I’ll use the remaining budget to finish the highest-impact items first: size the base PCB, place components, add short architecture/bring-up docs, then run checks to see what remains.
Status: Draft. Custom electronics for a Blue AI figurine using an edge-to-cloud architecture: local hardware handles audio I/O, LEDs, sensing, power, and wireless connectivity; cloud or local server handles LLM, speech-to-text, and text-to-speech.
Intended Use
Prototype interactive collectible/desk companion for Mental Wealth Academy branding. The first PCB should prioritize reliability, debuggability, and safe battery charging over ultra-miniaturization.
What the Device Should Do
Wake/listen through a digital microphone.
Play voice/audio through a small speaker.
Connect to Wi-Fi/Bluetooth for cloud AI services and setup.
Animate RGB eye/orb LEDs based on state.
Charge from USB-C and run from a single-cell LiPo battery.
Provide debug/programming access for firmware iteration.
Main Features
ESP32-S3 module with Wi-Fi/BLE and native USB.
I2S digital microphone input.
I2S Class-D speaker amplifier output.
USB-C 5 V input, LiPo charging, 3.3 V logic rail.
Addressable LEDs routed into figurine/head.
Optional I2C/Qwiic-style expansion for IMU or future sensors.
System Architecture
Diagram
Hardware Subsystems
Power: USB-C sink input, ESD/protection, LiPo charger, 3.3 V regulator, battery connector, power switch/test points.
Compute/Wireless: ESP32-S3 module, boot/reset controls, native USB programming.
Audio Input: I2S MEMS microphone, preferably located near head/chest opening.
Audio Output: I2S Class-D amplifier and 4–8 ohm micro speaker in the base.
Lighting: WS2812B/SK6812-style RGB LEDs for eyes/orb, connected by a small harness.
Expansion: small JST/Qwiic connector for I2C IMU or future sensors.
Interfaces and Connections
USB-C receptacle: 5 V input and USB D+/D- to ESP32-S3 native USB.
Battery connector: 1S LiPo JST-PH or compact equivalent.
Figure harness: 3.3 V, GND, I2S mic signals, LED data, optional I2C.
Debug: BOOT and RESET buttons; USB serial/JTAG via ESP32-S3.
Power and Runtime Expectations
Assume 500–1000 mAh LiPo. Active Wi-Fi/audio can draw several hundred mA, so first-pass runtime target is roughly 1–3 hours depending on LED brightness, speaker volume, and cloud-session duty cycle.
Power Tree and Power Budget
Table
Rail
Loads
Estimated Typical
Estimated Peak
3.3 V
ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi, mic, LEDs logic, sensors
180–300 mA
500–700 mA
VBAT / SPK
Class-D speaker amp, charger/battery path
audio-dependent
0.5–1 A bursts
USB 5 V
Charger + system load while plugged in
0.5–1 A target
charger-current limited
Power-path sizing assumption: use at least a 1 A-capable 3.3 V regulator/buck-LDO decision after exact audio/LED current is finalized. A simple LDO may overheat if sustained current is high; a buck regulator is safer for production.
Manufacturing and Assembly Expectations
2-layer prototype PCB if possible; 4-layer if RF/audio layout or size constraints require it.
SMD assembly recommended for ESP32 module, USB-C connector, mic, charger, and amplifier.
Base-mounted PCB preferred over stuffing everything inside the head.
Firmware-Relevant Hardware Requirements
Arduino/PlatformIO starter firmware first, ESP-IDF later if production needs it.
Pins must cover I2S mic, I2S amp, RGB LED data, optional I2C, battery/charge status, BOOT, RESET, and USB programming.
Physical Design Expectations
Recommended board: circular or rounded custom-base PCB, initial target about 55–70 mm diameter until physical measurements are taken.
USB-C placed at rear/base edge.
ESP32 antenna at an outside edge with keepout.
Speaker opening/port in base.
Harness exits upward through figurine feet/stand.
Important Design Decisions
Use edge-to-cloud architecture rather than local LLM inference.
Use a custom base for battery, USB-C, speaker, ESP32, and charger.
Use digital I2S audio to avoid noisy analog preamps.
Use an ESP32-S3 module, not a bare ESP32 chip, to reduce RF risk.
Assumptions
Exact Funko/base dimensions are not yet measured.
Final speaker size and battery capacity are TBD.
Cloud AI service/API and firmware stack are not yet selected.
The image is product concept/reference artwork, not a precise mechanical drawing.
Change Notes
Initial architecture created from uploaded Blue AI figurine image and prior edge-to-cloud discussion.
Custom base PCB for a Blue AI figurine with ESP32-S3 Wi‑Fi/BLE, I2S microphone and speaker audio, LiPo battery charging, eye LEDs, and expansion wiring into the figure.
Properties
WiFi
3.3
V
Bluetooth
Audio
Battery
IoT
LED
Pricing & Availability
Distributor
Qty 1
Arrow
$4.40–$5.29
Digi-Key
$8.20–$8.77
HQonline
$3.59
LCSC
$16.70–$17.46
Mouser
$16.92
TME
$1.65
Verical
$5.64–$15.71
Controls
Welcome 👋
Flux helps you build PCBs faster with an AI teammate!
Create your account to collaborate, stay updated, fork your own version, and get instant answers from our AI agent.