Cyclone LED
Month 1 ships Oct 19. A new kit every month. Cancel anytime.
Project Overview
Cyclone LED is Month 1 of the Zynk Bots path: a reflex game you build and keep. A ring of 45 addressable RGB LEDs chases around the dial, and you press the button to stop the light on the target. Hit it and the game speeds up; miss and the round resets, with your level and high score on the built-in display. You start by trying each component on a breadboard, then in the final week put the whole game together on its own printed circuit board and case. Along the way you write and change the code yourself. No experience and no soldering needed.
Real-World Applications
Airport runway lights
Approach lights at an airport flash in a timed chase toward the runway to guide pilots in. It's the same sequenced-light idea as your Cyclone, on a much bigger ring.
Drag-strip start lights
The 'Christmas tree' at a drag race counts down with timed lights and measures each driver's reaction to the green, the same button-versus-light timing your game runs.
RGB gaming gear
Gaming keyboards, PC builds, and LED strips use the same addressable RGB LEDs: a single data line sets the color of every light in the chain.
Traffic signals
Signal controllers run timed light sequences and react to inputs like pedestrian buttons, the same loop-plus-input logic in your code.
Skills Developed
Skills you'll carry forward
Your button-timing and LED skills return in Month 4's reflex game — and in Month 6 you'll play that game wirelessly between two devices you built.
See the month-by-month learning path →Project Prerequisites
Before starting this project, we recommend completing these foundational projects:
None. No electronics or coding experience needed
A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with a USB port for uploading code
Recommended
Learning Objectives
By completing this project, you will achieve the following measurable outcomes:
Prototype and test circuits on a breadboard
Trace how power and signals travel across a printed circuit board
Explain how a chain of addressable LEDs is controlled from one data pin
Write, upload, and edit a C++ program on an Arduino Nano
Use variables, loops, and conditions to control a game
Read a button reliably by debouncing its input
Time a game loop so the speed rises each level
Power a device safely from a rechargeable 18650 cell
What's in the Kit
Everything you need to build your Cyclone LED, carefully selected and packaged
Arduino Nano (USB-C)
A small, beginner-friendly programmable circuit board — the "brain" of many kit projects. Pre-soldered headers plug straight into a breadboard, and it connects to your computer with a USB-C cable.
USB-C Cable
USB-A to USB-C cable for uploading code to your board and for powering and charging your project from a computer or USB charger.
RGB LED Ring (45 LEDs)
A circular ring of 45 color-changing LEDs. Every LED can be set to any color individually, so you can build rainbow patterns, animations, and color-mixing effects.
Large OLED Screen (2.42")
A bigger, brighter blue OLED display (2.42 inches, 128×64 pixels) for projects where the smaller 0.96" screen would be too small to read.
Buzzer
A small electronic buzzer that plays tones and simple melodies. Used in the Smart Alarm Clock and game projects. Wires are pre-soldered for easy connection.
Mini Push Button
A small tactile push button (6×6×5 mm) that fits right into a breadboard. Press to make contact, release to break — used for menus, controls, and game inputs.
Round Push Button (12 mm)
A 12 mm round push button in a colored housing, with pre-soldered wires terminating in male pin headers. Mounts through an enclosure panel and plugs straight into a breadboard.
On / Off Rocker Switch
A snap-in rocker switch for turning a project on and off. Pre-soldered with male pin headers on the wire ends for easy plug-in to the rest of the circuit.
18650 Rechargeable Battery (2600 mAh)
Rechargeable 3.7 V / 2600 mAh lithium-ion 18650 cell, the standard power source for the portable projects. Drop it into the holder and recharge it over USB through the project's charging board.
18650 UPS Booster-Charger (15 W)
All-in-one 18650 battery board: charges the cells and boosts their output to a steady 5 V, 9 V, or 12 V (up to 3 A), with uninterrupted power while charging.
Jumper Wires — M/M (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with male pins on both ends. 20 cm long, 40-wire ribbon. A little extra slack for routing around enclosures.
Jumper Wires — M/F (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with a male pin on one end and a female socket on the other. 20 cm, 40-wire ribbon.
Jumper Wires — F/F (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with female sockets on both ends. 20 cm, 40-wire ribbon.
Breadboard (400 holes)
A solderless prototyping board with 400 contact holes. Plug components and wires in to build circuits without permanent soldering — pull them out and reuse for the next project.
Electrical Tape
PVC insulation tape for insulating and tidying wires inside enclosures.
