DIY modder creates 'heat engine computing device' powered by a Stirling engine, can run Tetris, Snake, and Pong — 80 MHz processor operates on just 150 milliwatts of power
The custom machine uses an ESP32-C3, OLED display, and 16-key keypad while squeezing retro gaming into a tiny 150mW power budget.
DIY enthusiast PickentCode has crafted a remarkable heat engine computing device that runs on a miniature Stirling engine, capable of powering classic games like Tetris, Snake, and Pong. This steampunk-inspired microcomputer eschews conventional power sources like solar panels or batteries, instead utilizing a custom-built wooden console with a Stirling engine at its core.
Named after its inventor, the Stirling engine, invented in 1816 by Scottish inventor Robert Stirling, converts heat directly into mechanical energy. Air inside a sealed cylinder expands and contracts when heated, pushing a piston that spins a flywheel to generate electricity.
Originally taking about a month to design, build, and program, PickentCode first used Blender to create a 3D layout of the device before constructing the case from wood. They even engraved a portrait of Robert Stirling and his original patent onto the wooden side panels using a DIY laser engraver. The key structural elements were 3D printed, while decorative pipes were fashioned from old shower tubing and gold paint.
The device's brains are an ESP32 C3 microcontroller paired with a 2.42-inch monochrome OLED display and a 16-key keypad.
To conserve the limited power output of the engine, which generates just 150 milliwatts, PickentCode disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and kept the screen brightness low. They also reduced the ESP32's CPU frequency to 80 MHz during screen updates or opcode interpretation, dropping to as low as 10 MHz when idle. Despite these constraints, the computer functions flawlessly, running a custom CHIP-8 virtual machine that preloads classic games and features a built-in code editor for users to write and execute their own CHIP-8 programs.
Other Stirling engine computing projects exist, such as Dave Plummer's cooling solution for an AMD Threadripper system, which uses a Stirling engine to spin a flywheel and convert waste heat into mechanical energy.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
