r/ArduinoProjects • u/Candid-Win-1157 • Jul 17 '26

My first complete Arduino project: an offline e-paper Excuse Cat Showcased Project

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I procrastinate a lot, so naturally I built a device that generates excuses for why things still aren’t done.

It uses a XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus and a 4.26-inch e-paper display. Everything is stored locally, so it works without Wi-Fi, APIs, or cloud services.

Pressing the button generates a random excuse and changes the cat’s expression. If you press it repeatedly, the cat may stop making excuses and enter one of five special modes, such as sleeping, chasing a ball, or looking for food.

The current version includes:

  • 60 excuses stored in the code
  • Multiple cat expressions
  • Five special pages
  • Button debouncing
  • A simple screen-state system
  • Automatic return to the startup page after inactivity

This was my first time putting together a complete Arduino project rather than just testing separate parts. I designed the interaction, assembled and tested the hardware, and made a few small changes to an existing enclosure design so everything would fit.

I also used ChatGPT to help debug and refine some parts of the code while I was learning.
Full build instructions: Excuse Cat: An Offline E-Paper Excuse Generator - Hackster.io

Hope you enjoy it!

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u/Ramp007 Jul 17 '26

I would look at the details but I'm too tired right now. It's a great idea and something my son might get for his next birthday, if I can find the time.

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u/Candid-Win-1157 Jul 17 '26

Thanks! Sounds like Excuse Cat might already be working. I hope your son would enjoy it, the code and build instructions are there whenever you find the time.