Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Orbital
Lev Popov's Orbital is a tiny standalone trackpad you can stick on your keyboard.
Published September 29, 2022
After building various keyboards around an embedded trackpad, Lev Popov decided to make a trackpad that you can use with any keyboard.
Orbital is a tiny trackpad you can use with the keyboard you already have and love - just stick it on. It’s quick and precise despite the tiny size thanks to a completely custom driver – levpopov.
This project is based on Cirque modules you might have seen in other boards (e.g. Ximi, Rocksolid, Fusion, Chunky, etc.). If you are wondering what’s new here:
- Built-in controller so Orbital just works with your existing board
- Custom driver with latency compensation for smooth gestures like the leap, and high-resolution inertial scrolling
- Bluetooth
So these are completely standalone – you don't need to wire it into your keyboard or modify firmware in any way. The USB variant plugs directly into your computer, and the BLE one just needs to be paired and charged – no wires at all.
I love not having to reach away from my keyboard, and being able to alternate hands to relieve fatigue. For extra precise design work and gaming you might still want to use a mouse, of course – levpopov.
You can't see this in the photos, but Lev told me that the design is based on a separate controller unit since the touch module itself is just a <2mm super-thin circle. This allows you to mount the trackpad part anywhere on your board where there's space ("including the spacebar, which is a very convenient location"). And a small cable runs to the separate controller unit (with the Bluetooth controller, battery, and USB-C port for charging) which is smaller than pro-micro footprint, and <10mm thick.
Features
- Easily hit small targets with precise pointing.
- Travel long distances with a single gesture - flick to launch Orbital across your screen. Tap to stop when near your target.
- Gestures for Right click, Drag and Drop, and Inertial Scrolling
- Wired or Wireless. USB-C or ultra-low latency Bluetooth (3.75ms avg)
- Two sizes: small and even smaller
While the Cirque comes in three sizes, Lev found that the 35 mm one is quite useless: "if you can fit the 35mm on your board, you can fit the 40mm one too".
With regards to the mounting options:
You can use removable double-sided tape, velcro, or any kind of adhesive you like for mounting. For popular split boards like Corne, Ferris, and Lily58 i'm hoping to 3D print cases that have a holder for the trackpad – levpopov.
Lev has a short questionnaire, help the development by filling out it here:
https://7wzdfs3vvka.typeform.com/to/ArTA66R8
As Darth_Munkee pointed out, there is also a keyboard in the making which goes by the same name. This other Orbital is a cute monoblock split 40% keyboard with two encoders and a trackball in the middle.
This was unfortunate, and I was obviously not aware of the keyboard project until yesterday (very cool design, btw!). I'm now in touch with /u/qpockets who is running that project to see how to work out any possible confusion, but no plans to change the name at the moment – levpopov.
Published on Thu 29th Sep 2022. Featured in KBD #97 (source).
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