Pi Motor Hat

As part of the architecture for the robot for UniBots UK 2025 competition, I designed a custom PCB Hat for the Raspberry Pi 5.

This PCB Hat facilitates the control of six 12V DC motors and three 5V servo motors while also supplying power to the Raspberry Pi at 5V and approximately 3.5A. The entire system is powered by a single 12V source, significantly simplifying the circuitry and streamlining the robot's design process.

To provide the 12V supply, we plan to use a 3S LiPo battery. An XT-60 connector serves as the input to the system, ensuring a secure and robust connection.

A TPS5450-based buck regulator efficiently steps the 12V input down to 5V for the Raspberry Pi, while an LD1117AL linear voltage regulator supplies a stable 5V for the servo motors.

I sent the PCB design for manufacturing to JLCPCB and sourced the components from LCSC. Once the parts arrived, I assembled and hand-soldered the PCB in the university's makerspace.