[{"content":" Stuff we geek out on # Arduino Raspberry Pi ESP32 IoT Retro Tech SDR Electronics Sensors AI at the Edge Curious about any of these? Take a deep dive into our topics →\n","date":"22 September 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/","section":"CARPE","summary":"Stuff we geek out on # Arduino Raspberry Pi ESP32 IoT Retro Tech SDR Electronics Sensors AI at the Edge Curious about any of these? Take a deep dive into our topics →\n","title":"CARPE","type":"page"},{"content":"We meet twice a month — typically the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, though it shifts now and then with room availability. Our location moves around too, so check each meeting below for its date and venue before you head out. Meetup is our source of truth for dates and RSVPs.\nWhat a meeting looks like # Show \u0026amp; tell — bring whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on, finished or not. Half-built and gloriously broken is encouraged. Talks \u0026amp; demos — short, informal presentations on whatever someone\u0026rsquo;s excited about. Want to give one? We\u0026rsquo;d love that. Open hang-out — time to chat, troubleshoot, and meet other local makers. ","date":"22 September 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/","section":"Meetings","summary":"We meet twice a month — typically the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, though it shifts now and then with room availability. Our location moves around too, so check each meeting below for its date and venue before you head out. Meetup is our source of truth for dates and RSVPs.\nWhat a meeting looks like # Show \u0026 tell — bring whatever you’re working on, finished or not. Half-built and gloriously broken is encouraged. Talks \u0026 demos — short, informal presentations on whatever someone’s excited about. Want to give one? We’d love that. Open hang-out — time to chat, troubleshoot, and meet other local makers. ","title":"Meetings","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. The location for this session is still being finalized — check back soon or watch Meetup for the announcement.\n","date":"22 September 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-09-22-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"September Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. This session is at the Worthington Park Library, in the Olentangy Meeting Room.\n","date":"9 September 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-09-09-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"September Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. The location for this session is still being finalized — check back soon or watch Meetup for the announcement.\n","date":"25 August 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-08-25-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"August Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. This session is at the Worthington Park Library, in the Olentangy Meeting Room.\n","date":"11 August 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-08-11-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"August Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. This session is at the Northwest Library, in the Trillium Meeting Room.\n","date":"28 July 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-07-28-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"July Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. This session is at the Worthington Park Library, in the Olentangy Meeting Room.\n","date":"14 July 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-07-14-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"July Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you\u0026rsquo;re working on. Complete or in progress, it\u0026rsquo;s all interesting. Whether you\u0026rsquo;re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you\u0026rsquo;ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You\u0026rsquo;re absolutely welcome. If you\u0026rsquo;re a beginner who wants to experiment, we\u0026rsquo;ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\nWhile we keep looking for a more permanent home for the group, we\u0026rsquo;re meeting at public library facilities based on availability. This session is at the Old Worthington Library, in the Wolf Study Room.\n","date":"30 June 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/meetings/2026-06-30-open-forum/","section":"Meetings","summary":"Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow makers for a night of creativity and collaboration.\nThis session is open forum — share whatever you’re working on. Complete or in progress, it’s all interesting. Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, chasing a new idea, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired.