Minecraft Lightbulb Server Runs on BL602 Microcontroller
Vimpo transforms an AliExpress bulb into a Minecraft server using Ucraft, showcasing the potential of embedded systems.
An innovative project led by hardware enthusiast Vimpo successfully hosted a Minecraft server on a smart LED bulb from AliExpress. The bulb contains a BL602 RISC-V microcontroller, featuring a single 192 MHz core, 276 KB of RAM, and 128 KB of ROM.
Key facts
- Vimpo utilized a BL602 microcontroller to run a Minecraft server.
- The software used is Ucraft, a lightweight server implementation.
- Ucraft binary size: 46 KB without authentication, 90 KB with it.
- The server handled up to 10 players with only 70 KB of memory.
- This project was completed in October 2023.
Installation & setup
Vimpo disassembled the bulb and soldered connections to the microcontroller's headers. A USB-to-serial adapter was used to control the device. The server software, Ucraft, is tailored for minimal environments, enabling this unusual setup.
Impact / What’s next
While lacking features of a traditional Minecraft server, this project demonstrates the potential and flexibility of embedded systems. It inspires further exploration into unconventional tech solutions, reimagining possibilities for small-scale devices.