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https://hackaday.com/2011/07/27/hackaday-comment-policy-were-cleaning-up/
|
Hackaday Comment Policy; We’re Cleaning Up.
|
Caleb Kraft
|
[
"News",
"Rants"
] |
[
"comments",
"trolls"
] |
Sit down for a moment commenters, we need to talk.
Yes, you all knew this post was coming one day. We’ve talked about this topic at length internally, and we have decided that we’re going to clean up our act. For some time, Hack a Day has been growing a reputation as the prime source of extremely negative, vulgar, rude, sexist, and inflammatory comments in the hacking community. We’ve had complaints from readers (yes there are readers that aren’t commenters, thousands of them) and fellow members of the hacking community about this problem for a long time. [Eliot] even mentioned it back in 2009 when a
job applicant
expressed concern. We’ve nicely tried to steer things to the positive in a variety of ways, from
suggesting commenters
to be more supportive,
jokingly making a troll detector
, and simply stating that the comments need to stay “on topic and nice”.
When we see things like
these
tweets
by [Jeri Ellsworth], we hang our heads in shame.
She’s not the only one. We actually get this quite regularly. As our readership grows, we see it more and more often. We get emails explaining that people have done a hack but don’t really want to post it because the commenters will just tear it apart in an unnecessarily aggressive and negative way. We have actually had people ask us to
remove their projects and comments
due to uncivil behavior. Constructive criticism is good, but insulting and angry deconstruction isn’t helpful to anyone.
We’re better than that aren’t we? We are fast, agile and fairly unrestricted in our content. We should be at the center of this community, not on the outer edges, reviled by many for the behavior of a few. Hackaday should be the teacher at the front of the classroom, not the kid in the back throwing wadded up paper at the kids in the front.
What we’re doing:
First off, as far as we can foresee, we will never close the comments section of our web site down. Hackaday should be a home for the entire hacking community and as such, you will always be able to settle in and have a reasonable discussion. We do not want to implement any sort of G+ integration or similar, nor do we want to require registration to leave a comment. We will if we absolutely have to, but lets try to avoid that.
Comment sections and forums have often been a place where negative comments can get out of hand. There are
many theories
for why this happens, but the result is usually the same: rules and moderation. Many sites have
already
laid
down
the law and are adhering to their goals of keeping things civil. We realize that
we are to blame
if our image is this poor, so we are doing something about it.
From this point moving forward, Hackaday comments
will
be civil. If you are posting an empty in-joke (“where’s the Arduino?”), a declaration of “not a hack”, a racist, sexist, completely off topic, platform-hating, or personally insulting comment, your post will be deleted. This will be at the discretion of whichever Hackaday staff member happens to see your comment first.
Can you criticize Hackaday?
You can’t walk into a business and start screaming about how much they suck without being escorted out immediately. Same thing applies here.
We are always hard at work trying to find interesting hacks, makes, repairs, tweaks, videos, etc. that appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. We put this web site together for you, as well as 200,000 other individuals. Not everything will appeal to everybody. That would be impossible. However, if you don’t like a post or project, just skip it – we’ll have another one ready in short order. We will feature projects that appeal to the seasoned EE as well as the complete beginner. We were all beginners at one time, and it would have been great to have something like Hack a Day around back then to show us hacks ranging from simple to advanced.
From time to time however, Hack a Day can be a less than desirable place to hang out, especially for those who are coming here for the first time. We don’t want to chase off young, creative minds. As a community, we should be helping those that are just starting to venture into hacking electronics.
If you have a problem, email us. You’ll probably actually get a response that way too. My email is Caleb@ and you’re always welcome to email me personally. Again, please be civil (yep, I’ve had my share of death threats).
Grammar/spelling corrections and dead links:
No need to comment, just email us. A message to team@ will suffice, but you will probably get a quicker response by emailing the author directly. We know we have issues – we’re often so excited about a hack that some little goof slips by. Email us and we’ll fix it. Don’t write a 3 paragraph comment about how important the oxford comma is, or how we’re obviously incapable of functioning because we accidentally flubbed a word. We promise we will never intentionally screw up some grammar, spelling, or punctuation.
What you
can
will do to help:
Be constructive.
Every project here probably has an area that could be improved, or a part that was done inefficiently. Support your fellow hackers by offering your expertise. Explain why something isn’t working, or how you would improve it. Don’t slam them for their shortcomings. Also keep in mind that different people go about things different ways. Poster X didn’t build something the way you did? Offer an alternative without being insulting. If someone chooses to use their brand new Core i7 monster system to drive a few LEDs, that’s their prerogative. Inside, we all know that it is not the most efficient use of money or technology, there’s no reason to beat that dead horse in public.
You know what else encourages hackers to do more projects? A pat on the back. I talk to people all the time who say that they just don’t have any constructive criticism for the projects, so they don’t comment. Well, that and they know they’ll bring the ire of the worst commenters if they happen to ask a silly question. Drop in and say what you like about a project. Those positive posts might just be enough to encourage that hacker to take it a step further. How many projects have you seen dropped simply because people thought there wasn’t any interest? Tons. If you like a project, let them know.
To encourage this, the writers are going to be keeping an eye on the comments. Randomly, when we see someone being exceptionally helpful, we’ll contact them and send them a prize. This will most likely be in the form of a hackaday sticker, but we’ll see if we can’t find some other fun things as well.
Help us make Hack a Day
great
. Please.
[Update: we’re working on a comment flagging system currently]
[Update: threading and comment reporting have been added]
| 565
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423725",
"author": "Alan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:06:37",
"content": "As a long time reader and first time poster; I always enjoyed reading the comments due it’s gossipy nature.But I guess that’s what Facebook is for…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423727",
"author": "NTM37",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:06:50",
"content": "Long time reader, first time commenter;One word: finally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423730",
"author": "kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:07:32",
"content": "also inb4 overly offensive comments",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423732",
"author": "sillyzombie666",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:09:00",
"content": "huh really the 3 things i had feature receive negative comments on the videos or instructables, but here there were a few but not many",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423733",
"author": "anonymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:09:29",
"content": "honestly, though, reading the comments on a jeri video is very, very cringeworthy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423734",
"author": "Monty Werthington",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:09:46",
"content": "No I have to agree with the staff on this one, the troll face and racists were putting me off. Now to try and enforce this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423735",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:10:04",
"content": "@kyle – your “free speech” will get deleted, so go ahead, post away :)I think it’s about time HaD did this. I’ve had a few projects featured and at least 90% of wha tI got was “that sucks, yous hould have done it like this” or something to that effect. It’s time to get rid of the trolls once and for all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423736",
"author": "patheticbliss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:10:47",
"content": "And if anyone needs an example of the idiocy that is being referred to here, take a look at the first comment! Useless? That’s right! (Unless it gets removed)Actually, I’ve seen enough good, useful, interesting comments around here that the stupid, idiotic ones don’t bug me that much. But yeah, an overhaul would be nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423737",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:11:14",
"content": "Sorry but free speech is not relevant here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423739",
"author": "Wile E. Coyote",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:12:15",
"content": "I am glad to see that something has been said about this. The comments were really getting out of hand for some time now. I hope that everyone takes this seriously. If the vulgarities recede, I will seriously think about submitting some of my hacks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423740",
"author": "Jozh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:12:20",
"content": "The face is neat :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423742",
"author": "Jason Coyne",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:12:48",
"content": "kyle : Everyone is entitled to free speech. You are not entitled to force someone else to publish your speech. Go make your own website/blog. They are free to publish or not publish what they want, without any standards whatsoever. However they should be wary, as by moderating the discussion, they do lose some common carrier protection, and can be held more responsible for what they choose to leave up. Also, good job on posting one aboslutely worthless post like they JUST COMMENTED ABOUT, and one two word post, within minutes of each other.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423743",
"author": "Anonfriend",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:12:52",
"content": "This is simply a challenge for trolls to be more effective. I’ve always thought trolling should be more elegant. The target should never feel like they are getting trolled. They should wake up in the middle of the night, pained over what that one apparently serious comment said.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423744",
"author": "Job",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:13:11",
"content": "I’m not sure if I miss something, but altough I’m in favour of deleting trollish comments it won’t prevent trolls from finding the projects of people linked on your website. Which is what seems to be the core of the problem here.The only way I can think of that prevents this is to prevent this site from being a portal for those people in the first place. Essentially, you’d have to outright ban those people like it works on (of all places) 4chan.Just a thought.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423745",
"author": "doesn't matter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:13:43",
"content": "What the hell ?!This is the first I have read about this.I lurk here about 3 -4 years now I guess but this is the first time I heard about this.I even never noticed it but I don’t read the comments.I’m a bit dissapointed as this might hold back some articles.And against Jeri Ellsworth ???I’m a bit ashamed to be called a “hackaday reader” now.I thought this was a community where the stupidity was atleast low.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423746",
"author": "fbz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:13:46",
"content": "yay! as an ex-had-employee, and a woman, i’m really happy to hear this news! YAY!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423749",
"author": "rand",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:14:49",
"content": "Long time reader…first time poster… I appreciate your reaction to the need to moderate. I’ve been surprised in the past when I read negative comments… to the point of not reading them as a general rule. Thanks for sharing that I’m not the only one that gets put off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423750",
"author": "avrpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:15:11",
"content": "Censorship is worse than the comments. That’s ok, I can just stop visiting this site.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "441726",
"author": "Aeros",
"timestamp": "2011-08-25T22:09:53",
"content": "Sounds good. No one is MAKING you stay.Censorship is a bad thing..BUT to a certain point. People that take the freedom of speech to the point of harassing or just being complete idiots for the sake of it are destroying and taking advantage of what that really means.But I suppose your not reading this since you are already gone.",
"parent_id": "423750",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423751",
"author": "andres",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:15:40",
"content": "well i hope this works out. sifting through the trolls to find the interesting comments took alot of the fun out of reading.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423752",
"author": "jgunn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:15:44",
"content": "As someone who has posted many times trying to be encouraging and getting people to understand that saying what you want to say but phrasing it in a tactful (if not positive) way will get you a lot further than being negative, and has had it seemingly fall on deaf ears, I support your efforts here.It would be great if people could say whatever they want, I’m not a fan of censoring anything, but I’m a bigger fan of encouraging a positive community that attracts a diverse membership, and people acting like jerks goes counter to that.It’s been talked about a lot. Things haven’t changed on their own, so the people running the site are taking action. I think this is probably the best that could be done of a situation that people made for themselves.There is a huge amount of value to this site and a little bit of comment moderation when other efforts has failed won’t diminish that. I trust the HaD folks to handle that responsibility better than a lot of people out there.Keep up the good work guys.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423754",
"author": "slinky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:16:37",
"content": "*like*@kyle: freedom of the press belongs to those who have a press. You’re certainly free to speak your mind, but from where you are, I can’t really hear your voice without something like hack-a-day in the middle. And if you’re going to use hack-a-day as your voice-transport-mechanism, I guess you have to suck it up now and abide by their rules.Go Hack-A-Day!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423756",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:19:41",
"content": "Quick question — will moderated comments be marked as such (so that the poster will know he/she did something wrong), or will they just disappear?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "423763",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:22:15",
"content": "@asheets,due to the quantity, we can’t comment on every single one. They’ll most likely just be trashed without notice.",
"parent_id": "423756",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423758",
"author": "Fortunate",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:20:39",
"content": "Avid reader, first time poster. I love reading HaD and seeing all of the projects from the most basic to the advanced. The creativeness mixed with the hacker spirit is why I continue to read. I am glad to see HaD attempt to clear out the uneeded/unwanted static and re-focus the discussions to the projects themselves. This is a good move! Thanks HaD Team!PS. Hope to see you at DC19!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423759",
"author": "HHH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:21:12",
"content": "As a daily reader of HaD, I’m happy you’ve decided to do this. HaD is my favorite place on the internet (in addition to Wikipedia), and I think you’re doing the right thing.Thank you for all the things you’re doing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423760",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:21:57",
"content": "HAD could implement something like youtube. Comments marked as spam are showed as small line “spam” with button and if someone wants to see why it was marked as spam, he can just click a button to show full content. It’s just small simple js script.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "424432",
"author": "jiro",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T13:24:37",
"content": "Excelent excelent idea. Let the userbase determine what is or isn’t trolling…its much more efficient than HaD self moderating. I think the trolls will quickly be pushed to the frindges when they find the HaD community won’t take it anymore…",
"parent_id": "423760",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423761",
"author": "Jason Coyne",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:22:02",
"content": "For those who are complaining about censorship : THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP. You are free to say whatever the hell you want. Somewhere else. Nobody is prohibiting or preventing you from doing anything, except using HAD’s reputation, and google-juice to spew your drivel.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "426448",
"author": "steven-x",
"timestamp": "2011-08-01T00:50:21",
"content": "Maybe trolls can create their own web site “Flame-a-Day” or FAD. And load it up with stupid comments.Alkso, those that flee due to the new policy will not be missed. In fact, too bad HAD did not think of this sooner, if that all it takes to get rid of them!",
"parent_id": "423761",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423762",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:22:11",
"content": "it’s your site baws, but i have to say… when I see a comment I don’t like. I skip it. In much the same way I do with the articles. Teh intartubes has become full of this cya sort of stuff for the last few years and honestly, just like in real life you have a choice to make. Feed in or ignore it. I guess the thin masks we wear are getting too close to our thin skins..Reminds me of a comic I was running a few years back. I think i had around 1000 readers, one of which took the time to create a “flame site” about it after I switched their forum ID to hide every post they made after a few mins. (they were just trying to make money off banner ads in their sig. and I wasn’t the only forum they were doing it in.)I linked it, and thanked them for the traffic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423764",
"author": "Jason Coyne",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:23:08",
"content": "Unfortunately this new policy will not address Jeri’s issue, as the trolls can still go over to her site and troll away, and I am sure she is getting hammered even now, as the designated whipping girl for HAD’s new policy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423765",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:23:14",
"content": "I would like to start by saying: Thank you Hack a Day. I used to avoid the comments section because of the rude, ungrateful few quickly turning my enjoyment of an interesting hack into anger. Sure, some things can always be improved, but those improvements can be pointed out in a civilized manner (as demonstrated by this article). Maybe now i will be able to enjoy Hack a Day in its entirety.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423766",
"author": "slinky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:23:32",
"content": "@Caleb & HaD: Have you considered a comment rating system?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "427718",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-03T07:04:00",
"content": "+1 rating.",
"parent_id": "423766",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6192698",
"author": "Jack Spiggle",
"timestamp": "2019-11-05T11:41:36",
"content": "+1 =P",
"parent_id": "423766",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423767",
"author": "kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:24:21",
"content": "Just for everyone’s information:My comment (saying “free speech”) and someone else’s (saying “not a hack”) have been deleted. HAD’s sense of humour has officially flatlined.I think this post is relevant to the discussion (seriously am I going to have to end every post with that now?).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423768",
"author": "MattQ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:24:59",
"content": "Cool, but where’s the ardui-… I’ll stop right there. While I understand that comments can get carried away with being overly aggressive, I think that there is plenty of room on a hacker site for posting criticism. Hopefully comments critical of the post aren’t just torn down for slamming the project as long as they’re constructive in some way. The world doesn’t need another Gizmodo.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423770",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:25:37",
"content": "I fully support your efforts here, I am a member of a hackerspace in my town and we have discussed this very topic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423772",
"author": "Jason Coyne",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:26:17",
"content": "kyle : perhaps it is your sense of humor that needs tuning. Doing EXACTLY what they are complaining about is not ironic, or funny.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423774",
"author": "Doktor Jeep",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:27:48",
"content": "Who in the world could ever find a reason to troll Jeri? I’ve had my share of arguments, especially over hacks that have some military – and hence political – impact, but trolling Jeri? Why?And where is all the sexism and racism coming in from, in comments regarding technological hacks? I must have a habit of not reading them. How does that happen? Someone jailbreaks a cell phone and sexist/racist stuff shows up?I don’t get it.From a private property perspective, the owners have a right to do with their forums anything they way, as much as they claim responsibility for it. Therefore even if it could be called censorship, they still have the right. If someone thinks their opinion has the right to be on the internet, they have to pay for the bandwidth. Hackaday pays for the bandwidth, so they can do whatever they want with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423776",
"author": "default",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:27:49",
"content": "I have been viewing HaD at least once a day for at least the past 6 months. Never have I had a desire to ask a single question (being new to hacking and starting a BS in EE) about anything due to the horribly negative comments I read daily. I also had no desire to perpetuate the negativity by demeaning the demeanor. I thank you HaD staff for doing right by the community and cleaning house. I will now probably feel comfortable contributing comments to some of the amazing projects that are featured. This is my first comment here ever; hopefully not my last. Thanks again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423777",
"author": "ss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:27:50",
"content": "Hey! Where is the Arduino? :) (KIDDING!) I have to agree with Caleb. I posted in the past a few projects and I was fortunate that it wasn’t killed by mean words and comments, however, I have seen nasty stuff here. I also have to admit that I have posted “lame” or “that’s not a hack” probably twice or 3 times. It may have been out of frustration when HAD has posted something, actually, anything, looking to me as if HAD didn’t have anything else to post “but we need to post”. Not trying to blame it on you guys, but you may have to admit some guilt in the quality of some postings.I will continue checking and loving HAD and also promise to contribute with positive feedback (or no feedback). I like this site and the job that Caleb and others do. Go HAD!!! And thanks for bringing this up! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423779",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:28:28",
"content": "Slashdot comment moderation levels seem to work well. Have you considered something like that, where users (preferably “respectable” ones) moderate the comments.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423780",
"author": "Brett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:29:26",
"content": "Some of the hacks are very dangerous or…unwise, and we rightfully call people on it. For example, all the pneumatic “devices” that involve PVC.Many of us feel that hacks posted here should be novel (either in concept, execution, etc) and complain when editors fail there. I agree, because there’s always Instructables and Lifehacker for the inane. Don’t post for the sake of content; you devalue the site, something that good bloggers have known for years.Another long-standing pet peeve of the HaD community is using Arduinos for stuff that could have been done with basic discrete circuitry. It’s not the fault of the audience, but exposure to so. many. uC. based. projects.Re: Jerri’s comment, it’s not so much that HaD brings more trolls than any other site; it brings a huge audience, period, and with that comes more trolls.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "426869",
"author": "kaluce",
"timestamp": "2011-08-01T21:11:39",
"content": "+1. though i don’t really have a problem with the uC/ arduino crowd, regardless of crutch status.",
"parent_id": "423780",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423781",
"author": "Michael Bradley",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:29:28",
"content": "Thank you HAD.I was nervous once when one of my projects made it on your site.http://hackaday.com/2010/02/11/use-an-analog-oscilloscope-to-display-digital-logic/And today, after reading your article, I think I have been guilty of posting not possitive comments. I will rethink the way I post something, sometimes just rewording it can make it possitive. ie: why did you not do this vs that? or thats interesting, here is another way as well.And your right, people do things differently, this is how we inspire, hacking is not allways creating something new, but experimenting for the purpose of learning.Lets look at the first transistor. NOT A HACK, where it the TRIODE TUBE? why do that, just stick a triode in it and call it a day. lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423782",
"author": "WilliamHenryHarrison",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:30:03",
"content": "One thing that I’ve noticed being a human being on this planet for as long as I have is that, people who tend to be rude, spiteful, and deconstructive on the internet tend to also be the same in reality, but are just lying to them selfs about being a committed cynic. This wave of cynicism that has infected the internet is to of no one’s best interest and only leads to counter productivity.And to those of you who are waving the “Free Speech” flag, I highly encourage you to live in a country like China or Yemen for a month, and then we’ll have a dialoge on the true “restrictions” of civil rights.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423783",
"author": "woutervddn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:31:17",
"content": "Honestly I didn’t mind the ‘where’s the arduino’-jokes. It’s just a fact that HaD features a lot of arduino projects. And imho, there is nothing wrong with that.I also agree with [slinky] about the comment rating system.. It’s better than removing a comment entirely. (talking about projects you’d like to be open and free while censoring might pull of some people)Nevertheless, I agree that something should happen. I’ve seen a lot of decent projects here. And although some didn’t gave me an epiphany or didn’t made it on my ##want##-list, I still enjoyed them. The people who put their time and effort in them deserve some words of encouragement!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423784",
"author": "captnmike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:31:43",
"content": "Most of the hacks that show up here are way over my head, but I still enjoy seeing creative people stretch out – it is a sad commentary on our society that the rude trolls are driving good people away – I hope your new policy helps to encourage more people to share their projects with the world.Sadly anyone with an online presence needs to develop a bit of a thick skin.Good luck",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423785",
"author": "adam outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:31:56",
"content": "I always thought the tone of the place was quite condecending…. because there’s a bunch of geniouses and linux programmers who spend alot of time getting their facts straight. I don’t believe anything will change.However, I will start commenting that I like things more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423786",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:32:06",
"content": "About time :DThere is no need for the negative comments. If you don’t have anything constructive to say then do one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423787",
"author": "coaxial",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:33:27",
"content": "Long time reader, first time commenter, and I wholeheartedly approve! While you’re at it, could you also delete/block the inevitable whining from the safety patrol when a project isn’t completely idiot-proof? Keep up the great site! ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "428250",
"author": "J",
"timestamp": "2011-08-04T03:01:41",
"content": "If I suddenly got the idea to grind a bit of aluminum with a bench grinder, with tons of built up iron oxide all over (of course).. I would thank the guy who took the time to explain the potential injuries of a flash thermite reaction.Wait, that’s what I do with every single new guy in the shop.. I still smoke when jumping the car tho’. ;-)",
"parent_id": "423787",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423788",
"author": "DainBramage",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:35:28",
"content": "Bravo, HaD, bravo.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423789",
"author": "nave.notnilc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:35:30",
"content": "perhaps put a little link to this page with the text “Think before you post” or something above the comment box.anyway, one of my more favorite discussions of the topic,http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_be_a_dick",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "427719",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-03T07:06:08",
"content": "This SHOULD be common sense – however these days common sense is not common.",
"parent_id": "423789",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423790",
"author": "BuckUp",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:38:55",
"content": "Maybe Jeri should take a cue from Becky Stern.From the Make blog yesterdayhttp://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/5-4-3-2-1-things-about-becky-stern.html“2: Letting YouTube comments get to me: MAKE has a quarter million subscribers on YouTube, and they sure are chatty. Something about YouTube attracts the lowest of the trolls, and the hurtful comments used to get to me. Not anymore! My skin has grown thick and now all I see are Halloween costume suggestions like La Roux or Ron Weasley.”Deal with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "427730",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-08-03T07:29:32",
"content": "As always treating the symptom is useless since you should be treating the cause.Ignoring the bullies didn’t work in toddler school and it will nto work here either.",
"parent_id": "423790",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423791",
"author": "Moorbo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:39:23",
"content": "While this certainly falls under the category of not a hack it is a welcome post. Though I’m not sure it will solve much since the content off this site will still be trolled. Maybe just making HAD an unwelcome place for trolls will prevent it from being a jumping off point. I guess time will tell. While you’re changing things this might be time to consider a comment rating system where the user can choose to see a chronological or best rated listing of comments. There are certainly comments that are not really useful that wouldn’t be considered trollish. A well intentioned but incorrect post could be pushed down the page that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.087754
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/27/bass-hero-combines-guitar-hero-with-dance-dance-revolution/
|
Bass Hero Combines Guitar Hero With Dance Dance Revolution
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Nintendo Hacks",
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"controller",
"dance dance revolution",
"gamecube",
"guitar hero"
] |
Standing up to play Dance Dance Revolution type games is sooooo much work. Thankfully, [Jebadiah0001] is taking the strenuous exercise component out of the game by
altering a guitar controller to play dancing games
.
He’s calling it Bass Hero because the DDR games only use four inputs, reducing the guitar controller to four string buttons like an electric bass would have. His implementation uses a GameCube controller to connect to the console. He took it apart to get at the button connections. Each string button on the guitar is connected on one side to a button on the GC controller, the other side is a common connection. But instead of pulling those straight to ground, he routes that signal through the strumming actuator. This way the player can get the correct buttons ready, then strum at just the right time to complete the circuit.
It certainly makes the harder levels of DDR quite a bit easier. See for yourself in the video after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxJSUztZ3q8&w=470]
[Thanks Luke]
| 12
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423705",
"author": "Xsoft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T19:09:53",
"content": "Yeap well .. its a fun. I tried this few years ago. Double mode is also interesting.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6oB3CrKKdMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBSV_gBaWQwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSZamkNQJdU",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423721",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T19:58:32",
"content": "Play double-pad mode. One side with a dance pad, the other with a guitar.Epic win.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423793",
"author": "derrek berg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T20:40:54",
"content": "im so happy for LUKE its an awsome thing!!! they should sell those in stores honest to god.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423831",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T21:14:59",
"content": "to the guy who posted videos under mine, the concept of the thing was a good idea, so kudos for that, but the real work was modifying the guitar and the gamecube controller. i didn’t just use a usb converter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424038",
"author": "Buddhafw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T23:42:19",
"content": "This is neat, but I was really hoping for a hybrid ddr / fishing game.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424148",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T02:02:05",
"content": "With the right talent, you could reskin stepmania to coincide with the colors/layout of the bass guitar inputs. Something to think about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424335",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T08:39:11",
"content": "I love that this has made dance-mat games accessible to people without use of legs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424377",
"author": "Muhz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T10:59:47",
"content": "Never mind the fact that a bass guitar has 96 “buttons”, and not four.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424444",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T13:51:10",
"content": "This is very true^^I don’t really consider these things “guitar games” for that very reason. Still, a fun and interesting mod to do.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424547",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:52:03",
"content": "Combine with a head motion sensor (head bang mode, or closed-eyes-and-head-nodding detection) and a single floor sensor (jump up and down mode, to be combined with said head motion sensor) then you can play like a real bass player. Which reminds me of a joke:Q:What do you call a bass player without a girlfriend?A: Homeless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424725",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T19:56:12",
"content": "^^sweet, we could put the physical componenet back in the game loli know you were joking, but the point of the mod wasn’t to simulate the bass-playing experience as accurately as possible. which is also not the point of regular guitar hero (if it was, the *plinked* that up pretty badly)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "465769",
"author": "frank",
"timestamp": "2011-09-27T21:19:10",
"content": "America made some of the best guitars in the world,then about 30 years ago They started making them in Japan,then that got to expense,They made some great stuff Hay lets go to Mexico we’ll get them cheaper.about 10 later I think we can get them even cheaper in Korea.They shut most of the plants down cause they were talking about unionizing Well right now most of the guitar manufacturing is being shifted to China, I could not believe the Hamer XT Guitar how it sounded and felt when I picked it .I just had to be a rep, for this company.Check them out they come pretty close to their Big American brother for a fraction of the price.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.542028
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/add-external-mic-input-for-samsung-hmx-t10-videocamera/
|
Add External MIC Input For Samsung HMX-T10 Videocamera
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"digital cameras hacks"
] |
[
"input",
"mic"
] |
[Kalin] loved the picture from his new Samsung HMX-T10 camcorder, but the sound quality didn’t match up. Since it records video that can be directly imported to his editing suite of choice he didn’t want to just buy a different model, so
he cracked it open and added an external mic input
.
As with most consumer electronics these days, the hardest part of the hack is getting the thing apart and assembling it without any damage. [Kalin] had to get down to the bare circuit board to get to the audio input connections. He soldered up some shielded extension wire to an audio jack, then made some space in the case by cutting a bit of the plastic structure before finally gluing it in place. Details are a bit scarce, but it looks like he wired up the jack along with a couple of switches. We’d wager this still lets him use the stock microphone if he doesn’t feel like hauling around extra gear.
| 15
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423348",
"author": "falso",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:27:55",
"content": "the link to the article is incorrect!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423363",
"author": "me.",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:40:04",
"content": "There’s something wrong with the link. It points to a https version of hackaday (https://hackaday.comwith a certificate for *.wordpress.com). And over there, you see the article about that underwater ROV.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423368",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:55:04",
"content": "The link (https://hackaday.com/?p=50296&preview=true) takes me to the ROV article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423396",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:41:56",
"content": "Mono? How boring. We have had stereo since 1881!If stereo it’s perfect for pluging in a binaural head for the ultimate in sound capture, what holeywood can’t do with all of the fakeing and 5 tiny plus one bass speaker can’t. 5 eared aliens!I would bet that one or both of the switches cut in a gain reduction. Most camcorders can’t record anything louder than a folk singer and acoustic guitar, without cliping. The jack should do the switching off internal mic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423447",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T05:12:24",
"content": "It’s recording both from internal and external mic, so that he can mix ambient noise and speech of interviewed person. In case something doesn’t work out with external mix, he still have recording from internal one.Jack SHOULD turn off internal mic, but he changed it so that he can record from both channels if he wants to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423467",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T07:11:10",
"content": "This has always been a pet peeve of mine. I also happen to have a Samsung camera, and it bugs me to no end that nothing that comes out of loudspeakers can be recorded with it. And I mean _nothing_ – any stage performance, however quiet, comes out garbled way beyond recognition. This is just sad. Especially because my earlier camera happened to be from a different manufacturer and – guess what – could record _concerts_ just fine; not anywhere HiFi obviously, but you could clearly hear / identify the music – whereas with the current one all you can tell that _something_ must be awfully loud.Serious kudos for Kalin for having the moxie to actually take a camera apart and do something about it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423517",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T11:20:00",
"content": "@Mad MaxAgreed, it’s so annoying how much crippling of functionality there is done, but I think it might have to do with various rules across the globe and additional taxes, like how in the EU if a digital camera can do video longer than x minutes it’s ‘competing with digicams’ and gets a tax hike, causing euro models to be limited in recording time, and how in the EU when a media player has FM radio it also gets a tax hike, and at one time LCD monitors got a tax hike if they had HDMI connectivity, so many crippling rules that do more harm than good.The lacking a line/external mike input might be something the mediamoguls have bribed the politicians into enforcing, maybe they figure that if you can record from an external source you could record from CD/radio/etc. and then the manufacturer has to pay additional taxes. Although I think it would work for them to make the things slightly more expensive and have such options anyway, people notice these things, but I guess that companies like samsung just want to be the cheapest option listed.Also; Hackaday uses HTML type formatting if I recall correctly.You reminds us that it would be nice in general when sites put somewhere near the editbox what format you are suppose to use. I sometimes try HTML on sites that go with propriety formatting and then everything gets messed up, and it’s hard to remember every site’s own peculiar system when you visit many sites and only rarely use formatting of text.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423519",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T11:24:58",
"content": "@Mike SzczysThe link in this article is wrongLittle fix please thanks :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423568",
"author": "JameSoft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T14:15:02",
"content": "http://dl.dropbox.com/u/501983/Kalwin%20HMXT10%20MOD/connections_for_heaphones_MODKalwin_MOD/KALWIN_T10_Mod.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423594",
"author": "kalwin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:39:15",
"content": "Hi I am the author of the HMX-T10 mod. My real name is KALWIN not a “Kalin” :) . This mod is to connect only left channel to one external mic. I used to do this before with “normal” PRO camcorders. One channel is for microport the other is for audio effects. During the post production you can always choose which channel is most important for you or you can mix both. When I record an interview I always use MONO sound becouse it is sefer option with less noise. But I always mix that mono recording with “ambient sound of the room” in postproduction. In my opinion that way is to prevent any problems with broken cables, unexpacted noises etc. You can alway choose a “safe internal mic” audio in case of any problems.The other modification is to add a socket for headphones to monitor recording process. The problem was to activate a sound output in the camera’s PCB. I did it when I found which pin is to switch sound output mode.Here is a link to my webside:http://dl.dropbox.com/u/501983/Kalwin%20HMXT10%20MOD/connections_for_heaphones_MODKalwin_MOD/KALWIN_T10_Mod.htmlBests,Kalwin",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6163134",
"author": "Sandra",
"timestamp": "2019-07-10T13:05:23",
"content": "Hi!The link is not working. Could you public your solution one more time, please?",
"parent_id": "423594",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423599",
"author": "FrankTheCat",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:55:24",
"content": "I need to do something like this with my Toshiba Camileo X100. The sound quality is fine, if you talk abnormally loud within 10 feet of the thing. Toshiba put a microphone I’d rather see on a laptop than a camcorder in the X100, so everything is about 10% of the volume it should be.Now I just need to get the guts to open up a brand new camera, and gather the funds to make a mouser visit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423609",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:18:39",
"content": "I love this mod. Anyone who’s not keen on opening up their machine but who is having trouble with eg wind noise could look at micromuff.http://www.micromuff.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423612",
"author": "kalwin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:24:19",
"content": "I addition I have to say: there is also an internal switch for a mic socket. When the plug of external mic is out of my HMX-T10 works like a normal camcorder without any mod.Bests,Kalwin",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423688",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:39:23",
"content": "I can’t believe the main article still doesn’t have a fixed link, I guess if we want it fixed someone should say something that alerts to troll-warning bot to get the attention of management, but I’m OK with the author and jamesoft having ‘fixed’ things via the comments.It’s pretty embarrassing for mike though, to get the link AND name wrong, tisk tisk",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.495161
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/auxiliary-display-for-beat707-works-via-i2c/
|
Auxiliary Display For Beat707 Works Via I2C
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"attiny85",
"beat707",
"cd4067",
"i2c",
"midi"
] |
Bigtime
is a simple way to create an auxiliary display for
the Beat707 MIDI controller
. The right half of the display shows the beat pattern that the drum machine is using, while the left half keeps track of the current measure.
Just a few components went into the extra hardware. A four-digit seven segment display is fed data from an ATtiny85. Since that microcontroller has only eight pins, a 595 shift register and CD4067 take care of translating serial data into the outputs necessary to light the display. The entire thing connects to the Beat707’s I2C bus, which means you don’t need to make hardware alterations to the original, and this leaves plenty of room for more addons.
The code package includes a Fritzing file, but for your convenience we’ve embedded a PNG of the hardware connections after the break. You’ll also find the demo video where [Guilherme] explains how this works.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhpI_UP6tjY&w=470]
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423324",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:28:19",
"content": "In case anyone wonders, SV3 and SV1 are headers on the Beat707 PCB. Also, the GitHub files includes everything you need to flash the ATtiny85 chip, so no googling for messy libraries and tutorials, its all there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423333",
"author": "cde",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:08:40",
"content": "Sniffs the i2c bus real time for the data? Or is it a i2c master?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423334",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:09:51",
"content": "BigTime uses I2C Slave Mode. Beat707 them just sends data out and BigTime reads it to know what to do. Is that what you asked?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423351",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:11:06",
"content": "Frankly, I don’t understand why people insist on using 8 pin microcontrollers in combination with excessive external circuitry when you can get a microcontroller with sufficient amount of pins for basically the same money.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423382",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:01:03",
"content": "@Svofski, well, in this case, I had the cheap ATtiny85 at hand, and also the C595 and CD4067 also at hand doing nothing. Plus, more pins wouldn’t help me that much, as I would still need 6 transistors as this LED Clock is common voltage, not ground, so each LED segment needs ground to turn on, which an output PIN from an ATmega328, for instance, wouldn’t work. ;-) In any event, it was more a “lets see if I could make this work with all my spare parts” thing. ;-) Still, it turns out to be OK, I still want to get it working correctly with transistors, as it would be much brighter, but that’s for another time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423422",
"author": "cde",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T03:49:21",
"content": "@beat707 I thought the midi controller was a commercial off the shelf product.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423508",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T10:38:27",
"content": "@Beat707: it’s okay to use junk that you have at hand, don’t get me wrong :) I didn’t understand though, why an output pin on an atmega wouldn’t work? CMOS logic is equally capable of draining and sinking. If you output a “0” to a port, you’re effectively “grounding the pin”, same as you’re “+V”-ing the pin by outputting a “1” to it. Better yet, you can almost completely disengage it from your circuit by making it an input, or high impedance.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423534",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T11:56:09",
"content": "@Svofski, thanks, I will check how to drain from a pin, that would help a lot indeed. :-)@cde, Beat707 itself is a DIY product, but you can buy an assembled unit from Rugged Circuits, (no case) the software is open-source.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.991115
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/purdue-ieee-rov/
|
Purdue IEEE ROV
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"ieee",
"mate competition",
"purdue university",
"rov"
] |
Purdue University’s IEEE branch participated in this year’s Marine Advanced Technology Education Center Competition, taking second place for
the Hybris ROV seen above
. The competition included several compulsory functions, including the ability to cap an underwater oil well, collect biological samples, and take water samples at depth.
What they came up with is a quick and agile watercraft that easily overcomes a lot of the hardware hangups that typically plague ROV builds. There are eight thrusters, four for vertical motion and the other four take care of horizontal movement. The gripper mechanism can be clearly seen on the front of the craft, with two cylindrical containers housing the electrical components.
