a few Euros. On this new screen, he displayed custom pixel art by Woostarpixels, featuring day and nighttime versions as well as accurate moon phases, adding aesthetic and functional value to the clock face.
The custom code running on the ESP32 is optimized to use nearly all of its onboard 4 MB flash memory, integrating the art and timekeeping functions. This software is open-source and available on GitHub for review and modification.
Mathieu's project, a multidisciplinary work of art, demonstrates the potential for hardware hacking and artistic customization to create innovative solutions for everyday devices. The clock now appears well-built and could be enjoyed for years to come.
Mathieu's inspiration for the project stemmed from his frustration with a smart doorbell, but it was his son's power-hungry Pokémon alarm clock that served as the immediate catalyst. The frequent need to reset and change the batteries in the clock fueled Mathieu's desire to create better devices.
This modification drastically reduces power consumption compared to the original clock, adds smart network timekeeping, and upgrades the user interface with custom art while maintaining the collectible's classic exterior. For those seeking to emulate Mathieu's project, the steps are straightforward:
1. Disassemble the alarm clock but keep the original shell intact. 2. Integrate an ESP32 microcontroller and connect it to Wi-Fi for network time synchronization. 3. Install a full-color TFT LCD display for rich graphics. 4. Load custom pixel art by Woostarpixels into the ESP32’s flash memory. 5. Use the published GitHub code to drive the display, manage time sync, and display graphics.
[1] Mathieu, personal communication, 2022.
Mathieu's transformation process involved replacing the old electronics and LCD of the Pokémon alarm clock with a modern ESP32 microcontroller, a full-color TFT LCD display, and custom pixel art. This upgrade turned the power-hungry gadget into a smart-home device, equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity for network time synchronization.
With the installation of an affordable TFT LCD display from AliExpress and the integration of an open-source code optimized for the ESP32's 4 MB flash memory, Mathieu successfully created an efficient, network-synced, and visually appealing electronics device that blends technology with nostalgia, demonstrating the potential for hardware hacking and artistic customization in everyday devices.
