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PicoGlitcher is an open hardware voltage fault-injection platform built around a Raspberry Pi Pico-family board. With Matthias Kesenheimer’s findus Python toolchain, it can configure glitch timing, triggers and target power for controlled experiments on microcontrollers and other devices. Its revisions add different voltage and trigger features; version 3 uses a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and supports 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 3.3 V and 5 V reference options.
What PicoGlitcher does
Fault injection deliberately applies an external influence to make a target device misbehave at a chosen moment. In voltage glitching, the supply to a chip is reduced very briefly—typically on the order of nanoseconds to a few microseconds—so that a process may fail. The aim in a lab is to observe and understand that failure, not to damage hardware.
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PicoGlitcher uses crowbar transistors to disturb the target’s supply, with trigger logic and level shifting to coordinate the event. Its controller can also switch target power. The findus software supplies the Python tooling for configuring and running experiments; the firmware uses MicroPython and Pico hardware APIs.
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This is a bench tool for authorized research and testing. Glitching can disrupt or damage a target, and a successful fault may affect security controls or device behavior. Work only on equipment you own or are explicitly permitted to test.
#1 Best Overall
- The Raspberry Pi Pico is a beginner-friendly microcontroller board that uses MicroPython to give you a taste of the Internet of Things and microcontrollers. The RP2040 is a well-designed microprocessor that can be utilized in almost any Internet of Things project. It has enough power to complete the task quickly.
- 【Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller】Raspberry Pi Pico features Dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. With 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory.Supports up to 16 MB of off chip flash memory via a dedicated QSPI bus
- 【Multiple Software Support】Pico has rich and complete software support, it comes with a complete Rasberry Pi official C/C++ SDK, Micropython SDK.The programming and burning of Pico need to be carried out on the computer. Supported operating systems and computers include:Raspberry Pie with Raspberry Pi OS,Other platforms equipped with Debian based Linux system Computer with MacOS, Computers with Windows, etc.
- 【Rich Hardware Interface】Raspberry Pi Pico has 30 GPIO pins, 4 pins for analog signal input and 26 × multi-function GPIO pins, 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.USB 1.1 supported by host and device, The installation mode can be flexibly selected by users to facilitate welding with other development boards.
- 【Build Project in Tiny Size】Only 2.1cm*5.1cm ( as small as your thumb). Pico has been designed to use either soldered 0.1" pin-headers or can be used as a surface-mountable 'module'.
How the revisions differ
| Revision | Controller and hardware | Voltage options | Notable capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| v1 | Raspberry Pi Pico; low- and high-power MOSFET glitch stages and level shifters | 1.8 V, 3.3 V and 5 V reference options | The official overview describes the SI4134DY high-power path as capable of switching up to 50 A. The project README separately describes glitching transistors capable of up to 66 A; these are figures from different official descriptions and should not be treated as a single universal rating. |
| v2 | Builds on the Pico Glitcher design | Not stated in the official overview | Adds a multiplexing stage for switching among up to four voltage levels and filtered EXT1/EXT2 trigger inputs. |
| v3 | Raspberry Pi Pico 2 | 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 3.3 V and 5 V | Adds improved Schmitt-trigger inputs. The official overview says the Pico 2’s higher clock speed improves timing resolution, which can help with glitch placement and repeatability; it does not give a numerical timing-resolution specification. |
The current figures in the v1 description are maximum switching-capability claims from project documentation, not a guarantee that a given setup will deliver that current into every target. Real results depend on the circuit, wiring and target.
What findus and Python control
The findus library supports Pico Glitcher hardware as well as ChipWhisperer Pro and Husky, giving it a software path across more than one fault-injection platform. The firmware interface includes initialization, trigger-mode selection, CPU-frequency control, glitch-output selection, target power control and firmware-version reporting.
Rank #2
- ALL-IN-ONE INTERACTIVE DEVELOPMENT KIT: Combines a 3.5-inch 320×480 capacitive touchscreen, Mini PSP joystick, RGB LED, buzzer, and two buttons for interactive Pico projects.
- WIDE PICO COMPATIBILITY: Designed for Raspberry Pi Pico, Pico W, Pico 2, and Pico 2W series boards. Plug in a compatible Pico and start developing without soldering.
- TOUCHSCREEN & CONTROLS: Create calculators, menus, control panels, games, and graphical interfaces using the 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, joystick, and dual buttons.
- GPIO & POWER EXPANSION: Provides full 40-pin GPIO access plus 3.3V and 5V power interfaces, making it convenient to connect additional hardware for DIY projects.