Don’t miss out on
the project definition page
. Each challenge is discusses in detail, along with the team’s solution. We were impressed by the amount of information they have posted, including overview of each electrical component as well as design files and source code. If you want to see how the first run of the competition went, click through the break to find embedded video.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWUnrvre7HI&w=470]
| 14
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423317",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:06:46",
"content": "Go Purdue!Maybe when the next well blows we will be able to figure out how much is spilling AND fix it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423318",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:09:05",
"content": "Source?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423367",
"author": "boilerengineer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:51:25",
"content": "Boiler Up!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423370",
"author": "dustandechoes91",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T01:08:35",
"content": "Boiler up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423420",
"author": "solex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T03:35:51",
"content": "BTFU.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423525",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T11:36:57",
"content": "Awesome setup. Love the simple design. What is the maximum depth rating? The foam on the tether would only work to a certain depth before density overcame buoyancy, so I’m curious.$32,000 in software costs ..? Wonder how that breaks out.$14,000 in material. Wow.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423540",
"author": "Seth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T12:04:56",
"content": "Thanks all for the comments! I’m on the team that made Hybris.@willowMax depth is limited by either our custom cameras or electronics tube at about 100 feet. We don’t plan on testing it past 40 though. However, if we needed to go farther, it wouldn’t be hard, but we just didn’t need to design for it. And the foam is a high quality syntactic foam from professional ROVs so we aren’t too worried about it.$32,000 is the cost of 12 SolidWorks licenses, a CAMworks license, and a CNC mill control software license from MACH3. Luckily, all of these were sponsored so we only spent about $300 on them.And yea, a lot of Aluminum chips ended up in the recycling bin. Only about 5% of the original material ended up on the vehicle due to how much was cut away.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423591",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:31:01",
"content": "@SethAwesome info, thanks. Always love seeing DIY ROV’s, yours is no exception. Congrats to the whole team. Love the build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423617",
"author": "EngineerZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:39:41",
"content": "Boiler Makers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423884",
"author": "Clayton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T21:39:33",
"content": "Nice seeing a bunch of other Purdue engineers commenting here.And yeah, the foam in the tether will begin to have issues with buoyancy before the main buoyancy foam has any issues, but in the depth range that we were operating at it works great. Plus it gets rid of the bulky chunks of foam that would otherwise need to be zip tied to the outside of the tether.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423981",
"author": "bob (again)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T22:48:53",
"content": "Once again, this article lacks a source. Did you find it posted over on DangerousPrototypes? Did a reader tip you to it? Or are you going to have us believe that, out of the blue, you successfully stumbled upon a small, very recently created website?Please add a source, thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424186",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T03:14:08",
"content": "Nice job! Vehicle looks a little touchy in pitch and roll… I’m guessing that there is no active stabilization (for example, based on a 3-axis compass). Might be a cool project to add some basic PID controls to all those degrees of freedom, and experiment with ways to mix them and make the vehicle and operator more “confident” in its movements. Always a thorny problem when different PIDs share the same thrusters though…I’m speaking here as an AUV engineer. I used to work on a vehicle that could hover, and our “ROV mode” was greatly improved by allowing the vehicle to rely on its sensors in addition to operator input when it came to driving itself around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424260",
"author": "Ben",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T05:54:05",
"content": "Purdue was beat by the Jesuit HS Robotics Team by 3 points in the competition. I know this because I’m friends with the JHS RT coach and his son. I got to see their robot in action in their backyard pool in Sacramento about a month before the competition. I’m going to forward this to them. And can ask if they can submit something to HAD if anyone is interested. Is anyone interested?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425413",
"author": "Seth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T21:52:10",
"content": "@Bob I believe they were tipped by one of our team members@Ian We did consider auto stabilization. Actually, we have all the required hardware to do it. We decided against the feature in the end since the mission goes by so quickly that it seemed to be more of a negative then a benefit. It’s only pitchy before the oil cap is deployed. If you see the last couple minutes of the mission run (collecting biological specimens) it’s a much better representation of Hybris’ handling, which is incredible. I’ve piloted about 6 rovs and this is by far the fastest, easiest, and most fun.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.35008
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/hackaday-links-july-26-2011/
|
Component Storage Roundup
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Hackaday links",
"hardware",
"Parts",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"component storage",
"storage"
] |
It’s been suggested that the first self-replicating computer virus was a single IC that eventually expanded into multiple plastic component storage boxes. Organizing components by their values is a huge PITA as well. Here’s some solutions we’ve found:
Photo Boxes
[Mathew] sent in
his organization scheme
that uses 4×6 photo boxes. Better get those boxes while they’re hot – we can’t remember the last time we used film.
Use a binder
This instructables
uses binders for storage. Good for passives, but unless someone can find anti-static bags for a binder, we’ll keep our ICs separate.
The only way to organize resistors
[Johannes]
stores his resistors on a sheet of styrofoam
. The grid has the first color band on the left side and the second color band on the top. Extremely, extremely clever. We’re wondering why we Radio Shack didn’t come up with this in the 70s. The grid
could
be laid out on a log scale, though.
If Susan is lazy, why does she do all the work?
[D.C. Boyce] hacked up a couple of lazy susans, built frames out of 2x4s and mounted plastic component drawers on them.
The result
is probably more space than we’ll ever need. To keep things simple, he wrote a database program to keep track of everything.
| 53
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423232",
"author": "justDIY",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:56:26",
"content": "I wonder if one of those heat-bar type plastic bag sealers would work on anti static bags?For example, the larger kind like orders from Mouser / Digikey sometimes arrive in, seal some pockets into them, and then three hole punch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423234",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:58:43",
"content": "No one writes a database program to “keep things simple”. He might write a database program because he wants it organized, but simple? no.His summary of the youtube video says he wrote a “simple database interface” to find the parts he already has. Now, that makes sense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423236",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:01:02",
"content": "Easy, use a tackle box. Lots of small compartments and the whole thing folds up into a carrying case for field work. Works really well for me, if you don’t need fully-enclosed compartments.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423248",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:17:47",
"content": "One more note regarding the photo box idea. I like this approach, and it is nice to have a uniform set of organization, but I looked at the link to those bins and they are not cheap. $27 a piece and he used 9 of them to organize all his components, but still needs another one to get everything to fit.I guess this wouldn’t be too bad if you bought them over time and got a new one every few months.It is peculiar timing for this post here though, since I have been cleaning out the garage and keep finding bags and jars, and boxes with random components in them. Time for me to find a good solution for them. Fortunately, I don’t have near the problem these guys do (much less stuff to organize).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423254",
"author": "Skitchin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:27:05",
"content": "http://www.crestmidwest.com/default.aspx?page=itemdetail&itemcode=DRH24DLThese drawers work great – they sell them in a few other sizes plus they have racks for them. Metal drawers with plastic inserts. Ask and they’ll even give you a blank backing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423263",
"author": "xeracy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:48:24",
"content": "Considering I just came into a windfall of components, ics, pots, switches, caps, etc from a retired EE from UCLA, I find this info helpful. He was nice enough though to give me his Resistor Racks, 2 sets of full labeled and organized drawers with 1/2w, 1w, and 2w varieties of each resistor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423266",
"author": "yzf600",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:51:22",
"content": "I like these little boxes:http://goo.gl/uIm30.Whatever you pick, don’t get the tackle/craft boxes that have removable dividers. Those things are always lifting up and allowing parts to mingle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1203315",
"author": "Evil.Spock.1@gmail.com",
"timestamp": "2014-02-16T08:42:07",
"content": "a little hot snot solves the problem of wandering dividers.",
"parent_id": "423266",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423268",
"author": "Chuckt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:53:56",
"content": "Use a tool box.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423272",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:01:31",
"content": "I keep my ICs in a binder. Antistatic foam cut to 8 1/2 x 11 and hole punched. No bent pins, super easy to find and keep them organized.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423274",
"author": "defyboy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:05:20",
"content": "@justDIY Yep, those bag sealers work perfectly on anti-static bags. I have been using an el-cheapo sealer from deal-extreme with no issues at all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423276",
"author": "zuul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:13:59",
"content": "i was recently looking for component storagei looked at a lot of stuff in hardware stores but then i tried looking in a craft store (michael’s) they had a bunch of containers for beads…most more expensive than at the hardware store BUT i did find some cheap ones with 17 compartments for $2 each",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423278",
"author": "dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:22:22",
"content": "I use a series of these:http://www.rapidonline.com/productinfo.aspx?&tier1=Tools%2c+Fasteners+%26+Production+Equipment&tier2=Storage%2fPacking+Equipment&tier3=Storage+Cabinets&tier4=Steel+storage+cabinets&moduleno=79362&catRef=14-2078You can put dividers into the draws, and to save them from lifting and allowing your parts to co-mingle, I just glue the divider in!If you use them with cupboards like this:http://www.desk-warehouse.co.uk/rangedetails/Bisley-6ft-Metal-Cupboard-2-door-3-Shelf/503/you can put a couple of the tool boxes into the back of the cupboard in the shelf then hand more boxes in the door so that when you close the cupboards the two sets of draws almost touch, and open out to give you twice as much storage.(clearly you need to leave a gap for the shelf in the boxes that you’re hanging on the door.)I also have these draws arranged inside metal A4 sized office draws, (the filing cabinets for laying paper flat where the draws are about 1.5″ tall) you can fit about ten inside a draw and it lets you divide up screws etc quite happily.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423281",
"author": "Bakamoichigei",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:28:41",
"content": "I find that for SMD you really can’t go wrong with those little interlocking containers all the chinese component sellers on eBay seem to have.Especially if you have a USB Dymo labeler with white-on-clear tape. :Dhttp://media.giantpachinkomachineofdoom.com/blog/2011/03/smdparts.jpgBeware though, some sellers have identical-looking ones that are the worst kinda cheap crap ever.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423283",
"author": "Derek",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:43:26",
"content": "I use Plano fishing tackle boxes:http://www.planomolding.com/toolboxes/toolbox-products-2/Walmart carries them in the sporting goods section for about $5 each. Compartment sizes are variable and you can make extra dividers from index cards. Boxes also stack on top of each other nicely when space is at a premium",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423284",
"author": "Derek",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:45:17",
"content": "Plano Prolatch boxes that is, infernal link",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423285",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:46:20",
"content": "its funny, i just moved and was talking about this not an hour ago. pretty sweet timing actually, now i can see which way is best for me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423288",
"author": "Meulfire",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:48:04",
"content": "The first scheme a cool design… but agree with others, it’s kinda expensive.I use tackle trays (24~36 wells, with removable dividers, and lid) to store my parts.Each box is about $5, and can fit a lot of stuff. I have one for through-hole resistors (divided by first color band… not a great system as I really have no idea what I have), caps/misc passives, actives, IC’s (on anti-static mat cut to fit in the well, located by grid on a spreadsheet).I’m in the process of shifting over to SMD, and space required for resistors alone is incredible… I have probably 3-4x as many SMD resistors as through-hole, in 1/5th the space (each resistor value is stored in tiny zip-lock bags, avail. at hobby stores).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423289",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:51:36",
"content": "Plano tackle box, and a plastic handled filing boxes. Extremely versatile.The tackle box holds my tools, the small stuff like the strippers and beater soldering iron, magnifiers, universal regulated power supply, etc. The core of the plano is a bay which holds 3 trays of adjustable divider trays.The filing boxes hold larger tools like my new soldering iron, Pana-vise, ATX power supply, unfinished projects, loose battery holders and other bulk.Additional filing boxes are cheap, and can carry additional “tackle trays” like what Plano sells, or craft stores sell.Avoid buying too many of those $4 bead/craft trays which have non-adjustable dividers. They’re fine for holding screws and LEDs and momentary switches, etc. But after a while, you don’t want to sort your components by SIZE you want to sort by their intended purpose, and adjustable is good for that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423292",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:58:46",
"content": "“To keep things simple, he wrote a database program to keep track of everything.”Yeah, that’s simple all right…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423297",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:15:40",
"content": "@meulfire: at work we use business card binder sheets for non-static sensitive discretes. Slice cut tape strips into appropriate lengths, put those in tiny zip-locs, then slide the zip-locs into the sheets. You can even slap labels on top of or use paint pen on the sheets to mark values. Reduces a pile of tackle boxes to a single 1″ binder.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423298",
"author": "TheCreator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:16:25",
"content": "If you live near a harbor freight you can pick up these for $4.99 each, and get a free LED flashlight.http://www.harborfreight.com/24-divider-storage-container-94458.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423313",
"author": "Okian Warrior",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:52:44",
"content": "I’ve come to the conclusion that spending time (10%) making the build process easier makes for more builds.Having all the same storage solution makes for easier storage and easier planning – if you choose 6 types of storage of various size and always use those sizes (from tackle box up to tote), it makes the shelving neat and wastes less space.…so, take the trouble to find storage that you like, and then take the trouble to always get that type of storage.I took the labels from the ones I liked and put them in a notebook. Now if I need another tote, I know to get the Sterlite 12 gallon, and it will fit alongside all the others.The best storage solution allows you to see lots of components at once. A flat tackle box fits the bill – glance through the lid to locate the thing you want out of several dozen.Get a pad of stick-on labels (the little 1″ white circles from Staples) to write the values on the inside of the compartment.For example, I’ve got 48 different types of electrolytic capacitor in one box. It’s obvious from the top or sides what the box contains, and tilting it at an angle allows me to see the stick-on labels of all the values and ratings at once. I can stack the tackle boxes and still see from the side which one holds the component I want.WalMart has flat “bead” boxes (in the crafts section) with 32 compartments for thin money – I think that’s the best of the lot if the components will fit. The bottoms are rounded, so you can still pull up a surface mount component if you have fat fingers.Storage bins, drawers, and anything else that hide the component or require you to pull a drawer out to check 3 compartments is less efficient and causes frustration.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423315",
"author": "Zot Ditz Myo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:53:37",
"content": "For something REALLY cheap and ecologically sound (but may not be the best) I use blue plastic containers from mushrooms packs. I already have them in my house so reusing them is nice. Juste need some more shelves to put them on now!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423321",
"author": "eric",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:20:26",
"content": "@justDIY & defyboy:Not only do the sealers work well, a cheap soldering iron can seal the anti-static bags as well. I’ve made dozens of waterproof seals.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423328",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:48:10",
"content": "Resistors come in standard sizes, the ‘chart’ has blank spaces that never will be filed and a cramped left side. I use the small (free) bins with no dividers. There are 12 NEMA sizes, 2 per drawer six per decade.10-12 15-18 22-27 33-39 47-56 68-82 It’s log.Any wattage same bin, those big ones are easy to grab for a quick clip-lead test.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423352",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:11:21",
"content": "not to be out done on storage weirdness, but here’s mine:http://www.myspace.com/my/photos/album/1523331",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423375",
"author": "vonskippy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T01:49:15",
"content": "@aztraphMyspace – BwahahahahahahahahahaFor about a nanosecond, I thought about signing up so I could see your storage solution.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423380",
"author": "Jonathan Wilson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T01:58:11",
"content": "If you live in Australia and can get them, these boxeshttp://www.fischerplastics.com.au/ProductPages/StorageBoxes.htmlwould be perfect for storing electronic bits IMO.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423400",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:47:27",
"content": "Re: Resistor color codingWhy isn’t this used? Well, ya ever heard of someone being concerned about ESD? This is an ESD nightmare, not to mention the fact that storage drawers/bins are worlds better. I’m sorry, but unless you just learned how to read resistors yesterday, you don’t need to index them like this.OH, and I almost forgot – Through-hole parts are obsolete………………..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423402",
"author": "dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:57:07",
"content": "All of these methods beat my large coffee can filled to the top with loose resistors method. Its easier to buy new resistors for each project than hunt them down in my big can of randomness.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423413",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T03:18:05",
"content": "“but unless someone can find anti-static bags for a binder, we’ll keep our ICs separate.”I’ve never ben able to kill an IC with static, even when in close proximity to a 70kV CW multiplier.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423429",
"author": "GCL",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T04:19:44",
"content": "Its interesting. No one has noted that Staples sells the Really Useful Box, boxes. I’ve got a whole batch of them here. Site is at:http://www.reallyusefulbox.com.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423430",
"author": "Simon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T04:25:00",
"content": "I use hundreds of tiny drawers with labels on them. The problem is then finding the drawer I’m looking for.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423456",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T06:23:30",
"content": "dollarstore pill organizer:i found one that includes seven plastic boxes with four compartments each. each compartment is about 1/2″ x 1″.28 compartments for $1 -not bad, unless you really hate your components being labeled “breakfast, lunch, supper, bedtime” ..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423457",
"author": "Zaphod",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T06:27:45",
"content": "I use the styrofoam principle for my resistors too. But it is smarter to organize them according to the E series, i.e. 10, 15, 22, 33, 47, 68. Then you don’t have to ask yourself why the 70 column is empty and why the 10 column is so crowded…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423506",
"author": "alf",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T10:26:12",
"content": "Same storage problems also hassle people inventorying spare LEGO parts…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423521",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T11:29:40",
"content": "vonskippy, I didn’t say it was good, just weird. the pull out drawer system that i have is 9′ long 4′ tall and 2′ deep. to me that’s weird.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423587",
"author": "DiJuMx",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:25:07",
"content": "@GCLHaving being decorating due to starting University in october on an electronics course, I needed some storage to put all of the electronic components I’ve amassed (mainly parts off of old products and from educational sets).I’ve now got a 9L Really Usefull Box with 4 Really Useful Hobby Trays inside. They hardly move at all in there so I don’t need to worry about the components moving from ne compartment to the next.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423589",
"author": "DangerousElectrician",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:29:15",
"content": "I stick my IC’s in a piece of aluminum foil then throw them in a bag in a binder or put the IC in a antistatic bag before throwing them into the binderhaven’t fried any parts yet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423615",
"author": "Aud1073cH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:29:43",
"content": "I have different storage systems depending on what type of part I’m organizing:Storage drawer bins for nuts/bolts, resistors, caps, and fusesDivided cases :http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100375899/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053for switches, pots, and connectorsA plano box for LEDs4qt, 12qt, and bushell plastic storage bins for many things: heat shrink, tape, motors, knobs, solar, batteries, etc.a 3.5 floppy organizer and small envelopes for Diodes and Transistors (I’ll post this method one day)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423626",
"author": "MoJo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:55:38",
"content": "I use draw cabinets. Easy to organise and fast, as well as cheap. For tools I use pegboards. I tried using binders but they don’t work very well… Stuff falls out of them too easily. Not much protection for component legs either.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423919",
"author": "Alex.M",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T22:09:51",
"content": "For people that keep their parts in their original digikey/mouser bags, I use one of those hanging file cabinet plastic bins. Label each hanging folder with a category and throw your bags in.@grenadier “I’ve never ben able to kill an IC with static”Depends on the manufacturer. Some don’t bother with internal ESD protection circuitry so the silver bags are not just for show. I burned out a FLASH chip before just by not wearing an ESD wrist strap. It didn’t completely stop working, just didn’t access memory properly which resulted in many hours of me trying to figure out what the heck was going on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424155",
"author": "Az",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T02:13:18",
"content": "Those little interlocking “configurable storage containers”, as linked by yzf600’s goo.gl link and Bakamoichigei’s suggestion for SMT gear storage from ebayers are nice, but I can only seem to see them in the 1×1 and 3×1 configurations, none of the 3×2 configuration like what I’ve got a couple of –http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17402577/photo/boxen.jpgI’ll keep that dealextreme link handy for the future, and my local supplier has the 1×1 boxen as well, but if anybody here has ideas for more 3×2 boxes, I, and a few others I’m sure, would love to hear/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "463828",
"author": "prasinos",
"timestamp": "2011-09-25T13:54:19",
"content": "You can find more sizes on ebay, e.g.5×2and3×2.These are compatible with the ones from dealextreme.",
"parent_id": "424155",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "424523",
"author": "doubleup",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:25:03",
"content": "Wow, lots of comments.I have found the best stuff at the dollar store. I bought 10 flat boxes with flip-up lids and partly-configurable sections. Any really loose sections can be filleted with hot glue. Component selection aids are glued to the lid.The boxes keep parts separate even when stored vertically. I am going to put them into a bigger box to make the whole kit portable.Tackle box is great for tools, but I also happened to find a great tool bag at Princess Auto (this place is the best!!) for just under $30. It’s kind of like a traditional doctor’s bag. Inside, it holds oscilliscope probes in a pencil box, cutters and strippers, tweezers, jeweler’s loupe, other essentials.Strangely, or perhaps it’s not strange at all, I feel great after getting this stuff organized. There is a strange sensation of pleasure when I get my tool kit out and there is a place for everything, and everything in its place. If you have the means, I highly recommend it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424993",
"author": "edonovan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T07:20:18",
"content": "@JamieWho:How is writing a database program not simple? The most difficult part would be cataloging all of your parts, but that is not very different from labeling them.I’ve avoided the $1 divider bins because of the dividers slipping around. It never occurred to me to glue them in place.Right now I’ve just got antistatic bags inside other bags inside my desk drawers. I will need to upgrade soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "534459",
"author": "MrLeghk",
"timestamp": "2011-12-13T18:24:23",
"content": "Similar to the photo box idea (which I also use) but much cheaper is this Harbor Freight24 Container Storage Boxfor $5.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "534472",
"author": "F4radayDefcon414",
"timestamp": "2011-12-13T18:39:14",
"content": "Just like hardware…whatever not used on a project or forgotten about on a bench never gets back to the original spot.At work, we throw away hardware as it costs $120 an hour (3x avg salary) to put back a 10-cent nut.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "534724",
"author": "currystomper",
"timestamp": "2011-12-13T23:47:43",
"content": "Well I use plastic take away containers for small things .you can buy 25 for $10 on Ebay if you don’t want all those takeaways – not the way I did it ;-)And them I buy A4 plastic boxs for bigger stuff. (ie each project)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "630140",
"author": "Adam",
"timestamp": "2012-04-15T18:40:05",
"content": "Photo boxes are available from Micheal’s, a craft store.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "971833",
"author": "Kati",
"timestamp": "2013-03-06T17:14:58",
"content": "There’s also several sizes of thoseIris large photo containerson this site too:http://www.justplasticboxes.com/boxes/Photo-Storage-Containers_2",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.750877
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/a-study-in-avr-power-saving-techniques/
|
A Study In AVR Power Saving Techniques
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Microcontrollers",
"Software Development"
] |
[
"adafruit industries",
"assembly",
"Atmel",
"attiny",
"AVR"
] |
[Scott] found the iCufflinks from Adafruit Industries pretty interesting, but he thought that the stated run time of 24 hours was a bit short. He figured
he could improve the product’s power consumption
at least a little bit, to improve the overall battery life.
From their schematics, he placed an order for parts and built two identical
iCufflink
mock-ups side by side – one running their code and one running his. He took baseline current draw measurements, then got busy slimming down the cufflinks’ software. It had been 20 years since he touched assembly, and he has never written it for an AVR, but judging by his work he’s not rusty in the least.
He slowed the ATtiny’s clock down and tweaked a few other settings for a savings of 53μA, but the real improvements came via a fairly simple fix. The original code called for the processor to institute a counting loop to sleep, which he found to be very wasteful. Instead, he chose to put the processor in an idle state, using the chip’s watchdog timer to wake it when it was time to pulse the LED. The power savings from this change alone was a whopping 261μA!
When he was said and done, the changes save about 315μA of current draw, and should allow the cufflinks to run for up to 38 hours without swapping batteries. In [Scott’s] opinion, a nearly 60% improvement in battery life is pretty good for a day’s work, and we’re inclined to agree.
| 88
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423191",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:29:17",
"content": "“The power savings from this change alone was a whopping 261μA”. And diodes suck around 5-10mA…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423203",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:47:02",
"content": "@yetihehe: The whole circuit uses 1.923 mA max. So saving 0.3mA is significant.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423205",
"author": "gdogg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:54:53",
"content": "While that is awesome, it just really shows how sloppy and amateurish adafruit’s coding is.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423207",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:01:20",
"content": "@gdoggAgreed! A counting loop, how lame.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423208",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:02:59",
"content": "@gdogg – That’s probably not a necessary or relevant criticism.While adafruit DOES sell products, it is pretty clear their real mission is hacking, discovery, prototyping… and encouraging the same in others. And they are making those ideals just a little more accessible to the hobbyist.“Amateur” is also a relative term. A true professional is not afraid of releasing their code as open source. I imagine the same sorts of errors are rife in closed source “professional” manufacturing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423209",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:04:33",
"content": "I have to say this is one of my favorite articles linked off of HAD.I love these methodical dissections of some utility/widget/application. and the quick explanations how to improve them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423211",
"author": "anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:08:32",
"content": "WTH? Why the constant hate against Arduino/Adafruit/Make/etc? Are you sure that it’s not so much her sloppy coding as the fact that you can actually _look_ at her code? She released everything open source: the code, the hardware schematics, everything. The fact that this guy could even have a hope of catching a sub optimal piece of code, let alone of fixing it, is because she open sourced everything about the project. How many projects that you know of come close to this level of openness?Seriously, it seems like it’s just a constant pissing fest on what (seems to me) are quite good (if not perfect) products.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429269",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:41:07",
"content": "Soo making a project open source, in your opinion, means the original dev doesn’t suck at coding?Seriously, I’ve never harked on adafruit for anything before — but a wait loop on a device that has a sleep mode is a bit faceplam worthy.",
"parent_id": "423211",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423217",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:23:43",
"content": "Next on HAD comments: “Man irked that Penicillin doesn’t cure Cancer.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423218",
"author": "Gonzalo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:27:31",
"content": "What about removing the LED resistor and making smaller pulses?Shouldn’t that improve the general efficiency of the circuit?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423219",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:31:29",
"content": "@Daid – Thanks, I didn’t know they use so weak current. Are they undervoltaging diodes, or do they just have low current ones? Typical white diode uses over 20mA, so looking at a graph of their “breathing” pattern I thought it uses just a little less.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423220",
"author": "dext3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:31:43",
"content": "i hate to say it but a counting loop to “sleep” sounds amazingly n00b…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423221",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:31:51",
"content": "@gdogg – i work with limor and co-designed this project (i also founded hack-a-day) while we could always optimize code even more, we chose to release products in a timely way, all our products we make are open source hardware products at a good price that work great. as others said, we want people to inspect our code and improve it.the people who buy our product like to hack, mod and improve them – they want source code, schematics and CAD files and we’re thrilled to share them.part of the fun about the way we do things is our community of customers and hackers that help improve our products. i hope we’re never “done” with any product and can continue to release updates from us as well as the community.as other pointed out your comment isn’t necessary or relevant criticism.so here is my challenge to you: how about you share something you’ve worked on, that was “perfect” that was open source and that no one saw anything they could do to improve it?i know you won’t, trolls and haters never do – but at least think about what you choose to “make” in this world – crappy comments on hack-a-day instead of being part of a pretty cool community of people who love to make stuff and share.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423226",
"author": "tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:39:51",
"content": "if one is REALLY interseted in micropower, he should have a look at TI MSP430. Just reading the datasheets and appnotes will teach you much more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423230",
"author": "resistor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:56:09",
"content": "I really love this hack, just with a little coding adding 14 hours of more running time. Nice work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423239",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:06:21",
"content": "I agree with tim on the app notes from TI. I’m just getting started with the MSP and their notes are both abundant and well written. They include references for both electrical and software design. Sure, some of them are probably considered “you should know that” material by some on this blog, but for someone getting back into mcu programming after 12 years, they’re VERY appreciated.Also, even if the MSP430 isn’t your cup of tea, a lot of their notes translate to other mcus as well. Highly recommended. They don’t have a pretty URL I can paste here, but they’re easy to find if you’re looking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "428427",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2011-08-04T11:04:58",
"content": "Could you give a hint at where to look? Their site is huge and a bit scary!",
"parent_id": "423239",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423247",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:16:55",
"content": "Nice work. Not wishing to stir up a hornets’ nest here, but the watchdog timer on AVRs is not particularly low power, even compared to modern PICs. (ISTR over 1uA just for its built in oscillator/prescaler.) I had the same dilemma with a project a few months ago and found the lowest power solution was to sacrifice a spare I/O pin for an RC network and use the wake on edge interrupt feature instead.Obviously you have to have a spare pin and space for two extra components available so it probably isn’t applicable in this case.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423250",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:21:00",
"content": "@pt – well said Phillip.I have to say that your writings – and those of Limor, Ben Heck, Riad Wahby (before he stopped blogging), Jean-Claude Wippler (of JeeLabs)… your patient tutorials and gifts to the community are why I am able to pursue learning electronics.As for @gdogg and his kind, perhaps it’s time for HAD to support accounts (even if just using open account logins from OpenID, Facebook, and Google). I’m not against anonymity, but if people are going to throw eggs at others, they’ll never learn unless they are caught.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423253",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:24:32",
"content": "Other processors are always interesting. If someone has the time and energy to convert this to another processor and then optimize it, I would enjoy reading about the process.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423259",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:33:29",
"content": "PT hit the nail on the head. The point of this post was not insinuate that the code they produced was bad, but to show off the power of open source.They released the iCufflinks’ source so that people like Scott could do exactly what he did. I’m sure they are thrilled at the chance of rolling Scott’s changes back into their product, since it gives users an even better experience.The whole point of releasing an open source project is to get people rework and improve it as they see fit – sharing the fruits of everyone’s labor with the community.Calling the initial product an amateurish production is like saying Debian is crap because Crunchbang Linux is faster and slimmed down. It just doesn’t make much sense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423260",
"author": "gdogg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:34:03",
"content": "Don’t be sore, guys.“optimize more”? That code wasn’t optimized at all. While I applaud anyone who releases their code publicly, I stand by my comment that this code is amateurish. I’ve open sourced code before, and I would personally be embarrassed to release something that I had just got to work and never improved.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423270",
"author": "dext3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:57:08",
"content": "@ScottInNH: so because he has a criticism, he should be forced to broadcast his full name or something, maybe a geolocation too? its not like gdogg was trolling hard like, “Damn this shit sucks ass, you all are retarded half-lings.” He just said his opinion of the code.If you want to be OPEN then be OPEN to all and don’t get all pissed off and defensive if someone criticizes your code.Once again the internet takes a non-issue and turns it into a flamewar. So one guy thinks the code is sloppy/amateur. Whatever. Who cares?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423290",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:53:56",
"content": "I don’t see why HaD comments should be linked to annoying logging accounts, I just read a few articles and comments every day and I might have missed some bad comments but to my view HaD comments are most of the time very constructive and clever. I sometimes just read the title of an article and go to read the comments because I like to know people’s opinion, advice, web links or just technical jokes about the subject.Anyway pt might be offended because someone critisized his work but releasing a source code for a battery operated product and not taking into account the power consumption at all, well should I need to say more?There is nothing new in using PWM, watchdog or sleep modes to save power but Scott did write a very good dissection and anybody eager to improve its coding should like this kind of articles.Adafruit are working hard to bring out new ideas or promote someone else’s product like the microtouch and they do a great job at popularizing electronics to beginners with the Arduinos, their kits and their build instructions but for the non-beginner their products are quite useless, a professional doesn’t need Adafruit to make an usb charger like the mintyboost or blink an LED like the iCufflinks cos’ that’s just what it is really! and one can make it far cheaper (and without stupid non-standard spacing ;-)) but one might not have the idea of it and like it or not making your cuff-link blink is a new idea and the Arduinos made the microcontrollers and, the AVR in particular, popular!I think Adafruit writes very simple and not optimized programs because they don’t want to spend too much time or they aren’t software guys or at least as much as they are hardware ones, but in the end those programs are intended for noobs to start with and if they are complicated… Adafruit relies ont the community to improve it and the noob might understand the improvements and get less noob, just remember when you started electronics did you understand what a common emitter was for! do you now?Adafruits is doing a good kob at promoting the maker scene and the iCufflinks are one of those geeky useless things but hey! it’s fun :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423295",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:08:02",
"content": "@gdogg – great, you’re up for the challenge? where is your work that you’ve released so we can inspect it. i know you will not post links or email me directly, but i’ll ask again :) as you can see here the commenters are getting tired of comments like yours, but it’s easy to fix – just be kind to each other and set a better tone here.@Mike Nathan – thank you, you’ve described what we do perfectly.@dext3r – people are getting more upset here because it’s a problem.i’m not sure hack-a-day needs real name / facebook / google+ style comments, but i do think the mods and authors can help set a more positive tone here. if i were running the site i would likely ban some commenters for awhile and work with them directly to help them be more inclusive here.for years i’ve heard from many great makers, hackers and project creators that they hate when their work is featured on hack-a-day because of the comments. i think that’s a shame, it’s not why i made this site.so @gdogg and others while you think you’re being clever or just anon-snarky, you really do hurt the electronics sharing community, stop it.there are plenty of ways to say “it could be improved” and then actually do it or share some tips. or if you can’t resist being a jerk, go hang out on another site where people aren’t sharing their creative works, political sites are great if you enjoy being an angry commenter.limor is considered one of the best engineers out there making diy kits, she’s won awards for work and she’s been featured on the cover of WIRED to interviews with every EE publication out there.tweaking code like this wasn’t required to release our product, we wanted a day or so of battery life and while we could have waited to really really optimize our customers love to hack and mod and tinker. some people think the increase doesn’t even matter for the time spent tweaking, but i think scott did a great job!we release open source hardware so others can look at and inspect, her libraries and code are used in thousands of projects so while it might not be up to your standards we do not know of since you won’t share what -you- do, i think it’s pretty good and will always get better.look, i know a lot of the comes from jealousy, you’d like to be featured here, people talking about your work and looking at your code and doing things with your ideas, but they’re not – we’re talking about your crappy comments. that’s what some people “make”. until they’re discouraged it will continue.c’mon dude, join in and do something cool with us instead. you can email me your projects you’ve posted and shared directly,pt@makezine.com– i’ll be waiting :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423329",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:55:00",
"content": "So, I’m confused.Is AdaFruit so awesome they’re off-limits for criticism? (Entirely within the realms of possibility, really.)Or is all criticism now off-limits unless your include a hyperlink to an earlier, better, peer-reviewed, completely open-sourced, non-Arduino-containing (haters gonna hate…) project?Because it seems to me that if the original project had been posted by some random/anonymous Instructables user, people would be all too happy to tear apart “sloppy code” and “amateur coding” if they’d made, really, zero effort towards power-efficiency in something battery-powered… and nobody would be too ridiculously butthurt about it.But that’s just me, and I just built a mostly-working analog clock using two, yes two, 16-bit MCUs, OMGWTFBBQeleveneleven, so, clearly, I have no right to even read HaD, let alone comment here. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423346",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:16:00",
"content": "@george – if you read the comments on hack-a-day obviously no one is off-limits or too awesome for criticism.scott decided he could optimize our code, we wanted to make sure it lasted a day for our launch / beta, he really tweaked it. this is because we do open source hardware, share our codes, source, CAD and schematics. if someone read the comments here from the jerks, i doubt they’d ever want to share their projects.if you read my comments here i’m trying to suggest that the snarky trolly folks consider setting a more positive tone here for everyone. i realize a lot of this come from being jealous or angry because they aren’t part of this community, but they can easily join in and provide value.as far as criticism goes – i can take it, and so can adafruit and so can MAKE, but many people tell me specifically they hate when their projects end up here specifically because of the hack-a-day commenters. i started this site so i’m very interested in helping to fix this or at least discourage the commenters from doing this.i’ll be doing this my whole life so the random anonymous person who never has anything to give but snarks doesn’t bother me, but it bothers a lot of people.hating and trolling on arduino projects is getting pretty old, it’s obvious to any reasonable person that the open source hardware project arduino has done more for electronics than any other “platform” recently. more people are making stuff, if you hate arduino – make something better and share it.on instructables they have full time community managers with tools to help make it a more inclusive site. many of the comments on hack-a-day wouldn’t make it and many of the commenters would either shape up or not be able to use the site, it’s one of the reasons instructables is so great, has more how-tos from people and has massive traffic. it’s a safe place to share your projects. wouldn’t it be great if people wanted to publish their how-tos here?this is a cool site, with great authors, with great projects but the comments are a huge problem. it’s very fixable, but it’s up to all of us to encourage good constructive comments and discourage snarky ones.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423347",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:26:23",
"content": "@George I made a board to flash an LED twice with a 32bit MCU. My code is sloppy and I use a counting loop.Guess what? It still does what I want.My point? Scott did a great job improving an already good project. I don’t see the need to criticize anyone. Yes, the code had portions that could use optimization. No, that does not make it sloppy/amateurish get over your egotistical view of MCU programming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423354",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:17:56",
"content": "Can’t we all jus’ get along?!? :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423364",
"author": "mattster",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:41:22",
"content": "It has electrolytes but does it have a 6502? Noooooooooooo",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423365",
"author": "mattster",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:49:36",
"content": "I don’t know Phil or Limor but I’ve followed them and many others like Ben Heck, Jeri Ellsworth and others. I love open source and the fact there are always people who like to tweak code for clock cycles , like John Carmack, shows that code can always be optimized and tweaked for a particular purpose no matter how efficient it is.Let’s get our thinking touks out and get to making some jobs like Phil and Limor do and get this economy rollin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423369",
"author": "Mental2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T01:03:26",
"content": "The comments would have been justified if the article had said Adafruit were touting the cufflinks as the optimum power consumption and someone ripped it apart. As it stands it’s a bit like someone posting an article on how they tuned a car using only stock parts, then everyone bitching about how crap the manufacturer is.Personally I’m glad it was coded the way it was. I’m just getting into MCUs and I’m just picking stuff up as I go along, now I know something I didn’t. Success!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423403",
