TL;DR
A parent converted floppy disks into a physical TV remote so a three-year-old can independently start and stop media. The DIY device reads a tiny file on a floppy, wakes a microcontroller chain and sends play/pause commands to a Chromecast via a small server script.
What happened
Frustrated with modern remotes and autoplaying apps, a developer built a physical, floppy-disk-based TV remote for his three-year-old. The design stores a minimal file (autoexec.sh) on a formatted floppy so the data sits on track 0 for fast reads; authentic mechanical sounds from the drive are part of the experience. The hardware combines an AVR-based ATmega to control a floppy drive with an ESP8266 for Wi-Fi. To detect disk insertion the author added a rolling switch because standard floppy drives often do not report media presence reliably. Power comes from 18650 cells boosted to 5V with an XL6009 board; a 1000µF capacitor and careful ground isolation were required to avoid resets during motor spin-up. The ATmega wakes on insertion, coordinates the ESP8266, reads the disk and sends commands over serial to the ESP, which relays them to a netcat|bash server that issues Chromecast play/pause and playlist commands. The project also moves the read head to track 20 after reading to reduce damage to stored data.
Why it matters
- Demonstrates a physical, tangible interface aimed at giving young children more agency when choosing media.
- Re-purposes obsolete hardware to create clear, single-action controls that avoid app-driven autoplay and menu navigation.
- Highlights practical engineering trade-offs around power, microcontroller choice and media-detection when building battery-powered peripherals.
- Shows a simple server-side approach (netcat|bash) to bridge local DIY hardware actions to streaming devices.
Key facts
- The target user was the author’s three-year-old son.
- Disks are formatted and given a single small file named autoexec.sh so data resides on track 0 for fast access.
- Autorun for floppy drives was unreliable; the project uses a modified drive with a rolling switch to detect insertion.
- Reading the floppy uses the Arduino FDC Floppy library, which requires an AVR-based Arduino for precise timing.
- An ATmega handles overall control and wakes an ESP8266; the ESP transmits lines over Wi‑Fi to a server and sleeps after 30 seconds.
- Power is supplied by 18650 cells; an XL6009 boost converter provides 5V and a 1000µF capacitor helped mitigate reset issues from motor spin-up.
- Ground isolation was critical; the drive’s ground must be disconnected via a MOSFET (IRLZ34N) to avoid spurious resets and ensure the drive can be turned off.
- Server-side handlers remain the netcat | bash approach from a prior project; commands map disk events to Chromecast play/pause and playlist actions.
- After reading, the project intentionally moves the drive head to track 20 to reduce wear to track 0 where data is stored.
What to watch next
- Monitor disk wear and robustness over time — the author noted some disks were harmed during use.
- not confirmed in the source: whether this design will be published as an easy-to-build kit or product for other parents.
- not confirmed in the source: compatibility across different TV platforms and streaming devices beyond Chromecast.
Quick glossary
- Floppy disk: A magnetic storage medium originally used for small-capacity data transfer and archival; in this project it is a tangible token controlling media playback.
- FAT filesystem: A simple file system commonly used on removable media; used here so a single small file can be read quickly from the floppy.
- Microcontroller (ATmega / ESP8266): Small embedded processors: ATmega (AVR family) was used for precise timing and control of the floppy drive; ESP8266 provides Wi‑Fi connectivity.
- Chromecast: A streaming device that accepts remote commands to start, pause or select media; the project sends play/pause instructions to a Chromecast from a server.
- Autorun: A mechanism that automatically executes software when removable media is inserted; floppy autorun proved unreliable, so insertion is detected by a custom switch.
Reader FAQ
Is this a commercial product I can buy?
not confirmed in the source
How does the floppy trigger playback on the TV?
Inserting a disk triggers the ATmega to read a file and wake an ESP8266, which sends a command over Wi‑Fi to a server; the server issues play/pause commands to a Chromecast.
Does the device autoplay multiple videos?
No. The design aims for a single interaction to play one item; playlist commands are idempotent and the diskin/diskout events map to play and pause.
Is using real floppy drives necessary?
The project uses authentic floppy drives for sound and physicality; the approach relies on reading a FAT file from the disk, but alternative tokens were not discussed further in the source.
blog.smartere // Ramblings of Mads Chr. Olesen Floppy Disks: the best TV remote for kids Posted on mandag, januar 12, 2026 in Hal9k, Planet Ubuntu-DK, Planets Modern TVs are very…
Sources
- Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids
- Creating Your First Multi-touch Table
- An NFC movie library for my kids
- Preparing Publicly Engaged Scholars
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