Double-Sided Foam Mounting Pads
Pre-cut black foam pads with strong adhesive on both sides. Peel off the backing and press to mount the circuit board, battery pack and modules securely inside the enclosure.
M3 Screw — 6 mm
Short M3 machine screw (6 mm, black zinc-plated). Standard fastener for assembling the 3D-printed enclosures.
M3 Screw — 12 mm
Longer M3 machine screw (12 mm) for stacking enclosure layers or attaching speakers and battery holders.
Hex Key (for M3 screws)
Hex (Allen) key sized for the M3 screws — included so the project can be assembled at home without buying extra tools.
Cyclone LED — Project PCB
Custom printed circuit board for the Cyclone LED project. Carries the LED ring, microcontroller, and button wiring so the build looks clean and finished.
Cyclone LED — Enclosure
3D-printed case for the Cyclone LED project. Comes as three parts (A, B, and C) that screw together to hold the electronics.
Cable Connectors (set)
Plug-and-socket cable connectors for joining modules into the project wiring without permanent soldering. Easy to unplug and re-use across projects.
Course Content
Week 1
Kickoff & Project Vision
Unboxing & Inventory
Software Setup
Hardware Theory
Wokwi Simulation: First Light
Physical Build: First Light
PreviewCoding Challenge: Customizing the Cycle
Downloadable Resources
Week 2
Week 1 Review & Interaction Logic
Hardware Theory: Buttons & Buzzers
Wokwi Simulation: Reading a Button
Physical Build: Reading a Button
Wokwi Simulation: Making Sound
Physical Build: Making Sound
Wokwi Simulation: Interactive Logic
Physical Build: Interactive Logic
Full Integration: Light + Sound
Downloadable Resources
Week 3
Week 2 Review & The Power of UI
Hardware Theory: The SSD1309 OLED
Circuit & Build: OLED Hello World
Code & Deploy: OLED Hello World
Circuit & Build: Interactive Display
Code & Deploy: Button State on OLED
Out of the Box: Simple Digital Counter
Code Challenge: Color Control
Level Up: Solve & Score
Downloadable Resources
Week 4
Week 3 Recap & The Road to a Real Product
Hardware Theory: The Cyclone PCB
Power Supply Integration
Cyclone LED Final Circuit Integration
Cyclone LED Code Walkthrough & First Run
PreviewMechanical Assembly
PreviewDownloadable Resources
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Subscribe NowSafety Guidelines
Please review these safety guidelines before starting your project
Designed for ages 13+. We recommend an adult is present for the first power-up, when charging the battery, and when using tools.
Disconnect power before handling
Always disconnect power sources and unplug devices before assembling, modifying, or troubleshooting electronic components.
Keep away from water and liquids
Do not use electronic components or tools near water. Keep drinks and liquids away from the work area.
Follow manufacturer instructions
Read and follow all instructions provided with kits and components. Do not exceed recommended voltage or current.
Battery care
Charge the 18650 cell only with the charger built into the kit. Stop using it and tell an adult if the cell gets hot, swells, leaks, or is dented.
Small parts
Screws, nuts, and small components are choking hazards. Keep them away from younger siblings and pets while you build.
Bright LEDs
The LED ring can be very bright at full power. Don't stare into it up close for long periods; lower the brightness in the code if it's uncomfortable.
No soldering needed
Breadboard activities and the final circuit board use plug-in connections, so there are no hot tools in this build. Everything you need to assemble it is in the box.
Related Projects
Continue your learning journey with these recommended projects
Smart Alarm Clock
Smart Alarm Clock is Month 2 of the Zynk Bots path: a real bedside clock you build and keep. A 2.42-inch OLED screen shows the time, date and your alarm, a real-time clock module keeps accurate time, a touch sensor and buttons set the alarm and snooze, and an LED light bar and buzzer wake you up. You move up to a second microcontroller, the ESP32, try each part on a breadboard, then assemble everything on the clock's own circuit board and case. Along the way you write the timekeeping, alarm and scheduling code yourself. No soldering needed.
Crack-the-Code Safe
Crack-the-Code Safe is Month 3 of the Zynk Bots path: a working, PIN-protected safe you build and keep. Type your code on the 4x4 keypad, the 16x2 screen asks for the passcode and shows the result, a servo slides the lock open, and the LED strip and buzzer react to right and wrong guesses. You move to a third microcontroller, the Arduino Uno, try each part on a breadboard, then assemble everything into the safe's own case. Along the way you write the state machine that runs it, the single most important pattern in embedded software. No soldering needed.
Ready to Build Cyclone LED?
Month 1 ships Oct 19. Every month after that builds on this one.