"author": "error404",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:57:24",
"content": "NB: The pronoun ‘you’ in this post is not really referring to anyone in particular, but I suppose the closest match would be the Adafruit organization.You’re selling a product, and are representatives of the ‘elite’ of the hacking/making crowd. Don’t you think releasing a product that doesn’t even follow the most basic best practices, if nothing else, a little embarrassing?I think part of the problem here is that this is not just a project on I’bles by some random noob. It’s a product that you sell, and that funds your operation and presumably puts food on your table. You’re professionals and work with this stuff every day, and should know the ins and outs of it. So presumably (or hopefully, at least) you know better. Yes, what you guys do is great for the community and in the past years has really helped to get people interested in this stuff, and provided plenty of resources, information and service. But you’re also the poster children, and should, I think, expect to be held to a higher standard. What you write is read by many, and your code examined and possibly even exemplified by many. You should set a good example.That doesn’t mean everything you do needs to be perfect, but I do think using busy waits in a project powered by tiny coin cells is a little too amateur for your station in this community. Missing minutiae like enabling the pullups to save a couple uA is forgivable, but busy waits are not.I don’t see why anyone else should have to prove they are better than you if they want to lodge criticism. Requesting that is as childish as trolling with unfounded or ridiculous claims; you’re basically asking for an opening to criticize the other’s own work. The proof is in the pudding, and the criticism in this case is fully warranted, there’s no reason for the complainant to prove anything beyond that. And it says something about the people releasing it, whether you want it to or not.Anyway, great analysis by Scott and a good rundown of a few good ways to reduce power consumption that can apply to most projects. Probably a decent ‘reference’ even on some ways to squeeze a few uA.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423406",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T03:07:44",
"content": "@error404, you said “Anyway, great analysis by Scott and a good rundown of a few good ways to reduce power consumption that can apply to most projects. Probably a decent ‘reference’ even on some ways to squeeze a few uA.”exactly, my point since i started is this is – why do the comments need to end up being more about name calling and how arduino sucks for almost every post?keep in mind scott is someone who participates in our community, forums, online video chats and more – he’s not a random person. when we release products we are releasing them for folks like him. he’s not a stranger, we’ve chatted with him face to face (google+ hangout).i don’t think we’re “representatives of the ‘elite’ of the hacking/making crowd” – i do think we make decisions like releasing a product that does what we want, in this case, 24 hour hour batter life (actually 30 or so). that’s what we wanted on *launche* and we did it. releasing all the code and source for others to improve was part of our launch, it’s why “open source” *is* the product. some folks didn’t think 30 hours to 38 was a big deal or worth all of scott’s time, but we did – and we’re certain someone else will tweak it even more.i’ll be doing what i do for decades to come, so will limor – the snarky and trolly comments really don’t bother me, but if people are going to make them they’re going to also see me encouraging us to collectively do better.i just got off a hack-a-day google+ hangout, everyone was great. maybe that’s the future of commenting, no one would crap on each other so much if they had to actually talk to each other afterwards :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423459",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T06:43:45",
"content": "“snarky trolly folks” ??really? look at this thread. someone said something (2 lines) against ladyada-one might agree/disagree with the way it was said or with the content, but it wasn’t very trollish.but now the response is a 10 page manifesto calling him names and shutting him up ?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423490",
"author": "Pup",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T09:34:36",
"content": "Wow. All I see here is troll feeding time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423501",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T10:04:10",
"content": "@tantris i would consider a backhanded compliment trollish, they love insulting people.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423553",
"author": "millsy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T12:55:32",
"content": "I like this site, keep up the good work. Always fun to read about people bringing their expertise to other peoples projects.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423558",
"author": "ScottInNh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T13:08:57",
"content": "Just for the record:I never suggested real names as a requirement to post.Facebook or Google or OpenId could authenticate your semi-anonymous HAD profile. Only HAD admins would know who you are and the rest of folks here just see your HAD handle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423566",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T14:11:16",
"content": "Ok folks. The dead horse, troll, ice monster from Hoth, etc… has been kicked sufficiently. We really should work on being nicer to each other. Sometimes it’s not what we say, but how we say it.But now it’s time to conserve a little O2 and go pick up our soldering irons or programming keyboards so we can make moar goodness!!1!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423584",
"author": "gdogg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:20:31",
"content": "I can’t believe I started all that!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423588",
"author": "squidarthur",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:26:24",
"content": "no amount of penicillin can cure the cancer that is this comments thread.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423600",
"author": "h3llphyre",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T15:57:53",
"content": "Let’s make this a bit more real. 99% of what is posted here is amateur level projects. All the products from Sparkfun, Adafruit, Dangerous Prototypes, Seeed Studio, etc, I consider amateur level products. It is what it is, the design files are made available, you’re always welcome to improve on them, which is what happened here.Having looked at a lot of the design files from the before stated companies, it is obvious that the level of documentation is amateur. I’ve been doing EE and Software designs professionally for over 15 years now, hence that perspective. It’s a tad annoying, mostly from a detail level, but it’s not the end of the world and you will never hear me publicly criticize specifically about it.In saying that, I still have a massive amount of respect for ALL of the before mentioned companies. Hell, I have respect for ANYONE who has a project posted here, or MAKE, or any of the other DIY blog spaces.Last piece… Let’s try to stop trolling and let’s have a bit thicker skin too. Meet somewhere in the middle maybe? haha",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423616",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:33:29",
"content": "@h3llphyre – you said “All the products from Sparkfun, Adafruit, Dangerous Prototypes, Seeed Studio, etc, I consider amateur level products”really? *all* ? that’s a pretty big statement.can you provide some examples of how specific product documentation can improved? saying you’ve been doing this for 15 years but not offering anything besides that isn’t that helpful.as far as “thicker skin” again, this is the problem – why can’t we strive to make this site a place where makers *want* to see their projects and not always read how “arduino sucks”, etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423633",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T17:13:13",
"content": "I’ve gottta be honest, i don’t get why people let the negative comments get to them so much, just ignore it and move on. Otherwise it just turns into a bitchfest about who can say what to whom and how.i do agree with the thicker skin, i see where PT is coming from the why can’t we all get along, but its just never gonna happen without heavy moderation, there are too many variation of people, its not just the web, its always been like this. I don’t like the idea of heavy moderation, since its a band aid , hidden solution. Sometimes the criticism is just haters, but it can also still be valid, data is useful. Even if its just figuring out who to ignore. but i want to choose.It’s a valuable skill to be able to extract useful data from the worst of hater/trolls, even if its minimal.This is how we end up with overbearing HOA’s and the like.You can’t control what people say, but you can control how you react too it..Anyway,I usually do a bunch of the code for our little products and i do not go that far in optimising them, for a couple of reasons,once its working i can spend time on other projects and we’re always short of time.some people really have a hard time grasping things like pwm and interrupts, its hard for people who get it, to understand that. sure they should learn, but sometimes people just build stuff to build it, as cooperative or satisfaction thingsome people prefer to hack on code than hardware, and contribute something, so it leaves room for that.bad code always encourages someone else to say, i can do that better, sometimes they’ll step up, its rare but it happens.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423649",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T17:41:49",
"content": "@charliex – you said “i do agree with the thicker skin, i see where PT is coming from the why can’t we all get along, but its just never gonna happen without heavy moderation, there are too many variation of people, its not just the web, its always been like this. I don’t like the idea of heavy moderation, since its a band aid , hidden solution”i don’t think that’s true, instructables, MAKE, adafruit and in person events like maker faire have inclusive and valuable communities that do not talk to each other like this. i started hack-a-day and while the site has really improved, the comments still need work. it’s 100% fixable.anil dash has an article that i think has some good points:http://dashes.com/anil/2011/07/if-your-websites-full-of-assholes-its-your-fault.htmlit’s not just a hack-a-day problem, AVR freaks is another one i’ve commented about as well. from the start that community decided they mostly hated arduinos and what happened? no one really uses the site to share their projects, they’ve gone elsewhere and people who are learning electronics don’t even know about that site now – that’s a shame their members have a lot of good information they could share with new folks.i don’t read all the comments on hack-a-day but when i do i will certainly encourage folks to provide value besides just saying something sucks.as far as this project goes, again our goal was 24 hours of battery life, we got about 30 and said let’s release this and see what folks do with it. within 3 weeks we now have updated code we’re using from a customer / community member and that’s rolled in to the product.that’s pretty cool and our goal was accomplished.to give you another example, when we did the kinect bounty we could have just released the drivers ourselves, but we decided to post a data dump and encourage the community to do things.look at how that flourished, were the drivers perfect? nope, but now there are real companies and real projects all evolved from the first OS drivers.no one here who says how something sucks or is amateur posts anything they do, they never risk anyone looking at what they do, i hope they realize that they’re not encouraging people to share their work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423657",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:01:13",
"content": "@gdogg : if you’re so good (it’s what you said…), what is the open source stuff you’ve released ? Probably nothing, you’re just bragging.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423668",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:18:50",
"content": "pt – I’m not h3llphyre, which I hope is obvious, but, if you aren’t just being dickish and actually *want* specific criticisms, let’s random pick the $80 AdaFruit MONOCHRON:1. Neither the ATMega nor RTC have decoupling capacitors; I don’t consider these “optional”, but apparently I’m just wrong;2a. The PSU could (easily) have incorporated a bridge rectifier, which would avoid all kinds of potential misery if some unfortunate soul attached an AC wallwart;2b. No effort was made to keep the power traces low-impedance;2c. One extra resistor would prevent possible problems if someone populates both IC2 positions;3. Acid traps. Oh, the acid traps…4. It’d have been really user-friendly to throw a spare TO92 voltage regulator on there somewhere for h4x0rz who might want an easy source of 3v3; obviously you can do this in the proto area, but, still…5. Speaking of that proto area… nothin’ but donuts… why? Rows of paired pads would be 100 times more user-friendly;6. On a related note, no extra 5v test points / solder pads? No ground test points / solder pads?7. “…stick some tinfoil in the batter holder…” Because a jumper pad took up too much real estate?8. On the subject of jumpers, there are two/three extra ATMega pins, one of which is an ADC-capable pin. A jumper and two resistors to provide an option to measure the RTC battery voltage with the ATMega would have been great;9, It’d take… three more parts? to allow the RTC’s square-wave output to drive an LED as a heartbeat/second indicator/low-RTC-battery (one can dream…) indicator. Would have been neat. Oh well.I could probably go on, but it’s not as if you/Limor/anyone else cares what I think, so, meh.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423674",
"author": "gdogg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:22:26",
"content": "@Olivier – I never said I was good (I am, though)I only use this pseudonym for commenting. You might have seen some of my projects before, but you’d never know it :) I’ll keep it that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423700",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:55:15",
"content": "@george, search on this page for “h3llphyre” i was replying to his/her comment. not yours, unless you are posting as multiple people.anyway, we’ll take a look at this and see if there’s anything we can improve, many times decisions are made and without context it’s not really possible to know why an engineer may have chosen something. sometimes it’s about part availability and sometimes it’s so a beginner can actually solder a part (smt vs through-hole).you said “I could probably go on, but it’s not as if you/Limor/anyone else cares what I think, so, meh.”meh? if i/we didn’t care i wouldn’t have asked and wouldn’t have responded here.have you ever emailed us or posted about this on our site?the clock has so far had a couple revisions and i expect we’ll have more, that’s cool thing about OSHW and kits, the product can evolve and get better and more people can participate. thousands and thousands of people have made this clock, i don’t think we’ve had a single return, we’re really happy with it and look forward to releasing the next version soon.i do have a request, can you post this in our customer forums? that way we could have this where it belongs, but either way – we’re going to review this.@gdogg – thanks for proving everything i was saying :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423707",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T19:13:22",
"content": "@George –You seem to know what you are talking about, and have worked with a few of these kits. Why not do something similar to what Scott did? Modify the original, document your steps, and win some blog points in the process. Or just post a Review, and note what you would do differently if you had time. Everyone wins.@pt – Often people’s comments in forums get lost when it comes to product revisions. I’m speaking in general for any vendor, not about Adafruit specifically. So people can get conditioned into not making forum posts. Hopefully there is a bug tracker or spreadsheet that Adafruit copies feedback into.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423713",
"author": "pt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T19:27:18",
"content": "@ScottInNH – yah, ideally we could encourage even more folks to do what scott did, obviously we love feedback and hearing what people want in kits.scott was posting in the forums, did a google+ hangout with us and we’ve even sent him a special gift after he posted his code mods.comments in forums for us are managed pretty well, that said – if george was willing to post up in the forums we’d take a look at this and if there are things to improve/add we’d post them in a product notes section, or if he was going to do stuff with us we could do a fork on github and merge it later, we’ve done that before and it’s worked out great.i checked to see if george emailed us or bought this kit, he didn’t from us – but he could have got it from a reseller. if he’s only looking at the files we’ve posted that’s fine, but actually making a kit designed for beginners is different than just looking at our eagle files and schematics, some of the things he mentioned would be for advanced modders and hacker. that’s cool, but we also need to keep things straightforward for new folks. some of the biggest challenges with designing things is often what -not- to include.any way, i’m glad george posted despite his “meh” comment, i hope he considers participating in the forum or sending us an email too, who knows he could end up getting a completely new kit designed with him in mind :)i realize adafruit will get picked on more than others because we release a lot of open source hardware but that’s how it goes.what do you think george, are you up for stopping in our forums and chatting about this?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.945403
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/the-isostick/
|
The Isostick
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"hardware",
"Peripherals Hacks"
] |
[
"iso",
"isostick",
"usb"
] |
The
Isostick
, a Kickstarter project now in development, is meant to emulate an optical drive in the form of a USB stick. Although there is nothing new with putting an iso file (optical disk image) on a USB stick, what is unique about this drive is that it fully emulates a drive without actually having to worry about drivers or extra programs.
When plugged in, a computer sees a flash drive and a virtual optical drive. An excellent feature is that this disk can store multiple “iso” files and select them with a built in utility program. This could be invaluable for a technician or hacker since more than one CD or DVD is often needed to complete a task.
If fully developed, one could expect to attach this “drive” to your keychain and not have to worry about lugging an optical disk around anymore. Also, the activity light is programmable, which is a nice bonus.
| 93
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423115",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:06:29",
"content": "isn’t this alot like the S3 jumpdrives? from what i understand S3 was developed to create a virtual optical drive so it could autostart a program from the manufacturer. If this is just the hardware equivalent then i’m on board for one. Need one for a project i was working on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423124",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:21:05",
"content": "$125 is an insane price point.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423125",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:21:31",
"content": "sariel,this one is bootable and requires no additional drivers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429270",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:42:02",
"content": "All thumbdrives are bootable and require no additional drivers.",
"parent_id": "423125",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423127",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:24:10",
"content": "DO WANT. (Sucks reformatting same USB for a different ISO)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "3302736",
"author": "James Ray Barnett Jr.",
"timestamp": "2016-12-07T01:43:01",
"content": "http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811235060",
"parent_id": "423127",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423128",
"author": "Gravis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:26:01",
"content": "oh yeah, i forgot, this one is FAST. other ones use a CPU to serve up data (slooow) while this uses an FPGA.i have inside info, so i know this for a fact. :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429273",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:42:42",
"content": "Um, what? It comes with an FPGA?",
"parent_id": "423128",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423129",
"author": "Requiem",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:27:32",
"content": "I’m a little leery about these drives. I know that most of us are wise enough to disable CD autoplay, but this could make compromising computer systems way easier than it already was.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423130",
"author": "bootc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:27:58",
"content": "This sort of thing has been around for a while. There used to be a thing called an i-odd that did this, which has now become the Zalman ZM-VE200. It’s basically a USB HDD with optical drive emulation and much more besides.http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=431http://linitx.com/product/12992",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423131",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:29:01",
"content": "@GravisSo since windows machines can still autorun optical drives, this negates the fact that microsoft bought the s3 patent. Pretty sweet deal, except for the $125 “donation”. I know these guys are working hard on a product that will most definitely sell, but they have to come down on their selling point a bit before i buy one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423135",
"author": "fireball87",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:35:27",
"content": "Gravis,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3claims that the U3 drives could be booted. And I’m pretty sure that they were reporting themselves as a USB drive, which is why they were used for a great deal of theoretical system attacks, because they could utilize windows autorun to propigate a payload without notification, where as regular pin drives won’t just autorun things. This combined with the tendancy for people to plug any usb drive they find into their computer proves to be dangerous. Plus those drives cost nothing. Of course, to access this partition yourself required a bit of software trickery, but for certain purposes (often nafarious, sometimes good) it works quite well. Or perhaps I’m missing something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423136",
"author": "Tiersten",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:37:11",
"content": "Its not quite the same as it isn’t a USB stick but Zalman do something similar called the ZM-VE200 (http://www.zalman.com/eng/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=431). I’ve got the iodd branded version of the same thing.It is a USB 2.5″ HD enclosure with a built in LCD + controller that does this mount ISO as optical drive feature. It is significantly cheaper for the amount of storage you get but you lose on the size aspect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430656",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T19:06:35",
"content": "Just ordered one of these. Does it work well?",
"parent_id": "423136",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423140",
"author": "flux",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:53:56",
"content": "I’d still use several usb sticks or microsd’s. It’s more flexible and if one would die I’d loose only 10 bucks or less. And no you don’t need to reformat a usb stick to put an iso onto it. Simply call ‘cat newimage.iso > /dev/sdX’",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423143",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:01:13",
"content": "Meh, daemon tools lite (free) does this in software. However, I could see where it would be really handy if you are going between multiple computers and/or can’t install software. The price is way too high though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "565533",
"author": "Killian",
"timestamp": "2012-01-23T17:45:44",
"content": "Yes, but you can’t boot from deamon tools XDAlso, some software refuses to run if it detects Daemon Tools running.E.g. Instead to having to use the original cd to play a game, or messing about with anti-anti-piracy, you can just use this and it thinks it’s a physical cd.I just have five cruzer micro u3’s with my bootable iso’s on ’em ;)",
"parent_id": "423143",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423145",
"author": "cirictech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:03:25",
"content": "A 32-Bit AVR With usb ong the go, a micro-sd card, and a USB jack total cost in ~100 quantity ~$25-30… $25,000 is a alot of money for that simple of hardware… and@Gravisif you look at the picture it’s not a FPGA, and switching to one wouldn’t make any sense the amount of dev work required would be way to high as well as increasing the parts cost significantly …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423146",
"author": "Spiralbrain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:06:12",
"content": "This isn’t something new, Its already been used in 3G usb dongles to store the necessary drivers and software. It is usually a 50mb partition in flash which is recognized by windows as a CD Drive. But yes if it can boot multiple iso’s it will come in handy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429276",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:45:15",
"content": "Agreed. Seems to me that this is something anyone could build with an ATTiny and an sd-card. I’m not sure what the hype is all about, or why it costs $125…",
"parent_id": "423146",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423147",
"author": "Calle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:06:32",
"content": "@Decius YUMIhttp://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/Does this an alot more.i got 16 gig of livecds and installers (including *nix bsd and windows) got about 15 diffrent things now.Dosen’t emulate a cdrom but able to chainload iso using grub2.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423152",
"author": "robint91",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:18:10",
"content": "cirictech:Do you really don’t know how much it cost to do hardware development one a serious level as this. You need to include the 4 layer pcb cost, the man hours,… The usb vendor ID and maybe the FAT license.Most poeple doesn’t know how handy it is. You just drag and drop your iso on to the stick. And you can boot that particular iso. You don’t need to do any other handling!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429277",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:47:56",
"content": "Again, this is something anyone could do with an AVR and an sd-card. I’ve seen the vfat source in the generic android code under the linux kennel somewhere, so I assume you can just use that from Linux. Shouldn’t be any licensing issues there.",
"parent_id": "423152",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423154",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:24:11",
"content": "I’m not following the large benefit overall, so maybe I’m missing something. Aside from the fact it’s hardware-based of course.I can’t recall the name of the two tools right now, they’re on another computer than what I’m on, but there’s two utilities (among several) I use which format any USB stick, regardless of brand or size, and turn it into a bootable drive.Not just recognized as an optical drive, but a bootable HD. This way you don’t have to enable bootable optical in the BIOS. Older BIOS require you to enable bootable USB, but newer ones you don’t. Tried on multiple systems, multiple USB sticks.I currently have 14 ISO’s on there, as well as three different Windows installation packages streamlined.Pop the stick in, a utility comes up and lets me select from the ISOs or enter a command mode (OS of my choice, several to choose from) as well as mount partitions present on the HDD’s it can see.In addition, there’s no size limit and no particular format limit (such as having to have FAT32 on the first XYZ cylinders). There’s FAT32, NTFS and Extended partitions on it right now.Aside from several days of gathering all of the software and putting it together into one quick 5 step system.. I spent no money.Why would I spend $125 (I could see $30 or less..) on a hardware version of what I can do with my software-based system?What am I missing?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429279",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:50:55",
"content": "“but there’s two utilities (among several) I use which format any USB stick, regardless of brand or size, and turn it into a bootable drive.” — ummm, you mean like diskpart?",
"parent_id": "423154",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423155",
"author": "TechIsCool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:25:06",
"content": "I have had this guy’s website bookmarked for months I know its not the same group but they seem to have a more open policy about there projecthttp://renosite.com/forum/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423158",
"author": "cw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:31:30",
"content": "@Spiralbrain and @that1guy daemon tools and S3 drives only work once windows boots. isostick makes any bootable iso a bootable cdrom on a flash drive, you can boot any official XP installer off a flash drive with this, no hacking or messing around injecting drivers or fiddling with bootloaders, just copy iso to stick, done.@cirictech your math is missing some numbers, and a bigger picture. $30 is on the cheap side, don’t forget custom case and board and mass assembly, and his time to create, test, support, and improve this. Then, practical retail pricing practices say to set price at least double what he, as the creator, needs to get from it so that he can afford to buffer DOA’s and holding stock and managing shipping and so resellers can take their cut. $100+ is very reasonable for this in quantities < 1 million. assuming $125 is 50% markup, then the kickstarter is going to give him around $10-12K extra to order some to ship off to retailers, that's only about 200 devices over what's promised to the backers. $25K isn't a lot of money for launching a new product.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429284",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:56:42",
"content": "I’m sure $125 is very reasonable as far as what the developer would expect for the amount of work he put in. The problem is, he’s developing something useless. We can already boot from thumb drives (no need for useless .iso files.)And there are free software based solutions to mount .iso file for every major OS in as many virtual drives as we like.Using this would be a pain in the ass. Once your flash drive got full, you would have to delete files on it and copy new ones on to make room. Which is just stupid since you already have everything you want on your PC and can just mount it.Also, clearly the developer is doingsomethingwrong, because emulating a cd-drive and a thumb drive over USB is something that any AVR/USB hacker should be able to throw together in a free weekend with an sd-card, and make it open source.",
"parent_id": "423158",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423159",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:34:03",
"content": "the point of this is???there emu software GNU free out there that does the same thing.plus if you HAVE to boot from the CD this wouldn’t work because it’s USB.pointless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429286",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T01:58:28",
"content": "There’s no point, the dev is solving non-existent problems.Though you are incorrect about booting, as many PCs can boot from USB Optical drives, which this identifies itself to the PC as, so it would boot just fine. But still pointless as those PCs can usually boot from jump drives as well.",
"parent_id": "423159",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423161",
"author": "TechIsCool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:34:36",
"content": "@cwSure but I have yet to read about speeds of them. I know for a fact the group I already linked to in my post above could only accomplish 2x CD drive which is very slow in today’s standards about 100k a sec if that. Not sure if this will be faster but without specs on it. I will continue to carry my disk around until 16x or so is reached because it still faster than something like this",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423162",
"author": "Truth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:35:06",
"content": "@Gravis looking at the photo of the prototypes the main chip is an Atmel 32UC3A3128 which supports USB 2.0 with embedded host capability.ref:http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?category_id=163&family_id=607&subfamily_id=2138&part_id=4126@cirictech I fully agree with you that there is no way that a FPGA would be used.I do like the idea, very cool, presenting a fake SCSI CD-ROM at a hardware level. I suspect though, that the maximum CD size will be limited to FAT32 filesize limit of 4GB-1Byte. So it will not be able to support DVD and BluRay sized devices. Although maybe this could be added as a feature for future 64/128GB versions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429287",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:00:28",
"content": "Good point, there aren’t really any good open source NTFS drivers, though, I suppose Fat64 is open, and actually designed for solid state drives, so the 4GB limit is surmountable.",
"parent_id": "423162",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423163",
"author": "questionwillow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:35:54",
"content": "@Willow,Where can I find this software?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423164",
"author": "TechIsCool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:36:07",
"content": "t&pYou don’t understand what this is it emulates a CD drive so when you are installing software Windows, Linux. You don’t need a CD driver or even a CD in the computer pop this in and it just boot from a the drive.Removing All the problems with USB boot support",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429288",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:02:23",
"content": "Removing all the problems with USBthumbdriveboot support. It’s still a USB Optical Drive.Unfortunately for your argument, most of the machines which can boot from USBOpticaldrives can also boot from any USB drive.",
"parent_id": "423164",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423165",
"author": "powerondude",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:36:14",
"content": "I agree, pricing seems a bit excessive. The single most expensive thing is the sd card. $30 will buy you a 32GB SD qty 1. I realize there are sunk development costs, but a 32 bit PIC, crystal, vreg, sd slot, PCB and some software are all that is really needed to add to the mix. Probably less than $15 + SD card. $225 is too much for the 32GB version. I’d pay $100 for 32GB. Lower your prices and you’ll get more supporters for the project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423167",
"author": "cw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:37:40",
"content": "renosite.com’s project is very similar, but if you read his forum posts it still has a lot of bugs, and the on-offs cost $120 to make, not including labor. $125 for a clean finished product with support is sounding less high.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423168",
"author": "Doc oct",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:38:58",
"content": "@willow, how do you get multiple ISOs and installed windows? What utility did you use to do that? I was thinking about getting one of the Zalman VE200 cases here:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379021But I could use some good stuff on my 16gb and 8gb flash drives.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423169",
"author": "attah",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:42:44",
"content": "Some people seems to missing the point here, the thing with this gadget is that it for the BIOS (or whatever) looks lie a cd drive and allows –>booting<– a single iso without messing with cds. Not really what 3G dongles or those S3s does… Yes, I'm aware you can flash some isos to a jumpdive and 'hey presto' but that never works easily when you really need it.. say windows for example.A real pity that you can't pledge/pay trough paypal.. amazon is just wrong.. :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429289",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:07:05",
"content": "No one is missing that. Those dongles present themselves as USB cd-drives as well, it just so happens that the iso they have mounted isn’t bootable (or particularly useful.)This is nothing any dedicated hacker couldn’t put together in a weekend with their MCU of choice and an sd-card.Even with that functionality, it’s still pretty useless. It’s cool. But no one needs it. The computers that can boot from USB optical drives can boot from thumb drives too.",
"parent_id": "423169",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423171",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:44:22",
"content": "I guess this would be good for testing linux live distros, or maybe a portable XBMC stick?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423173",
"author": "xrazorwirex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:45:39",
"content": "I could pay over $100 for this if it had 64, maybe 32gb+ of storage. Very handy tool that, although isn’t irreplaceable, makes things much handier.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423176",
"author": "Sitwon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:50:28",
"content": "The technology to have a BOOTABLE virtual CD/DVD on a USB stick is not new. Several USB manufacturers are already offering it. The only novelty I can see is that they have custom boot-loader and presumably software that’s not written in Chinese. But otherwise it’s an existing product available from many (most?) custom USB drive manufacturers/distributors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423178",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:51:45",
"content": "@Doc As I said I’m not on the computer which has the tools. When I can get to the computer and look it all up I will.All of my stuff (mostly utils) are on an 8gb stick.As to how, if memory serves me, the stick boots up to a pre-ISO utility screen. I want to say it’s GRUB-based. You can make the menus using a simple text configuration file.The selections simply point to folders with the ISO image, unless it’s a bootable folder itself then you tell it that it has to boot that.It’s that simple off the top of my head, which is why I didn’t understand the whizz bang about this project (aside from the hardware aspect).I use the tools I have to prepare the stick, once prepared I can format.. partition..etc the stick however I want or need. If I want to add an ISO or bootable folder I simply copy it over and add the item to the menu list. Done.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429292",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:10:04",
"content": "Would love to know! Sounds way cooler than having 12 thumb sticks for each thing I want to boot…",
"parent_id": "423178",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423179",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:52:22",
"content": "Maybe I’m missing something, but why not just burn a cd? Cost = 30 cents.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429291",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:09:09",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "423179",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423180",
"author": "zacdee16",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:56:21",
"content": "Fuck yeah, this would be great to have. Anyone know if beta testers are allowed?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423181",
"author": "Manatee Militia",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:57:55",
"content": "I like the idea. What I’m not seeing here is an ability to store multiple ISOs and choose which to boot. If I’m gonna use this to boot live cds and I have to only put one live cd on at a time, this is barely different from making a thumb drive bootable with some software utilities. What would be nice is a small screen and a way to scroll through ISOs and choose which one to load.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423182",
"author": "Sitwon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:58:33",
"content": "@Mike: You want to boot from a CD but also have a mutable USB drive for persistent storage. Or you have a system without an optical drive (netbook) and you’re too lazy to figure out how to extract the ISO and make a bootable USB. Or you want to do Autorun attacks on old Windows systems.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423198",
"author": "h_2_o",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:41:18",
"content": "not even a neat idea, why not just use tools already available to make a bootable usb drive. actually this seems pretty worthless to me. and is it me or are all these kickstart/othercoughhackscoughpretty much e-begging for insane amounts of money to do something that is already done. Personally i have yet to see one of these projects that isn’t either a completely vaporware pipe-dream or an already developed product.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429295",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:14:09",
"content": "Classic biz proverb: “You have no product when the novel part isn’t marketable and the marketable part isn’t novel.”This is just some hackers trying to get money for mixing baking soda and vinegar — a great experiment for the budding enthusiast, but not something they will fare well trying to sell to others…",
"parent_id": "423198",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423201",
"author": "DangerousDiver",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:43:48",
"content": "I’ll stick with alcohol or daemontools for now since this doesn’t mention anything about safedisc or secureROM. If I want to compromise a computer system by rebooting onto my own OS, then a live USB with some form of Linux would be the best choice.This is a good idea, but for non technical people, the rest of us have had this figured out for years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423204",
"author": "Romulous_Prime",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:50:40",
"content": "This is nothing new at all. I have a few U3 Sandisk Cruzers which do the same thing. They show as a CD-ROM and a USB Drive under operating systems and are driver independent. They are also found in modern BIOSes as USB CD-ROMs so I use them to install operating systems.Under window$, I use the excellent ‘Universal Customizer’ program and this will format, resize and ‘inject’ an ISO into the CD partition. It works nicely under XP with no problems but it works fine on Vi$ta and 7 using XP SP3 compatibility modes.If you’re interested in this kind of thing, give this method a try. It’s much cheaper.I’ve been doing this for years and my primary machines don’t even have optical drives anymore. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423206",
"author": "Gerry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:58:45",
"content": "@willowAre you talking about XBOOT?I just played around a bit with it and it seems to do what I want (build a bootable USB stick by simply dragging a couple isos on the xboot window).the stick wouldn’t boot using qemu as supplied by xboot, but it did boot in reality.I accidently left a movie on the particular stick, and that file didn’t get deleted…xboot doesn’t seem to remember the settings of the usb stick you created. apparently it does not delete previous boot configurations created on a stick, but add any new isos to the already existing setup (i ended up having memtest86 several times on the boot menu).and it did boot the iso of my old win2k disc.now i need to get another 16gb stick, to create the ultimate boot stick, he he",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423216",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:22:55",
"content": "Emulating bank buffering over a USB bus isn’t that hard really..it can be done in pretty much any FPGA using a OEM HWID..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423222",
"author": "Eric Agan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:36:13",
"content": "Thanks for the post! I’d like to address some questions and concerns here. I realize I failed to emphasize a few important points, I will update the Kickstarter to reflect them.U3 drives: yes, they do also present a CD drive with the contents of an ISO that you put on the drive. The major difference between U3 and isostick is the bootloader isostick gives you to switch between ISOs on the fly, and the fact that you don’t need to copy the ISO contents onto a special area, you simply keep the ISO file on the flash drive as you would any other file. There is no restriction on where the ISO file must be.Existing software solutions: Very good point, the major difference here is there are quite a few utilities we have tested which do not play well with those utils, whereas they work fine with isostick because neither they nor the computer can tell there’s a difference between the isostick’s optical drive and arealoptical drive.The project at renosite: Yes, it is similar and more open. I wish them the best of luck, as competition breeds innovation! After all, that’s what keeps business interesting and fun.My plans are to opensource the isostick at or before the time I stop supporting it. I would like to opensource it before then, but because the hardware is so simple I am wary of doing so, as you may understand.Why $25,000: As mentioned by myself in the Kickstarter and by several people in the comments here, the costs to starting a small business are typically much higher than $25k. Test jigs must be built, setup fees must be paid for the PCBs, assembly, plastic enclosure, and numerous other costs must be covered when doing a small batch of devices. MicroSD cards that are both fast and reliable are notoriously difficult to obtain in quantities below a few thousand without resorting to buying them all through retail channels (not fun at all!).As to the per unit cost, because I cannot anticipate the volume of demand I have to assume the worst-case sales for my $25k goal, and I have priced the units so that I can still afford everything at that quantity of sales. I realize it is pricey, and I hope to lower it later, if I can achieve higher volumes in production.Lastly, I’d like to say thanks for all the comments even those which are critical, that’s what keeps people like me on our toes!@Gravis thanks for the support, though yes, it does use a 32-bit AVR rather than an FPGA, oops. FPGAs were discussed, but AVR32 was more cost-effective. No worries, anyway :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429298",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:20:35",
"content": "Best of luck. Hope you come up with something novel soon. And in the meanwhile, I hope you will be supporting Fat64 for images bigger than 4gb, and formats other than .iso…Since this is basically just an AVR and a flashrom, the software better be good.",
"parent_id": "423222",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429299",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:22:15",
"content": "ItWOULDbe novel if it had some buttons (maybe protected by a sliding shield; 3 at a minimum) that could hot-swap between .iso files on the drive…",
"parent_id": "429298",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423224",
"author": "Eric Agan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:39:22",
"content": "Almost forgot to mention speed, the write performance depends on the MicroSD card but we will not choose cards less than Class 4, so minimum speed being 4MByte/s. I will try very hard to source cards Class 6 and above.Read speeds are on average 12.5MByte/s, sometimes they dip slightly above, but rarely below.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423231",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:56:24",
"content": "Thanks for posting up Eric.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423264",
"author": "Eric Agan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:49:57",
"content": "OH! And for file size limitations: The software we’re writing to manage your ISOs (you don’t need to use the software, but we thought it would be handy) will auto-split ISOs larger than whatever the limits of your filesystem may be. You can also do this by yourself if you want.The isostick will recognize files ending with a .1, .2, … and will read from the correct file when you read from the drive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423265",
"author": "Sitwon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:51:14",
"content": "@Eric Agan: Will you have management software for Mac and/or Linux as well, or only Windows?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423267",
"author": "Angelbane",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:51:21",
"content": "You know this sounds like an awesome device but the price point is about double what it should be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423277",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:15:43",
"content": "“My plans are to opensource the isostick at or before the time I stop supporting it. I would like to opensource it before then, but because the hardware is so simple I am wary of doing so, as you may understand.”Cool idea, but yeah, I’ll pass.By your own admission there are already a few proprietary solutions on the market, and open projects trying to compete with them. Why would I donate money just to start another proprietary project? I would rather see the money go to an open project that benefits everyone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423280",
"author": "Eric Agan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:27:55",
"content": "@Sitwon Yep! It will work on mac/win/nix no problems. The bootloader may have issues on Mac, we’ll be testing that in the coming weeks.Just updated the Kickstarter FAQ to reflect this, thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423299",
"author": "_txf_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:18:53",
"content": "“The bootloader may have issues on Mac, we’ll be testing that in the coming weeks.”Most USB flash drives do not work with macs (they don’t even show up on the EFI boot menu). Only the ones that come with osx (for the air etc) show up (I think those show up as a disc).So if your solution works in the EFI boot selector you’re at least halfway there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.854982
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/locking-notebook-enclosure/
|
Locking Notebook Enclosure
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"lock",
"papercraft",
"puzzle"
] |
[Dombeef] made
a locking enclosure for his sketchbook
. The diamond seen in the center of the book is formed by the four sliding parts of the lock. Only with the proper movements will you get the cover open so you can plan your next hack.
He was inspired by
this wooden version
created by artist [Kagen Schaefer]. There were no tips about how the mechanism was made but a bit of deep thinking led [Dombeef] to discover the secret. Being the papercraft ninja that he is (he makes things like
gyroscopes
,
strandbeests
, and
claws
) this was created using cardstock as the parts. There is a wooden pin on the right that serves as the latch. Each of the four puzzle pieces moves around each other to free a slot from its hold on the notched latch.