\nNew to electronics, or just curious about tinkering? You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner who wants to experiment, we’ll have a couple of starter kits on hand so you can try things out — blink your first LED, put something on a display, or play with a few simple sensors. No pressure, no experience required — just an interest in learning and building.\n","title":"June Meeting — Open forum \u0026 show your project","type":"meetings"},{"content":"CARPE — the Columbus Arduino \u0026amp; Raspberry Pi Enthusiasts — is an informal group of makers, hobbyists, and curious tinkerers in central Ohio. We meet in person twice a month to build things, show off projects, swap ideas, and help each other get unstuck.\nThe name doubles as our motto:\nCreative · Applied · Retro · Pi \u0026amp; Edge\nWho it\u0026rsquo;s for # Everyone. Total beginners who\u0026rsquo;ve never plugged in a breadboard are just as welcome as folks who\u0026rsquo;ve been soldering since the \u0026rsquo;70s. If you like making things with small, cheap, powerful hardware — or you\u0026rsquo;re just curious what\u0026rsquo;s possible — you belong here.\nThe basics # When: twice a month — usually the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, in the evening. Check each meeting for the exact date. Where: it varies — while we look for a permanent home, we meet at public library facilities based on availability, so always check the specific meeting for its location. Cost: free. No membership, no dues, no registration. Ready to come by? Check out upcoming meetings or say hello in Discord.\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/about/","section":"CARPE","summary":"CARPE — the Columbus Arduino \u0026 Raspberry Pi Enthusiasts — is an informal group of makers, hobbyists, and curious tinkerers in central Ohio. We meet in person twice a month to build things, show off projects, swap ideas, and help each other get unstuck.\nThe name doubles as our motto:\nCreative · Applied · Retro · Pi \u0026 Edge\nWho it’s for # Everyone. Total beginners who’ve never plugged in a breadboard are just as welcome as folks who’ve been soldering since the ’70s. If you like making things with small, cheap, powerful hardware — or you’re just curious what’s possible — you belong here.\n","title":"About CARPE","type":"page"},{"content":" Do I need any experience? # Nope. Complete beginners are genuinely welcome — a lot of us love helping people get started. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.\nWhat does it cost? # Nothing. There\u0026rsquo;s no membership, no dues, and no registration. Just show up.\nWhat should I bring? # Just yourself. If you have a project you\u0026rsquo;re working on, bring it — finished or not. A laptop can be handy if you want to tinker, but it\u0026rsquo;s optional.\nDo I need to RSVP? # It helps us plan (especially for room size), so an RSVP on Meetup is appreciated — but it\u0026rsquo;s not required. Drop-ins are always welcome.\nWhere do you meet? # It varies. We rotate locations around Columbus based on room availability, so always check the specific meeting for its venue before heading out. See upcoming meetings.\nWhen do you meet? # Twice a month, usually in the evening — most often the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, though it shifts occasionally. Check upcoming meetings for exact dates.\nCan I give a talk or show a project? # Please do! Talks and demos can be short and informal — just mention it in Discord or to an organizer at a meeting. See the Meetings page for more.\nI have my own projects site / want to share my builds. Can CARPE feature them? # Absolutely. We list members\u0026rsquo; project links on our Links page. Just ask in Discord or share it at one of the meetings, and we\u0026rsquo;ll add it.\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/faq/","section":"CARPE","summary":"Do I need any experience? # Nope. Complete beginners are genuinely welcome — a lot of us love helping people get started. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.\nWhat does it cost? # Nothing. There’s no membership, no dues, and no registration. Just show up.\nWhat should I bring? # Just yourself. If you have a project you’re working on, bring it — finished or not. A laptop can be handy if you want to tinker, but it’s optional.\n","title":"FAQ","type":"page"},{"content":"CARPE is one small part of a great maker and tech scene in central Ohio. Here are some other communities worth checking out, plus projects our members are building.\nOther Local Communities # CORE — Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts — An informal, all-are-welcome group for ham radio, GMRS, software-defined radio, mesh networking (Meshtastic), and anyone curious about radio. Monthly meetups, no experience required. Columbus Vintage Computing Club — \u0026ldquo;The home of vintage computing in Columbus.