Screen and RP2040 Embedded in LEGO Brick

If you played with LEGOs in the 1980s, you probably remember your spaceman having a computer screen brick for control duties. Of course, these bricks were tiny and plastic, with no actual circuitry or dynamic display capabilities.

Fast forward to late 2022, and NASA and the variety of private space companies that have emerged may not have built your LEGO rocket in full scale. However, YouTuber James Brown (AKA Ancient) has been able to bring this tiny display to life, embedding a miniature OLED screen and RP2040 in a little angular brick.

The key to this miniaturization, beyond very small computing/display components, is that the PCB is designed in four interlocking sections that attach together in the size of a brick computer. An accelerometer was also added via additional wiring as a bit of an afterthought. The four sections were soldered together with the help of 3D-printed jigs, and the screen setup was tested to make sure it worked outside of the brick.

From there, Brown used another 3D-printed assembly, along with LEGO rods to embed the circuitry in a new resin-cast computer screen brick. The results are a dark translucent brick that sits on top of an actual LEGO power brick, allowing the display to show moving spacey images. You can also tap on the top of the brick’s nubs to interface with the screen to change what it is showing.

The build is outlined in the video below. While specific details are slim, the results are truly stunning!