This is a simpler, more beginner friendly version of the original SmartKnob designed to make smart haptic controls easier to build and understand. By removing much of the complexity found in earlier designs, this version is easier to assemble and supports more motor options, making it an approachable project for hobbyists and first time builders alike.
Kokensha Tech redesigned the SmartKnob to make it easier to assemble and more flexible. One major change was moving the display off the knob itself. The original design placed a small LCD inside the knob and ran wires through a hollow motor shaft, which was difficult to build. By placing the display on a separate breakout board, the new design no longer needs a hollow-shaft motor, allowing many more BLDC motors to be used.
The updated version also uses a separate motor carrier board, making it easy to install or swap different motors. The circuit board was redesigned with larger, easier to solder components, and the microcontroller was changed to a standard ESP32 to reduce cost and complexity. These improvements keep the SmartKnob’s advanced features while making it much more approachable for beginners and hobbyists.