\u0026rdquo; Workshops, demos, presentations, and social gatherings around retro and vintage computing, meeting roughly monthly in the Hilliard area. Free and open to all. East Columbus Maker Meetup — Local Makers gathering monthly to connect, create, and share projects, swap ideas, and pick up new skills. CNC, CAD, and 3D printing are frequent topics. Midwest Hard Tech — A newsletter by Mike Liang building community for hardware, hard tech, and deep tech builders and entrepreneurs across the Midwest. Regional Events # Worth a road trip — conventions and festivals around the Midwest:\nVintage Computer Festival Midwest — A yearly celebration of computer history in Schaumburg, Illinois (near Chicago) each September, with exhibits, speakers, and a roomful of vintage hardware. Tandy Assembly — An annual gathering for fans of Tandy/Radio Shack computing (TRS-80 and friends) — exhibits, talks, auctions, and technical sessions. Held in Cincinnati, Ohio each October. CORGSCon — Columbus\u0026rsquo;s long-running retro gaming convention at the Ohio Expo Center: a vendor hall, special guests, and plenty of classic video games. Member Projects \u0026amp; Portfolios # Building something cool? We\u0026rsquo;d love to feature it here — mention it in Discord or grab an organizer at a meeting.\nChris Deever — Projects — A portfolio of electronics, maker builds, software, and home projects. ","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/links/","section":"CARPE","summary":"CARPE is one small part of a great maker and tech scene in central Ohio. Here are some other communities worth checking out, plus projects our members are building.\nOther Local Communities # CORE — Central Ohio Radio Enthusiasts — An informal, all-are-welcome group for ham radio, GMRS, software-defined radio, mesh networking (Meshtastic), and anyone curious about radio. Monthly meetups, no experience required. Columbus Vintage Computing Club — “The home of vintage computing in Columbus.” Workshops, demos, presentations, and social gatherings around retro and vintage computing, meeting roughly monthly in the Hilliard area. Free and open to all. East Columbus Maker Meetup — Local Makers gathering monthly to connect, create, and share projects, swap ideas, and pick up new skills. CNC, CAD, and 3D printing are frequent topics. Midwest Hard Tech — A newsletter by Mike Liang building community for hardware, hard tech, and deep tech builders and entrepreneurs across the Midwest. Regional Events # Worth a road trip — conventions and festivals around the Midwest:\n","title":"Links","type":"page"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/tags/","section":"Tags","summary":"","title":"Tags","type":"tags"},{"content":"If it blinks, beeps, senses, moves, or computes, someone here is probably into it. A sampling of what turns up at meetings:\nMicrocontrollers # Arduino, ESP32, RP2040, STM32 — the little brains behind most projects. Reading inputs, driving outputs, and talking to the world over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.\nSingle-Board Computers # Raspberry Pi and friends — full Linux machines for home servers, media boxes, camera rigs, retro emulation, and anything that needs more horsepower than a microcontroller.\nLEDs \u0026amp; Displays # From a first blinking LED to addressable RGB strips, matrices, e-paper, and OLED/LCD panels. Light, color, and little screens.\nSensors # Temperature, motion, light, distance, air quality, IMUs — measuring the physical world and turning it into data you can use.\nMotors \u0026amp; Robotics # Servos, steppers, DC motors, drivers, and the mechanics and code to make things move, roll, and grab.\nRetro Tech \u0026amp; Retro Computing # Vintage machines, 8-bit micros, old peripherals, and giving classic hardware new life — or emulating it on new hardware. Want to talk shop with assembly programmers? You\u0026rsquo;ll find them here.\nElectronics \u0026amp; Soldering # Breadboards, circuits, PCBs, and the soldering-iron skills to build and fix them. New to the iron? We\u0026rsquo;ll help you get started.\nIoT \u0026amp; Home Automation # Connected sensors and devices, dashboards, and automating your space — locally or in the cloud.\nAI at the Edge # Running models on small hardware — vision, audio, and ML inference on microcontrollers and single-board computers.\nThis list isn\u0026rsquo;t exhaustive — bring whatever you\u0026rsquo;re into. If it\u0026rsquo;s even adjacent, it fits.\n","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/topics/","section":"CARPE","summary":"If it blinks, beeps, senses, moves, or computes, someone here is probably into it. A sampling of what turns up at meetings:\nMicrocontrollers # Arduino, ESP32, RP2040, STM32 — the little brains behind most projects. Reading inputs, driving outputs, and talking to the world over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.\nSingle-Board Computers # Raspberry Pi and friends — full Linux machines for home servers, media boxes, camera rigs, retro emulation, and anything that needs more horsepower than a microcontroller.\n","title":"Topics","type":"page"}]