Skywriter HAT

The Skywriter HAT brings 3D gesture sensing to your Raspberry Pi using electrical near-field technology. Wave your hand above the sensor to control presentations, create interactive installations, or build touchless interfaces—no physical contact required.

The Microchip MGC3130 sensor detects hand position in 3D space (X, Y, Z coordinates) and recognises gestures like flicks, swipes, and taps within a 5cm sensing range. The 4-layer PCB design ensures optimal sensing performance.

Key Features

• 3D Position Tracking – Full X, Y, Z coordinate detection
• Gesture Recognition – Detects flicks, swipes, taps, and directional movements
• 5cm Sensing Range – No contact required for interaction
• Works Through Materials – Mount behind non-conductive enclosure panels
• Ready to Use – Fully assembled, just attach and code
• Python Library – Easy integration with example code

Specifications

• Sensor – Microchip MGC3130
• Sensing Range – Up to 5cm
• PCB – 4-layer optimised design
• Interface – I2C
• Weight – 20g

Compatibility

• Raspberry Pi 3B+, 3, 2, B+, A+
• Raspberry Pi Zero and Zero W

Ideal For

• Presentation controllers
• Interactive art installations
• Touchless interfaces
• Gesture-controlled projects

Resources

• Python Library on GitHub