There is a diagram showing the parts and their movements in the post linked above. [Dombeef] also mentioned an animated GIF that he promises to publish soon.
| 4
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423103",
"author": "dombeef",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:08:31",
"content": "I also mentioned that I am making a wooden one eventually, but I still need to modify my plans a bit.And I really like the part” Being the papercraft ninja that he is” That made my day :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423111",
"author": "Techie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:43:44",
"content": "Very neat. Just do yourself and all of us a favor: PLEASE don’t post it in Instructables. That place sucks pretty bad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423116",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:08:04",
"content": "nerd factor is through the roof. props.however, i can solve it very quickly with scissors. :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424726",
"author": "Dacid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T19:59:51",
"content": "Fantastic, thank you,I seen the original item and was wondering whether the guy was going to put up instructions on how to build the thing,I never would have had the brains to reverse engineer this however I will now be able to build it.Thanks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.39117
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/update-arduino-shift-register-pwm-gets-speed-boost/
|
Update: Arduino Shift Register PWM Gets Speed Boost
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"pwm",
"shift register"
] |
Community collaboration is a great thing. Take the Arduino PWM library for shift registers. Some folks at the Arduino forum pitched in and helped [Elco] trim off a bunch of clock cycles by using the Rotate Over Carry instruction. Now he’s reduced the overhead per shift-register from 108 down to just 43. So far this doesn’t mean more possible outputs – 768 is still quite a lot – but does it means better precision when max outputs are used. This effectively doubles the brightness levels for 768 LEDs from 16 up to 32.
We’re at a loss for what to link to here. [Elco] has
a new page for the library
. There’s the original
forums thread
but we didn’t see much of interest there. We found some stuff in
the comments of this Reddit post
. And of course, if you have no idea what we’re talking about go back and read
the original feature
.
| 14
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423086",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:27:06",
"content": "“ShiftPWM computes the outputs in a timer interrupt and uses the SPI to control the shift registers as fast as possible.”Finally. Hardware SPI.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423087",
"author": "hal",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:30:17",
"content": "Hmmm…. Ya know this could help improve the large LED dance floor that we have seen before. Now that you have a few more brightness levels you can really dither a smooth, trippy floor",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423091",
"author": "nah!",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:33:05",
"content": "LOWCOST AMBILIGHT!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423101",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:05:52",
"content": "Best is to link here:elcojacobs.com/shiftpwmThere is an introduction there and a link to google code. I will add a link to the Arduino forum for support questions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423102",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:07:32",
"content": "Maybe it’s just too early for me, but what do you mean by “This effectively doubles the brightness levels for 768 LEDs from 16 up to 32.”? What unit of measurement are we talking about?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423108",
"author": "dext3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:16:56",
"content": "@anon:no unit of measurement, i dont think. just more granularity in the light output.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429300",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:29:43",
"content": "Not true. He more than halved the clock cycles used. The unit of measure is “clock cycles” (synonymous with “time” in this case.)With PWM the brightness is varied by turning the light on for an amount of time and off for an amount of time (very small amounts of time, ideally ones that are not perceptible to humans.) The amount of time it’s on is called “duty cycle.”With the code taking less time doing random shift register setup, more time can be devoted to duty cycles, thus giving brighter lights.",
"parent_id": "423108",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "429301",
"author": "Atomic Dirt Bike",
"timestamp": "2011-08-06T02:36:50",
"content": "#facepalm. Apologies. I read the article AND your question wrong.First off you were asking about the unit of measurement used for 16 and 32: Yeah that’s arbitrary shades of brightness.So before it had 1/16 granularity (so where 0 is off and 1 is on, it would be toggled in .06, .13, .19, etc… 16 positions between off and on, inclusively) and now it has 1/32 granularity (so 32 positions between off and on, .03, .06, .09, .13, etc…)Secondly, I had read the sentence wrong, thinking the duty cycle time had increased for a higher brightness than before — while this is potentially the case, the article does not imply it. Apologies again, lol.",
"parent_id": "429300",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423112",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:53:02",
"content": "@anon that means that the from 0 to maxi brightness you get 32 levels.What this means is that each led can display 32x32x32 = 32.768 distinct colors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423113",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:56:38",
"content": "@Bogdan and dext3r:You are correct. The post should have said number of brightness levels for clarity.32 levels is if you want 768 outputs.For less outputs, you can easily get 256.For 6 shift registers, 75 Hz, 256 levels, the load is 0.45",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423309",
"author": "Tomas Martinsen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:44:09",
"content": "Nice to see all the interest into this subject! A lot of people are controlling lighting with Arduino so this is very welcome. SPI is really the right way as it is done now.I’ll post my tip about Binary/Bit Code Modulation once more. You can have 256 levels with just 8 shift register updates (one for each bit) in a time slot instead of the 256. That is a 32 fold decrease. And you really need at least the 256 levels if you want to get nice dimming and color changes. And 100Hz won’t hurt either.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "425441",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T22:33:10",
"content": "If I have some time to kill, I’ll add ShiftBCM.Shouldn’t cost me much time.",
"parent_id": "423309",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423475",
"author": "Daniel Mackey",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T08:29:26",
"content": "I’m new to this Shift register stuff, Just grabbed 20 of those 74HCT595’s from ebay, I gotta try this.Thanks for the great info.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "434479",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-08-14T15:11:00",
"content": "Has anyone brought out the point that using regular 74HCT595 shift register is actually a bad design as you are forcing it to drive harder then it’s rated for?Yes, each IO is rated for 20mA, but supply/GND current is only rated to 70 mA. All outputs on would be 160 mA with 20mA LEDs. 160 > 70I suggest a TLC5916 instead, and it has built in Constant Current driver, so you don’t need to add resistors in series with each LED.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,131.442387
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/understanding-interrupts-in-pic-microcontrollers/
|
Understanding Interrupts In PIC Microcontrollers
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"16f688",
"interrupts",
"pic",
"tutorial"
] |
Interrupts are the name of the game for more functional microcontroller firmware. [Rajendra] just posted a tutorial covering all of the
interrupt types for the PIC 16F688 microcontroller
. He gives an overview of all of the major points: what an interrupt is, what causes interrupts, how to read the datasheet (often overlooked) to set up interrupts, and finally he applies it to a test platform and a bit of code.
We’ve been playing around with an Arduino again over the weekend and are a bit frustrated with the restricted access to interrupts. That issue deals with AVR interrupts,
a topic with which we’re already well acquainted
. But we work with PIC hardware much less often and it’s fun to explore how the other half does things, both in hardware and in code.
| 4
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423109",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:18:29",
"content": "That’s a big LED!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423282",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:38:33",
"content": "These tutorials are one of the main reasons I visit HAD. Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424352",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T09:30:40",
"content": "Why does the Arduino have restricted access to interrupts? I’m not familiar with the Arduino as I use Pics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424366",
"author": "Tyler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T10:22:57",
"content": "These look like great labs and tutorials.Definitely digging the PIC stuff, want to learn more about it, and I love seeing it on HaD.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.130882
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/26/regarding-atmels-xmega-chips/
|
Regarding Atmel’s Xmega Chips
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"Atmel",
"xmega",
"xmega128a1"
] |
A few years back Atmel announced a new line of chips, the XMega series. We see the name bouncing around here and there, but when [Michael Kleinigger] mentioned that he’s seen very few project using these chips we realized that not only is he right, but we know next to nothing about them. Just
give his XMega review post a whirl
and you’ll be up to speed in no time.
He compares an XMega128A1 side-by-side with an ATmega1280. For those that abhor reading paragraphs full of words, there’s a table that can give you the quick facts like how the XMega costs less and runs faster. But we know from past discussions (like
the one on PWM
) that [Mike] knows his stuff so the whole thing’s worth a read. He’ll lead you through the programming tool chain (which hasn’t changed), a bit about the new event system, and then finish with a demo program on the Xplained development board.
| 35
| 34
|
[
{
"comment_id": "423038",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:14:30",
"content": "Hmm, looks like we broke the site… I can’t connect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423039",
"author": "tz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:15:07",
"content": "The problem with the XMega is Atmel has nothing inexpensive (last I checked) that will program them. Even SparkFun (stupidly IMHO) disables the JTAG interface on their breakout, so it is ICP(?) or nothing – the Dragon could flash via JTAG but you need JTAG enabled, and there is no way to do that with a Dragon. You need their $300? programmer-debugger.The Xplain board is nice, but only has one of the 8 ports, isn’t that cheap, and doesn’t turn into a programmer for external Xmegas.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423041",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:16:32",
"content": "Looks like Googlecachedthe site.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423043",
"author": "Jan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:22:34",
"content": "Linking to a website hosted on a home DSL/cable connection is a BAAAD idea. The guy will thank you for his internet connection bill and what effectively amounts to a DDOS attack :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423046",
"author": "darkore",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:27:12",
"content": "Does that link actually work for anybody?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423047",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:34:40",
"content": "Here’s the cached article:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WzPA0qNYY8kJ:grieg.gotdns.com/blog/%3Fp%3D545+http://grieg.gotdns.com/blog/%3Fp%3D545&cd=1&hl=es&ct=clnk&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423049",
"author": "Hypernova",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:37:20",
"content": "@tzLook up AVR ISP Mk.IIIt will only programme but with so many IOs I just use printf() with one of the uarts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423050",
"author": "Sprite_tm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:37:45",
"content": "And for the reasons the XMega doesn’t really have much of a following: I think it’s too close to the ARM offerings that spring up everywhere. If you’re gonna have to read yourself into a whole new set of peripherials, you can just as wel get an ARM. For example, the ATXmega the guy described is about E4.50 on digikey. For about the same price, you can have a LPC1227 which is a nice 45MHz Arm Cortex-M0 32-bit CPU with the same memory specs and a load of peripherials too. For 2 bucks more, you can even have a LPC1754 which is a 100MHz Cortex-M3.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423053",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:57:58",
"content": "@Sprite_tm: yeah, it would have been a great chip in 2003 or so :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423054",
"author": "alan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:05:49",
"content": "@tz Doesn’t Dragon also program via ISP (emulating AVRISPII)?An Atmel rep. dropped off an Xplained board with an AVR Dragon too me at work but I never got round to looking at them. There was also some kind of capacitive touch “shield” he dropped off. Looked pretty cool tbf.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423063",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:32:14",
"content": "Interesting article, even if I did have to read the google cached page.@JanIt may have the same effect as a DDOS attack, but it certainly is not, since the goal of a DDOS attack is to disrupt service and I don’t think that is Hack a Days intent. Actually it is simply a case of overloading the hosting server / bandwidth. This happens to a lot of sites when they suddenly become popular, even those hosted on paid hosting sites.It is not Hack A Days responsibility to look at the type of connection a link has. Many business are run from cable modems and DSL and host websites and other servers quite successfully on them. The fault is entirely with the author who probably didn’t anticipate getting Hack a Day’d, or doesn’t want to pay for the needed hardware and bandwidth to accommodate one surge of visitors in ten years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423068",
"author": "Dave W",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:48:51",
"content": "These programmers are about $23 on eBay and $30 from more sensible places:http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=3808They’re called AVRISP Mk II and we use them a lot.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423070",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:52:38",
"content": "@tz: The entry level programmer (isp MkII) works, they just changed the protocol from SPI to PDI.As Sprite_tm said, I think the market for anything more complicated than an 8-bit micro is rapidly evaporating in favor of low-end ARM chip.There’s also a lot of issues with silicon bugs in the xmegas, and the fact that you have to deal with Atmel’s sometimes dodgy part availability (at least for small quantities).I like them a lot, I think the peripherals are great and the move to struct style hardware definitions is a lot nicer than the plain AVRs. There’s a small niche for them as a step up without having to get a whole new tool-chain setup, but I don’t think they’ll do great long term.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423078",
"author": "Tom Sisk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:14:11",
"content": "Comfile Technologies has a whole line of Atmega-based microcontrollers, boards, and even a new Arduino lookalike.I’ve used the cb320, cb280, ct1721 in a variety of projects with good success.http://www.cubloc.com/product/01_01.php",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423082",
"author": "Vis1-0n",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:21:56",
"content": "http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=103269The AVR fanbois (I am a registered freak myself) themselves have a thread about why Avrfreaks dislike the xmega.I think in 2008 it was Product of the year in Electronic Products Magazine, except it was vapourware.Xprotolab uses one of the xmega family, but there are better options out there as already pointed out. Xmega could be good enough if you have committed a lot of time and money to AVR family though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423083",
"author": "Matthias Welsh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:22:05",
"content": "@tz You can program many of the xmegas through the dragon via JTAG. I frequently use it to program xmega128’s and as stated above the ISP MKII programmer will pick up many of the rest through PDI.On another note: the event systems in these little processors are crazy. I have a system using an ISM band wireless solution that is able to stay in sleep mode while it sees an interrupt from the rf transceiver, captures the data over SPI and stores it via DMA into a buffer than can be read once I do wake the processor up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423084",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:23:42",
"content": "Actually the other fun fact to point out is that Mouser/Digikey won’t sell to non-US customers if the xmega has cryptography functionality (most of them I think). They claim it contravenes some export law; others have actually looked into it and that’s not the case – I got a dev board from Mattair and to my knowledge they didn’t send him to prison.So you’re stuck with your local distributor, which in some cases can mean major expense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423090",
"author": "Louis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:32:17",
"content": "In my work, I do side-channel attacks on the AES-crypto-engine. Pro: Hardware crypto is far more secure than on SW. (but its still possible to beat it)With the Xmega familiy, a new nomenclauture (and an elsewise arrangement for port registers) for application programming was introduced. It is more comfortable and needs less code!Well, some features, like Bootloader support and other things are not even implemented in Avrdude, so I recommend to use Avrstudio to program them. And the AVR ISP MkII with an updated firmware.There are far too few sources for xmegas available, like open libraries, example code, open source projects,… – I think that’s why they are so underrepresented.IMHO the hobbyists have not even started to max out the potential. Xmegas are a possible 8Bit-substitute for atmegas.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423133",
"author": "Jackman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T15:33:07",
"content": "I think it’s worth noting that Atmel is advertising that these chips have better USB support than ever before. While, yes, they are easier to hook up to the bus itself, there are no devices in the parametric that has actual otg/host mode support. The AT90USB* (ATMega series) has otg support with plenty of support via LUFA (http://www.fourwalledcubicle.com/LUFA.php).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423213",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:13:26",
"content": "I still wonder why the hackers haven’t switched to ARM. I did AVR for years and then tried an Atmel SAM7. Wow! Way faster and very easy to program. Yes there are a *lot* more registers but its the same exact concepts, just more of them.I think the biggest problem is when people who know AVR only know how to use prepackaged libraries. My teacher in college was Pascal Stang, the guy that wrote the very famous procyon avrlib. I used it when he taught us, but after a few years the library was lacking support for some new chips, so I decided to just learn how to read a datasheet and use registers to configure the UART and A2D. It took a bit of time but it was well worth the learning, because then when I picked up ARM it was really simple.Everyone should know how to enable and configure the UART of an AVR without any libraries. I’m sure plenty of you do but its a core skill that I think lots of people don’t learn, and it really hurts them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423214",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:13:52",
"content": "Oh, and I should note that the new SAM3 ARM chips kick even more ass.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423233",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:57:08",
"content": "I have to believe that the disdain for these chips is because they don’t come in DIP packaged versions, because they’re pretty awesome.What sets these guys apart is the peripherals–I’ve never seen an 8-bit mcu with as powerful on-chip peripherals as this. Multiple timers, each having multiple compare interrupts. Four channel DMA (i think…). ADC + DAC. UART, i2c, spi, all the regulars. I/O ports that have lots and lots of control registers so that various operations can now be performed with a single write.However, my personal favorite is the event system, which allows various peripherals to communicate with each other in a limited manner, allowing conditions on one to trigger a response on another without an ISR. This is especially useful for triggering the DMA, or simply just cascading two 16-bit timers together into one 32-bit timer (it corrects for the delay, as well).All in all, they’re pretty sweet. Some things, like the ADC, take a bit of getting used to, but that’s only because it frankly has a ton of features (in this instance, input multiplexers allowing single ended or differential measurement, with or without gain, with configurable reference voltage, and unsigned or signed output).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423242",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:10:00",
"content": "Oh, I forgot to mention that Atmel has spent a lot of effort documenting each and every peripheral. Some are better than others, but there is a driver to get you started with just about anything.To be fair, the coding style (and the structs associated with each peripheral) may be daunting at first, but it’s really clearly explained in an app note, and makes work a lot more efficient, as well as making code effortless to modify for different devices.These guys really aren’t replacements for Atmegas–they’re a new beast, and the level of integration of the peripherals makes them replacements for ARMs in certain situations where some real time routines can be replaced with hardware peripherals, or in situations where you would have to use an Atmega along with external support chips (DACs, ADC front ends, RTCs).And before I get called a blind fanboi: There are still a handful of silicon errors, which is annoying, but nothing that’s really an issue (for me, at least). Also, the number of timer interrupts (and the interrupt priority system) have severely degraded my coding skills. Instead of making a nice scheduler that uses one timer, I can give half of my periodic bits of code their own timer interrupt. The chip I primarily use (Atxmega256A3) has 4 X 16 bit timers with 4 compare/capture interrupts each, and 3 X 16 bit timers with 2 compare/capture interrupts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423246",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:14:20",
"content": "@Taylor AlexanderI foresee a mass exodus to ARM devices in the near future.The cost of the cortex parts has gotten so low that it is crazy to pay more than 4 dollars for an AVR in single quantity.The other thing I’ve noticed is that the PIC18 series has gotten way cheaper than the AVR on the whole. The only thing preventing that from taking off is the lack of a decent free compiler.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423301",
"author": "Ginge",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:26:00",
"content": "I have a few xmegas running a project called openservo on them. While the chip is fairly fast, the silicon bugs in several modules just drove me away.Eventually, just before I gave up on them, i tried to get quotes for pcb assembly… And to my horror found they are extremely hard to get in quantity",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423306",
"author": "Mike (NLV)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:37:45",
"content": "FYI, the server’s back up and running… bad timing getting this article posted today (internet trouble on one end and a slow backup server on the other), but that’s really no excuse. Thanks for the comments all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423320",
"author": "r_d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:20:19",
"content": "I’m seconding the programming issue. I ran face-first into this problem when trying to program an XMega with the AVR Dragon. The AVR XMega supports both PDI and JTAG programming, but the JTAGEN fuse bit must be cleared (it is set by default). While the Dragon (supposedly) supports PDI on certain chips, it does not support PDI with the XMega I was using (even though it was listed as being supported on Atmel’s website). I ended up having to buy a second programmer to set the fuse bit so that I could use the first programmer. Time and money wasted.They really aren’t worth the trouble, in my opinion.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423323",
"author": "r_d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:22:03",
"content": "Oh, and there are _two separate_ datasheets for the XMega, each with information the other does not have.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423331",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T23:06:36",
"content": "@r_d“Oh, and there are _two separate_ datasheets for the XMega, each with information the other does not have.”This is technically true, but not really an issue. The device family datasheet contains everything you need to know about, say, the XMEGA A family. All the registers, programming, etc… The device specific datasheet tells you which peripherals a specific chip has, the pin assignments, and the errata for the chip.Once you’ve completed your board layout, the device specific datasheet shouldn’t really need to be looked at again. The point of separating the datasheets is because code for the chips is extremely modular. To port code from one chip in the A family to another, all you need to do is change the device in the makefile, and reassign hardware peripherals if the new xmega doesn’t have that instance of the peripheral. Properly written XMEGA code will only require that a *single line* be change which peripheral is used by your code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423350",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:10:20",
"content": "I won’t even go near an Xmega until the errata in the data sheet is down to less than one page. :3If Atmel can work out the supply and QC issues, AND get the ridiculous amount of errata down to two or three things WITH work-arounds, I might give them a go. The ADC problems were definitely a deal-breaker for me.From my perspective, what’s the motivation for me to switch to a buggy-as-hell yet theoretically-bad-ass new uC, when there are ARMs and regular ATmegas (the ATmega32U4 for instance, which I love) available? All with great ‘biospheres’ of support, IDEs, libraries, and such?I know, all of this has been mentioned, but I’d rather stand and be counted. Does anyone else think Atmel is starting to trip over its own feet?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "836845",
"author": "john albinson",
"timestamp": "2012-10-26T08:49:12",
"content": "I’ve just given up on Atxmegas. The documentation for the ‘D’ series is awful (they cannot even cut and paste properly from the the A series manuals). Too many features don’t work. Great shame that the folks at Atmel do not sort their act out – could have been a very classy family.",
"parent_id": "423350",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423627",
"author": "tz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T16:55:49",
"content": "OK – I will look into an AVR ISP mk II – thought I would note they should update the dragon. At the time I was experimenting with them about a year ago, this was NOT an option.JTAG would work, but if the fuse bit has it disabled, you need a PDI mode programmer to enable it so it doesn’t help.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "450833",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-09-08T23:07:51",
"content": "AVR Dragon does PDI – this works fine with xmega, I’m using it right now to program the one on my Xprotolab.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "499477",
"author": "PeterK",
"timestamp": "2011-11-04T10:29:15",
"content": "The AVR Dragon works very well on all of my projects whether XMega or not. You don’t have to buy the AVR/ISP. The main strength of XMega for me is the amount of I/O. One of my projects uses four independent SPIs. The other AVRs would have involved a lot of bit bashing and might not have been fast enough.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "621386",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2012-04-05T13:16:52",
"content": "FYI, the link to this article is now athttp://www.nlvocables.com/blog/?p=545",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.201502
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/ignored-disabled-man-builds-his-own-damn-elevator/
|
Ignored Disabled Man Builds His Own Damn Elevator
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"home hacks"
] |
[
"accessibility",
"diy",
"lift",
"WheelChair"
] |
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “When the going gets tough, the tough builds their own 5-story wheelchair lift.”
Actually we’re pretty sure that’s not even close to how the saying goes, but when his local council turned their backs on [Dmitry Bibikow’s] request for wheelchair access to his apartment,
that’s exactly what he did
.
[Dmitry], an avid mountaineer, was injured in a climbing accident that left him without the use of his legs. Unfortunately for him, he and his family reside on the 5th floor of an apartment building that was not handicap accessible. Rather than move out, he asked the local council to install an elevator, which they agreed to.
Time passed, and as the project sank deeper and deeper into a mire of bureaucracy, [Dmitry] began to lose hope of ever seeing an elevator installed. After six years of relying on friends to help him get in and out of his apartment, he took matters into his own hands and installed a chair lift just off the side of his balcony.
According to [Dmitry] it works great, and he can get from the front door to his apartment well before his more able neighbors make it up the stairs. So far, the city council has not said anything about the lift, and he hopes it stays that way.
| 57
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422823",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:08:52",
"content": "badass!I’d be nervous trying it out haha.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422826",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:15:13",
"content": "@Matt – Yea but he’s a mountaineer, he’s used to haging in the air from ropes.As for the government after six years of nothing I bet it takes them 2 weeks before they send a swat team around to force him to take it down.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422827",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:18:29",
"content": "That’s awesome. Well done, sir.Do remember to send the bill to the property owner. It’s a little sad that he had to resort to this, as awesome as it is. Where I live, they’d send a swat team over accessibility issues like that (our whole building just got $2,000 per unit in special assessments levied for our elevators).PS, might want to take a notch out of that windowsill before it becomes a problem. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422829",
"author": "HAD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:32:27",
"content": "”When the going gets tough, the tough builds their own 5-story wheelchair lift.”A lift that was made with a Harbor Freight hoist that cost $60 – $80. While it has a working load rating of about 440 lbs…… I would NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS trust Harbor Freight with life or limb.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422833",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:39:20",
"content": "This is wonderful and inspiring.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422834",
"author": "SexieWASD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:43:52",
"content": "Honestly what I see here is destruction of property. He is renting, not owning and shouldn’t be modifying the building at all. There seams to have been a lot of other poor choices as well. Signing a contract on an apartment in a building without a lift, why not switch for ground floor? Not getting the agreement to install the lift put in writing and trusting in it to happen. The council for not keeping it’s promise, and the person responsible for the design of the building, it’s not a private building, it was built as housing, and has five floors, it really should have had a lift from the start or at least a service elevator.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "422942",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:27:48",
"content": "Ever thought maybe he bought it before he broke his back?",
"parent_id": "422834",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "855629",
"author": "Bill Crow",
"timestamp": "2012-11-04T15:09:09",
"content": "its obvious you must be a slum lord , i think its great that a man that is STUCK by the fast response of those that may help drag feet like anchors GOD bless him for figuring out how to take things into his own hands, sure its not safe but his safety should be the formost concern not the damn buildingBillSemper Fi",
"parent_id": "422834",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422837",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:51:17",
"content": "@SexieWASD this was in the UK – over there the word “apartment” can refer not only to a rented apartment but also what we in the US would typically call a “condo”. The Daily Mail article refers to him as having bought it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422840",
"author": "griffon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:54:25",
"content": "SexieWASD: in the article he states that he bought it, I assume this is a condo type situation, and he actually owns that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422841",
"author": "GTech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:55:15",
"content": "It does say in the article that he “bought the flat” so I believe Andrew is right.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422847",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:02:21",
"content": "@mattif he falls his legs might..oh wait nevermind.—as most of you noticed this joke was done in poor taste, unfortunately this is the world we live in. i love the hack, but the safety concerns me. Not so much for the user, but more so for the people below him. What if he fell and killed a person? perhaps getting in and out of his apartment in such a way isn’t the best, unfortunately the city isn’t doing anything to help him and i applaud him for gaining awareness to his cause.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422851",
"author": "SexieWASD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:11:09",
"content": "@everyoneIf it’s true that he bought it and isn’t renting then I retract my first point, but I stand by the rest.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422852",
"author": "OldMacBoi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:15:00",
"content": "Me like",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422856",
"author": "reformer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:24:30",
"content": "I fail to see how it is a government’s responsibility or a private organization to cater to those disabled due to such circumstances. You can’t find any other place to live??? You got hurt because of your damned hobby, then expect the rest of the populace to foot the bill. Screw you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422857",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:26:03",
"content": "@SexieWASDMost housings do not have elevators/lifts. Even at 5 stories.Also, if he bought the property, I assume he had no contract in which they could add an elevator clause. Though I would imagine that he could have written a contract for them.I don’t see a safety issue of him falling on anyone, the elevator is on the side of the building (not the front near the street) and between windows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422864",
"author": "Ltbob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:44:40",
"content": "Just don’t me.. floating down.. whistles*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422866",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:45:58",
"content": "@Sporkit’s not a factor of if or when he would fall on someone, but could. anytime someone could get hurt enough to cause serious injury or death there is some type of warning. the least he could do it tape off or paint off an area where people would know there might be someone coming from above. this would then stop anyone one from becoming a victim and stop them from suing Dmitry or the owner of the building. Safety first.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422870",
"author": "AP²",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:56:43",
"content": "Most houses where I live don’t have an elevator, and those who do are usually newer and hence pricier. Since he got a promise of an elevator, I don’t see where he is at fault.sariel does have a point, though. Normal elevators are thoroughly tested by safety inspections, and even those can’t fall on people.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422880",
"author": "henry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:23:56",
"content": "To be honest, it’s not really that dengerous. It comprises of a winch and a steel pulley. I just hope hes got a battery backup incase the power is cut and he needs to evaluate. A fob would also be useful, so he can use it by himself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422889",
"author": "mark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:29:48",
"content": "well done soldier good on you!!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422890",
"author": "VEC7OR",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:33:35",
"content": "Oh quit your bitchin’ already, safety this, safety that, property this, destruction that, its bloody russia, if you’re disabled, you’re fucked, there are no services for disabled whatsoever, moreover somewhere deep like Voronezh, getting a wheelchair lift is near to impossible. So just stop, and cut man some slack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422903",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T02:10:29",
"content": "I understand that portable rigging similar as this is used to move furniture into apartments in buildings without sufficient elevators, even in the USA. Any danger to others on the ground is overstated. A hazardous zone can be marked on the ground. Dmitry or the person at the controls can shout a warning, anyone would ignores the warnings, may deserve what happens to them. I guess there is a chance that a blind person who can’t hear could happen by, but that would be very remote, and a tactile warning surface could be applied in addition to audio, and visual warnings.Without any build details it would be hard to judge any danger it may presents to Dmitry himself or how it may effect the structure. While Dmitry may have purchased the apartment I really doubt he is the sole owner of the structure where the lift is mounted.Where it’s apparent an effective “swat team” that acts in the interest of the disabled in Russia doesn’t exist the city isn’t likely to say anything about the lift if it’s the city or State owns the building, because they will use it as an excuse to not install an elevator. As a member of the disability community, I recognized right off that Dmitry still remains dependent on someone to operate the lift, a proper elevator needs to be installed still.@SexieWASD mostly true, just like the abled bodied have to do often, the disabled have to take the gamble verbal promise will be meet if they are need of shelter.@Dave the window in the photo used by HAD is not where Dmitry enters the apartment. My guess is that the healthy residents in your building use any elevators installed because of the assessment on a daily basis, and are are in place if you and any of the other become disability. Everyone is only a moment from being disabled. Anyone looking to purchase or rent a home in a multistory building, should avoid those that don’t have elevators, because sooner or later they will be installed. Even those who rent pay any assessments. 21 years after the ADA became law there really shouldn’t be any multi-story residence buildings without out elevators.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422905",
"author": "Pat",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T02:16:03",
"content": "“Signing a contract on an apartment in a building without a lift, why not switch for ground floor?”Because he knew he’d lose his legs when he bought the place?“Not getting the agreement to install the lift put in writing and trusting in it to happen.”The issue is not that it won’t happen, but that it won’t happen any time soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422906",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T02:16:40",
"content": "@N0LKK – It just looked it it was in the way.And I’m not really complaining about our assessments (too much)… we need the elevators to work. Especially since I know there’s at least one elderly person on the 3rd floor that could never use the stairs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422921",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:20:16",
"content": "Maybe if he plummets five stories a thing will happen and he can walk again?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422932",
"author": "⬡",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:04:31",
"content": "I wonder what happens if the power goes out while he’s on that. o.o",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422946",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:36:38",
"content": "What I’m reading in several comments is jealousy of a disabled man who can do more bad ass stuff than them…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422948",
"author": "H3xx",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:54:07",
"content": "The way I see it, If the council makes him take it down, then I’d say, “No way, you promised to install one, and you didn’t. So I made one. You want it taken down, then you better have one ready to replace it.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422949",
"author": "AP²",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:55:02",
"content": "@Matt: the second paragraph of the article is explicit: he bought it because they promised building the elevator to help him, therefore he was already paralyzed at the time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422954",
"author": "svengali",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T05:23:17",
"content": "can you spell discrimination lawsuit?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422974",
"author": "Wolfton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:32:13",
"content": "What I see here is some people who don’t understand how important accessibility is to someone who is handicapped.How many of you would be ashamed to have to resort to your neighbors carrying you up and down the stairs when you’re used to not only climbing them on your own power but FRIGGIN’ MOUNTAINS?Move? Are you serious? How can he afford to move? If he owns an apartment (flat) that he and his family lives in, and he’s completely lost his mobility and physical strength that he HAD TO HAVE taken pride in to be a mountain climber, how can you expect him to move, let alone afford to?The ‘council’ referred to here sounds much like an HOA to me. If my HOA promised to do something to preserve my accessibility to my home and then couldn’t afford to do it, I’d expect that if I built a cheap interim solution, that they’d reimburse me the cost and once they’d built the accessibility feature to safety code standards, that they’d pay to remove my hardware.Fortunately, I was injured before I bought my home so I made sure that I purchased one that could accommodate me should I end up in a wheelchair myself. Not everyone is so ‘lucky’ though.@sexieWASD you seriously sound like you have never had to deal with anything happening after the fact so I imagine that you’re the luckiest gamer (wasd?) in the world.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422978",
"author": "Parcanman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:39:01",
"content": "What’s that I-beam attached to?I really hope for his sake that there’s a good reliable stop on the end of that beam, a hoist is only as strong as whatever it’s attached to.It also might not be a bad idea to put a retractable cord reel next to the hoist and connect that to the controls, that way the controls would be wherever the hook is (or whatever method he uses to connect the cable to the chair). This way he would be able to operate the lift entirely by himself.Also rather than scratching the chair on the building, he should turn the chair 90 degrees and let the backs of the wheels roll their way up and down the side of the building.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422984",
"author": "echina24",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T07:00:17",
"content": "Powerful! My best wish to him!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422997",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:21:33",
"content": "Badass! I love it. It’s hacking your building!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422998",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:26:18",
"content": "@ Andrew – English newspaper about a Russian man in a Russian town in Russia.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423000",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:27:20",
"content": "His body, his life, his flat == his choice.Bit worrying about damage he may cause to other people’s flats on the way up/down, but then they should have been hassling the council to have the lift installed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423015",
"author": "Takuto",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T10:00:06",
"content": "Hello from Russia here.Ok, some info here – if you are disabled in Russia – you are screwed. State is trying to make social help but money is always find a hole to someone pocket or anything. So, no lift for 6 years isnt really surprising, more surprising that local council even promising something like that. In russian news article about him that “promise” isnt even mentioned.Building, where guy lives is standard 5-stories panel condominium, named “khrushoba” (from Khrushev who started mass cheap homes building in 60-ties). Stairs in such a buildings are very narrow and steep, so any movement of ill/disabled is very hard. I didnt see any elevators to built in such a buildings (I think, it can be impossible at all, because of its panel wall structure). In older, brick buildings in St Petersburg or Moscow elevator can be built – where price of apartment even in very old, pre 1900 building high as skies.So, better way for Dimitry was change/sell this apartment and buy ground floor one, but we dont know all the circumstances. Money is always a problem.So I think hes doing most that he can in this situation, now it all depends on good will of local government – will they allow this dangerous construction to stay or just prohibit its use. Probably, second choice will be made, I think.Another DIY elevator for disabled in news herehttp://kp.ru/daily/25671/832184/Article is in Russian, but there is a photo. This elevator is more classical in design, and height is only 2 store. Man built it with help of friends, cost is about 2000$, and get all permissions from local government.Hope this shed some light on case, and sorry for bad English.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423016",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T10:00:37",
"content": "I’d like to see how you, lazy fat slobs so worried about safety who earn things by prosecuting others instead of getting off of your fucking asses and actually doing something, would do any better than this guy. He is a winner who, despite his disability, can still walk with his own feet. (pun intended)My mom became paraplegic after a car accident and, if she lived in any place where stairs could limit her mobility, I wouldn’t wait a week to make such device to her, even if I was made sure there would be an elevator ready in a couple of months. You guys definitely do not have even the slightest clue what is it like to have your freedom taken away from you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423026",
"author": "phnx",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T10:10:29",
"content": "Trolls, man… trolls… listen… that thing y’all are doing? Yeah, that… not at all clever. Actually it’s quite petty and immature.If you’re gonna be a nay-sayer at least think your nay’s through all the way.re: “getting the agreement in writing”… Not needed. It was during a local council meeting so it’s in the meeting minutes.re: “travesty a building was designed that isn’t fully accessible”… sometimes some countries aren’t as rabid as some others about making sure everything is constructed to be usable by everybody given whatever malady has befallen them no matter how rare.. no saying being in a wheelchair is a rare handicap, just a comment on the extent that some people seem to think things need to be made handi-accessible.re: “not a private building, shoulda had a lift from the start”… Housing most certainly *IS* a private building. Unless it was built as ‘project housing’, it’s not paid for by public funds and therefore isn’t a public building. If this is indeed a ‘condo’ like arrangement then that makes it all the more a private building. Some of these buildings even have door locks and doormen to keep the public *out*.that takes care of the rest of sexieWASD’s points… who else…re: “not if or when he falls on someone, but he could and that needs to be prevented”… and a jet engine could land on my head anytime I step out my door, actually a jet engine could probably just blast through my roof and get at my head even if I’m inside. Accident’s happen, such is life. Besides, If you’re oblivious enough to walk under a man in a wheelchair being lowered by a winch you probably deserve to have said man in wheelchair land on your head.Instead of picking work and ingenuity apart with lame excuses that don’t hold water try being impressed that a man BOUND TO A WHEELCHAIR and getting no support when he tried to do things the ‘proper’ way, got his own support from people that care about him and his well-being and together they came up with and implemented a way for him to overcome YET ANOTHER HURDLE LIFE HAS PLACED BEFORE HIM. EVEN AFTER ALL THE OTHER HURDLES NOT TO MENTION AN ORDEAL THAT MOST LIKELY THREATENED HIS VERY LIFE.So freaking what… so it’s not OSHA approved.It gets a man and his wheelchair into his apartment without the aid of a couple big and burly friends, thereby restoring a huge amount of this handicapped man’s independence and ,likely, self-esteem as well.If Dmitry were my neighbor I’d have no complaints and would be more than happy to glance up on my way by to make sure he wasn’t on his way down… …If Dmitry were my neighbor I probably would have been one of the people helping to rig this contraption.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423029",
"author": "Waldemar",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T10:17:15",
"content": "You gentlemen will use any opportunity to criticise someone. As soon as a decent hack is posted, someone will complain about why it can’t or shouldn’t be done.We can all see that it’s not an ideal solution. Perhaps if Dmitry had better resources and working conditions, he’d have been able to build a more safe elevator, but that clearly isn’t the case here. He made use of whatever was available and produced a functional solution to his problem. It’s certainly better than nothing.I think this is a very impressive display of resourcefulness and initiative. I applaud this man for taking matters into his own hands and for not letting himself be hindered by his disability.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423066",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:38:04",
"content": "It makes sense to me from the town council’s point of view. He partakes in risky thrill sports. The dog comes with the fleas. You’re gonna get hurt doing extreme things. In the case of Russia, you can only do extreme things if you can afford it. I seriously doubt I would haul my neighbor up and down the stairs if he was injured in say, a hangliding accident. You had your fun (and even though it sucks) now look why all those people were yelling at ya not to do it. As for my geriatric neighbors, I still haul their bags of groceries up the stairs for them and occassionally take them to the hospital for medical stuff because they’re old and unable-not because they were thrillseekers that lived life to the fullest with a devil-may-care attitude.Kudos to the builder for taking care of his own fleas./Everyone that is incredulous of this article should really try visiting another country some time. Outside of England’s Nanny state, you are treated a little more like an “adult” (no extraneous guard rails etc.) and although I’ve never been to the part of Russia this guy is from, those condo flophouses already have many problems, stairs being low on the list since they don’t start fires constantly. Heck, it could be that the Russian mafia owns the building and would sooner let it melt into the ground than let someone do something constructive with it. We are very quickly heading in the same direction without jobs for returning troops. In russia, they are fed HGH/meth and are sent round to collect the money or harass citizens into extortion. Maybe ww3 will be here before all that shakes out over here lol….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423110",
"author": "Colecoman1982",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:20:54",
"content": "From a technical standpoint (and from the standpoint of someone helping themselves when “the system” fails them) this is an awesome hack. However, I have to agree with the sentiment that I would never trust my safety to a company like Harbor Freight. The kinds of companies that make actual climbing gear put a lot more effort into quality control than a bargain basement Chinese tool manufacturer.In addition, even if he purchased the hoist from a better company, there is a major difference between a normal hoist and an elevator. Real elevators have a lot of safety features that just aren’t included with a hoist. Also, both elevator and hoists found in business environments (at least here in the U.S.) have to be tested, regularly, to make sure the safety features work as well as to check how much the chain or cable has stretched.The chain/cable on hoists and elevators ALWAYS stretches over time/use. This is a basic function of the material properties of the steel used in their construction. It is inevitable that the chain/cable will eventually break. Of course, this stretching will be faster, or slower, depending on how often the hoist/elevator is used and how close to its max load the average load happens to be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423148",
"author": "nope",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:10:39",
"content": "My grandfather built something similar, although it is indoors and only traverses a single story (main floor to the basement.) It’s basically just a shaft and car made from wood, and a counterweight made from a large cement block. The winch lifts the car, which is connected via a pulley to a counterweight. It has the controls for the winch in the car, and a brace at the bottom of the shaft to secure the car against the counterweight when he steps out. The winch is not very high quality, but I help him maintain the cable (lubricate, eventually cut off a dozen feet when it starts to wear) to keep it functional and safe.He suffers from peripheral neropathy in which he experiences constant burning pain in his feet, and his knees are also very worn to the point he can no longer climb stairs; he should have artificial knees but he’s been told (if I remember correctly) that he wouldn’t survive the surgery due to clotting problems.He’s a very independent person, and while most of his extended family tries to keep him inside and do everything for him, I think being able to do things yourself to improve your own situation (to the extent you are willing and capable) is one of the most empowering activities available to a disabled person.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423151",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:18:00",
"content": "Im gonna ignore disabled people more often",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423195",
"author": "arfink",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:36:14",
"content": "@ Colecoman1982: In the US it seems like the government expects people not to do their own safety tests. This guy is trusting himself to this lift, and had enough sense to put together something that works in the first place. I’d be willing to bet he’d be smart enough to notice when the cable finally begins to go bad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423196",
"author": "arfink",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:36:48",
"content": "Oh yeah, and he’s probably nowhere near the weight limit of that thing, so catastrophic failure isn’t likely IMO.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "5017690",
"author": "Greenaum",
"timestamp": "2018-09-10T03:00:17",
"content": "200KG approx. A somewhat fat bloke can weigh 100KG, a very fat bloke quite a bit more. Admittedly this one doesn’t look too fat. But then the ironmongery that lets his wheels turn is also a fairly significant number of kilos. Sure there’s a fair margin, but he’s maybe loading it to 60%ish of it’s design maximum. Real lifts have much higher safety factors than that. Each cable has to be capable of supporting twice the rated load, and there have to be at least two cables. Usually there’s 4 or 6.And of course there’s a series of things that can all fail quite dangerously, he’s relying on everything working at once, there’s no redundancy, unlike a real lift.I suppose his theory is a combination of “I lost my legs, how much worse could my luck be?”, and the indominable Russian spirit that they sell in 70cl bottles.But it was tempting fate that put him in the chair in the first place.",
"parent_id": "423196",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423202",
"author": "Dex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:46:05",
"content": "If that were me I would motorize that X-axis, then call myself Wheelchair CNC. Maybe I’ve been looking at too many CNC projects lately.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "5017778",
"author": "Greenaum",
"timestamp": "2018-09-10T03:01:59",
"content": "You could get yourself a job as the window cleaner.",
"parent_id": "423202",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "423690",
"author": "pooty",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T18:41:42",
"content": "Not to be an @ss, but you’d think after six years of waiting, he could have found a new place to live, that has handicap access.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "427304",
"author": "lolowski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-02T17:44:41",
"content": "Here’s the vidhttp://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/ignored-disabled-man-builds-his-own-damn-elevator/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "427305",
"author": "lolowski",
"timestamp": "2011-08-02T17:45:12",
"content": "Here’s the video:http://www.1tv.ru/news/other/146928",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430504",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:17:10",
"content": "His front door? Isn’t that his back window? And what balcony? I don’t see one here. Ugh, time to dig through links, boorrriiinnnggg….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.29088
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/diy-segway-recycles-broken-electric-scooters/
|
DIY Segway Recycles Broken Electric Scooters
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Transportation Hacks"
] |
[
"accelerometer",
"cnc",
"gyroscope",
"h-bridge",
"segway"
] |
[Petter] built himself a
DIY Segway
out of a couple of cheap electric scooters. We’ve seen a couple of very nice Segway builds in the past like the
all analog Segway
, or the
creepy walking version
, [Petter]’s Segway build seems like it would be a useful human transport device.
