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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsMohit Bhoite’s Photon 2 Lander is a handmade lunar-lander-inspired circuit sculpture built around Particle’s Photon 2 development board. Brass or copper rods form both its frame and electrical paths; a small color display, sensor, buzzer and battery complete the original build. It is a documented maker project, not a packaged kit or a step-by-step tutorial.
What is the Photon 2 Lander?
The Photon 2 Lander is a free-form electronics sculpture designed by Mohit Bhoite. Its lander-like shape comes from metal rods and small landing pads, while the electronics make the sculpture a connected-device project rather than a static model. Bhoite describes his project page as documentation of his approach, not a complete set of build instructions.
The title’s “upcoming” wording belongs to the project’s 2023 announcement context. Bhoite wrote that Particle’s Photon 2 had launched when he began the build. Particle now presents it as a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth development board.
What parts does the original build use?
Bhoite’s original parts list describes these components:
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- This Dual kit including two resin vats and two printing platform, and the release films have been pre installed on the material tank
- The Dual-Color/Dual-Material Printing Kit is compatible with the Photon P1 resin printer, allowing you to print with different colors and materials simultaneously. It offers a new printing experience and saves time and material by eliminating the need to switch resins.
- The resin tanks is marked with a maximum capacity mark. Please do not add resin exceeding the maximum mark to avoid overflow during printing
- The resin tank is marked with a maximum capacity mark. Please do not add resin exceeding the maximum mark to avoid overflow during printing
- Controller: Particle Photon 2 development board.
- Display: 1.3-inch, 240×240 IPS TFT using an ST7789 controller; it connects over SPI and uses 3.3 V.
- Sensor: SHT31 temperature-and-humidity breakout board, or another sensor chosen by the builder; it connects over I²C.
- Battery: 14250-size, 3.7 V, 300 mAh Li-ion cell.
- Sound: Electromagnetic passive buzzer.
- Frame and wiring: 20 AWG brass or copper rods, which serve as structural members and electrical connections.
- Landing pads: 14 mm brass discs.
The original firmware references Adafruit’s ST7735/GFX and SHT31 libraries. Bhoite also describes using Particle Webhooks to obtain weather-forecast data and links to the project’s source code from the Photon 2 Lander project page.
Why did Bhoite choose the Photon 2?
Bhoite says he wanted to use a higher-resolution IPS display and chose the Photon 2 for a project involving a display because of its speed and onboard memory. That is his project-specific rationale, not an independent benchmark of the board against alternatives.
Rank #2
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- Dual-Brain Hybrid Power: Combines the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 MPU (Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz CPU, Adreno GPU, AI acceleration) and the real-time, low-power STM32U585 MCU for advanced applications like object recognition, voice commands, and motion detection.
- AI & Linux Capabilities: Unlocks AI-powered vision and sound solutions; runs Linux Debian OS for coding in Python and supports the Arduino ecosystem with libraries and Sketches; quick start with Arduino App Lab.
- Advanced Features: Equipped with 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM, 16 GB eMMC built-in storage, ideal to develop in PC-connected mode, running the OS, Python scripts, and basic network services (SSH) without a demanding GUI or heavy multitasking; great for lightweight AI and memory-optimized TinyML applications, needing local storage for basic OS and core libraries. Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, and high-speed headers for vision, audio, and display peripherals.
- Seamless Expansion & Connectivity: Features the classic UNO form factor for shields compatibility, an 8x13 LED matrix, and a Qwiic connector for easy expansion with Modulino nodes; power and connect via the USB-C connector.
- Intended Use & Development: The perfect platform for prototyping robotics or IoT projects, empowering innovators with a unified development experience to mix Arduino Sketches, Python scripts, and containerized AI models in a single interface.
Particle describes the Photon 2 as a dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 development board. Its published specifications include 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, BLE 5, a Realtek RTL8721DM, a dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor at 200 MHz, 3 MB of RAM, 2 MB of application space and a 2 MB flash file system. Particle’s Photon 2 documentation and developer page provide the current product details. These are board specifications, not measurements of the sculpture’s performance.
Is it a step-by-step build tutorial?
No. Bhoite explicitly says the page documents how he approached the build rather than providing a step-by-step tutorial. It is useful as a parts and design reference, but it does not establish a complete construction sequence or guarantee that following the listed components alone will produce the same result.
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Rank #3
- With ATmega32U4, running at 5V/16MHz.
- Supported under IDE v1.0.1.
- 12 x Digital I/Os (5 are PWM capable).
- Rx and Tx Hardware Serial Connections.
- On-board micro-USB connector for programming.
For someone adapting the idea, the later Lander R2 page offers relevant general advice: test the circuit on a breadboard before soldering and become comfortable with basic display and sensor projects before attempting a free-form soldered sculpture. Its tool list includes a soldering iron, solder, flux, flat needle-nose pliers, flush cutter and steel wool; those are examples from Bhoite’s later build, not requirements for every version.
Keep the original separate from Lander R2
Lander R2 is a later, distinct build, not a revision whose parts should be silently attributed to the original Photon 2 Lander.
Rank #4
- 2 Pcs Microcontroller Chip Fit For MCU/MPU/SOC ATTINY10-TSHR SOT-23-6
| Feature | Original Photon 2 Lander | Lander R2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.3-inch, 240×240 ST7789 TFT (Bhoite, original project page) | 1.9-inch, 170×320 ST7789 (Bhoite, R2 project page) |
| Microphone | Not listed among the original project components (Bhoite, original project page) | Optional PDM microphone (Bhoite, R2 project page) |
| Controller | Particle Photon 2 | Particle Photon 2 |
| Connected information | Weather-forecast data via Particle Webhooks | Weather, sunrise and sunset, moon phase, humidity and wind information via Webhooks and online APIs (Bhoite’s project pages) |
The R2 page is also the source for the breadboarding suggestion and the battery warning below. Its extra display and microphone should not be mistaken for parts in the original sculpture.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to consider before building a similar sculpture
Adapt the electronics to the board
Bhoite says other microcontroller boards, including ESP32 or RP2040 options, can be used, but the code must change. The practical questions are whether the board supports the wireless features you need, whether the display and sensor interfaces fit, how much firmware adaptation is involved, and how the board’s shape and wiring suit a free-form frame. His project does not provide a controlled comparison showing one board to be better than another.
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Treat the battery as a safety-critical part
The original page says the battery is wired to the Photon 2’s Li+ input through a switch. Bhoite’s later R2 page warns that its batteries lack a protection circuit and that an accidental short can cause thermal runaway. It suggests powering over USB or using a protected LiPo if a builder is uncomfortable with that battery arrangement. Do not treat an unprotected 14250 cell as a casual beginner component; use an appropriate protected power option and take care to prevent shorts.
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