Workshop on Electronics Fundamentals and PCB Design in KiCad
I recently conducted a hands-on workshop titled **“From Electronics Fundamentals to PCB Design in KiCad”**, with more than **20 participants** from different academic and technical backgrounds, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Geophysics.
I recently conducted a hands-on workshop titled “From Electronics Fundamentals to PCB Design in KiCad”, with more than 20 participants from different academic and technical backgrounds, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Geophysics.
The goal of the workshop was to make electronics and PCB design more approachable for students and researchers who may not come from a traditional electrical engineering background.
Electronics is no longer limited to electrical engineers only. It is becoming a fundamental skill across robotics, automation, sensors, embedded systems, experimental setups, laboratory instruments, and field data collection systems.
Why This Workshop?
Many students and researchers work with sensors, motors, microcontrollers, power supplies, and data acquisition systems, but they often feel hesitant when they see schematics, datasheets, pinouts, or PCB layouts.
The purpose of this workshop was not to turn everyone into an electrical engineer in one session. Instead, the goal was to build enough working knowledge so that participants could:
- understand basic electronics terminology
- recognize common components
- read simple schematics
- understand datasheets and pinouts
- connect sensors and actuators more confidently
- design a basic PCB using KiCad
Workshop Resources
I also prepared two online resources to support the workshop material. The first article, Everything You Need to Know About Electronics, covers the basic electronics concepts introduced in the first session. The second article, From Electronics Fundamentals to PCB Design in KiCad, provides the workshop page and supporting material for moving from circuit understanding to PCB design.
Session 1: Electronics Fundamentals
The first part of the workshop focused on the practical concepts needed to understand electronic systems.
We discussed voltage, current, resistance, power, energy, sources, loads, open circuits, short circuits, and impedance. These concepts were introduced with mechanical-system analogies where possible, so participants from mechanical and robotics backgrounds could connect them with familiar ideas.
The session also introduced basic lab instruments such as:
- DC power supply
- digital multimeter
- function generator
- oscilloscope
- logic analyzer
We also discussed the difference between power and signal, different types of sensor outputs, powered and unpowered sensors, active and passive sensing concepts, actuators, DC motors, servo motors, BLDC motors, and motor drivers.
From Components to Schematics
After covering the basic concepts, we moved toward how circuits are represented.
Participants were introduced to schematic symbols, power and ground symbols, nets, labels, reference designators, connectors, and pinouts. We discussed why a schematic is not a physical layout, but a logical representation of how components are electrically connected.
A key focus was on datasheets. Instead of treating datasheets as intimidating documents, we discussed how they can be used as a practical guide for circuit design. In many cases, manufacturers already provide recommended circuits, application notes, and reference designs.
Session 2: PCB Design in KiCad
The second part of the workshop was hands-on.
Participants used KiCad to design their first PCB. The exercise was based on a small robot controller board, simple enough to complete during the workshop but realistic enough to introduce important PCB design concepts.
The board included:
- ESP32-based controller module
- motor driver
- JST connectors
- status LED
- SMD resistors
- mounting holes
- power and signal routing
- 50 mm × 30 mm board outline
During the PCB design session, participants created the schematic, assigned footprints, moved to the PCB editor, placed components, routed traces, checked the design, and reviewed the board for fabrication.
Learning Outcome
By the end of the workshop, participants were able to go through the complete basic PCB design workflow:
- Define the circuit requirements
- Select components
- Read pinouts and datasheets
- Create a schematic
- Assign footprints
- Place components on a PCB
- Route traces
- Run design checks
- Prepare for fabrication
Most importantly, they were able to build confidence with electronics and complete their first PCB design.
Final Thoughts
This workshop reinforced an important idea: electronics is a useful skill for almost every modern engineering and technology field.
Whether someone is working on robotics, sensing systems, automation, embedded devices, experimental hardware, or field instrumentation, a basic understanding of electronics and PCB design can make them more independent, more effective, and more confident in building real systems.
I was glad to see participants from different disciplines engage with the material, ask practical questions, and successfully design their first robot controller PCB in KiCad.