The motors, chains, gears, and wheels are scavenged from a pair of electric scooters. Steering left and right is accomplished by tilting the handlebars left and right. The handlebars themselves are attached to the joint at a
base
that allows them to be taken on and off. We’re thinking this would be great for throwing a [Petter]’s Segway in the trunk of a car – a design feature the original Segway doesn’t have.
The electronics of the project are based around an ATMega168 that reads data from an accelerometer and gyroscope. The motors are controlled by two H-bridges and are powered by two 12 V lead batteries wired in series. We’re not sure how long the batteries will last in a real-world situation, but [Petter]’s build seems to go fast enough.
Check out the demo video below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBOQ6RMk6aw&w=470]
| 21
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422815",
"author": "Mathias",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:55:38",
"content": "Cool that it is finally finished. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "425533",
"author": "Gurgalof",
"timestamp": "2011-07-30T01:00:48",
"content": "Done anything with your VFD tubes yet Mathias?We miss you at CRF!",
"parent_id": "422815",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422830",
"author": "Joan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:34:53",
"content": "This is really great- the guy is talented. We are always looking for discount quality scooters. I think he is on to something here!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422848",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:03:58",
"content": "Nice build. Because of all they hype the proceeded the introduction of the Segway, I can’t get to excited of the Segway, and Segway knock offs. They aren’t suitable for either operation on busy roadways,or busy pedestrian paths, not they don’t have their niche, but the hype promised a revolution in the way we travel.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422961",
"author": "geekdude",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T05:43:39",
"content": "next he should build in a rc or robot mode where you take off the handlebars and just have it zip arround by its self idk why I just think that would be cool. Its funny how the segway was susposed to be the next big thing and everything and this guy just built one in his basement out of some scooter parts, a microcontroler, and a handfull of electronic components.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422975",
"author": "Passe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:32:47",
"content": "Cool, you are featured on hackaday!Congrats P1R! Also your segway rocks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422996",
"author": "Marco",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:17:49",
"content": "Awesome video, nice build !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423003",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:53:56",
"content": "Looks rock solid, and the instructions and thoughts are well explained. Nice video there also!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423005",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T08:56:48",
"content": "Ordentligt snyggt. Vilken maskinverkstad använder du? X-P? Kod + kopplingschema skulle vara kul!English translation: Nice. Code?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423037",
"author": "elektrophreak",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:04:44",
"content": "wow that’s just great! and the video is also very good.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423060",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:20:12",
"content": "Wow. I like it. I see Segways all the time here in Atlanta; there is a tour company that does Segway tours of downtown/midtown areas.I think this one looks much better than the commercial product. Of course, I am more partial to the aluminum color than the all matte black of the Segway.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423081",
"author": "bacchus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:20:14",
"content": "As several have observed, this raises a lot of questions about the original Segway.2-wheeled balancing robots have been around a long time, (2-wheeled) scooters even longer. There are a number of examples of one-off devices like [petter] has built, mostly performing well although less sophisticated cosmetically, yet Segways cost 000’s of dollars and no one else is allowed to build similar devices commercially.Is this just more nonsense from the US patent office? Or am I missing something?It kind of reminds me of Dyson vacuum cleaners, which cost a packet and only seemed to offer the actual advantages of being able to see the dirt, and not having a filter. Except they did have a filter once it emerged that the early ones made some allergies worse because of the biological nasties that got through the cyclonic filters. In the UK you still see perfectly working Dysons in skips with blocked biological filters that the owners didn’t realise were there, therefore dumped them.I think it’s very important that innovators get the chance to cash in on their inventions if they choose to, it’s just that some inventions don’t seem all that inventive…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423085",
"author": "bacchus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:25:30",
"content": "s/filter/blockable filter",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423183",
"author": "kuhltwo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:59:12",
"content": "I agree with bacchus about the US patent office. Take the Dyson machines, “cyclonic” filtering has been going on for over 100 years, just go look at any old furniture factory.Other patents I have looked at are not even correct. An idea I was looking at had been patented, except it listed IR as being transmitted over wires.I think this is where “open source” could come in handy, put together a “base” kit for a segway knock off. Some assy required.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423190",
"author": "emcy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:28:19",
"content": "Nice work Peter you finished it :) Nice product and nice video :) congrats :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423194",
"author": "emcy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:34:26",
"content": "Accidentally forgot one letter of course I meant Petter and not Peter",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425528",
"author": "Gurgalof",
"timestamp": "2011-07-30T00:59:14",
"content": "Nice video you made P1R!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430521",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:26:47",
"content": "Would have been infinitely cooler w/o the handle bars. Still though, very cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "446208",
"author": "Joy",
"timestamp": "2011-09-02T09:50:02",
"content": "Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "481122",
"author": "Arun Kumar.S",
"timestamp": "2011-10-16T11:47:35",
"content": "hi, i want to build such a segway for my project, can u please give the circuit design & other mechanical design requirements for the design.it will be really grateful for u to do such a favour. thank you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "710221",
"author": "Tom Roth",
"timestamp": "2012-07-22T23:36:24",
"content": "I was wondering what you use to control the steering? Some sort of pot I suppose. Do you have a link or model that I could have to use for my DIY segway clone? Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.415856
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/is-that-a-rom-in-your-locket/
|
Is That A Rom In Your Locket?
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"HackIt"
] |
[
"eeprom",
"locket"
] |
[Andrew] recently ordered some lockets to bejewel them with some LEDs but got a bonus small locket for free with the order. Not really having a plan for the small locket it kind of sat around until finally some inspiration hit. Meet the
ee-locket
which contains a tiny circular pcb with a 64k eeprom, a few passive support components and a male pin header on the back so you can quickly plug it into the micro of your choice.
While the uses of such a thing may not be obvious at first, just sitting down writing this I thought of a few applications, such as some form of key and lock system, mission impossible dreams, or just going full out geek at your next job interview. Its a pretty spiffy idea no matter what its used for, and we just love it when people shove electronics where no one expect them.
| 31
| 29
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422770",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:12:03",
"content": "Is that a male pin header in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422771",
"author": "liard nelson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:14:49",
"content": "oh, look at my new locket, i am so steampunk! doh.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422775",
"author": "HAD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:18:48",
"content": "iButton does the same thing and has water/dust proofing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422779",
"author": "DJ Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:22:09",
"content": "@liard nelson: Funny, I see no mention of Steampunk anywhere in the article, or this post.May I suggest getting your glasses check and/or cleaned?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422780",
"author": "b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:32:12",
"content": "“we just love it when people shove electronics where no one expect them.”That’s just not right.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422781",
"author": "Steve McCool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:38:16",
"content": "“and we just love it when people shove electronics where no one expect them.”I’m sorry, is it just me or does that sound so dirty 3:)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422782",
"author": "pin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:43:13",
"content": "it kind of looks steamish",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422786",
"author": "liard nelson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:54:32",
"content": "yes, it looks really steamish. maybe reversed steampunk’d. Instead of adding useless shiny metal to working hightech, we see the adding of practically useless shiny hightech to shiny metal jewelery.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422792",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:03:58",
"content": "Looks cool, but is not very functional for anything. Why not make a flash drive locket with a micro usb port or something?Also, what kind of dude wears a locket?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422793",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:11:55",
"content": "^ CyberSteam?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430524",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:29:20",
"content": "Don’t you mean Cyber… Punk?",
"parent_id": "422793",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422797",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:19:47",
"content": "I wonder how hard it would be to put a small micro in there, and a small color LCD. So when you open it the picture of your loved one pops up. Kinda like those tiny photo key chains.I may just have a project…..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422819",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:02:35",
"content": "“we just love it when people shove electronics where no one expect them.”Sounds uncomfortable!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422820",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:03:53",
"content": "Load a PGP key onto the eeprom.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422910",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T02:41:31",
"content": "I’m sorry if I’m missing something, but what does it do, other than store data in an EEPROM? Why not stick a micro-SD card inside the locket, something that many devices that can make use of?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422923",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:27:05",
"content": "Spork: Dudes don’t wear lockets. Men wear what they damn well please.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422924",
"author": "Dacap",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:34:18",
"content": "I didn’t know you could reuse surface mounted items like this. if anything props for recycling?perhaps you could get it to log hiccups",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422928",
"author": "becky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:57:03",
"content": "You could give it to your geeky wife as an anniversary with something special like poetry on it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "8149337",
"author": "Daniel Gooch",
"timestamp": "2025-07-14T15:28:18",
"content": "RSA encrypted, and with a scavenger hunt around the house to find the key….",
"parent_id": "422928",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422935",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:09:12",
"content": "@becky So are you that geeky wife?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422936",
"author": "Necromant",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:12:17",
"content": "microsd did not fit in.I use the eeprom to store the private keys for ssh. And, frankly, put the whole whing onto the usual keychain",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422938",
"author": "Necromant",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:13:49",
"content": "@becky I’m not yet married (that’s why I do have some time for this). But you are kind of right: the locket with leds will be a present =)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422950",
"author": "cde",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:59:39",
"content": "Should have turned it into a passive rfid rom, or an ibutton or something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422973",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:30:44",
"content": "What a steaming pile of punk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422977",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:34:59",
"content": "Yup, I’d go with the RFID version too. At least it would be usable in some vaguely magic-looking sort of way to open stuff. There might be problems with the medallion shielding the antenna though…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422981",
"author": "Necromant",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:52:34",
"content": "I thought about that, and I even tried. But mifare antenna just didn’t work (I think I even know where the bug was) and soldering aluminium (I salvage mifare ultralight chips from metro tickets) is kind of tiresome.Maybe some time later. So let it be eeprom this time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423319",
"author": "Microguy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T22:11:48",
"content": "@Dacap,I re-use surface mount stuff all the time. You just have to be careful when removing it.In fact, I can’t think of anything I re-used, that didn’t work, because I was too rough when removing it. Electronics parts are not the fragile little beasties lots of people think they are. Most are pretty sturdy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423401",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T02:51:19",
"content": "Considering that you can’t protect this EEPROM, using it for any type of security would be, well, not secure at all.Also, this SOIC package is way too big – Why not use something smaller?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423472",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T07:56:13",
"content": "Locket looks steampunk, the insides does not.Neat projekt :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423509",
"author": "Necromant",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T10:43:07",
"content": "@NATO: Well. The only reason I used it – I had it around. I’ll be experimenting more with mifare later, may be RFID will eventually work out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "428916",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-05T13:11:00",
"content": "@NecromantNeither is secure. Look around, maybe something MCU based…. There are secure (relatively speaking) solutions out there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.356709
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/digital-cootie-detector/
|
Digital Cootie Detector
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"attiny",
"attiny45",
"cooties",
"galvanic skin response"
] |
Kids love games of exclusion. This usually manifests itself in games of ‘keep away,’ having someone ‘catch cooties,’ or the ever-popular ‘No Brian club.’ [Rob] wrote in to tell us about the
digital cootie detector
he built. The cootie detector operates on galvanic skin response. It’s actually very similar to an
E-Meter
, although instead of Thetans this device measures something that actually exists.
Galvanic skin response
is a measure of the skin’s conductivity. Skin conductivity changes because sweat glands will be activated when someone is nervous. This is a measure of psychological arousal, making it a great detector for games of exclusion – a kid who doesn’t want cooties will ‘psych themself out’ and give themselves cooties.
The build is based around an ATtiny45 with just a few resistors and paperclips required for a complete build. The ‘Cootie Detection Algorithm’ starts off with a flashing light – a great way to make someone nervous. After the test is completed, a green light means they can enter the quarantined area, while a red light means they must be excluded. There’s also a “device tampered” result – alternating red and green lights – that will show up when a clever child tries to short the paperclip leads. Check out the demo below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgkBPqhUnNQ&w=470]
| 19
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422747",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:16:12",
"content": "Never heard of a ‘No Brian Club’.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422751",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:25:49",
"content": "@Decius: it’s a protected secret from people with cooties like you..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422756",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:30:30",
"content": "Really? No one has ever heard of the No Brian Club?There was one everywhere I’ve ever lived.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422758",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:39:18",
"content": "scientologists and cancer cure all’s will soon be using this one too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422776",
"author": "Static",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:19:43",
"content": "Funny… I heard it was a different name… eeriely similar to my name.Couldn’t be related, could it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422777",
"author": "adam",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:19:58",
"content": "“something that actually exist” ROFL!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422784",
"author": "Decius",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:49:19",
"content": "@xorpunk “Spend at least 3 million USD developing and publishing an AAA game, and then watch it get distributed on the internet for free by at least 10k users, *THEN* enlighten us with your economical wizdom..”Lul.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422814",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:55:08",
"content": "This device will make impressionable people feel very sad and self-consenious, leading them to do stupid things and could even end up ruining their lives, its disgusting! Ok, enough about the E-Meter, that Cootie Detector is neat!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422832",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:37:56",
"content": "Whoah! Are you telling me that my 3 year old may be a “Brian”, have cooties, be a decroded zombie, have cancer and/or be a Scientologist? I thought she just had sweaty hands because she’s a spaz! I’m dismantling this diabolical device. The world isn’t ready.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422835",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:49:17",
"content": "Hasn’t what happened in Norway taught us to be more understanding of others beliefs than less?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422850",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:11:02",
"content": "I’m going to repurpose it into a sarcasm detector. Please hold your finger in the top right corner of your monitor for five seconds after you post. I’ll be here all night taking readings.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422863",
"author": "ejonesss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:43:02",
"content": "i thought a cootie was a medical condition that is associated with school aged boy/girl friend relations.“i dont want your cooties”“dont give me your cooties”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422874",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:04:35",
"content": "@ rob: A sarcasm detector? That’s a real useful invention.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422917",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:04:26",
"content": "LOL; so this is to measure cooties, and it supposedly “measures something that actually exists”? Needs a bar graph or red yellow green LEDs. Claiming it measures, indicates something of a more adult nature would increase the sales potential. Make it coin operated, and place in bars to generate revenue.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422937",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:12:31",
"content": "Aww, looks like we have a lifelong nerd on the post list. Reminds me of the song: Don’t play with Bruno. (Look it up on youtube).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423056",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:12:09",
"content": "Ok.. so how do we build this? no parts list? no instructions? no code??? You guys are slipping…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423064",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T12:33:29",
"content": "The basic build info is on the original YouTube video.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423275",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T20:09:40",
"content": "The only club I was ever in was the Pen 15 club.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423304",
"author": "Hack Cell",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:29:47",
"content": "Hahah mike I’ll bet you were",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.619897
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/pass-the-bomb-electronic-drinking-game/
|
Pass The Bomb Electronic Drinking Game
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"home entertainment hacks"
] |
[
"accelerometer",
"arduino",
"drinking games"
] |
[Ragnar] and his friends were getting tired of the usual Friday night drinking games. They went through dice games, card game, and TV show based games before [Ragnar] retired to his workbench to whip up an electronic solution that would randomly pick a player and assign a certain number of drinks. That’s a novelty at first but not really a game. After letting the project sit for some time he revisited it and came up with a more advanced solution. The box seen above is his second attempt;
a game called pass the bomb
.
The case is a black aluminum project box. The user interface includes a 20×4 character LCD and three buttons. Check the video after the break for the menu system as well as english translations. Once turned on you can set the sensitivity for the accelerometer and choose the game. For now, pass the bomb is the only option – a game that counts down to a digital explosion. Carefully pass the device to the next player without upsetting the accelerometer or it’ll go BOOM and you’ll have to drink.
We’d prefer to
enjoy a nice frothy beverage
rather than searching for reasons to throw back some shots, but whatever floats your boat.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLc6eIJgqz8&w=470]
| 9
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422321",
"author": "Devin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T21:45:52",
"content": "This would be a good Android/iOS app",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422334",
"author": "Abbott",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:29:17",
"content": "@DevinYea, but when you drop your “bomb” you don’t have to worry about cracking your screen on your nice expensive phone",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422370",
"author": "mad_max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:26:06",
"content": "@Devin no, it would NOT be a good phone app. For reasons outlined by @Abbott.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422376",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:51:24",
"content": "It’d be good if this were reasonably liquid-proof and emanated a less annoying “boom”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422426",
"author": "Haku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:56:59",
"content": "Upgrade thought: include the circuitry from one of those “shock your friend” novelty items, so when the counter hits zero it electrifies the casing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422520",
"author": "David",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T11:22:01",
"content": "Does it have to stay attached to what looks like a power source? I could imagine it would be a nuiscance trying to juggle 2 boxes with a cable between them as intoxication increases.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422562",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:28:54",
"content": "Sounds like a great kit!! Where can I buy and build???",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422708",
"author": "nimrod316",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:26:17",
"content": "that play exists in the recent wii play motion game, same name even. nevertheless, nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2909677",
"author": "James Smith",
"timestamp": "2016-02-05T22:23:39",
"content": "This is an interesting approach.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.46424
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/going-a-long-way-for-game-boy-advanced-video-out/
|
Going A Long Way For Game Boy Advanced Video Out
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Nintendo Game Boy Hacks"
] |
[
"fpga",
"game boy",
"video out",
"xilinx"
] |
Here’s an intense hack that lets [Matt Evans]
play Game Boy Advanced on a larger LCD monitor
. He didn’t take the easy way out during any step of the process.
He’s using an FPGA to translate the LCD signals from the GBA hardware into a 1280×960 picture that is then pushed to the large monitor. But did he use an FPGA development board? No, instead he picked up an old PCI card at a surplus store because it had a Xilinx Virtex-E FPGA. So the first thing he had to do there was to remove unneeded components and figure out how to make the connections to reprogram that chip.
So next you’d grab a working monitor and hook it up to the FPGA signal, right? Wrong, [Matt] had a slightly borked monitor, getting rid of the LVDS section and wiring up his own connections to push the RGB signals through in parallel.
Yeah, that’s a lot of work. But as you can see in the clip after the break, it works like a charm. If you’re looking for some other gnarly video-out hacks, check out this one that lets you
play Game Boy on an oscilloscope
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXrjUgqq6ik&w=470]
| 26
| 24
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422305",
"author": "Nate",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T21:06:01",
"content": "WTB +1 button",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422329",
"author": "VV",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:14:37",
"content": "I used to love that game!Nice hack. Wonder if the TV being on its side is part of the hack?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422330",
"author": "Pedro",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:15:58",
"content": "Hacking at its finest.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422331",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:20:37",
"content": "I don’t understand why people think it’s called the Game Boy Advanced, but there is not, and has never been a “D” in the name.Nice hack though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422369",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:21:43",
"content": "Anon, you must be the same person that complains when someone adds an ‘S’ to LEGO…Anyways, very interesting, but playing sideways could only be fun if I was laying down next to it… I do believe there is an easier way to accomplish this (with the Transverter), but it’s not near as rewarding as doing it yourself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422372",
"author": "Paul Potter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:32:44",
"content": "Insane in a great way.Very nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422391",
"author": "Wartex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T02:21:44",
"content": "Why does matt evans have a russian typewriter?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422411",
"author": "MrTaco",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:52:54",
"content": "Advance, not Advanced!*pet peeve*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422444",
"author": "joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T07:26:32",
"content": "why go through all that trouble? seems like a huge waste of time when there are simpler and faster ways to getting it done.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422459",
"author": "Fetret",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T07:46:00",
"content": "@joeI can’t be sure whether you are sarcastic or not, so if you are disregard the following comment.I hate these posts, sure there are easier/simpler/faster ways but he did not chose the easy way, that is the hack itself. So please keep all the stupid “this can be done easier” comments to yourself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422462",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T07:57:09",
"content": "@Joe git off my lawn",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422467",
"author": "Craig",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T08:20:31",
"content": "My mind boggles at how hardcore Matt is, this is great.Also, maybe HaD could think about installing filters in the comment submission system, cull phrases like “waste of time” or “could just buy”…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422473",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T08:56:01",
"content": "@Craig: congrats, that sounds like a particularly original interpretation of the well known “I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. To rephrase that: the seventies called, socialism wants its censors back…In other news, nice work on the FPGA upscaler!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422477",
"author": "vic",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:14:04",
"content": "I don’t understand why people that say “why the trouble ?” come to this site at all, really :-)Anyway quite awesome, I’d love to see the result of the combination with this algorithm :http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/kopf/pixelart/index.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422480",
"author": "Marvin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:31:30",
"content": "The real kick here is the re-use of some random hardware with an FPGA… I’ve been wanting to do that for ages!on the project: I think that the LVDS output is actually simpler to implement once you have an FPGA at hand…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422483",
"author": "Mental2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:38:40",
"content": "Great hack, I think people forget that doing things the hard way is the only way to learn.@vic the output of that algo reminds me of one of the filters on the megadrive emulator gens. Kai I think maybe the name was.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422488",
"author": "Mathorne",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:53:00",
"content": "Nice hack!Too bad he didn’t do anything with the audio…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422533",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:01:17",
"content": "Well done.The only thing I don’t understand iswhy is the monitor on it’s side when the Game Boy screen is horizontal and not vertical?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422589",
"author": "Whoever",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:27:37",
"content": "@Mark A:’cause putting the monitor up-side-up would result in major wire twistage and/or inadequate structural support?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422693",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:39:17",
"content": "Wow, that is just wonderful. Most hacks I see are very doable with some free time and a little money. What makes this hack so special is the sheer amount of knowledge required to get it done. FPGA programing, signal processing, hardware repair? I have seen his other work on the GBA platform and taking it a step further like this is just geat!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422900",
"author": "MattE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:59:40",
"content": "Thanks so much for the kind comments — very motivational for future hacks! :-)@Whoever, exactly right, the monitor’s on its side just because it leant up against my desklamp that way without twisting the board around… no deeper meaning to it, but I should’ve mentioned it. ;)@vic, I hadn’t seen that algo, very cool. C’mon, implement it in Verilog, I dare you!@Wartex, good question! Typewriter is the result of “Guess what I bought on ebay!” from my g/f. :DI encourage others to make their projects pointlessly tricky and debug them until they work; I def. learned a lot from this one (but breathed in too much lead…)!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "640809",
"author": "fasf",
"timestamp": "2012-04-30T03:24:02",
"content": "Nice job, but couldn’t you have just used the Gamecube Gameboy Advance Player attachment?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "640987",
"author": "MattE",
"timestamp": "2012-04-30T13:36:36",
"content": "@fasf, like most projects that wasn’t really the point of doing it. In almost all cases it’s the journey that’s interesting, not the destination. :)",
"parent_id": "640809",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "656171",
"author": "HBCheng",
"timestamp": "2012-05-22T02:54:10",
"content": "Matt:Nice job!I am wondering can I use SX28(http://www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/video/sx/gamesys.php) to implement similar thing to output gba video to a tv instead of the vga monitor you’re using?Can you shed some light about the gba lcd pin out?TIA!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2934830",
"author": "Jo-Jo",
"timestamp": "2016-02-26T05:39:25",
"content": "Apologies for commenting on such an old post, (by the way, nice work!) but I am curious to know if this process can be reversed. Could you display onto the GBA screen from an external source?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2936770",
"author": "MattE",
"timestamp": "2016-02-28T02:41:49",
"content": "@Jo-Jo, do you mean to reuse the screen itself without tophe GBA (crappy screen tho), or to display “into” a working GBA? The latter would be more fun & how things like the GBA TV tuners work is (I believe) to have an external cart providing the video data in a way that looks “memory mapped” just like the program ROM, then using the GBA DMA controller to basically “memcpy” hat into the framebuffer every vsync. That way, there should be enough bandwidth for the 15-bit mode 3/full colour display. I think. :)I’ll dig out my pin out notes if I can find them, too…",
"parent_id": "2934830",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,132.792961
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/hackaday-links-july-24-2011/
|
Hackaday Links: July 24, 2011
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Hackaday links"
] |
[
"chair",
"encrypted",
"guitar",
"plasma",
"power meter"
] |
Plasma speakers
Apparently if you run AC and DC currents through a welding torch flame you can
use the resulting plasma as a loudspeaker
. [Thanks Cody]
Power metering
The Google Power Meter API is no longer in development but that didn’t stop [Pyrofer] from finishing
his metering hardware
. It uses a reflectance sensor to read the meter instead of
using clamp-based current sensing
.
Music videos from inside the instrument
Filming from inside of a guitar
creates the camera effect seen above which looks like the waveform you’d see on an oscilloscope. [Thanks Philleb]
Hidden messages in audio files
GhostCoder
lets you encrypt and hide audio files within other audio files. The thought is, you can piggyback your own data into Torrents that are circling the interwebs.
2×4 Chair
If you’re skilled with a Skill saw you can
make a chair out of one 2 by 4
. You can see the pattern you’ll have to cut out from the board in the image above, wow!
| 15
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422287",
"author": "haexn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:36:34",
"content": "Does anyone know about this ghostcoder software? How does it tamper with torrent files and not mess up the hash check? Wont people using the software just get marked as a bad uploader?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422332",
"author": "dbear",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:25:37",
"content": "We did the torch plasma speaker thing back in 1980 in physics lab. Read about it in some magazine and rigged something up to try it. Amazing how these ideas just keep getting dug up.The 2×4 chair is cool though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422337",
"author": "Mojoe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:42:01",
"content": "I believe you encode your Data into the file first then make a torrent out of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422338",
"author": "o",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:45:30",
"content": "@haexn:It doesn’t tamper with torrent files, nor does it tamper with existing torrents. You have to make an entirely separate torrent with a file of your own. It’s a neat idea in theory, but it would only work if you were the first person to upload a particular song, and only if it was the highest quality upload. Not very useful in that respect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422345",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:01:18",
"content": "It’d be nice if the plans for the 2×4 chair were some kind of legible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422348",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:16:13",
"content": "Oh, there’s a PDF link.http://gonsherdesign.com/FINAL_ONE_TWO_BY_FOUR_CHAIR.pdf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422377",
"author": "Bakamoichigei",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:52:51",
"content": "Oh hell yeah, that 2×4 chair looks great for $4. I’m always short a few chairs around here. And I bought like half a woodshop on the cheap a couple months ago… Time to put that bandsaw to good use I guess. :3c@loans: I’m guessing you didn’t download the PDF, huh?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422382",
"author": "Mike Szczys",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T01:34:44",
"content": "@Bakamoichigel: If you make this, take pictures of the process and send us a link. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422414",
"author": "Tony",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:02:37",
"content": "The power meter is awesome.Hey, here’s a photo of a PCB! With a PIC! USB too! It measures power usage, honest it does, see the graph!I guess the sensor wouldn’t fit in the frame. Great ‘hack’ indeed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422515",
"author": "wardy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T11:11:10",
"content": "That guitar string vid is interesting. It looks like something Apple might put in one of their trendy commercials.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422542",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:32:14",
"content": "flame is coolguitar is coolloved the comment about that stupid fat bitch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422608",
"author": "Aleks Clark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:11:39",
"content": "Trying to be funny I see…. first off, it’s “Skil”, second, it’s a *brand* although most people associate it with a circular saw, which are cheap and ubiquitous. What you actually need is a band saw, a much more costly piece of equipment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422651",
"author": "kaoD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:21:50",
"content": "The guitar video looks cool, but it’s not a hack and just looks-like what you’d see in an oscilloscope, but it isn’t.The effect is due to iPhone’s rolling shutter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVwmtwZLG88) and has nothing to do with how string actually vibrate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422686",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:27:53",
"content": "I tried the guitar string video myself using my HD2 and did not get the same results. In my video they just looked like blurry vibrating strings.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424881",
"author": "Willy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T02:53:00",
"content": "Wow, I am impressed with that 2×4 chair!I wish I had the tools/space to build a few of those…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.676641
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/desktop-email-notification-bell/
|
Desktop Email Notification Bell
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"arm",
"cortex 3",
"email",
"notifier"
] |
Instructables user [meseta] wanted an audible notification whenever he received an email, but must have thought that his computer’s built-in sounds were lacking in some regard. To get the perfect sound that he desired, he built himself
a USB-powered notification bell
.
Using an off the shelf “front desk bell” and a hand made electromagnet, he constructed a bell that could be triggered whenever a message showed up in his desktop email client. The electromagnet can be triggered by a quick pulse from a microcontroller, and in [meseta’s] case, he used a Forebrain dev board. He created a filter in his email client that runs an executable each time a message is received. This executable in turn sends a message to his microcontroller via USB, triggering the bell.
While we think that the notifier could have been put together using a far less powerful microcontroller, it’s a neat idea regardless. People seem to love
alternative
notification
systems
, so we’re pretty sure this bell will appeal to many in that crowd.
Keep reading to see a short video demonstration of his email notifier in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flgRRSD1ycI&w=470]
| 17
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422266",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:03:47",
"content": "An ARM Cortex-M3 processor to drive a coil.. talk about overkill.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422268",
"author": "Franklin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:06:45",
"content": "I hate when you guys write that shyt:“using a far less powerful microcontroller”Let the dude use a core i7 if he wanted to!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422269",
"author": "bty",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:09:23",
"content": "Could of easily done the same with an ATTiny and Dean Camera’s LUFA USB stack for example.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422274",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:25:34",
"content": "Easier yet, you could use a serial port. No microcontroller necessary, just toggle the RTS line.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422276",
"author": "Don",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:49:44",
"content": "Hey did you know computers can record sound?record the bell",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422277",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:51:44",
"content": "That’s what I was thinking Alex, you can even buy a USB to Serial and it’ll work almost exactly the same way!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422278",
"author": "HaterOfHaters",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:54:54",
"content": "@bty You can’t use LUFA on an ATTiny, now if you said ATUSB that would be more proper or V-USB on ATTiny or ATMega etc, why do you care so much about what he is using to do what it is that he does, if he wants to use a Cray CX1 to ring the bell, wonderful. It’s not what you use to get where you want to go, it is the journey you took to get there that is more valuable. Clearly he wanted to learn about using a Cortex M3. Would you bitch at someone that wrote hello world in assembly for their first project instead of using BASIC when they wanted to learn about ASM?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422279",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:59:28",
"content": "I do like the bell notification, although my favorite would still be some sort of blinking led on the top of the screen.@those arguing about the micro. I did think the same thing, it’s overkill. Yet, the price/overkill is only relevant if you are going to mass produce it. Otherwise, it’s whether the hacker could afford paying for it or not. We are interested in the idea here, not the implementation. You can go your own way. In the world that we live today transistors are dirt cheap…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422280",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:03:58",
"content": "Bogdan speaks sense. After all, why would ANYONE use a microcontroller dev board when they could play around with raw transistors and logic gates? Because it’s faster and easier, not necessarily cheaper or smaller.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422290",
"author": "ZeroCool42",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:46:55",
"content": "When everyone’s finished having a go at Hackaday… Quite simply, I think the reason they say this is to ensure that even electronics newbies like myself realize that this kind of computing power is not neccessairly required for such an application, so that we are aware that we can make a cheaper version if we want to!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422312",
"author": "Anon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T21:08:50",
"content": "We have a desk bell at work labelled “Audible Accomplishment Signaling Device” for when we fix a bug or get something to work. This would be a cool hack to hook up to our Trac instance for when issues are closed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422325",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:04:44",
"content": "Well at least the reflection is dressed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422404",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T03:57:19",
"content": "Next version should include special patterns for special senders.I would also like to see a wireless version that could communicate with other networked bells",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422603",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:59:14",
"content": "@Anon – that is a good idea! My boss has been wanting to devote work hours to a hack, or project… that seems like a good proposal.My company also just released a SAAS project, this would also be a great notification system for when people sign up. It would be awesome to get annoyed by the bell ringing too much :P ( hopefully )",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424495",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T14:49:53",
"content": "Awesome work, doint let the haters try to say otherwise!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "451923",
"author": "Rob Wentworth",
"timestamp": "2011-09-10T04:09:16",
"content": "Depending on where the magnetic field is directed in the brain, they can force you to tell the truth, or force you to lie, according to researchers:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2035085/Zapping-brain-magnets-makes-IMPOSSIBLE-lie.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1034280",
"author": "Piotr Kula (@piotrkula)",
"timestamp": "2013-08-01T11:49:46",
"content": "I tried to build this. I have no idea how he got that coil to pull the clapper. Its impossible! I have been winding coils for days and on 5v usb its not possible to pull the clapper at a distance that he has. Have you tried to build one?? I think he stuck a ready made solenoid in there at the end of the day and just didn’t tell any one….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.73102
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/guitar-becomes-an-improved-color-organ/
|
Guitar Becomes An Improved Color Organ
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"digital audio hacks",
"Musical Hacks"
] |
[
"color organ",
"guitar",
"led",
"music is only a theory"
] |
[Charles] wanted to put some LEDs in his guitar. He also wanted individual notes to output certain colors, but he couldn’t find any projects with tone-based algorithms to convert sound into colors. After about a year of work, his
ColorChord guitar
was born.
