TROOPERS19 · Germany · 2019

TROOPERS19 Badge

ESP32 e-paper keyboard badge

A WiFi-connected MicroPython badge for TROOPERS19 with ESP32-WROVER, 2.9 inch e-paper display, full QWERTY keyboard, joystick, USB-C charging/flashing, LEDs, accelerometer, and Shitty Addon support.

TROOPERS Germany ESP32-WROVER MicroPython E-paper Keyboard Shitty Addon KiCad USB-C

EventTROOPERS19

SeriesTROOPERS

LocationHeidelberg

CountryGermany

People

Authors & Credits

Fuccs Shitty Addon co-designer

Jann Foehringer

Named in the post as co-designer of the Fuccs Addon.

Source

hardware designer and writeup author

Jeff (@jeffmakes)

The post identifies Jeff as the hardware designer and author.

Source

Why It Mattered

TROOPERS19 is a strong German conference-badge record because the hardware designer published a frank production writeup, open KiCad files, and add-on context instead of only a polished feature list.

Hardware

The public hardware post documents ESP32-WROVER with 4 MB flash and 8 MB RAM, CP2102 USB-serial, USB-C charging and lanyard cable, Good Display GDEH029A1 2.9 inch 296x128 e-paper display, full keyboard through PCA9555/PCA9539 I2C expanders, joystick, six WS2812B-mini LEDs, LIS3DHTR accelerometer, and a 3.3 V I2C Shitty Addon connector.

Software & Apps

The badge was designed as a WiFi-connected MicroPython-powered take-home badge and small general-purpose computer, with USB flashing and open hardware files for future badge designers.

Lore

The post is unusually candid about engineering reality: ESP32-WROVER pin traps, migration from Eagle to KiCad, project delays, LED baking and rework, and making conference badges wear their own badges through Shitty Addons.

Lifecycle

Add-ons & Upgrades

hardware add-on historical

Fuccs Shitty Addon

Jeff and Jann Foehringer designed the Fuccs add-on, with the PCB layout published in its own repository.

Compatibility: TROOPERS19 Badge Shitty Addon connector

Source

hardware add-on interface historical

Shitty Addon connector

The TROOPERS19 badge exposed a 3.3 V I2C Shitty Addon interface so the badge could wear its own small add-on boards.

Compatibility: TROOPERS19 Badge

Source

Operational history

Issues & Camp Impact

hardware production caveats note

The writeup calls out ESP32-WROVER unusable-pin traps and WS2812B-mini moisture/baking problems that caused debugging and rework.

These caveats make the record useful beyond specs: future badge teams can learn from the production failure modes.

Confidence: primary writeup
Status: historical
Timeframe: design and assembly
Source note: Insinuator TROOPERS19 badge hardware post.

missing rights-cleared image note

No TROOPERS19 Badge image is published because the current public source trail has not been paired with a reusable original badge or artifact photo or official upstream raster render with source URL, license or permission basis, attribution, and processing notes.

The Germany record remains source-backed and image-free rather than copying source-page media, documentation screenshots, event photos, social media, placeholders, or generated approximations.

Confidence: local project policy
Status: needs licensed original replacement
Timeframe: current catalogue build
Source note: badge.gallery image policy and TROOPERS19 badge source trail.

tooling and schedule caveat note

The hardware designer says migrating the PCB workflow from Eagle to KiCad caused painful delays, even though it left the design files in an open format.

The badge is a good example of how open-toolchain choices can improve reuse while still affecting event production schedules.

Confidence: primary writeup
Status: historical
Timeframe: pre-event production
Source note: Insinuator TROOPERS19 badge hardware post.

Resources

Fuccs Shitty Addon hardware hardware add-on · Fuccs Shitty Addon repository linked from the TROOPERS19 badge hardware post. Shitty Add-On standard coverage add-on context · Context for the badge add-on interface referenced in the TROOPERS19 writeup. TROOPERS19 badge hardware source · Open KiCad schematic, layout, gerbers, and assembly-data repository linked from the hardware post. TROOPERS19 badge hardware writeup hardware article · ERNW/Insinuator post by Jeff about the badge hardware, production, and add-on work. TROOPERS19 event page event page · Official TROOPERS19 event page.

Sources

GitHub: tr19-badge-hw-public Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary design-file repository for the TROOPERS19 badge. GitHub: fuccs-shitty-addon-hw Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Source repository for the Fuccs Shitty Addon. Insinuator: Troopers 19 Badge Hardware Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Primary source for hardware specs, design history, add-on context, and production caveats. TROOPERS: TROOPERS19 Retrieved 2026-05-15 · Official event context.