Classroom Tool Converted into an Arduboy

The Smart Response XE is a small handheld device that allows students to answer questions during a lesson. The teacher can setup a series…

Cameron Coward
6 years agoGaming

The Smart Response XE is a small handheld device that allows students to answer questions during a lesson. The teacher can setup a series of questions, and then evaluate the student responses to find out how well they’re keeping up with the lesson plans. Used, they can be purchased for less than $5 each, and happen to have a Microchip ATmega128RFA inside. That means they are compatible with Arduino projects, and can be converted into an Arduboy handheld game console.

Arduboy is an 8-bit portable gaming platform that’s designed specifically to run on the low-power ATmega microcontrollers found in Arduinos. Because the Smart Response XE has a compatible chip, is0-mick over on the Arduboy forum was able to get it working with the platform. That required some modification of the Arduboy library so that it would support the display and keyboard on the Smart Response XE.

The display in particular required a creative workaround. The LCD is driven by an ST7586S chip, and the resolution is a very wide 384x160 pixels. The Arduboy is supposed to run at 128x64 pixels, so is0-mick set it up to multiply that by 3 pixels in the Y-axis and 2 pixels in the X-axis. That slightly stretches the graphics, but as you see in the video, games like Hopper are still completely playable. If you can get your hands on a Smart Response XE, this is an inexpensive way to build yourself an Arduboy.

Cameron Coward
Writer for Hackster News. Proud husband and dog dad. Maker and serial hobbyist.
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