Unlike every other
color organ
build we’ve seen, the color of a note does not relate to the absolute pitch of the note. Instead, the colors are mapped within a musical key. A I chord will always be Yellow, a IV chord will always be purple, and a V chord will always be blue. Playing in the key of C will have the LEDs output yellow, purple, and blue for a C, F and G chord, respectively.
Right now, the processing the guitar’s audio output is handled by a PC. [Charles] says that latency is a big issue, so we’re guessing that’s the reason he hasn’t moved over to an embedded solution yet. He hasn’t quite figured out how to automatically determine the key of a song, but he’s working on that.
[Charles]’ build reminds us of the
Rickenbacker Lightshow
from the early 70s. It feels wrong to compare a Rickenbacker to a lucite Strat copy, but we’re going to say the ColorChord is superior to the
hand-painted automotive tail light bulbs
of the Rickenbacker.
Check out the
hott lixx
that are just way up high on the tiny strings and you mash your fingers on ’em below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_i6bse7SKw&w=470]
| 12
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422229",
"author": "Dino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:23:28",
"content": "Bonus points for the Lava Lamp!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422232",
"author": "jordan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:29:10",
"content": "This is fantastic! I love color organs and sound-reactive displays.I hope he’s looked at FMOD for processing his signal on the PC… It has a demo that displays the note being played. Dunno if his solution is better or if he’s seen the FMOD examples.Regardless, well done :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422236",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:33:21",
"content": "Pretty damn cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422237",
"author": "kaoD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:34:14",
"content": "OMFG I WANT ONE NAOI’m currently bulding a kite with LED illumination, but this completely beats anything ever built with leds. Totally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422250",
"author": "gyro_john",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:06:08",
"content": "THAT WAS AWESOME!! I didn’t get the point until I watched the video. Back-lighting to make the whole guitar body light up was very nice.Great colour choices. I liked the metallic brown effect.Man, you should make a few of those for sale.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422255",
"author": "nikescar",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:19:35",
"content": "That’s pretty friggin coo! Would be even better if the clear poly body was clouded with some 2000 grit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422284",
"author": "Harvie.CZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:21:49",
"content": "Probably can use guitar picks with separate coil for each string for this. Then just add separate terminals for each coil and use couple of LM386 ICs (or similar) to drive one LED per string.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422410",
"author": "reipoom",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:51:56",
"content": "awesome, love the colors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422544",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:35:46",
"content": "@kaod I’ll tell you how I did a similar hack back in the day (2001ish) Get a .wav to MIDI converter software-translates the noise into notes. Use AudioJACK software to run the output of that program into MUSIAC (deaf software that turns music into color via MIDI) and voila! Instant early rave light show! Like I said this was back in the day so most of it is probably abandonware at this point. This was back in the day. Also an easy way to get a cheap guitar midi controller. Admittedly, the note recognition is hit or miss sometimes. Perhaps it has improved over the years.Nice job to the builder! Glad you took your interest to the next level :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422547",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:41:57",
"content": "where the hell do you get an acrylic guitar?!?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423160",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:34:34",
"content": "Brilliant! This touches the MUSIC rather than the PITCH",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424875",
"author": "ansil",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T02:29:52",
"content": "nice never thought of using a computer to do this. we built a color changing led display for a customers guitar that changed via the pitch of the note playing. 12 filters in two octaves all analog.i like this better",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,132.996428
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/all-about-accelerometers/
|
All About Accelerometers
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Microcontrollers",
"Parts"
] |
[
"accelerometer",
"adxl345",
"netduino"
] |
If you’ve ever wondered about the use of or theory behind or the use of accelerometers,
this tutorial
by Love Electronics is a very good resource. In this article, Love takes one through how to hook up an
ADXL345
accelerometer and use it with a
Netduino
processor. Before the subject of hooking everything up is broached, a very good discussion is given on the general theory and operation of accelerometers.
Information is given about installing all the required software and libraries. Additionally, a mini tutorial about writing a “hello” application using the .NET framework is given. Finally, the application gives the [Windows Presentation Foundation] tools necessary to visualize the raw data that the Netduino produces.
One could really start using this processor and accelerometer from scratch with this tutorial and some basic electronics knowledge. This could add a great new feature to your next robot or allow measurement that couldn’t be done with simpler sensors.
| 6
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422247",
"author": "zrzzz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:02:37",
"content": "I imagine to test it, the first thing you’d do is move it all around randomly, but how do you do that when its delicately connected to a breadboard and whatever’s on the other end of those USB connectors?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422252",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:13:27",
"content": "Noticed a typo on first line“about the use of or theory behind or the use of “",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422262",
"author": "Buddhafw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:39:56",
"content": "ewww netduino….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422270",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:12:36",
"content": "@zrzzz: You don’t have to wave it around, you can just gently rotate it 90* each direction and let gravity do the rest.Cool writeup. I’m making a data aq for my race car using an Arduino Mega, so I don’t get the .Net ease of programming. For a non-programmer C can be a real pain in the ass. People can hate on abstraction all they want, but if they had to do each and every individual task of everything in their life, they’d never get shit done. It would take you an hour to start your car.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422682",
"author": "Matthew Beaven",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:18:53",
"content": "“People can hate on abstraction all they want, but if they had to do each and every individual task of everything in their life, they’d never get shit done. It would take you an hour to start your car.” Well said Mike, well said.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1062789",
"author": "James S. (@StripeyType)",
"timestamp": "2013-09-22T13:13:43",
"content": "So, this seems like overkill. One can configure a 555 to generate passable PWM output based on a variable resistance.That having been said, it may not have met his needs here for some better reason.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.038124
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/using-an-arduino-to-measure-inductance/
|
Using An Arduino To Measure Inductance
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"inductance",
"lm339",
"quad comparator"
] |
Measuring an inductor is not something that most multi-meters can do. You usually need a high precision resistor (1% or better) in series with the inductor, a function generator to put a signal through the circuit, and an oscilloscope to measure the result. But what can you do if you don’t have these tools on hand? [Andrew Moser] has a method that lets you
pull it off with an Arduino and an LM339 quad comparator
.
The circuit works by feeding a signal in from the Arduino. This waveform is affected by the LC circuit, filtered by the comparator chip, then read back out the other side by the Arduino. That resulting signal is a square wave, which is an easy target for the Arduino to measure. That timing measured from the square wave can then be used to calculate the inductor’s value.
This is quite handy if you’re winding your own inductors. Now you can precisely tune that
Joule Thief
you’ve been working on.
[via
Dangerous Prototypes
and
Adafruit
]
| 24
| 16
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422197",
"author": "Weasel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:36:27",
"content": "Hahaha I was literally just about to look this up and it was in my RSS feed. I just need a few components.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422217",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:51:34",
"content": "For the cost, this is fine, but don’t expect anything even comparable to a real LCR meter. If you want useful results, you need to be measuring the inductance at the frequency and current you’ll be using the inductor with. I assume that this project uses a frequency low enough that the parasitic capacitance won’t be an issue, but this also means that your mesurement results will be poor.This is a good way to get a ballpark figure for getting a ballpark figure for inductance, but if you want good results, get a real LCR meter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422271",
"author": "grenadier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:14:51",
"content": "Too bad inductance varies with frequency and current :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6333801",
"author": "Pete Olivier",
"timestamp": "2021-03-23T21:34:10",
"content": "No, inductance does not vary with frequency. Inductive REACTANCE varies with frequency.",
"parent_id": "422271",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6476244",
"author": "observerms",
"timestamp": "2022-05-20T13:56:56",
"content": "Try measuring ANY inductance at a frequency LESS than its self resonant frequency then measure the same inductance ABOVE its self resonant frequency ..you won’t get the same result because inductance certainly varies with frequency .",
"parent_id": "6333801",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6505359",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2022-08-22T19:16:12",
"content": "The self resonant frequency of an inductor is the frequency at which the parasitic capacitance of the inductor resonates with the ideal inductance of the inductor resulting in an extremely high impedance. This apparent change in inductance is due to inter-winding capacitance (and that will vary with other factors such as core material, etc.). An inductor of x henries might not have the same self-resonant frequency as another of the same value because they are wound on different cores or out of different gauge wire or whatever, but the differences at the “self-resonant frequencies” will be due to the parasitic capacitance interfering with the measurement. Inductance itself is not frequency dependent.",
"parent_id": "6476244",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422281",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:13:31",
"content": "He says on the website: “if you’ve taken a statistics class – most capacitors with 10% tolerance will be well under 10%.”Things are actually a bit different. The bell curve may be narrow so that within 3% you get 99.x % of your parts, but where the peak of the bell is varies in time during production, so that the parts produced over a long time can be within say 10% tolerance.He is also forgetting to add out the other sources of errors which might bring it up to 15%.And, just like some previously seen arduino projects, he misses the already existent internal comparator…(in some other cases built in SPI interface, USART etc)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422282",
"author": "Moser",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:13:59",
"content": "Yes I agree with your comments, and you must keep in mind that this is for the individual who needs an idea of the inductor:If you require a very accurate measurement for a system running at a high frequency, then this method is definitely not for you.And yes this method uses low current to measure inductance, so saturation information will be unavailable.@NATO: this method uses less than 5$ of parts and a ‘real LCR meter’ typically costs 150$+. Yes you will get better results with an LCR meter that allows you to select measurement frequency.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422288",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T20:45:18",
"content": "“He says on the website: “if you’ve taken a statistics class – most capacitors with 10% tolerance will be well under 10%.”Things are actually a bit different. The bell curve may be narrow so that within 3% you get 99.x % of your parts, but where the peak of the bell is varies in time during production, so that the parts produced over a long time can be within say 10% tolerance.”Actually there may be another reason why the statement isn’t true. The question you have to ask is where do they get +-5% capacitors from? How do they produce +-1% devices that makes them more accurate from the others? Explanation in this funny article (well worth a read) –http://www.edn.com/article/509250-7_solution.php",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422327",
"author": "Moser",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:10:48",
"content": "I guess it wasn’t explained enough how this method isn’t going to give perfect results.No the <5$ (excluding micro) circuit will not give you better results compared to a real professional grade RLC meter",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422335",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:30:28",
"content": "Let’s just go ahead and admit that this is more or less useless, and has been done and published a thousand times over (here and elsewhere)…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "5031129",
"author": "colin",
"timestamp": "2018-09-11T10:47:32",
"content": "Sorry I can’t seem to find a link to any of your work. This circuit can be made pretty accurate enough for many peoples use case very simply using a few known reference parts. Frequency can be adapted in the tank oscillator in both software and the load capacitance and also adding a series reference inductance to get decent nH readings. The only real thing to avoid here is the AT328 which has crummy timer precision, or to increase the size of the tank capacitance.",
"parent_id": "422335",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422437",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T06:54:43",
"content": "@Matt thanks for the info! Guess I am not the only one that didn’t realize it while trying to find 2% capacitors in 10% batch.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422470",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T08:41:38",
"content": "elmcie",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "699046",
"author": "Dreadlk",
"timestamp": "2012-07-10T09:03:07",
"content": "The cups half empty mentality is why so many EE’s never become great.So what if reference caps are 20% off or circuit capacitance is a factor!Just use a freaking good LCR meter to measure your reference components plus a few test components. Yes you can walk into grainger or some other supply store and demo a $500 unit while testing a handfull of components. Then use those correct values in your software and bam 20% goes to 1% and the internal impedance can be calculated and corrected for using those extra know Value componets you “demo” with at the tool store.. Jeez people you are giving up without thinking of solutions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "702662",
"author": "moser",
"timestamp": "2012-07-14T04:49:24",
"content": "isn’t it always very easy to judge other people’s work? Since you’re clearly so competent please write a guide. Grainger? never heard of it.",
"parent_id": "699046",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1052910",
"author": "DainBramage1991",
"timestamp": "2013-09-05T20:22:57",
"content": "WW Grainger is an industrial supplier that has a few outlets here in the Northeastern part of the USA. I’m not sure where else they can be found.",
"parent_id": "702662",
"depth": 3,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6186959",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2019-10-14T08:33:47",
"content": "Houston, for one, and I am sure they are in every other metropolis in America, probably also throughout Europe. @moser, what rock have you been living under?",
"parent_id": "1052910",
"depth": 4,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "982072",
"author": "Stripe",
"timestamp": "2013-03-20T22:25:37",
"content": "This works fine. Keep theory aside.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1157375",
"author": "Arv Evans",
"timestamp": "2014-01-06T19:06:11",
"content": "Naysayers abound…and they only use mega-dollar equipment. The rest of us live in the real world and use our brains to accuratize our measurements with less expensive solutions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2024150",
"author": "shansana",
"timestamp": "2014-10-21T11:08:28",
"content": "give me sourse code",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3116113",
"author": "Duane",
"timestamp": "2016-08-04T09:30:26",
"content": "The LM339 has an open collector output so the output floats when V+ > V-. You either need to add a 10kΩ pullup resistor to the output or change the Arduino code from “pinMode(11, INPUT);” to “pinMode(11, INPUT_PULLUP);”.Without this fix, you see any output on the serial port after “Inductance meter:”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "3123436",
"author": "Duane",
"timestamp": "2016-08-08T17:34:20",
"content": "I didn’t look at the diagram at the top of the post where there is a 330Ω pullup resistor.Please disregard my post.",
"parent_id": "3116113",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "6260218",
"author": "Louis louca",
"timestamp": "2020-07-03T08:37:29",
"content": "Sorry to disappoint the sceptics but i found this article very useful. Thank you Mike. I used an lcr meter to input an accurate value for the capacitor and this device produced a reading within 5%.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.102024
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/using-binary-code-modulation-to-control-led-brightness/
|
Using Binary Code Modulation To Control LED Brightness
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"bcm",
"binary code modulation",
"led",
"pwm"
] |
Pulse Width Modulation is definitely the preferred method of dimming an LED with a microcontroller, but we were interested in hearing about a different method called
Binary Code Modulation
. BCM does the same thing as PWM, it turns the LED on and off very rapidly so that your eye cannot detect a flicker. The brightness level is a result of the average amount of time the LED is on versus when it is off. This is called duty cycle and although it can be the same percentage for both PWM and BCD, there is a fundamental difference.
While PWM usually uses a cyclical on/off cycle (30% on, 70% off, repeat) BCD uses a cumulative cycle. As you can see above, each successive bit of binary code carries double significance compared to the previous bit. Now just assign a duty cycle based on your precision, and have an interrupt fire for each bit of the counter. The graph above shows some highs and some lows combining to reach the target duty cycle. An interrupt is used for each bit, and pin changes are made in the service routine.
The benefit of this system is that it is scaleable without adding overhead. You’re already running the interrupts so servicing 8 or 128 LEDs doesn’t have vastly different needs as it would with PWM. The big downside is that the more bits of precision you use, the faster your processor must run so that the eye doesn’t detect the lengthy on or off cycles of the higher bits as visible flickering.
Thank you [Yetihehe] for tipping us off about a link that [Tomas Martinsen] left when commenting about
an Arduino library for up to 768 PWM outputs
.
| 15
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421420",
"author": "Doc Oct",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:33:36",
"content": "Don Lancaster’s magic sinewaves might be good to use for this too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421422",
"author": "foogoid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:39:22",
"content": "This seems pretty smart. Never heard of it either. Thanks HAD!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421433",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:58:21",
"content": "This is how I do it, didn’t know it was a thing",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421436",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:11:10",
"content": "I don’t know nuttin’ about nuttin’ and I’m barely qualified to even read this site much less comment, but I believe that “duty cycle” is the fraction of time on compared to the total time, not compared to the time off. So a device that is one half the time would have a 50% duty cycle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430714",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:40:49",
"content": "That’s correct. What’s your point?",
"parent_id": "421436",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421441",
"author": "mohonri",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:27:21",
"content": "My immediate reaction was “there’s no way your processing doesn’t scale with the number of LEDs!”And I was right. This method *does* reduce the amount of processor time generating the PWM signal, but the processor time still scales with the number of LEDs. This approach transfers the workload from the ISR to the main function–all the ISR does is look up an element in an array, dump it onto PORT pins, and change its own maximum value. The main function calculates the values which the ISR will use. (interestingly, it seems like the calculation is basically a matrix rotation)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421443",
"author": "DanJ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:39:10",
"content": "BAM alone is great for reducing the computational load of software modulation of LED intensity. However it has some nasty artifacts when the modulation is dynamically changed (e.g. fading). Consecutive intensity level changes that change a significant bit can introduce a visual glitch that is very noticeable. A group figured out a clever solution here:http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7393You just implement alternating BAM periods with the bit order reversed in each period. The creator dubbed it “BAM-MAB” – sure to annoy the author of the article mentioned here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421444",
"author": "ino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:41:39",
"content": "wow! That was a great tutorial!Thanks a lot",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421503",
"author": "tantris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:20:07",
"content": "i don’t get what this method is supposed to achieve. it is basically a slow pwm, with the frequency determined by the upper bit and the lower bits introducing upper harmonics which don’t improve the sampling rate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421638",
"author": "Bernhard",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:03:30",
"content": "Nice. But is there a different system, where e.g. a 50%50 duty cycle actually flips every bit, while a 25%75 duty cycle will fill every 4th bit? That would minimize flickering…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430717",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:43:34",
"content": "Yeah, it’s called regular PWM. AVRs can do it in hardware with a counter.",
"parent_id": "421638",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6215062",
"author": "Jonathan D Gibbons",
"timestamp": "2020-01-29T13:06:02",
"content": "Actually sounds more like pulse density modulation, which is fixed-length pulses spread out across the period and puts more of the ac signal at higher frequencies than pwm.",
"parent_id": "430717",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421662",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T07:29:15",
"content": "@tantris: this is a method for controlling many pwm outputs without devoting all your processor cycles to the problem. Typical processor utilisation is about 6% for 20 leds with this method.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422211",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:28:43",
"content": "Very interesting method.My ShiftPWM library uses 5.4 clockcyles per pin each interrupt in the latest version. (elcojacobs.com/shiftpwm).This would use a bit more cycles, but only needs 8 interrupts instead of 256. Actually you only have to copy the bits from the duty cycle setting to the outputs and hold it for 2^(bit position). It gets a bit more complex because the time between interrupts is not constant anymore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422824",
"author": "M H",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:13:44",
"content": "If one is using this for LEDs, and is also doing gamma correction, might it make more sense to use base-gamma coding, rather than base 2?(Gamma Code Modulation)Using gamma correction limits my pulse lengths to a subset of possible pulse lengths.(One posting suggested needing 10-11 bits of PWM precision to encode 256 levels using a gamma of 2.5).If I select my pulse fractions based on powers of gamma (gamma^0, gamma^1, gamma^2, …) then each possible brightness value will be encoded as a 1 in the apropriate place, and 0’s in the rest.(Said another way – any brightness will only use one of the cycle lengths).* If gamma is >2, gamma code modulation would use fewer interrupts (e.g., 256, rather than 1024 in the above example). (Of course if gamma is <2, it would require more interrupts.)* Each interval would involve a fixed number of on/off transitions, as compared to the variable number in BCM, which should reduce errors from charging/discharging times.* May save on conversion steps (the brightness number directly selects the gamma step, without having to gamma convert and then convert the result to binary).I haven't tried this yet, but in theory seemed like it might be useful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.253538
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/resistor-substitution-box/
|
Resistor Substitution Box
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"bcd",
"decade box",
"e series",
"resistor"
] |
[Vincent] on the EEVblog forums had an idea for an inexpensive
resistor substitution decade box
.
The build uses cheap decimal thumbwheel switches he bought on eBay. Each switch is wired up with resistors for each digit, and each switch is wired up in series. The result is a small, easy to read resistor box with a range of 1 Ω to 10 MΩ.
This isn’t a new idea; using encoders like this has been done before with a
BCD capacitance substitution box
. We saw some references to a
cheap programmable current source
(layout available
here
) that uses BCD switches and an LM317 regulator. While this type of build has been around
forever
, these projects are becoming economical because of the inexpensive decimal or BCD switches are available from China.
For [Vincent]’s project, we’re wondering if it would be better to have a pre-set 10 Ω box as the least significant digit. Of course, this would mean re-doing the project but it would increase the maximum resistance and get around the very small resistance in the smallest digit. Quite often, we’ve called
Zero Ohm resistors
“wire” and 1-9 Ohm resistors, “longer pieces of wire.” If you design for the
E series
, you’re never exact anyway.
| 16
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421423",
"author": "mstone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:41:04",
"content": "It’s a nice idea, but those things are a bitch to calibrate. You need as many significant digits of precision in your components as you have stages.A 1% 1M resistor will be somewhere within 10k of a megohm. The device’s 1M setting will actually be somewhere between 1,010,000 and 990,000 ohms. Even if we assume that all the other resistors are perfect, there’s only a 10% chance that the 1M setting will be within 1000 ohms of the 999,000 ohm setting, and a small chance that it could be lower.To make the thing work right, your 1M setting has to tie into a chain of resistors that actually come within tolerances for the smallest step you want to make. *Then* you have to start worrying about the resistance of the connections.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2482545",
"author": "Al",
"timestamp": "2015-03-17T16:06:12",
"content": "No, it’s still a good design. To tighten the tolerance for each stage you want to add, you simply add a 1M variable resistor at the end of the chain, make your measurements with a good multimeter as you switch in each stage, then mark the readings on the VR dial. Voila–a properly calibrated resistor substitution box using a cheap decimal thumbwheel switch.",
"parent_id": "421423",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421427",
"author": "Squirrel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:51:51",
"content": "Resistance is futile",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421428",
"author": "mstone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:52:17",
"content": "Addendum..Having RTFA, he discusses that, and points out that he isn’t trying for full-range precision. As such, it’s a nice way to switch between different values quickly.Anyone looking to build a similar one should remember that you’ll only get a couple significant digits of accuracy out of 1% resistors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421442",
"author": "adam outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:28:48",
"content": "we call the device a “decade box” in the field. as a biomed, ive used commercial versions daily for years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421460",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:39:17",
"content": "I have though about doing exactly this, just been too lazy to do it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421601",
"author": "Spiralbrain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:31:33",
"content": "In the near future we might have an electronic version of these. Imagine buying blank resistances and programming them before putting them in a circuit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421723",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T12:40:51",
"content": "is it just me but I don’t see why this would be a hard thing to calibrate. If the problem happens to be that the resistance of one 1M resistor is not the same as that of another 1M resistor then surely the simple answer is to buy a bag of 100 or so and test them until you find one that has a finer tolerance. (I do that anyway, I have bags of odd value resistors for fine tuning projects – mainly for resonance purposes).@spiralbrain: I would love to see this sort of thing in chip format maybe with an array of them on one chip to send out analogue patterns of resistance all from one stand alone chip (:",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421838",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:35:07",
"content": "These switches are great for testing Nixie tubes too. 3-bit SCSI ID push switches make a good replacement for bulky rotary switches, and I’ve found good quantities of them in surplus stores.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421848",
"author": "Fili",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:12:38",
"content": "Hmm, a chip that can digitally alter it’s resistance. That’s a neat idea! Something like a digital potentiometer. If only someone could build one…Oh wait, they’re around for years.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421880",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:48:16",
"content": "I have one of the thumbwheel versions of this switch here, 5 digits.Yes they are a pain to calibrate, but not if you have 1% tolerance resistors already.Just select a suitably large buffer resistor to go in parallel with each stage to fine tune the value so that in the middle of the range it is spot on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422182",
"author": "signal7",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:58:34",
"content": "…and 1-9 Ohm resistors, “longer pieces of wire.”yeah, you can do that, but you also have to know that just using lengths of wire can lead to inductance/capacitance effects that may not be intended.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "429772",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-07T04:11:25",
"content": "“Spiralbrain says:July 22, 2011 at 9:31 pmIn the near future we might have an electronic version of these. Imagine buying blank resistances and programming them before putting them in a circuit.”Buy an ADN2850 and you’re good to go for 1024 possible values. :) I’m trying to figure out if there’s a large-value one to cascade to get the full 6-digits of a 1Ohm-1MOhm device. The neat thing is that in theory they can make them with permanent drop-in values. You program them with the 3 pins on top, solder the 2 pins into your existing resistor’s holes, and get a nice test device. If clever, you can make a second board that has some of the programmable resistors networked to an USB microcontroller for testing out different sets of values. If I was making it, I’d put 3-pin cables with SIP sockets on it to make it easier on the developer. Of course, in practice, most of the electronics I work with don’t even care about the difference between a 110-Ohm and 170-Ohm resistor. :POne gotcha is that you can’t use such a board for RF work or the like. The feedback between leads would be horrible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "429775",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-08-07T04:18:15",
"content": "Oh, and it’s trivial to make a fusible link like PROMs for different resistors and then use a laser to calibrate the individual tracks at the time of manufacturing. A more efficient method is to have some kind of highly accurate digital VOM and then ramp down/up the resistance real-time until you have the oddball value you need. A super cheap method used for years is to just take a regular carbon resistor and file a small amount away to increase it, then seal it. This is almost exactly how resistors are sometimes made. Of course, it’s a fire trap so a no-no on power supplies and high-current amps! heh",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "468315",
"author": "Werner",
"timestamp": "2011-09-30T20:56:32",
"content": "I’m from Belgium and read the posts on this site for a while now searching for a neat project to teach my son . What some of you forget is that this site is like a online hackerspace , you just have to think and create . Giving comment is easy , building stuff like this is for people that have a real hackermind and that is having fun in what you do .",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "747115",
"author": "bandit",
"timestamp": "2012-08-22T01:17:49",
"content": "The cool kids all file their resistors for accuracyhttp://hackaday.com/2012/07/05/the-cool-kids-all-file-their-resistors-for-accuracy/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.155826
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/beefy-rover-looks-like-tons-of-fun/
|
Beefy Rover Looks Like Tons Of Fun
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"6-wheeled",
"arduino",
"robot"
] |
[Eric] and the crew over at The Tech Junkies, just put the finishing touches on
a pretty powerful robot
that they call “Mantis”.
The six wheel, chain-driven robot is pretty impressive at first glance. The robot is centered around a Netduino, which controls four 60 amp speed controllers. The speed controllers are tasked with driving four beefy CIM motors, which propel the robot along at a pretty decent tick.
For the project, the team designed their own controller application called
IPGamepad
, which allows the robot to be controlled by any Android device. The interface is pretty simple as you can see in the video below, making it quite easy to control the bot.
While the Mantis was not a cheap production by any means, it does look like a ton of fun to drive. The crew will be taking this robot along with 2 others out to Maker Faire Detroit, so be sure to swing by and say hello if you’re in the area.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHhsrZfG5UIw=470]
| 11
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421393",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:07:42",
"content": "Looks like someone is a child brought up by FIRST",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421394",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:09:38",
"content": "Also the victor 883s are 40A continuous which is still more then enough as long as the cims are not stalled for long",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421400",
"author": "ebarch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:16:02",
"content": "Hah, you would be correct, Drake. I believe the 884s are 40A continuous…but we ended using the 883s. Looking at the spec page for the 883s show 60A, which is probably still more than we need.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421407",
"author": "volt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:42:18",
"content": "The robot is nice, but it’s a pity it doesn’t have any suspension… and it could be a bit faster ;D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421449",
"author": "Fritoeata",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:05:15",
"content": "That’s pretty stinkin sweet!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421462",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:42:53",
"content": "Wonder how much the paired motors fight each other on that chain, if at all?Looks like with this design you could get away with half the motors and half the controllers if you really wanted to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421860",
"author": "vonskippy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:51:33",
"content": "How is this a “robot”? It’s a glorified RC car.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421918",
"author": "exit151",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T22:49:24",
"content": "“While the Mantis was not a cheap production by any means,” I’m new, I guess.. Maybe some of you experts could point out to me what’s so expensive on this thing to classify it as not a cheap production by any means? I’ve seen a ton of rc custom built vehicles – rovers, remote rcon devices, etc.. I don’t see anything (no offense to those who created it, anyone who builds something that works deserves respsct for sure!) on this to justify use of those words. Maybe you guys just know those are (what are?) uber expensive parts, but if so, tell us in the description, cuz all I see is a 6-wheel drive tank-style controled rc vehicle. Yeah, it’s powered by netdurino and an android phone (which is slick), but I could wire that up to the M1 RC tank in my garage (which also would be cool). Again, I’m not slamming the project, it is cool, but I don’t get the expense comment by the original poster. Splain it to us :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422195",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:25:39",
"content": "@exit151, good question. I said that it was not cheap for two reasons:1) I have been criticized in the past for calling something “relatively cheap”, so I wasn’t going there again. :)2) I added up the costs as listed on his page and the price came in at $740. This is assuming that the wireless router and battery were in the middle of the stated price range, $40 and $150 respectively. If you assume the highest price for all components, the cost is over $800.That price only covers the control system and does not include the motors, wheels, chassis, etc. I would guess that the total cost of the rover was easily over $1000, if not near $1200.That said, what exactly is “expensive”? Caleb and I had a heated discussion about the price difference between the middle of the road MacBook Pro and the new Lenovo laptop I purchased. I got a laptop with far more bells and whistles, not to mention processing power and memory for less than a comparable MB Pro would have cost. Thus, I declared that the MB Pro was “overpriced” and “too expensive”.Long story short, applying those terms is subjective, and are merely a matter of opinion. To some people, the cost of the MacBook is insane – to others it is reasonable, based on the OS/aluminum body/etc. For me, it is too expensive, and Caleb agreed – though that is our opinion.The same goes for this rover. Building RC cars is not my hobby, so spending $1200 on a rover seems expensive to me. To Eric and the other Tech Junkies, it is clearly a reasonably-priced project. I would not think twice about buying camera gear/computer gear/car accessories/AV equipment in that price range, but they might consider those purchases expensive.So, to sum up my rambling, it is really a matter of opinion that this is an expensive project. Some might agree with me, and others may disagree.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422419",
"author": "ebarch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:15:51",
"content": "@exit151 and @Mike Nathan:I definitely agree…it’s completely subjective. We were lucky enough to get the speed controllers and some of the other components donated to us from a FIRST team that had them laying around as they could no longer be used for competition.I mention that for a smaller robot you can use much cheaper speed controllers or even $10 servos that are modified to be continuous rotation. It’s all about scalability. We really wanted to make a control system that could be adapted to any budget/robot size. In the video we have the small little robot that is also powered by the control system and costs less than $150 with that particular configuration.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424506",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:06:51",
"content": "great work it does look fun to drive around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.204822
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/modded-wall-e-becomes-a-real-robot/
|
Modded Wall-E Becomes A Real Robot
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Robots Hacks",
"Toy Hacks"
] |
[
"computer vision",
"object tracking",
"remote control",
"robot",
"servos",
"wall-e"
] |
[DJ Sures] got his hands on a plastic Wall-E toy and decided to
build a robot
that includes a camera, voice recognition, and object tracking. The result is
adorable
so we’re putting this video before the break:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJiMUzJHYFk&w=470]
Wall-E is built around an
EZ-B Bluetooth Robot controller
. All the software functions are handled with the complementary EZ-builder software. All this isn’t revolutionary – our Lego Mindstorms RCX from 1998 could handle object tracking with the Lego camera. Wall-E has 5 servos inside of him as well as an eBay 2.4 GHz wireless camera.
[DJ Sures] has had a lot of experience modifying toy robots. The
Dalek build
and a toy robot version of The Doctor’s faithful companion
K9
are our favorite builds. This also isn’t his first Wall-E build; [DJ Sures] built one
last year
, but this is the first Wall-E with this much functionality. Right now, we’re thinking Wall-E needs a girlfriend. Maybe something along the lines of a
hovering sphere bot
?
| 20
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421315",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:30:46",
"content": "He could easily be more adorable by smoothing out those movements of his. That EZ-B software really seems to pay off.Nice build.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421318",
"author": "Tron9000",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:31:19",
"content": "There’s a five year old kid who’s gonna be stoked to get that for his birthday!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421319",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:31:38",
"content": "Wall-E is cute but that robot hardware/software is amazing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421337",
"author": "Telepath",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:41:28",
"content": "People should just stop using music on youtube / using youtube altogether…This video is not available in germany.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421345",
"author": "hurt14",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:55:41",
"content": "This is very cute! Well done, I think this is the Wall-E robot that captures best the essence of the character and still has a lot of functionality. I ‘m impressed :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421347",
"author": "yellowstone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:02:01",
"content": "Same here: Video not available in germany. :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421358",
"author": "deef",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:29:35",
"content": "@Telepath so feeling with you!Fick die GEMA.I hope german curses aren’t forbidden ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421360",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:37:46",
"content": "I wonder if you could impliment a kinect into his eyes instead of a camera some how, and enable a lot of amazing things. Would be hard on that ucontroller though, possibly?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421363",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:49:37",
"content": "ez-robot.com? Can’t get there from here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421364",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:55:22",
"content": "germans usehttp://www.jobhide.comworks fine for meor different proxy",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421399",
"author": "mydnight",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:14:27",
"content": "That’s really cool, although the eyes are somewhat creepy — personally, I’d stick a camera in the other eye as well, even if the board couldn’t support it, just for symmetry.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421406",
"author": "moo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:42:14",
"content": "Pretty neat! I wonder how much the board/software costs?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421445",
"author": "mark g",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:43:49",
"content": "Cool. Okay, so who has a flying Eve robot?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421479",
"author": "Stendall",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:20:05",
"content": "I wonder how much of the robot logic and abilities reside on hardware inside of the robot?.Sure you can take a remote control toy, add a webcam, interface some servos and attach to a computer. But, where’s the robot?.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421482",
"author": "Hacksaw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:24:22",
"content": "My five year old said…wow papa that’s wall-e ! is it the real wall-e papa? is it? Nice job! Love it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421500",
"author": "Dino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:18:04",
"content": "This an excellent video and a very cool robot build!! Nice job DJ Sures!!! Well done indeed!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421544",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:57:27",
"content": "The end result is nice, but this is really nothing more than a stealth commercial for the EZ-B he is selling. You just plug some sensors and servos into the board, and the software does all the actual work.It is an interesting product for educational use, and for people without much electronics/programming experience, for sure. But buying a commercial kit and putting it together doesn’t seem like it is HaD worthy, especially when the submitter is the guy who is making the kit in the first place.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421576",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T02:55:25",
"content": "Wall-E was inspired by a real robot:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RyodnisVvUthe “Yellow Drum Machine.” I remember commenting, “the thing is so cute and almost lifelike you should name it.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421631",
"author": "DJ Sures",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:52:53",
"content": "Thank you everyone :) The entire EZ-Robot project was inspired by hack-a-day features of my builds. It’s a passion of mine to help put robots in our homes. I enjoy doing the ground-work to leverage your future robots. The EZ-Robot project wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for past Hack-a-day features.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421651",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:39:10",
"content": "I think he could have done something to hide the webcam, because as it is, wall-e looks like a cyborg (i know thats not possible).Otherwise, neat project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.360389
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/hack-a-day-visits-lvl1-hackerspace-in-louisville/
|
Hack A Day Visits LVL1 Hackerspace In Louisville
|
Gerrit Coetzee
|
[
"Hackerspaces"
] |
[
"hackerspace",
"kentucky",
"louisville",
"lvl1",
"tour",
"visit"
] |
We recently had the pleasure of visiting the
LVL1 hackerspace in Louisville, Kentucky
. Any hackers in the Louisville area who haven’t visited yet are doing themselves a big disservice. The space recently had its one year anniversary in July, but it’s hard to tell. The space features many of the things you’d only expect in older spaces such as a laser cutter (added while we were visiting), CNC machines, extensive electronics workbenches, and even a section for those who are into music. The best part about the LVL1 hackerspace is it’s members. We’ve all heard horror stories of hacker spaces with drama or overly restricting rules, but the people at LVL1 are extremely friendly and willing to help.
The Micro Colonel (president, if you wanna go that route), [Christopher Cprek], gave us a tour of the space and its current projects. One of the most impressive is the
White Star Balloon
project, which aims to fly a balloon across the Atlantic. There’s also the
Louisville Soundbuilders
which meet at the space every other Monday at 8pm to make new instruments. Some other projects include a
telepresence robot
,
a pony that breaths fire
, and a power wheels race car for the Detroit Makerfaire. There are also things such as the
Kentucky Open Source Society
(KYOSS) that meets at the space. Even a few sumobots were scattered around. We were fortunate that at the same time we were visiting [
Brandon Gunn
], who regularly does video tours of the hackerspaces he visits, was there too; watch his video tour of the space after the break.
