pico-console V2

A custom-built handheld console platform based on a multi-MCU architecture.

The system is built around two RP2350 microcontrollers: one acting as the main processor and the other as a dedicated southbridge.

This project focuses on scalable embedded system design, including multi-processor coordination, custom protocols, and full-stack bare-metal development.

For the previous version of this project, see pico-console.

Features

• Architecture:

  • Main CPU: RP2350A (at rp2350a_main_board)
  • Southbridge: RP2350B (handles input, peripherals, and auxiliary I/O)
  • Custom inter-MCU communication (based on UART)

• Graphics:

  • 480x320 18-bit LCD (50MHz SPI protocol over HSTX)

• Audio:

  • Software mixing pipeline (multi-channel)

• Input:

  • 16 buttons (Nintendo-style ABXY layout)
  • 2 joysticks
  • Touchscreen
  • 6-axis IMU

• Storage:

  • microSD (carlk3/no-OS-FatFS-SD-SDIO-SPI-RPi-Pico)

• Other:

  • Battery monitoring
  • IR communication (RAW, NEC)
  • Designed for extensibility (at southbridge)
    • Qwiic/STEMMA QT Compatible connector
    • HSTX connector (0.5mm pitch 10pin FPC connector)
    • and some GPIO pads..

This project focuses on exploring scalable embedded system design, including multi-processor coordination, custom protocols, and full-stack bare-metal development.

How to build & upload firmware

1. Install CMake (at least version 3.13), Python 3, and a GCC cross compiler

sudo apt install cmake python3 build-essential gcc-arm-none-eabi libnewlib-arm-none-eabi libstdc++-arm-none-eabi-newlib

2. Clone this repository and submodules:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/Crem2y/pico-console-v2.git

3. Launch the build script:

./pico_build.sh

4. Press the reset button twice to enter bootloader mode.

5. Upload the generated .uf2 file to your board.

   • if you already installed picotool, use this.

./pico_upload.sh

6. (Optional) Launch the clean script to remove build artifacts:

./pico_clean.sh

Photos

• working!

Schematics & PCB

• See pico-console-v2-pcb for details.

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License

• This project is licensed under the MIT License.
• See LICENSE for details.

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Third-party components

• Thank you to the many open-source contributors.
• See the third_party_licenses/ directory for full details.