- BUILT FOR STEM & DIY: Equipped with online documents and video tutorials for comprehensive guidance; suitable for STEAM classrooms, allowing students to make their own Pico small computer in 10 minutes, perfect for programming learning and project practice.
Project examples demonstrate timed glitches and UART-triggered glitches. In practice, a trigger determines when the system attempts a glitch: it can be based on timing, a serial pattern, or an external input, depending on the hardware and configuration. The project materials do not establish a universal timing precision, target compatibility list or success rate, so those should not be inferred from the examples.
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At minimum, you need a PicoGlitcher board, a computer with the findus package, a serial connection to the board, and a target or bench circuit appropriate to the voltage and wiring configuration. Firmware updates use the documented command below, substituting the serial device path and version for the connected board:
Rank #3
- with pre-soldered header Raspberry Pi Pico. RP2040 microcontroller chip designed by Raspberry Pi in the United Kingdom
- Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory.
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes. Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB. 26 × multi-function GPIO pins.
- 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.Accurate clock and timer on-chip.Temperature sensor.
- Accelerated floating-point libraries on-chip.8 × Programmable I/O (PIO) state machines for custom peripheral support
update-fw --port /dev/<rpi-tty-port> --version <pico-glitcher-version>
For a documented bench check, connect TRIGGER to RESET and place a 10-ohm resistor between GLITCH and VTARGET. An oscilloscope can optionally monitor RESET and GLITCH. The example uses delay and length ranges to produce observable pulses; follow the official example and board diagrams for the actual configuration rather than guessing values or connections.
The project’s examples warn that some connections are not obvious and incorrect wiring can cause errors or destroy hardware. Verify the pinout and target voltage before powering the setup, and confirm pulse behavior on the bench before connecting a real target.
Rank #4
- 【RP2040 Development Platform】It uses the Raspberry Pi Pico development board and is equipped with the RP2040 microcontroller, making it suitable for e-learning, programming instruction, and embedded project development.
- 【Multiple programming methods】Supports MicroPython, C/C++, and Piper Make graphical programming to meet the needs of users at different learning stages.
- 【Rich experimental modules】Includes common electronic components such as LCD1602 display module, SG90 servo motor, human body sensing module, WS2812 RGB LED strip, buzzer, and buttons, covering basic applications such as display, input, sensing, and execution control.
- 【Comprehensive learning tutorial】The kit provides detailed project tutorials and sample code to help users quickly complete circuit connections, program downloads, and experimental verification.
- 【Suitable for STEM education】Ideal for electronics beginners and school lab teaching. Through hands-on project practice, it effectively improves practical skills, logical thinking and innovation ability, making it a great choice for programming enlightenment and hobby cultivation.
How PicoGlitcher compares with ChipWhisperer
There is no single meaningful “cheaper than” answer in the available project information: no current prices or complete bill of materials are established. ChipWhisperer Pro and Husky are useful comparison points because findus explicitly supports them, but a decision requires comparing the specific hardware configuration and required accessories.
| Decision factor | PicoGlitcher | ChipWhisperer Pro or Husky |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Supported by findus, which provides Python tooling for triggers, timing and target power. | Also supported by findus; the cited project material does not specify model-by-model feature parity. |
| Controller and voltage options | Varies by revision; v3 uses Pico 2 and lists 1.2 V, 1.8 V, 3.3 V and 5 V options. | Not stated in the cited project material. |
| Trigger flexibility | Examples cover timed and UART-triggered glitches; v2 adds filtered external trigger inputs. | Not stated in the cited project material. |
| Timing precision | v3’s higher-clock-speed controller is described as improving timing resolution, but no numeric specification is given. | Not stated in the cited project material. |
| Cost | Current board price and total setup cost are not stated in the cited project material. | Current price and total setup cost are not stated in the cited project material. |
Choose by the requirements of your experiment: target voltage, trigger type, required glitch-current capability, target power-cycling, timing needs, software support and the complete cost of a working setup. A maximum-current figure alone does not establish that one platform is better for a particular target.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Application: This bread board development kit which provides experimental platform for Raspberry Pi Pico.
- Convenient: It carries LED lights, buttons, buzzer and bread board, which makes the experiment circuit of Pico more convenient and convenient to takeout.
- Features: Bult-in LED lights;Bult-in Buttons;Bult-in Buzzer;Bult-in Half-size breadboard;Suitable for primary users to build DIY circuit;Size:145mmx80mm
- Package Includes: 1 x Breakout Board For Raspberry Pi Pico / Pico W;4 x M2.5x11+6 Copper Pillar;4 x M2.5 Nut;1 x Jumper wire Pack;15 x Male to Female Jumper wire; 15 x Male to Female Jumper wire; 1xTransparent Breadboard
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