The space usually has an open to the public meeting every tuesday at 7:00, but be sure to check out their
calendar for more
. If you’ve never been to a hackerspace before you should definitely make an effort. It’s not the tools that make a space, but the people, and LVL1 delivers.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7C8cKVqtUDY]
| 15
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421274",
"author": "Dormant Labs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:10:38",
"content": "I wish Sioux Falls SD had a hackerspace :|",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "664993",
"author": "DanH03",
"timestamp": "2012-06-01T01:37:28",
"content": "It looks like we’re getting one soon! I’m so pumped!!!http://madlabindustries.com/?page_id=165&vasthtmlaction=viewtopic&t=5.0",
"parent_id": "421274",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421279",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:17:52",
"content": "The guy who runs the place calls himself the Micro Colonel?Dammit, I wish I lived anywhere near Louisville.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421298",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:47:53",
"content": "@Aaron – +1 :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421299",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:49:42",
"content": "i didn’t hear him right at first about the white star project. i was mistaken. that place is giant.i like the fail board. i could probably fill that thing.:) oh and it reminded me about the game of lose.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421306",
"author": "Greendrv",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:08:53",
"content": "Slight correction: the open build sessions are every Tuesday at 8pm, but there will always be people there at 7pm if you want to show up early. Actually, there are people there every night of the week, so feel free to stop by!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421316",
"author": "Squintz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:31:00",
"content": "That is a very impressive space.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421361",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T16:41:29",
"content": "“This is a pony that is being modified to breathe fire”…so so much awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421372",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T17:30:49",
"content": "very cool, the fail board is awesome we should add that at nullspace.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421382",
"author": "Jeremy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:16:35",
"content": "I live in Louisville and would love to join LVL1 but the cost is ridiculously high (like being a member of IEEE).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421385",
"author": "Brad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:24:45",
"content": "@Jeremy: Then don’t join, just come and hang out. We’re more than happy to welcome anyone that wants to come by and work on projects/hang out/share knowledge/whatever. Some of the nicest, most productive members of our community aren’t members (or weren’t members for many months before they were able to join).Unlike some hackerspaces, we’re not just open on Open Build nights. Basically, if you knock on the door and someone recognizes you, you’re let in. Come to the open builds to make some friends, and stop by as often as you would like.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421389",
"author": "Gerrit Coetzee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:37:32",
"content": "@JeremyI don’t think it’s really that bad. You can spend the money it takes to be a member on some really stupid stuff in a month without even realizing (and definitely without getting as much return on investment).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421409",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:53:49",
"content": "@JeremyIt is not ridiculously high if you consider you get access to a 40W laser cutter, makerbot, oscilloscopes plus all the other stuff they have there.Our hackerspace is just getting started and it’s $40/mo without all that cool stuff. Hopefully we will get to where LVL1 is.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422221",
"author": "Jason Dodd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:58:17",
"content": "I’m not a member but I can tell this lot is top notch and goes out of it’s way to make nonmembers like me welcome. If I had time to use the space I’d definitely join. Considering what you have access to, membership is a bargain.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "427027",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-08-02T03:17:30",
"content": "Heyy, I used to live within walking distance of there. Now I’m down bardstown road a ways, I’ll have to stop by.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.307079
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/sandia-labs-hopper-robot/
|
Sandia Labs “Hopper” Robot
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"News",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"darpa",
"hopper",
"sandia"
] |
Made by Boston Dynamics under contract from Sandia Labs, this “hopper” is quite incredible as you can see in the
video
after the break. Boston Dynamics is no stranger to great robotics designs, including the well known
“Big Dog”
four-legged robot. This robot, although possibly less advanced, has a very unique trick up it’s sleve.
This robot’s distinguishing feature is that it can navigate autonomously not only with wheels, but also with a powerful single leg that allows it to jump over obstacles of up to 25 feet. Although envisioned to “deliver a payload” in an urban environment, one could imagine a terrifying horde of these ‘bots jumping into action armed with bombs or other weapons.
According to
Sandia’s website
is that this form of locomotion has been “shown to be five times more efficient than hovering” when trying to get around obstacles under 10 meters. Technical challenges that have been overcome include managing the shock of landing and producing a leg powerful enough to jump to this height.
[youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDGP8IBs6fk&w=470&h=349%5D
| 29
| 29
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421252",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:14:29",
"content": "“shown to be five times more efficient than hovering”Also shown to make my bullshit meter go off.The launching action reminds me of Toro’s compressed gas “launcher” from the Battlebot show….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421256",
"author": "DOT850",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:18:34",
"content": "Good god, that is awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421257",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:20:37",
"content": "Leaps tall buildings in a single bound!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421259",
"author": "Tempestion",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:26:00",
"content": "I was under the impression that “Big Dog” was Boston Dynamics?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421260",
"author": "madcows",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:28:54",
"content": "I’m sure Sandia Labs just slapped their logo on some long-forgotten Nikko RC car.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421261",
"author": "space",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:31:24",
"content": "dupe",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421265",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:36:26",
"content": "While cool, this is not a new concept or even a new robot. There are articles online dating to May of 2009 with pictures of this exact robot and I’m pretty sure I saw the above video (or one almost identical to it) even before that.If I remember correctly, it could leap really well, but the aiming part… let’s just say the out-take reel was classic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421269",
"author": "third",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:45:56",
"content": "@TempestionExactly! I wonder where Sandia got the Big Dog credit from…In fact, back when the founders of Boston Dynamics were still with LegLab they did some pretty awesome stuff with jumping robots:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5iEke6UlE",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421293",
"author": "RJ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:33:13",
"content": "This is like 3 or 4 years old by now guys. Kmon – you are better than that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421296",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:35:54",
"content": "@thirdHoly crap some of that stuff is awesome. The way it flips is insane. You can hear the cheering from the video when it flipped, so I guess these people really put in a lot of work into that project.From the youtube comments:“so. how have our millions of funding dollars been spent then?”“well, we got this box on 2 legs, it can do flips and shit”That actually made me laugh :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421310",
"author": "ian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:13:24",
"content": "Big Dog is Boston Dynamics, _not_ Sandia Labs.@HaD, you might want to fix that…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421312",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:21:40",
"content": "@thirdsome how the robot video lead me to the six million dollar man and i sat and watched Six Million Dollar Man (Bigfoot). then i totally forgot what i was going to say.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421314",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:24:09",
"content": "I could see this being useful on a mars rover, if it gets stuck in a hole just hit the leg and BOOM its free! (Just hope it dosn’t land in another hole!) But since it has only one leg what happens if it lands on its “back”?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421323",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:37:34",
"content": "Lol this video is so old XDI wonder if this is how long the hackaday logs actually go and this blog entry’s content was new when this was written. Most of the blogs were launched automatically some time [further comment deleted per CIA request]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421414",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:17:36",
"content": "@third: tjanks for the awesome video. I wasn’t aware of that. What a giant nerdgasmic cumpilation.This night I’m gonna count hopping robots instead of sheep…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421439",
"author": "Polymath",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:13:32",
"content": "The only thing its missing is a little speaker so it can scream “GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” every time it clears a fence. Or every time it spots an intruder. It screams, they freeze, and it whacks them in the head.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421456",
"author": "toodlestech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:31:02",
"content": "Super old news.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421457",
"author": "FMX4LIFE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:33:36",
"content": "All is fun and games until you try to jump while driving on soft dirt or sand.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421458",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:33:58",
"content": "@madcows — Wouldn’t be the first time our govt pulled a stunt like that. When NASA was testing Space Shuttle tires, they needed a way to safely deflate them before they exploded. Their solution? An toy RC tank with a drill mounted to it.http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/LSRA/Small/EC95-43199-7.jpg",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421463",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:45:30",
"content": "It might be old, but I ain’t seen it.And when I did I said, “Get the F out of here” right out loud by myself.Wow",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421485",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:32:37",
"content": "@ Tempestian – yeah, Boston Dynamics made the Big Dog – Corrected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421592",
"author": "DudeGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:13:25",
"content": "I totally thought this would be cool when I was in the 3rd-4th grade. Back when it was all about RC Cars.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421607",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:45:20",
"content": "They need to refine this concept and apply it to larger vehicles so I can jump my car over red lights!…Of course, it would probably be safer to just run the light.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421636",
"author": "henry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:58:38",
"content": "old news is old",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421675",
"author": "Hack Cell",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T08:38:08",
"content": "Had this idea forever ago.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421699",
"author": "mixup2010",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T10:01:05",
"content": "They already showed this ages ago",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421899",
"author": "JRR",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:47:27",
"content": "@Hack Cell – I had the idea for a fully human-looking robot that passed the Turing test ages ago. Therefore if anyone ever designs one, it’s old news and a ripoff of my idea. ;)Yeah, these are old but it’s still impressive. If this is done with public funding, hopefully the algorithms and such are available to everyone to use and improve on, otherwise it shouldn’t be publicly funded.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422273",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:20:24",
"content": "@JRRThe video was uploaded to youtube September 2009, so yeah this news is a bit dated and people aren’t just being negative or talking about the concept alone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425287",
"author": "SG",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T18:25:13",
"content": "If you’re all too worried about being geek chic to recognize that a design three or four years old can still be relevant, you should probably stop using ethernet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.428077
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/roll-your-own-toner-transfer-dice/
|
Roll Your Own Toner Transfer Dice
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"dice",
"diy",
"games"
] |
If you happen to be in the market for some designer dice or need a set of custom dice for a game you have created, you could pay a ton of money to have them made,
or you can do it yourself
.
[Dicecreator] runs a blog dedicated to the ins and outs of creating DIY game and collector’s dice. This subject is not something that we would normally be interested in, but one particular item caught our interest – DIY toner transfer dice. Very similar to the process of creating a toner transfer PCB, he walks through the steps required for making your own dice with very little overhead.
The steps are likely quite familiar to those who have fabricated your own PCBs at home. He starts out with blank dice, sanding the sides down with increasingly fine sandpaper until they are ready for the transfer process. An image is printed on glossy inkjet photo paper, which is then applied to each die with a standard clothes iron. After a bit of soaking in water to remove the excess paper, the die is ready to go.
Sure it’s not exactly rocket science, but it is a cool little trick that would work quite well if you are trying to replace a lost die or if you simply want to make a fun gift for a friend.
| 11
| 11
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421204",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:29:02",
"content": "Why not leave this kind of stuff to Make blog?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421213",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:56:26",
"content": "@ svofskiThis isHack a Day, remember?just wish HaD, adafruit, and others like them (Make included) would stop posting the same things everyone else posts every day, its like they copy each others posts (most anyway, the only reasonI watch all their feeds is because they each have a few original posts that are interesting).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421215",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:59:36",
"content": "because someone might get the bright idea to have a computer read the dice, role it on a multi-touch gaming table, or something like that. the point is, you never know.love the dice, keep it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421233",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:23:37",
"content": "Q codes on each side! BRILLIANT!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421239",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:31:38",
"content": "@ fartfaceNo!!! Glyphs for an augmented reality game!!!I demand a free game if someone makes it ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421255",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:18:31",
"content": "@The Ideanator: you’re right. BRB, learning chinese…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421268",
"author": "mowcius",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:44:43",
"content": "Dicecreator also does QR coded dice (laser engraved) but there is some legal crap going on about it…I think his Nano Laser Engraver is far cooler:http://www.dicecreator.com/2010/07/31/laser-stories-13/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421270",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T13:49:39",
"content": "Leaving the dice aside, don’t forget toner transfer works on other things, such as project boxes:http://www.electrobob.com/toner-transfer-to-abs/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421290",
"author": "RexOfRome",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:29:26",
"content": "Oh yeah, I’d trust home made dice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421311",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:18:21",
"content": "When you have a hack about making loaded dice then I’ll be interested. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421386",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:27:30",
"content": "@RexIf you’re worried about cheaters, you’re playing with the wrong people. Unless you’re playing Illuminati, in which case make sure you catch them before the end of their turn. ;pOMG…a digital gaming table, something along the lines of Fantasy Grounds, with computer vision so it can detect what you rolled. For example, an attack roll of 8d6+5 or something, you could roll your 8d6 and the interface would calculate the total +5. Hmm…interesting. That wasn’t the part that bogged us down though, we always forgot what rules applied to cover and grenade-like scatter and stuff like that. We had digital versions of our game books (in addition to the hard copies) but none of them were properly searchable. -.-",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.480489
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/creating-music-from-gpu-noise/
|
Creating Music From GPU Noise
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"amp",
"gpu",
"guitar",
"laptop",
"pickup"
] |
Yep, that’s a picture of a Laptop rocking out on an electric guitar. In what can only be described as a truly bizarre hack [CNLohr] discovered that the RF noise from the computer can be
used to play music through the guitar’s pickup
.
Check out the clip after the break to hear an annoying, but very discernible rendition of Jingle Bells. Once [CNLohr] stumbled onto the fact that changes in what the graphic processing unit is doing was affecting the pitch detected by the pickup he started writing some code. Now he’s got a program that automatically calculates the size of the window, and produces a white square on a black background to dial in the GPU at the right frequencies.
He mentions in the notes accompanying his video that he had to turn off Vsync to get this to work right. We don’t understand why but we’d love to hear what you think in the comments.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFexroOUG_g&w=470]
| 27
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422172",
"author": "Skitchin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:27:58",
"content": "Wow! No hardware modding required makes this x1000 times cooler. Great find!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422174",
"author": "Japa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:34:11",
"content": "The Vsync probably messes with the music because it causes the rendering to wait for the screen refresh, which is at a fixed rate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430618",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T17:54:23",
"content": "Exactly, this varies the frequency to play different tunes, with a locked frequency (e.g. vsync), you’d only ever get one note.",
"parent_id": "422174",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422176",
"author": "ArtifTh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:43:55",
"content": "Hmm.. There is a programm called “Tempest for Eliza”, which can music over computer display (and it also works without any display – i tried it with HDMI cable, disconnected from monitor). Probably, this is the same effect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422185",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:08:14",
"content": "the RF noise from anything can be used to play music through a pickup..without any modification in most cases.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422194",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:24:49",
"content": "OH! What fun!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422200",
"author": "prototyper@gmail.com",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:44:54",
"content": "listening in to the RF noise emitted by electronic devices (computers, cell phones, motors, lights, calculators, you name it) as a source of sound is not that “bizzare”. in experimental music circles this is well documented and quite common. typically, a telephone pickup coil is used (rather than the guitar’s pickups), but any coil will work — the coils can be scavenged from relays/solenoids or even hand wound, and then just wired to a mono jack/plug of your choosing, and plugged into your favorite amp. there is lots of great sounds to be found this way.that being said, this is the first time i have ever seen anyone sequence this RF noise by way of programming. pretty cool hack indeed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422203",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:54:53",
"content": "That is neat. i wonder what it would sound like if he played a game on it.like solitaire or a NES emu. I used to sit for hours trying to get stuff to come up on a old TV. I actually found if you put a DS fat by an old CRT TV with nobs it will show both screens. Not vary clear but you can make stuff out.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422206",
"author": "j_at_chaperon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:06:15",
"content": "Reminds me of Tempest for Eliza.http://www.erikyyy.de/tempest/Best hacks are done with unmodified hardware !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422218",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:53:28",
"content": "Yes, yes, you can amplify RF signals……So what was the big deal here? He set his laptop on his guitar and took a picture of it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422220",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:56:52",
"content": "@NATO – The “big deal” is that he figured out how to control the sound and wrote a program to do so.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422222",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:06:12",
"content": "@NATOhe sequence the RF noise by programming and was able to make music out of it. did you watch the video?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422227",
"author": "mistermegabyte",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:20:32",
"content": "This reminds me of something I used to do as a kid with my old TRS-80 Model 1 computer. If you took an AM radio and tuned it to a blank area on the dial and set it next to the TRS-80 you would hear different tones as you pressed different keys on the computer’s keyboard. Someone published in a magazine (Byte?) which keys produced which notes and a bunch of songs you could play and which keys to press to play em. Pretty cool stuff circa 1980-81……",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422233",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:30:01",
"content": "Meh. I did this on my TRS-80 in 1978.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422235",
"author": "Psuedocode",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:32:06",
"content": "What fun stuff!I recall doing this with CPU noise on the Radio Shack TRS-80 model I back in 1979. I enjoy seeing how everything old is new again when being re-discovered by the next generation.Keep up the good work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422238",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:43:28",
"content": "This is so sick! Wonder how he thought to do this",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422240",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:48:07",
"content": "I want to do the opposite: I want to take the noise out when I have headphones plugged in.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422244",
"author": "CNLohr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:00:01",
"content": "I am totally surprised this got on hakaday! Especially considering it’s 2 years old.Y’all should check out the newer one where I turn it into a musical instrument of sorts:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAd8Oe9dDbU@Japa – it only works with vsync off.@Andrew – I was looking at tabs on my laptop with my guitar on my lap, and as I scrolled up and down it made a horrible scratching noise. It was just a matter of playing around before I found@Everyone – I never knew Tempest for Eliza existed until now thanks! The principles are (pragmatically) very different since my effect relies on the GPU sucking power from the system, and the other has to do with the cable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422267",
"author": "lizardb0y",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:05:39",
"content": "Reminds me of this little number from 1975. I remember a similar program for the ZX81 (TS1000) as well.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgYhVnmeWrk",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422275",
"author": "CNLohr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T19:40:04",
"content": "Huh, I’m really surprised this made the cut for hackaday, especially considering it happened like two years ago.I don’t know why it didn’t link on youtube, but a year after I posted this, I made it into a musical instrument of sorts…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAd8Oe9dDbU@Japa – You have to turn VSync off, otherwise you only get one note.@Andrew – I had my guitar on my lap and my laptop right next to it while I was reading tabs, when I scrolled up/down it made hideous tearing noises.@Everyone – thanks for the Tempest for Eliza thing! Today was my first experience seeing it – it’s fundamentally different since this RF is from the power the GPU sucks and the other is the video output, but awesome!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422360",
"author": "Nicolai",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:11:14",
"content": "Well, as many of you say, you recalled doing it back in the days. Now remember this. It has actually become alot more difficult to do this now-a-days, because you don’t really low-level program everything anymore. So today, alot of other things will play a role too.So yeah, It’s the same. But I would also say a little more challenging today.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422517",
"author": "anon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T11:15:38",
"content": "The RF carries more than the music. Think *Security”: Do you think your display can be read and the keyboard presses you make picked up remotely? Be paraniod.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422549",
"author": "bob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:52:08",
"content": "@anonI think you must have missed all the Tempest references…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422831",
"author": "mk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T23:36:04",
"content": "@Matt:”I want to do the opposite: I want to take the noise out when I have headphones plugged in.”You could write a program to invert the sound and play it back to cancel the noise.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424548",
"author": "Nick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:53:41",
"content": "I’m impressed! I love projects that inspire. I wonder what else you can do with this kind of idea?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425534",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-30T01:04:38",
"content": "I can’t help but wonder if it would be possible to use this or a similar technique, with a spatial dimension added, to construct an image of hardware activity. Not a memory dump, but perhaps something like a hardware usage overview or a “shadow” of the programs running. If magnetic resonance can be used to track brain activity in real time, it might be possible to extract something like an EEG from a microprocessor.Note: I am a complete n00b, so take this rambling with several hundred grains of salt",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "428914",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-08-05T13:09:03",
"content": "@tooth, mjrippe…He figured out how to do something that his computer already did…………………..You’ve never made a PC beep before? For instance, write a program in assembly that plays a beep out the motherboard’s speaker simply by alternately driving the speaker high/low at a certain interval…? This is beyond trivial, I did it in my first programming class like 18 years ago… Now people do something like this (but much less in depth from a programming perspective) and it gets praised as a “hack”….?What the hell happened to this field? When I was a kid, creativity still existed. Now, this. :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.67958
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/23/cypherbot-uses-older-uc-and-retro-controller/
|
Cypherbot Uses Older UC And Retro-controller
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"atari",
"board of education",
"bs2",
"ping",
"servo",
"xbee"
] |
[PJ Allen] has been
working on a little robot
which he calls Cypherbot. The control circuitry is quite familiar; a Board of Education which features the Basic Stamp 2 microcontroller. This is an older and slower microprocessor, but it works quite well for this application since there’s no need for speed or heavy number crunching. The wheels of the bot are made out of plastic lids (we’re thinking peanut butter jars) with rubber bands for traction that are each driven by a servo motor. The third wheel is tiny and swivels as needed.
The front of the bot has a PING ultrasonic sensor mounted on a servo motor which lets the bot scan back and forth for a wider obstacle avoidance angle. In addition to the autonomous mode there’s an Xbee remote control. [PJ] picked up an Atari keyboard and is using that as the user input. Check out the little guy driving around the house in the video after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2HLGc8d95g&w=470]
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421936",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T23:47:06",
"content": "The BS2 isn’t that old…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421969",
"author": "jmicz3d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:05:15",
"content": "My first microcontroller was a basic stamp 2, at the time I had no use for anything faster.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422106",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T08:58:38",
"content": "Let me be the first to compliment he wheels!Resourceful and well implemented!Nice project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422107",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T08:59:08",
"content": "WAIT!-and the controller? RETRO GOODNESS!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422149",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T11:41:26",
"content": "Very creative…now he just needs to remove the rubber bands so it can do burnouts and remove the sensor so it can crash into things!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422228",
"author": "jmicz3d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:21:39",
"content": "@KillerBugGood idea, except he also needs to ad some bumpers and a more powerful motor so not only can he crash, he can also destroy things with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423166",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:37:09",
"content": "The “third wheel” is called a caster. Come on, hackaday; diverse vocabulary is part of hacking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424309",
"author": "Jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T07:45:53",
"content": "There’s plenty of great uses for Basic Stamps. Glad to see they’re still being used and generating hack articles!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.61753
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/23/the-firebird32-a-new-dev-board-on-the-block/
|
The Firebird32, A New Dev Board On The Block
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"codewarrior",
"coldfire",
"firebird32",
"flexis",
"freescale"
] |
Here is yet another development board to add to your list (If you are into keeping lists), introducing the
Firebird32
. There seems to be no end to the production of new development boards, following the current style the Firebird32 comes in the familiar Arduino form factor to fit all of your Arduino shields.
The Firebird32 from [Wytec] is build around the 32bit Freescale Flexis MCU [
MCF51JM128
] running the Coldfire V1 core commonly found in industrial and medical equipment. We were kindly donated a board before release, the first thing that we noticed was the onboard 8×2 segment LCD which makes the perfect debuging tool. The board along with fitting standard Arduino shields has extra input headers for a keypad, an accelerometer and an extra communication header (IC2/SPI/SCI). It’s also sporting 8 x 12bit analogue inputs, external 32k EEPROM, an RGB LED, a buzzer and an extra push button. The Flexis chip along with the beefy 32bit processor can run at a clock rate up to 48Mhz using PLL and has an integrated USB port, all of this for under $30.
So the hardware seems nice and you can plug your Arduino shields right in, but (you knew it was coming right) it is not yet compatible with Arduino sketches or code. Currently for beginners the Firebird32 is supplied with the
StickOS BASIC
bootloader, it seems like a very high level programming language which may be useful to get a LED flashing but we not totally convinced on it utilising the chips full potential. To program in C/C++ or assembly, a USBDM programmer is required and code is compiled using the CodeWarrior IDE which offers step by step debugging which is nice, setting it up is not entirely obvious but some tutorials and source code to get you started are
available
.
The bottom line is that the Firebird32 is a nice looking board with some great hardware at a low cost for projects requiring some extra power, but it is not a tool for beginners. The Coldfire chipset is quite common in industrial equipment, so the board makes a perfect stepping stone for engineers who want to learn about coding embedded hardware, or migrating to the more advanced Coldfire V2/3 controllers.
| 35
| 34
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421825",
"author": "Bryson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:05:10",
"content": "first. Awesome though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421832",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:16:31",
"content": "@Brysonಠ_ಠ",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421834",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:22:49",
"content": "Third! (who cares?)Actually, I do have a comment – it sucks that everyone is bowing to the popularity of the Arduino and it’s shields by using their non-standard header pin spacing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "448863",
"author": "Peter Hanley",
"timestamp": "2011-09-06T13:38:55",
"content": "It might suck, but disruption of existing standards is how new standards are made. When the disruption is successful, it often points to a problem with the pre-existing standard.Maybe not in this case – this particular case might just be annoying. ;-)",
"parent_id": "421834",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421836",
"author": "DanJ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:30:33",
"content": "Very cool. The free versions of the code-warrior C compilers look to support half (64K) of the flash memory.I think the stick OS in conjunction with built-in support for the ZigFlea RF transceiver is going to make a lot of quick&dirty RF projects possible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421837",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:31:50",
"content": "@ mjrippe: No, that doesn’t suck. It means that every dev board that has that spacing immediately has a ton of nearly plug-and-play hardware available.What sucks is that the stupid Arduino guys didn’t proof their first run of boards before sending them off to the factory, so now we have to live with the BS pin spacing.Lesson: Always proof your boards.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421839",
"author": "Frank",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:47:22",
"content": "Our school teaches a few courses with old MC68000 Coldfire boards. Those courses will be using ARM Cortex-M3 based dev-boards now.After playing with both (in C/C++ and assembly), I don’t see how Coldfire has any advantage over ARM. Can somebody enlighten me?And I agree with mjrippe’s comment above.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421856",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:41:09",
"content": "It’s somehow good to see a new manufacturer promote their micros like this.@Bob D my guess is that the headers were made like that intentionally so that people would buy a shield instead of a normal prototype board with holes.Let’s guess, which manufacturer will make the next arduino form factor board? My guess: NXP.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421875",
"author": "WestfW",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:38:55",
"content": "I dunno. Bunch of development boards with “non-standard” Arduino-style pinout, vs bunch of development boards each with their own non-standard pinouts… You don’t see many development boards designed to play well with protoboards; the form factor is too limiting.68k is a “pretty” architecture between RISC and CISC, and is well supported by gcc/etc. The flexis cpu always seemed like a candidate for arduino-style board with native USB support.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421883",
"author": "compukidmike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:55:56",
"content": "Just for clarification, the board is $21.90 and does not come with the lcd. That’s another $9.90. Still, it looks like a cool board and cheaper than the arduino!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421908",
"author": "chuckt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T22:01:04",
"content": "Another board and no message board support forum.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421909",
"author": "Dillon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T22:12:01",
"content": "That’s nice, but I’m still waiting for a externally-bussed dev board. Onboard (off chip) NAND & RAM would be fine, but being able to prototype an expandable system on an arduino-form board would make my year.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421923",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T22:57:43",
"content": "Apparently, it’s got a random number generator and some kind of crypto-acceleration stuff too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421927",
"author": "Mlöck",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T23:18:56",
"content": "Could you clarify a bit on the programming part? Does it require an external programming unit if I want to write “native” programs for it? Or is it humanly possible to load a new firmware onto it over the USB connection?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421968",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:01:56",
"content": "@WestfW – Well, in an ideal world everyone would use the .01 standard, not several proprietary ones but you are probably correct. Just as there are dozens of cell phone charger connectors, there could be dozens of dev board header standards. I respectfully withdraw my comment ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421994",
"author": "tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T01:46:03",
"content": "coldfire is so yesterday",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422009",
"author": "Inventorjack",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T02:28:28",
"content": "I hadn’t really looked into Freescale’s selection of chips until now. I’m surprised by the lack of beginner materials, both from the company, and the community. Maybe I’m just not searching very hard, but you look at Atmel, Microchip, TI, etc, and for most of them you can find a ton of info from a casual search.Also, as Frank asked, what’s the advantage, if any, of Coldfire over ARM?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422010",
"author": "Dormant Labs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T02:31:33",
"content": "I don’t see the segment display on it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422033",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T03:32:37",
"content": "Okay, by default it has some BASIC support accessible via serial console, but… BASIC on a 32bit MCU? Really?TBH, I’m not really sure what the advantages of the Coldfire are over ARM, if any. As a 32bit Arduino-like platform, I think the USB-programmable STM32-based Leaflabs Maple wins, hands down. (And the Leaflabs software now works with the $12 STM32 Discovery board, possibly making that the best price-vs-power value MCU combination for the hobbyist right now.)That said, I’m glad to see them aping the Arduino Micro and Nano form factors, even though there’s zero pin compatibility. For a while now, if you’ve needed a *truly* small microcontroller dev board with USB, your choices have been the Arduinos, the LPCXpresso and clones, or some little ATMega32/AT90USB boards. The more the merrier at that form factor, I say…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422034",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T03:45:12",
"content": "Same here, Dormant Labs. I’m not an electrical engineer, but I like to think I can recognize an LCD display when I see one, and on that board I don’t see one. Maybe it’s on the other side for some reason? That would be an odd place to put it, to say the least, but I can’t imagine where else it’d be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422044",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T04:31:46",
"content": "I don’t buy any board that isn’t breadboard (or at least project board) friendly…if I want a shield for some reason, I will make it myself, to my own spec.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422050",
"author": "vinito",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T04:50:54",
"content": "“Bunch of development boards with “non-standard” Arduino-style pinout, vs bunch of development boards each with their own non-standard pinouts… You don’t see many development boards designed to play well with protoboards; the form factor is too limiting.”Why is “non-standard” in quotes? THE standard is .1″ and there’s no good reason (other than marketing – bleochk!!) why Arduino shouldn’t be able to fit ready-made shields AND truly DIY shields made from simple proto boards folks feel like dreaming up. It’s Arduino’s Achilles Heel, Fatal Flaw and whatever you want to call it. I call it Stupid Goofy. It caught on DESPITE that f&@# up, not because it gave it some kind of edge. I don’t care what the originators give for an excuse, respected as they deserve to be, it was idiotic to make that spacing. Otherwise it would now be a clever design instead of a popular phenomenon with a fat white elephant dangling from it.Oh well. There are Arduino-compatible boards out there with .1″ spacing. Just too bad the shields being made won’t fit them. It’s limiting. Maybe THAT is why they did it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422059",
"author": "Digitalundernet",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T05:22:34",
"content": "Might not be the place to ask but whats a good ARM dev board for fairly cheap? I mostly want to drive a color LCD screen and some apps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422073",
"author": "SpydaMonky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T06:22:41",
"content": "I will buy one when they release it. Looks nice and if a Arduino bootloader is coming then that’s amazing! one will find its way into my pocket.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422074",
"author": "GeneralSpecific",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T06:32:32",
"content": "I see no evidence of an LCD on that board. Where is it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422105",
"author": "Tiersten",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T08:43:29",
"content": "@compukidmike – It is only $21.90 as an intro price. The regular price is $5 more at $26.90.@Aaron & @GeneralSpecific – The LCD isn’t actually shown in the picture. Go to the Firebird32 link and its shown on the pictures there. It is an optional plug in 8×2 LCD display module.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422109",
"author": "Inopia",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T09:06:53",
"content": "Hmm, $22 for a 16k/128k chip, with native USB OTG support?I think I might need to port ADK/ADB to this, so you can hook it up to your Android phone …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422111",
"author": "USBOTG",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T09:09:51",
"content": "If you ever design something to be arduino shield compatible, just make one of the header two rows next to each other and connect them to the same pins. Then you can fit a shield and a protoboard.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422152",
"author": "bear",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T12:04:27",
"content": "Re: ARM & pin spacingThis is the board I plan to get:http://www.olimex.com/dev/olimexino-stm32.htmlMaple clone by Olimex with some nice extra features. Arduino shield compatible with optional 0.1″ standard connectors available.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422231",
"author": "Dan B",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:27:25",
"content": "Just a comment of the ‘non standard’ Arduino pin spacing.There was some fore-thought about it, you can’t plug it in BACKWARDS because of the spacing.Standard pin spacing would allow it to plug in either way.It seemed obvious to me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422239",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:46:06",
"content": "that would be easily done by making the connectors asymmetrical not by using a nonstandard dimension between them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422257",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:27:26",
"content": "Digitalundernet: Various eBay vendors sell an STM32F103RBT6 board, complete with a mating 2.8″ touch-screen TFT, for $35-40, sometimes as low as $20. I have… several. :) There’s also a slightly pricier version with a little bit higher-spec chip (the -VCT6, with more flash and RAM) and a smaller LCD screen.Also, if you can still find one (you’ll have to hunt a bit), the Raisonance STM32 Primer 2 is a truly awesome little everything-in-one dev platform.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422688",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:29:49",
"content": "I am not a fan of freescale and how they handle the hobbyist community. The information for developing is like pulling teeth and they seem to not want to respond unless you are buying 100K QTy chips.As for development boards, once you are competent in what you are doing, forget about them. You are better buying chips, attaching a clock crystal and building your own boards.$1 for a perfboard$2 for a decent micro$1 for a clock crystal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422895",
"author": "deadwinter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:46:03",
"content": "So, all told, if you throw in the LCD and the USBDM* you’re talking about 40 bucks. So, I ask the experienced embedded folks here, is it worth it? I’ve heard Coldfire is not a bad thing to know.Is that just a low/high voltage ICP programmer or something more sophisticated?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423104",
"author": "z",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T14:12:20",
"content": "Is this really Wytec that makes this? Some of the pages indicate EVBPlus, but they don’t note it on the main EVBPlus site at all.Wytec is obsessed with Freescale. That’s not a bad thing. I have a few Wytec boards, but I sometimes wonder why they are so dedicated to the brand when they could focus on other architectures as well. If you look on one of the Firebrd pages, you can see that they clearly have the goal of keeping Freescale in educational environments. I think that Freescale is losing a lot of traction, and this product appears to be Wytec’s way of trying to keep its products in schools since people are moving on beyond the 68HC11 and HCS12.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.891767
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/23/frustrating-fun-with-magnetic-levitation/
|
Frustrating Fun With Magnetic Levitation
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"levitation",
"magnet"
] |
[Andrey Mikhalchuk]
built his own magnetic levitation device
and you can too… if you have the patience. He’s not using electromagnets, like the
Arduino levitator
or the
floating globe
. Instead, a pair of ceramic ring magnets and a few hours are all it takes.
The base of his device is a couple of very large ring magnets that would most often be used in speakers. It’s hard to see them in the image above because there’s an inverted plastic container obscuring them. A second (or third depending on how you’re counting) ring magnet is selected because it is smaller than the circular void in the magnetic base. It’s impossible to simply balance the magnet in the air, but spinning it is a different story. By creating a perfectly balance magnetic top, then spinning it inside the magnetic field of the base, you can leave it floating in mid-air.
Check out the video after the break. It’s a neat effect, but you really do have to have a perfect setup for it to work. [Andrey] mentions that it takes a couple of hours to fine-tune. And if the ambient conditions change slightly, it throws the whole thing off.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RbsCiorwzI&w=470]
| 18
| 18
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421816",
"author": "LoW_CoG",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T17:31:53",
"content": "hmm reminds me of inception",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421847",
"author": "Techartisan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:09:18",
"content": "Wow Ive never seen anything like it!no wait I have…http://www.levitron.com/but seriously….this is pretty cool….hopefully I get my post up before the “photoshoppped” troll comment comes up…oh…dont let me forget….This is not a hack….Wheres the Arduino?Ha now what will anyone else have left to say",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421861",
"author": "Andrey Mikhalchuk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:51:34",
"content": "Techartisan, yeap, I initially wanted to make video “How to buy magnetic spinning top”, but then decided “How to build one” would be a bit cooler. Especially assuming there is no good video about how to tune it, this would be the first attempt.Arduino is still there, I put it under the large magnet to level it :)Thanks for good comment!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421874",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:35:57",
"content": "i dont think that he used Photoshop, more likely windows movie maker. ;)looks like a fun project, but think i would be vary impatient to do so if it takes a couple of hours.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421891",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:26:23",
"content": "I see it now, table, ouija board, top, the floating spirit top! Perfect for Halloween.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421894",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:36:27",
"content": "i can tell by the magnets…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421895",
"author": "Khordas",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:39:52",
"content": "Finally a good use for an arduino; a shim to level a magnet.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421906",
"author": "Andrey Mikhalchuk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:55:08",
"content": "Well, “a few hours” is a bit inaccurate. I’d say you can assemble everything in 15 minutes if you have all the parts. Also I hope the approach described in the video and in the blog will reduce the tuning time to an hour or so.I spend many hours tuning the top primarily because I had no instructions at all.Also after some practice readjustments do not take long, especially with the electric tape.Looking at the faces of those who didn’t see this effect before definitely worth all this effort :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421945",
"author": "loprohack",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T23:55:44",
"content": "Is it okay to LOL @Jim? That is all.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421982",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:40:07",
"content": "Would it be possible to make a motor for the top, like magnetic stirrers in hot plates, so the Top Won’t Stop?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422000",
"author": "barry99705",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T02:13:24",
"content": "@MattNo, the magnetic forces that would spin a stirrer would screw up the keeper magnetic forces on the bottom.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422038",
"author": "Techartisan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T03:50:09",
"content": "I would be rather curious to see how stable the “positional lock” of the top would be if the base magnet was moved…..if it is possible to move the base while holding the top in the “sweet spot”..then hirudinea’s Ouija board might be a two axis control away from possible….but that might require powering up your “shim”duino :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422039",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T03:50:44",
"content": "Bwahaha @ Arduino magnet shim",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422051",
"author": "Hax0rflak3s",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T04:54:22",
"content": "@barry99705 Actually, Levitron has something that does keep the top going indefinitely. Seehttp://www.fascinations.com/unique-toys-gifts/levitron-accessoriesFirst item listed on the page.Not entirely sure how it works, but it is possible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422465",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T08:16:40",
"content": "This was a FANTASTIC “writeup” — and a PERFECT use for a video. I usually hate videos because they are pointless and text is much better to describe how to do something and is much faster to read, but Andrey’s video is a perfect example of when you should use video instead of text. He goes through each step clearly, and the tuning process is especially good to watch rather than read. My hat’s off to you, Andrey!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422628",
"author": "Tane",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:42:02",
"content": "@Hax0rflak3s – I have a Levitron, so obviously that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw this hack. Now, however, I’m trying to figure out how the Perpetuator and Revolution work. Either of those would be an awesome project to try and duplicate…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432033",
"author": "Andrey Mikhalchuk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:29:22",
"content": "andrew, thank you for your kind words!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432035",
"author": "Andrey Mikhalchuk",
"timestamp": "2011-08-10T19:35:44",
"content": "Tane, Hax0rflak3s, I think I have an idea about how the perpetuator could work. I don’t have neither levitron nor perpetuator. I’ll try it for one of the future episodes. Thanks for interesting suggestion!Or maybe someone can just reverse engineer it? I just don’t have neither levitron nor perpetuator.My guess would be that it uses 3+ electromagnets and either a microcontroller+hall sensor or just a 555, depending on judgement of cost vs reliability the company made.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.821016
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/23/apple-laptop-batteries-vulnerable-to-firmware-hack/
|
Apple Laptop Batteries Vulnerable To Firmware Hack
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Mac Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"apple",
"batteries",
"macbook",
"malware",
"security",
"vulnerability"
] |
When you think about hacking laptops, it’s highly unlikely that you would ever
consider the battery as a viable attack vector
. Security researcher [Charlie Miller] however, has been hard at work showing just how big a vulnerability they can be.
