BEEWATCH-MK2 Part 1

Story

I started trying to make watch prototypes in 2015. My first watch prototype was a complete copy of the code and hardware I found online. At the time, I was just starting my engineering journey, and it was built using an Arduino Nano.

Four years later, I wanted to create a watch that could fit on a single board. That’s when I started working on the BEEWATCH MK1.

BEEWATCH MK1

BEEWATCH MK1 breadboard prototype

I started this project with a breadboard prototype.

For this project, my inspirations were:

• Zak’s DIY digital wristwatch
• Circuit State’s ISL1208 RTC tutorial

I chose the ISL1208 RTC because the article helped me understand how RTCs function. While experimenting with the library, I discovered a bug: the weeks were not updating. I contacted the CEO of Circuit State, Vishnu Mohan, who encouraged me to fix it. At the time, I didn’t have much confidence in working with libraries—I had only created small libraries for my projects. However, I decided to give it a try. If I remember correctly, it took me about a week to find and fix the issue. It was a fantastic learning experience for me.

The BEEWATCH MK1 PCBA was ready after two iterations. However, there was a problem with the OLED display: it would stop working after about a minute. Strange, right? I spent time debugging and realized the issue was related to the charge pump capacitors. Unfortunately, I couldn’t resolve it at the time. I eventually lost interest and didn’t have the time to debug further. Still, I hold onto the dream of wearing my own watch, it would make me incredibly proud 😌.

BEEWATCH MK1 REV1

BEEWATCH MK1 REV2

BEEWATCH MK1 Specifications

Feature	Specification
Display	1.3-inch white OLED display
RTC	ISL1208
MCU	ATMEGA328
Input	2-way navigational switch
Sensors	Temperature sensor, Heartbeat sensor (optional)
Battery	3.7V Li-Po 150mAh
Dimension	45x28x10mm
Weight	Approx 25g
Charging	Micro USB
Alarm/Buzzer	Yes

Now, many years later, I’m planning to create a new watch: BEEWATCH MK2. I’m not sure how many parts this project will have, but I’m excited to share my journey. Please enjoy my project notes!

BEEWATCH MK2

This is completely different from MK1, like Iron Man suits 🤖. It will be very promising and capable hardware, opening up limitless possibilities. Here are the specs I’m planning to implement in MK2:

BEEWATCH MK2 Bird’s-eye Specifications

Feature	Specification
Display	1.28-inch round TFT LCD display (RGB 240x240, GC9A01)
RTC	Internal RTC
Input	2 push buttons
MCU	ESP32-S3
Sensors	Temperature sensor, 6-axis IMU (MPU6050)
Peripheral	GPS
Battery	3.7V Li-Po 150mAh
Dimension	⌀40.2x10mm
Weight	Approx 25g
Charging	Type-C USB
Alarm/Buzzer	Yes

Here, we are using the ESP32-S3, which has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS—a deadly combo! ☠️

Why? Because this hardware enables us to do a lot more than just tell time. Here are some possible applications:

Possible Applications of BEEWATCH MK2

Category	Applications
Fitness and Health	Step counting, calorie burn estimation, heart rate monitoring (with additional sensor), sleep tracking.
Navigation	Real-time GPS tracking, route recording, location-based reminders.
Sports and Adventure	Speed/distance tracking, altitude tracking, motion analysis for sports (e.g., golf, tennis).
Gesture Control	Detect gestures (e.g., flick wrist to change music), control smart home devices.
Smart Notifications	Receive phone notifications (calls, messages), vibrate alerts, weather updates based on GPS.
Safety Features	Fall detection, emergency alerts with GPS coordinates.
Data Logging	Log motion (acceleration, gyroscope) and GPS data for analysis or research.
Smart Home Integration	Remote control for smart home devices, trigger actions based on location (e.g., turn on lights).
Time-Synced Features	Automatic time synchronization using GPS, time zone updates when traveling.
Geofencing	Set virtual boundaries, get alerts when entering/leaving a specific area (e.g., parental control).
Environmental Monitoring	Add sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity) to monitor surroundings, log environmental data.
Wireless Communication	Use Wi-Fi/Bluetooth to connect with other devices, act as a bridge between phone and IoT devices.
Custom Watch Features	Custom watch faces with real-time data (steps, heart rate, weather), compass, stopwatch, timer.
Research and Development	Test new algorithms (motion analysis, GPS tracking), prototype wearable applications.

Even with the ESP32, we can make a tiny hacking device ☠️. That’s why I call it limitless possibilities. However, I won’t implement all these features in the first revision. My first priority is to make a simple timekeeping watch with basic features. Later, I’ll work on the software to achieve some of the applications listed above.