Engineer · Maker · Educator
Dr Jon Durrant
I build robots and embedded systems on the Raspberry Pi Pico and RP2350, and teach others to do the same as Dr Jon EA, from Brighton, UK.
Before that I spent over 25 years in software engineering and IT architecture. Now I share practical guides on YouTube, write them up on the blog, publish the code on GitHub and teach courses on Udemy.
About
I got my first computer, a Dragon 32, at ten and never really stopped. After a BSc in computer science and a PhD in object-oriented methods for distributed systems, both at the University of Brighton, I started out writing embedded C, then moved into solution and enterprise architecture.
That took me through Nortel Networks, TUI, Sainsbury's, Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation), where I was Senior Director of Architecture, and Legal & General. In 2021 I set up Dr Jon EA Ltd to go back to building things with my hands and to teach.
My videos and courses cover the Pico and RP2350, FreeRTOS, IoT with MQTT and HTTP, ROS 2 and micro-ROS, displays, PCB design and 3D printing, mostly through projects you can build yourself.
- FocusRaspberry Pi Pico, RP2350, FreeRTOS, IoT, robotics
- Background25+ years in software and enterprise architecture
- TeachingYouTube since 2022, Udemy courses on the Pico and IT leadership
- Codejondurrant and DrJonEA on GitHub
- Based inBrighton, UK
Projects
Droids, sensors and the odd spooky build. Each one is a video series with open source code.
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ReXP1 2025 to now
My Star Wars-inspired droid, built in releases: a 3D-printed body, a LiFePO4 power system and an animated dataport on WS2812B LEDs, with source, models and PCBs published.
Watch the build series → -
BπBO 2026
A mecanum-wheeled droid inspired by B2EMO from Andor. It looks very different from ReXP1 but reuses many of its components. Shown at Maker Central and Evolve 2026.
Watch the build series → -
Halloween Skull 2026
A three-part build: glowing LED eyes, pan and tilt servos, then radar so the skull follows you around the room with no camera.
Start with part 1 → -
DIY Dev Droid (DDD) 2023
Where the robots started: a wheeled ROS 2 robot with a Pico for motor control, PID speed control, odometry and range sensors.
Watch the introduction →
Popular guides
The videos people come back to most.
Courses
Embedded development
- FreeRTOS on Raspberry Pi PicoSplit your Pico code into tasks.
- IoT with Raspberry Pi Pico W (C++)Make your Pico W into an IoT device with MQTT.
- Web Service Clients on Raspberry Pi Pico W (C++)Put the internet's web services to work on a Pico W.
- Raspberry Pi Pico Micro Projects (C++)Build along in C/C++: LEDs, switches, rotary encoders and WS2812B strips.
IT leadership
- Developing an IT StrategyConnect the IT team to the business with a strategy mapped to business goals.
- Getting Started on the Data StrategyWhat data means to the enterprise: where it comes from, where it goes, and the gaps.
Talks and events
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Breaking Breadboards, Brighton Speaker
A Halloween skull that follows you using radar -
Evolve 2026, Brighton Exhibitor
ReXP1 and BπBO -
Maker Central, Birmingham NEC Exhibitor
BπBO -
Breaking Breadboards, Brighton Speaker
Mecanum wheel droid -
Breaking Breadboards, Brighton Speaker
ReXP1
Contact
For sponsorships, partnerships, talks or consulting, email jon@drjonea.co.uk.