Published January 14, 2026 © MIT

Star Trek's Tricorder

The Tricorder is a famous handheld scanner from Star Trek, used in the show to gather data, run scans, and analyze surroundings.

BeginnerWork in progressOver 2 days622

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Espressif ESP32

Universal PCB

SparkFun RGB LED Breakout - WS2812B

Filament PETG Grey

Filament PETG Transluscent

Machine Screw, M2

Software apps and online services

Espressif ESP-IDF

Microsoft VS Code

Autodesk Fusion

Hand tools and fabrication machines

3D Printer (generic)

sand paper

Story

1. Introduction

The Tricorder is a handheld device from the television series Star Trek. In the show, it is used by characters to scan their surroundings, analyze conditions, and display information instantly. It became one of the most recognizable gadgets in science fiction because of how often it appeared as an essential tool for exploration.

Star Trek first aired in 1966 and has continued for decades through multiple TV series and films. Over time, it has built one of the longest-running and most dedicated fan base, spanning generations of viewers, engineers, and technology enthusiasts. Many real-world technologies were inspired by concepts first shown in Star Trek, including handheld communicators and portable computing devices.

This project focuses on recreating the Tricorder as a functional hobby build, turning a famous TV prop into a real, working handheld device while staying true to its original purpose and visual style.

star trek 1993

2. Project Overview

This project is divided into three main sections.

1. Mechanical build of the device. It covers the 3D printing of the enclosure, post-processing steps such as sanding and priming, and the final painting process to achieve a finished handheld form.

2. Hardware integration. This includes mounting the display, installing the LED indicators, wiring the internal electronics, and fitting all components inside the enclosure.

3. Software behavior of the device. It describes the on-screen interface, animated graphics, and visual feedback that give the device its interactive and active appearance.

Together, these sections document the complete process of turning a television prop into a functional hobby build.

3. Features

This project recreates the Tricorder as an interactive handheld prop rather than a scientific instrument. The device is designed to visually represent different scanning and analysis modes commonly shown in science-fiction, using motion, color, and on-screen activity instead of real measurements.

A TFT display shows animated scan screens that change with each selected mode, creating the impression of different operating functions. Three physical buttons control mode selection and interaction, making the device feel responsive. Addressable RGB LEDs provide visual indicators that match on-screen activity. The design focuses on interaction and visual realism, with support for future expansion.

4. Enclosure Design and 3D Printing

For the 3D model design, I used a pre-made model from a wiki page and made several updates and improvements during the pre-processing stage. The final design was then prepared, and the files are attached in the GitHub repository.

I have take 3d model from a wiki pedia page who have made

4.1. Assembly

1 / 3

These images show the intermediate stage of assembling the Tricorder, where an

ESP32-S3

WS2812B addressable LEDs

are being integrated into the 3D-printed enclosure. At this stage, the display connections, control buttons, power wiring, and LED indicators are temporarily installed to verify functionality and physical fit. The enclosure remains open for testing, debugging, and wiring adjustments before final wire management and closure. This step ensures that the ESP32-S3, LEDs, and interface elements operate correctly within the compact handheld form factor.

Code

checking ws2812b led rail

#include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
#include "freertos/task.h"
#include "led_strip.h"

#define LED_GPIO   42
#define LED_COUNT  53

extern "C" void app_main(void)
{
    led_strip_config_t strip_config = {
        LED_GPIO,
        LED_COUNT,
        LED_PIXEL_FORMAT_GRB,
        LED_MODEL_WS2812
    };

    led_strip_rmt_config_t rmt_config = {
        RMT_CLK_SRC_DEFAULT,
        10 * 1000 * 1000,   // 10 MHz
        64,
        false
    };

    led_strip_handle_t strip;
    led_strip_new_rmt_device(&strip_config, &rmt_config, &strip);

    while (true) {
        for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {

            // Turn OFF all LEDs
            for (int j = 0; j < LED_COUNT; j++) {
                led_strip_set_pixel(strip, j, 0, 0, 0);
            }

            // ORANGE color (R=255, G=80, B=0)
            led_strip_set_pixel(strip, i, 255, 80, 0);

            led_strip_refresh(strip);
            vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(600));
        }
    }
}