Not too long ago, using a computer often involved the simple but necessary task of finding the correct disk for the application you wanted to run and inserting it into your machine before you could get started. With the advent of modern storage solutions, this process has largely become a thing of the past.
However, for those who long for some of that nostalgia, [ItsDanik] has developed the RFIDisk — a 3D printed floppy drive that can launch applications as soon as their disk is inserted. The desktop enclosure is designed to resemble a classic standalone floppy drive, making it compatible with both desktop computers and laptops.
The front of the RFIDisk features the familiar 3.5-inch slot ready to accept your floppy disk. Additionally, a 1.3-inch OLED display provides feedback on the device’s status, including information about what’s currently inserted.
Inside the enclosure, an Arduino Uno microcontroller works in tandem with an MFRC522 RFID reader. Thanks to its RFID-based technology, the disks created for the RFIDisk are solid, with no moving parts. Each disk contains a 25 mm NTAG213 NFC tag embedded within it.
On the software side, [ItsDanik] has developed the RFIDisk Manager, a Python application that maps specific NFC tag IDs to commands that run when those tags are read. The application offers convenient features such as the ability to configure commands for both when the disk is inserted and when it is removed.
Moreover, users can customize the messages shown on the OLED screen upon cartridge insertion, enhancing the interactive and nostalgic experience the RFIDisk offers.
With this project, [ItsDanik] bridges the gap between vintage computing charm and modern technology, bringing a unique twist to how we launch applications today.
https://hackaday.com/2025/10/16/rfidisk-when-floppy-drives-go-contactless/