As
we have been discussing recently
, the care and feeding of many batteries, big and small, is handled by some sort of microcontroller. [Charlie] found that a 2009 update issued by Apple to fix some lingering MacBook power issues used one of two passwords to write data to the battery controllers. From what he has seen, it seems these same passwords have been used on all batteries manufactured since that time as well. Using this data, he was subsequently able to gain access to the chips, allowing him to remotely brick the batteries, falsify data sent to the OS, and completely replace the stock firmware with that of his own.
He says that it would be possible for an attacker to inject malware into the battery itself, which would covertly re-infect the machine, despite all traditional removal attempts. Of course, replacing the battery would rectify the issue in these situations, but he says that it would likely be the last thing anyone would suspect as the source of infection. While using the battery to proliferate malware or cause irreversible damage to the computer would take quite a bit of work, [Charlie] claims that either scenario is completely plausible.
He plans on presenting his research at this year’s Black Hat security conference in August, but in the meantime he has created a utility that generates a completely random password for your Mac’s battery. He says that he has already contacted Apple to in order to help them construct a permanent fix for the issue, so an official patch may be available in the near future.
[Thanks, Sergio]
| 45
| 45
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421733",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:15:51",
"content": "scary thought really I suppose that someone could press a key and cause the battery to shut off or even over heat and explode. It won’t be much longer then before people are needing to buy anti virus software for their batteries. hmm… I wonder if this extends to other lithium polymer powered devices (iPods, iPads and mobile phones extra)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421736",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:23:54",
"content": "Interesting research, but it looks like this is still quite a ways off from being a real threat.Getting a new firmware on the battery means you need to run the installer on the Mac, which is obviously going to be tricky. Practically speaking you would have to use some kind of a trojan application that secretly writes the new firmware to the battery, as there are very few remote exploits that could get you that kind of level of access on Mac OS.Once the compromised firmware is installed on the battery, it is easy enough to damage it, but going any farther than that seems unlikely. As he says in the original article, actually turning this into malware would require finding some exploitable bug in how the OS communicates with the battery, which is theoretically possible but far from certain.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421737",
"author": "GZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:24:08",
"content": "Apple. Worst. Security. Record. Ever.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421739",
"author": "Mark RomanL",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:30:24",
"content": "I am interested in what type of response he gets from them. In my experience, alot of companies be they large or small, can be quite hostile when you report problems.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421742",
"author": "Woofpickle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:43:50",
"content": "@MS3FGXWhat’s a EULA? I don’t know either, I just scroll to the bottom and hit “I Accept” and run the installer. BonzaiBuddy is supposed to be my friend anyways, right?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421746",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:00:56",
"content": "@MS3FGX“there are very few remote exploits that could get you that kind of level of access”It only takes one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421755",
"author": "gmrple",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:13:11",
"content": "@MS3FGX I agree that infecting the battery from outside would be a bit of a stretch, but very much a threat to people buying replacement batteries from third party suppliers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421757",
"author": "Chuck Simmons",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:18:36",
"content": "My company is seeing more and more Mac malware which is installed by user action. It is not inconceivable that social engineering methods or piggybacking with shady applications could be used to spread this sort of malware.I see it as a very real threat, and one that will likely be exploited.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421764",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:47:49",
"content": "good luck with these ‘reinfect’ claims without memory corruption..not very professional..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421765",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:47:57",
"content": "Soon to be yet another reason not to buy cheap batteries from china.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421766",
"author": "kSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:48:06",
"content": "It’s ironic that one of the reasons macs see less malware is because the proliferation of window machines make them a better return on investment for blackhacks. But there are probably more macbooks out there any single model from dell/hp/other, which could make them a more likely target for firmware hacks like this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421771",
"author": "Edwin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:57:59",
"content": "This makes me thing twice about replacing my battery with one of those cheap replacements from 3rd party’s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421773",
"author": "asdf",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T15:01:11",
"content": "Unsigned firmware with default passwords is a security problem.. no shit? hey, welcome to nsa class research.Next week we’ll cover yet another webkit bug exploiting an os that has yet to enter the late 90s security wise. also, you need to pay me for my bullshit 1995 work because well theyre bullshit enough that no one else will buy them from me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421775",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T15:04:44",
"content": "nice one. out of the box",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421785",
"author": "Oren Beck",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T15:44:13",
"content": "One major “reason” we have a duty to expose security issues is *PREVENTION* of Very Bad Things.In an ideal world, there would be ZERO malicious acts period. As we’d all be ethically above such things. Enlightened Self-Interest might be a good meme tag?Batteries are so omnipresent in our world that someone seeking to cause “Fear Of Batteries” might well be accused of creating a FNORD! effect.Call all the above “awareness Hacking?The battery exploit vector is quite real and we’ve “known” of it back since someone found a way to change the reporting in one common controller chipset. Anything that CAN communicate with another system is an exploit vector either in or outbound!It’s just never before been considered a credible threat or viable vector at all. Due to how tiny a payload one could carry in most battery controller’s memory+the usual lack of ways to push arbitrary code into anywhere useful for attack. Absent perhaps some “other code base” being seeded into the wild for being battery triggered?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421789",
"author": "JohnSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T15:55:02",
"content": "Are we gonna see things like this in the news soon?http://techbuket.net/68",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421790",
"author": "sml156",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T15:55:06",
"content": "but he says that it would likely be the last thing anyone would suspect as the source of infectionSeems to me that’s it’s the thing you do will alway’s fix it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421792",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:06:46",
"content": "People at blackhat will learn that you can update firmware from the SC on Mac and x86(where kernel allows it)..(scratches head as to how this is news)I’m still wondering how this is anything more than a potential ddos via another attack. The author only makes sensational claims regarding code execution..that’s lame marketing technique and they will be called out on it by real talents and pros..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421793",
"author": "j_at_chaperon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:07:04",
"content": "Exactly what happened to the PSP with pandora batteries. Sony has never been able (or never tried) to fix it without changing hardware.Firmware will now have to be developped with security in mind.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421805",
"author": "Donald Becker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:40:30",
"content": "I can see how changing the battery controller firmware could result in battery destruction. It might even result in a fire, although the cell physical construction attempt to prevent that even with a severe overcharge.What I can’t see is a clear path to compromising the rest of the system. Battery communication is over SMBus (essentially I2C). Other critical parts of the system are also on SMBus, but not the same SMBus. For instance, I don’t think that you can write the BIOS over SMBus.Even if you could figure out a path to the other SMBus branches, the battery controller is pretty tiny. It couldn’t hold much extra code. This might be a more realistic exploit if you replace the battery controller — not impossible, but a physical exploit rather than a remote exploit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421808",
"author": "YS",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:42:53",
"content": "Oh, hacking batteries… Yeah, I can see that I live in 21st century. :-D It seems like discovering vulnerabilities in things like forks or spoons is only a matter of time. Or, maybe, spades will be the next? :-DD",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421810",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:52:14",
"content": "@Donald Becker: They can’t see it either, it’s not mapped x86 code like with bios, it’s controller code updated via SC.It’ll take a memory corruption in controller buffer to get code execution(patchable driver), they don’t have that, just the sensationalism.The only thing remotely impressive is custom firmware, and that’s only if it’s not just a hexed copy..This sales contracts and software despite the nuances though..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421814",
"author": "Oren Beck",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T17:07:13",
"content": "Ok- here’s the reality check list.Starts with what’s been said RE “how” that battery controller com link works. Follows with just how many bytes of code can be put into a FUNCTIONING controller absent physical alterations or using a different chipset. Ends up at- First Evaluation, apparently an exploit is needing both code on battery AND in the device powered by that battery. Lacking both elements, an exploit appears unable to do anything beyond deny use of the battery/device or damage/destroy battery.Now, the longshot of destroy battery=destroy device and surroundings is indeed NOT to be overlooked as a non-trivial event.But, I’d worry more about more drop dead simple exploits like folks who charge phones from a USB port on their ‘puter. Here’s where some people will be getting very coldly afraid.That Android phone you use, the one with that cute desktop icon that shows battery charge and temp in both C&F.. It’s got comms from the market application to the battery. How well do you trust all that code now? Including the code/controllers in the additional cheap batteries you bought online..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421822",
"author": "liard nelson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T17:51:06",
"content": "Cant wait to see the first “Breaking News” about this… scare people away from cheap Batteries, tell em to buy original certified batteries for a silly price to be safe from Malware.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421826",
"author": "patman2700",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T18:09:17",
"content": "Firmware should really be checked as a vulnerability, as [Charlie] says. Case in point:http://goo.gl/ynt09",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421849",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:16:26",
"content": "***THEY DON’T HAVE CPU CODE EXECUTION***geez..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421858",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T19:45:12",
"content": "post didn’t showI posted something",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421879",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:43:45",
"content": "This seems like the sort of thing that the darwin kernel would do a good job of preventing. (And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why macs are more secure than windows boxes. Good design, not product obscurity.)Anyway. Very interesting idea. I’m curious what other manufactures use batteries with a host flashable eeprom on them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421881",
"author": "Volfram",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:49:47",
"content": "Anyone who says this is not a problem because “There are very few vulnerabilities” or “it’s just a concept” would be wise to read the following article by Hack-A-Day regular and software and hardware hacker extroardinaire, SpritesTM himself:http://spritesmods.com/?art=biostick&page=7It only takes one security loophole and interest from the blackhat community(like what happened to Sony) developing the bootstrap tech, and every script kiddie in the world(Anonymous, as they like to be called) can do whatever they want to a system.Nice work, Apple.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421882",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:55:46",
"content": "Well, thats what you get for having flashable firmware in a battery. You’d think that these things would be set read only at the factory, with some sort of special interface (i.e. hardware) needed to write them.Rumour has it that pretty much all the common laptop manufacturers use this technique to allow them to fix common problems on the fly.I can see this being the next laptop battery recall issue. “may be able to act as virus host or potentially vent with flame if infected”.. !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421884",
"author": "Volfram",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:55:57",
"content": "Also worth noting is that malware exploits aren’t the only possible use for this technology. The battery firmware is responsible, remember, for monitoring battery charge and temperature to ensure your battery isn’t drained too quickly(damaging the battery life), run too hot(damaging the battery chemistry) or overcharged(causing the battery to leak and possibly explode). All it really takes is someone who wants to hurt a lot of people(again, Lulzsec or the more hostile portions of Anonymous would love to get their hands on this) to make every single Macbook that Apple sells into a suicide bomb.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421892",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:27:53",
"content": "Doubt you could make the pack catch on fire this way, there are hardware failsafes to prevent this.However you probably could “brick” the pack with no warning at all by having the controller overwrite the battery serial number etc.I could be wrong however, if someone cut corners and implemented the failsafes in software then it might be possible to cause a meltdown in software, in which case a LOT of people in Homeland Security will be very very worried right now and on the phone to Apple right now ™ to resolve this via compulsory firmware update.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421893",
"author": "Oren Beck",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:34:04",
"content": "The compulsory firmware update of course is a zero day for some new Very Bad News.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421896",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T21:39:54",
"content": "well, great. can you reset my old iBook battery to a decent level, because i just know Apple battery management is bull",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421971",
"author": "Pyrofer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:08:17",
"content": "@GZ,You said Worst security ever.You were wrong.So Wrong.I only need say one word to make apple look good.S o n y .Now THERE is your worst ever most things.Seriously though, Firmware updates in the battery?I see 2012 to be the year that a computer finally spends more time updating than being used for actual productive work, by 2015 the world will collapse as the collective updates take more than 24 hours each day and all computers cease to function (or at least run like windows ME).Cant they just make stuff that works to begin with and NOT have patches and updates. Jeez.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421972",
"author": "ejonesss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:15:08",
"content": "you may be able to return the batteries to apple for exchange.just dont say that you was tinkering with the firmware.you may be able to destroy the firmware to the point of making it unreadable or even accessible so even if apple puts the batteries on the diagnostic unit it will be undetectable even by the test unit.if apple should ask for the laptop back just go out and get a new one to send back to prevent apple from detecting tampering",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421974",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T00:21:15",
"content": "I’m going to put on my tinfoil hat for a second here:Maybe this is a tool for Apple to remotely disable batteries. After x number of cycles, some code lingering in OS X decides to brick the battery.Anyone saying OS X doesn’t have a huge amount of security flaws can look to the Pwn2Own competitions where Apple products are _always_ the first to fall (on the order of minutes).This doesn’t mean I’ll sell my MacBook, though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422029",
"author": "Oren Beck",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T03:11:51",
"content": "@Brian Benchoff: It’s not tinfoil hat after the HP expiring ink bit. IBM and more than one early big iron mainframe company used to have “suicide clock” code of a sort in leased machines.Call this and several other situations Very Good Reasons to demand Open Source code even in microcontroller firmware. As if the code is Open- there’s “less chance” of exploits remaining unseen. Zero day stuff is also liable to become an endangered, hopefully extinct concept if all alpha and beta releases were compared to production code. That way- many categories of hidden malware would not have so wide an array of unpatched vectors to bite into. Apple’s just had another bite taken out of it’s arse. Call it a sacrifice on the altar of Closed code? You’d not think a battery and the powered device’s code are in the same realm of needing to be transparent. This is what happens more easily in secrecy than transparency. Stuxnet 2.0 in a battery controller- UPS? seems not implausible after all.Uh- how many folks reading this have any UPS boxen with a comm cable to a networked ‘puter??Sleep well while thinking that last implication over.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422054",
"author": "Volfram",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T05:04:21",
"content": "@Pyrofer: the exploit is based on the fact that the default copy protect password for Macbook batteries is always the same. Sounds a lot like the thing where the “random number” used to generate the verification keys for PS3 software was always the same. I’m gonna call a tie here.@Oren Beck: Ironically, that’s exactly why I chose the Sony Reader over the Kindle or Nook. No network connectivity means that’s one piece of equipment Sony can’t remotely brick, so long as I never use their software to communicate with it.(and boy, they’d probably love to brick it so I have to buy the touch version.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422154",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T12:14:04",
"content": "You can prevent people from charging there batteries if they run your code as sudo..yawnbatteries catching fire? If you don’t know the chip supplements analog components then you shouldn’t be ‘enlightening’ us hot shot..I challenge anyone to prove any of these claims(except writing to the chip). If you’re going make sensational claims at least have a clue what you’re talking about..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422163",
"author": "Volfram",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T13:57:56",
"content": "I’m not really going to trust security advice from the guy who has lost all of his prior employers due to software security issues. All I really know is that you can never be too careful about security, and that requiring elevated permissions status to make critical changes to your system will never be sufficient if that same elevated permissions status is also required to install new software to the system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422196",
"author": "deathventure",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:29:38",
"content": "with the recent changes of the ability to write to cmos and bios through OS, I can see the same happening to the overall system itself. EUFI bios implementation with a controlled killswitch is also a new possibility with advancement. EUFI is also another possible way to implement a new way of proprietary control for certain vendors that don’t want you to use other vendors not in the special associations they have.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422408",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:23:34",
"content": "@deathventure: “recent”? you obviously googled the wrong query. This has been possible since 8 bit with increasing component support..This is why there is such thing as ring0..if you privilege software to modify firmware it’s your own fault..apple hasn’t done anything wrong..and the claim this gets cpu code execution is total BS as will be pointed out at blackhat when this marketing garbage goes on presentation..The controller can’t overload cells because it only uses GPIO for power bus monitoring, and can’t get CPU execution without driver-based memory corruption which this incompetent marketing-puke only wishes he had..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422413",
"author": "thefatmoop",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:57:27",
"content": "A soon to be addition to backtrack linux lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "622798",
"author": "Howard Stamant",
"timestamp": "2012-04-06T22:09:04",
"content": "Replace the battery too while your at it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.059545
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/radio-shack-will-now-stock-cellphones-cellphone-accessories-arduinos/
|
Radio Shack Will Now Stock Cellphones, Cellphone Accessories, Arduinos
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"radio shack"
] |
A few months ago, we covered
Radio Shack’s efforts to suck less
, and the Radio Shack DIY team has now come back with the
top ten suggestions
submitted. Of course Arduinos make the list at number 1, which we somewhat expected for beginner projects. Here’s the entire list in order:
Arduino
More kits and project suggestions
More introduction/instructional books
Larger LED selection
Larger resistor selection
TONS more capacitors
DIY audio and speaker equipment
HAM radio gear
More competitive pricing
Stronger sales force
For all the jest of the headline, we know we’re coming down too hard on Radio Shack. We tried pricing out individual components on Digikey matching what was in a
150 in 1 electronics kit
, and learned the profit margin on these kits are razor-thin. That being said, we long for the days when our local, independent Radio Shack – staffed entirely by
really weird and awesome people –
was still in business. They couldn’t turn a profit because of the 3 corporate Radio Shacks less than 10 miles away.
Tell us what Radio Shack got wrong in the comments section. We’ll put “There aren’t any individual AVR and PIC microcontrollers” down as our complaint.
| 123
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421469",
"author": "Jason",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:04:25",
"content": "freekin sweet",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421471",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:13:34",
"content": "FIRST!haha, just kidding.While I am a little disappointed that there aren’t individual PICs and AVRs, I’m happy there are at least arduinos.I talked to my other (almost, 45 minutes away) electronics store about discrete controllers and they said that they would never carry them because they can’t get them any cheaper than I can (Digi-Key) so they could never afford to keep a stock of them. The problem is that there are way too many assholes saying “I can save a dollar by ordering online” and don’t buy locally.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421473",
"author": "truthspew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:14:03",
"content": "Where Radio Shack really went off the track was when it became a consumer audio/video store.It can get back if it even started stocking discrete components again. Thing like, hookup wire, solder, good soldering stations, Panavise, etc.Then maybe some transistors to switch those LED’s on and off. In essence, become a local MakerShed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1687363",
"author": "hf",
"timestamp": "2014-08-04T15:05:16",
"content": "I wholeheartedly agree.",
"parent_id": "421473",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421475",
"author": "Robby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:17:29",
"content": "omg cell phones??!!! AND accessories???!!!wait, that was the joke, right?the last time I was in one (about a year ago) the kid working there (probably 18-22yo) couldn’t explain to a customer what HDMI was.i’ll say Radio Shack did wrong by putting people in the stores that don’t even know the most basic thing about current technology let alone what those 2 small cabinets in the back had inside them… hint: all that was left of what “Radio Shack” should be, a few pull-out drawers of pieces, parts, and maybe a resistor or two…this is in Indianapolis, IN. I can only hope it’s different elsewhere.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421476",
"author": "r_d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:18:59",
"content": "Radioshack’s big problem always was that they stocked big items (such as ultrasonic range finders and basic stamps) without any of the important supporting components. This is _absolutely not_ what you want in a retail outlet. People go retail when they need something right away — like if you need a shift register or 2n7000 in a pinch.Two other big problems were outrageous pricing (bulk pricing should be available) and stocking tiny amounts of each part (try building a BLDC driver with only two IRF510!).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421477",
"author": "BiOzZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:19:53",
"content": "and the arduinos will only cost $69.99!wouldn’t surprise me XPi use radioshack when im to impatient to wait for allelectronics.com or alltronics.com or newark or whoever to ship",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1687762",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2014-08-04T17:54:28",
"content": "I would support RS with purchases of discreet components (if they actually had them) and Adruino’s and kit’s etc., but not at the ridiculously high mark-up they have.",
"parent_id": "421477",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421478",
"author": "Greensystemsgo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:20:03",
"content": "I just remember radio shack of the old, 1/5th of the store had beepers, and rc cards, the rest were just drawers of components. Now MAYBE 1/5th is componets and the rest is laptops and tv’s and stereos and gaming consoles and ugh.I dont mind paying a little more for having the item i need day of, not having to wait for shipping and to support a local business. But if they dont carry it then im left with no choice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421480",
"author": "tromano32",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:22:07",
"content": "this is nice.. I have been disappointed with RS for many years… I can’t wait to buy all my gismos and parts locally were I can pick it up, look at it and buy it… its a step in the right directions…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421483",
"author": "xeracy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:26:15",
"content": "@BiOzZ – “to impatient to wait for allelectronics.com”Im so glad that place is 10 min away from my house ;D its my candy-store…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421484",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:28:19",
"content": "Good on em. I never thought they’d actually make a real go of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421487",
"author": "madcows",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:34:03",
"content": "* Inconsistent parts selection between stores* Poor overall parts selectionWhat should they carry? A good start would be to carry a lot of the component inventory their on-line competitors carry – I’m not talking about Mouser, or Digikey, but more like SparkFun, Adafruit, etc.They obviously need to carry some microcontrollers, but I think the support components are much more important – as those are the things you’re most likely to need/want IMMEDIATELY when working on a partly completed project.They do have some cool prototyping circuit boards, but I’d like to see some more still.Lastly, we don’t need no fancy packaging if all it does is make the product more expensive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421488",
"author": "Marvin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:34:34",
"content": "I can tell you exactly where they went off track! I was a 10 year veteran of their sales force. They started to lose customers when they instructed their sales force to sell cell phones and push them on EVERY customer. My regulars that came to me for the handfull of caps, and relays, and solder didn’t want these. They know about them, some asked about them. But when management started asking WHY? arent you selling a phone to that guy? Thats the start of it. Next was the branding….Tandy, Realistic, Optimus, Micronta, brands that were sold and stood behind by trained sales staff. I understand them changing around a bit with PC’s. Big guys like Dell, Hp, and IBM could crush Tandy and did. We all know that other manufacturers made their hardware, Pioneer made their stereos, sony made a few of their walkmans. But the first RCA TV that showed up on the shelf was the end. Radio Shack wanted to compete with Best Buy and tried carrying the brands, but didn’t have the prices or the indepth training like their own brand. Lastly, (sorry for the rant, they really screwed up a fun job) management assaulted the sales people that took pride in knowing the difference between a pc mount connector and a wire mount. Knowing that a 555 timer wasn’t for 555 eggs. They completely frowned upon salespeople taking time with customers to find that exact part they were looking for, the exact resistor value they needed, the exact wire to hook up their project, or god forbid, everything they would need to get started soldering. To spend 1/2 hour with a customer to help them out to get what they need and have a $12 sale made their heads explode. But cram a cell phone down somebody’s throat that doesn’t really want one and lock them into a 2 year contract they can’t get out of with an extended warranty they’ll never use….stand back they’ll love ya forever. In short…you HAD experienced salespeople that could help, you HAD customers that would cross a desert to get the part they needed and pay a bit extra to get it now, and you stuck it in everybody’s a$$ because you wanted to be Best Buy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421489",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:42:45",
"content": "The Radio Shack in my town has had Arduinos and a few “project” type things for a couple months now. They are kind of pricey and they are only sold in kits but it is a big step in the right direction",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421490",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:43:04",
"content": "@madcows – I do still use them for the occasional capacitor, 5v regulator and protoboards.Everyone is right though, they need a wider selection of common parts and more sane pricing. I’m not sure why they’re going to chase the HAM thing, but I guess it’s better than more cellphones and crappy RC cars.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421491",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:45:17",
"content": "Our radio shack will not be stocking arduinos and they only stock mostly cell phone related items. I wouldn’t buy anything from RS unless it was a must have right now item. I’ll stick to online ordering, at least then I don’t get asked by the sales person “What does this do”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421492",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:57:29",
"content": "“The problem is that there are way too many assholes saying “I can save a dollar by ordering online” and don’t buy locally.”It’s a global open market, why would you buy locally when you can buy cheaper elsewhere. What possible benefit does buying locally give you? It’s not like buying a bike where you might want it fitting and servicing, they either have it or they don’t and if they don’t you go elsewhere and get it posted.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1701686",
"author": "Timbits",
"timestamp": "2014-08-10T00:10:53",
"content": "For the “Need it Now” factory. I have had those 7pm moments where I suddenly need a regulator R.F.N! I usually end up buying something with the part I need and then salvaging it in the parking lot. We don’t have Radio Shack in Canada anymore… it’s called “The Source” and actually sucks worse than what passes for Radio Shack. Sad, sad…",
"parent_id": "421492",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421496",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:11:57",
"content": "@ James- I agree it’s not as if these components are manufactured in the building down the street. However I would shop there more often if they knew what “I” was talking about and, had a greater selection of parts and kits. I haven’t checked so please correct me if I’m wrong, but I would like to see RS ship free to their stores, as I said I haven’t ordered from them online so I don’t know if they do this, but it would make me more inclined to buy from them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421497",
"author": "Don",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:14:59",
"content": "I feel Radioshack-brand Arduinos coming",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421498",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:15:46",
"content": "I recently compared costing at the end of a project write up,If I buy resistors online, I can buy 100 for 68pIf I go to the uk’s radio shack equivellant they are 25p each, I’m not being an ass hole for not shopping locally, I’m being sane, reasonable and stocking my parts bin, if I need three resistors in a project then it’s cheaper to buy 100 online and possibly never use 97 of them.I’m not the ass hole, the store and it’s 5,000% mark up are the ones being ass holes here.That’s the only thing that they got wrong in my opinion.(our uk version of rs (maplin) already stocks pic programmers and USB breakout boards, as well as lots of belle an kits. But the price is still the thing that stops people from going there).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421499",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:17:47",
"content": "Sorry, I mean that what they’ve got wrong is that aligning their prices with “the teal world” should be their #1 priority.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421504",
"author": "fk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:20:52",
"content": "“I feel Radioshack-brand Arduinos coming”Tandino?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421507",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:28:30",
"content": "Lol @ Arduino topping that list.They should sell padded tools and Fisher Price My First Electronics kits given their target demographics.The one down the street from me sells slide pots and touch sensor kits, so if they’re going to get even cooler stuff I’m game.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421519",
"author": "dandeeman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:41:48",
"content": "The only thing that I can find at RadioShack that isn’t cheaper online are their knobs. Every time I need to make a project look a bit spiffier, I’ll just drop by the local RS and pick up a four pack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421532",
"author": "Ryan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:45:41",
"content": "Microcenter already carries a large number of sparkfun products…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421534",
"author": "chuckt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T00:54:51",
"content": "“Stronger sales force”? They already accost me at the door with “Can I help you find something?” instead of letting me look which is why I do a U-turn and leave.I like to do my own thinking or I can’t be happy and they only bother me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1708412",
"author": "static",
"timestamp": "2014-08-12T06:12:14",
"content": "LOL your bank account mist be pretty healthy from not buying merchandise because of all those U turns you must be making. I don’t know of any successful retail store don’t train their staff to great everyone who enters the store with some version of may I help you?",
"parent_id": "421534",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421548",
"author": "Doug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:03:54",
"content": "Remember that there are company stores and franchise stores. Many of the franchise stores (like the one across form O’Reilly and the Maker’s Shed in Sebastopol) have a bunch offp off the wall stuff like Arduinos and shields. It will be nice that the corporate owned stores will start carrying better stock.Also, I thin what was meant by “stronger sales force..” was knowledgeable people, not pushy people. I remember some guys that worked at the store in Mountain View that would just sketch out a class AB amp for you and help you pull the parts.Good move RS!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421551",
"author": "MM54",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:28:35",
"content": "I don’t know that they need a stronger sales force (I too can’t get more than five feet in the store before I’m attacked by people asking how they can help), but rather a smarter force. My last trip there I just needed some contact cleaner/lubricant. When I asked about it, explaining that I needed to free a seized rotary switch on a B&K 707, I thought drool was going to come out of agape mouth. After explaining it was a 25-position rotary switch with several amps capacity on each terminal, and that they don’t have anything close to what I’d need to replace it, and that I don’t want to replace it anyways, he led me to the shelf with the contact cleaner I was already looking at and informed me he had never used any of it so he didn’t have any suggestions.Also, they should start carrying more potentiometers. Their selection around here is a couple weird value trimmers, and a couple long-shaft 1/4w linear pots. Forget logarithmic ones all together.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421553",
"author": "Hiatus138",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:29:30",
"content": "I was quite pleasantly surprised when I walked into RS recently, and saw that they had trebled or quadrupled the size of the tool/components section. They added things like board etching supplies, IC sockets, project boxes, higher quality soldering equipment, kits from velleman, IC test leads (the tiny clip on ones, that fit side by side on a dip IC’s leads), what looks like the whole line of Forrest Mims’ books, just lots of actually useful stuff.Resistors still come in something like a 20 pack for 3 bucks, and pots are like $4 each, so that sucks, but I think they are actually putting some serious effort into pulling us hobbyists back in.I have my fingers crossed, hoping that they stick to it, but it looks like quite a good start.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421556",
"author": "SunGoD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:35:58",
"content": "When I was a young kid I got a “Build it Yourself” Motion detector from the Shack. It came with a naked PCB , Manual with Instructions, Schematic and tips, and a few bags filled with the needed components.I grabbed my soldering iron and finished it in 2 days (reminded me of a Lego set). I was very happy when I put it in it’s enclosure, added batteries, and it rang it’s door bell chime.My Point is, Kids are smarter then they seem. Vex robotics were a step in the right direction, and I’m sure most kids would rather build there R/C toy car from scratch then buy a “ready-to-roll” model. Didn’t they learn anything from there ZipZap craze. (More Vex, much cheaper please)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421558",
"author": "sometechguy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:45:33",
"content": "I understand the higher cost associated with stocking parts in house and can deal with that for the few items I need now. But if they could expand their selection of online parts, price them at a reasonable rate and ship to store I would buy more from them than other online sources. Even the less technical sales force in the store will be able to offer better customer service to regular customers by knowing that I don’t want another phone right now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421575",
"author": "dbear",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T02:53:04",
"content": "After abandoning the hobbyist for years and finally reducing the parts down to 4 square feet of floor space RS finally realizes they can’t compete with Best Buy, and WalMart much less the online sellers. Wait, Hobbyist, We love you, We want you back now! Never mind that you can pay a third of what we charge to get your stuff online. We know you still love us!I’m glad I sold my stock last year.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421577",
"author": "TedFoolery",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T03:01:48",
"content": "A few years ago, I needed some parts for a project and went to my local RS. The guy that rang me up was an older gent and just looked at me in astonishment and then looked at the items I put on the counter and yelled “Parts! Someone’s actually buying parts!” (he was the ‘stronger sales force’ of yesteryear.The next day, I realized I picked up the wrong caps and had to return to the store to get the right ones. When I went to the counter, the employee was some kid still in high school and he just stared at me in bewilderment because he had no idea what a capacitor was and didn’t even know they sold them (the ‘not-so-strong’ sales force)I really do hope they push this stuff and have more kid-friendly kits, and maybe even advertise it. Only good will come of it. I see RS as the beginner’s corner for hacking – not for the price, but for the convenience of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421579",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T03:27:20",
"content": "North of Baltimore we have a local shop called Baynesville Elecronic where I go for all my last minute capacitors, resistors, fuses, connectors, etc. However, I recently wen there only to find someone had bought EVERY 100K pot in the store: Linear, Audio, Stepped, 1/4 watt, 1 watt, switched, whatever! With a bit of trepidation I stopped at the Radio Shack on my way home and wonder of wonders – they had two left! Of course damn near every other time I went there I got skunked…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421580",
"author": "Hack Cell",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T03:31:14",
"content": "Radio Shack is epic fail. You can’t have a chain of stores where 1% of the sales force is knowledgeable about the products you sell. Not even basic training. If SparkFun had a brick and mortar store, now that would be something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421582",
"author": "Neff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T03:31:51",
"content": "I think that one of the biggest disappointments for me when it comes to Radio Shack is their lack USB connectors. They have every single connector that you can think of, but they don’t have a single USB female jack connector, or male plug connector. You’d think that with the popularity and usefulness of USB technology, then Radio Shack would support that more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421591",
"author": "vinito",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:09:23",
"content": "They’re a little late. Futile attempt if you ask me. Starting to carry Arduino now is at least a couple years late. They used to carry basic stamp kits back before Arduino (I bought one). Why Hosannas now at this “leap forward”? Arduino has evolved a few steps over the years and I don’t see RS keeping up with the changes too well while the online sellers seem to add the newest ones almost immediately.But any steps in this direction are welcome since they’ve appeared to give up on it almost totally in recent years.I’m very skeptical that they’ll be supporting significant changes in their sales force. They may train them a bit about available products but don’t expect anything like the days of yore when there used to be a resident nerd or few in most every store.Honestly I wouldn’t want to be a radio shack corporate strategist these days. Times have simply changed and chasing this shadow may ultimately just be too much cost and effort for the payoff. We’ll see.Like I said though, any steps in this direction will be welcome in my book. But I won’t be removing my internet sources from the bookmarks any time soon, hehe.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421594",
"author": "T",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:18:31",
"content": "How the hell they tell that it is not proffitable to sell single microcontrollers? ATmega328P (Arduino) is 5$ in Digikey and when you get 100 of them they are only 2.70. You can charge 100% more and still be cheaper (shipping cost)!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421596",
"author": "zacdee316",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:23:03",
"content": "If “Stronger sales force” means that they’ll be more knowledgeable, there isn’t much more I could hope for. I once went in there needed help finding some parts, the guy there didn’t know what I was talking about. Something as simple as a capacitor and he couldn’t help me find it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421598",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:25:58",
"content": "I tried to get a job there when I was a 16 year old kid…they turned me down because they said I knew too much, and their sales staff should only know exactly what they were told to know.I surprised them by being very calm and then buying several project boards and matching project boxes. As I left the store I mentioned that I had been buying about $50 worth of components a week for the last couple of years, and that this purchase was the last I would ever make there.That was almost a lie, as I returned there several times over the next couple of years looking for components that I couldn’t wait to have shipped…thankfully for my conscience, they never had anything in stock.If RadioShack wants to get me back, they are not going to do it by selling something that I can get online for less money (and without dealing with their moron sales staff). They need an in-house brand that really excels at something…something that would give me a reason to deal with them. They also need to stock the basic consumables…they don’t even sell Arctic Silver 5!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421608",
"author": "William Hightower",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:50:42",
"content": "Anybody remember TechAmerica (Tandy). Basically Radio Shack parts corner on steroids. Not to pricey but had a large selection. I shopped there a lot and mail ordered harder to find parts and items I needed a lot of. Well they’re gone. All I have locally(within 20miles) is Radio Shack and Fry’s. I very rarely step in Radio Shack and when I do they either are out of stock or do not have it period (they do try to sell me a phone). If they would at least keep the most basic parts in stock I would use them. Otherwise To try them first takes me in the wrong direction to get to Fry’s. So what happens is I build these huge list of common parts and micros and I stock up online. Example. My monitor died. Needed 4-470uF caps. They did not have 4. Solution $60.00 order from Digi-Key. I am stocked now. They abandoned the hobbyist market a long time ago, now they want us back. Well that list of theirs would be a good start.If it weren’t for the Old Radio Shack of the late 70s with books and components, I would not have gotten interested in electronics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421609",
"author": "Skeltor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:52:43",
"content": "Fry’s has way more electronic components. I was actually surprised at them BECAUSE of my experiences with radioshack.Microcenter at least has SOME stuff. RS only has a few harder to find a/v connectors and thermal paste. Face it, most specialized things HAVE to be ordered online, they’ll be cheaper too. Everything at all the stores is jacked up.And I don’t know about the golden days of ratshack. They still didn’t know shit and always asked for your dox.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421611",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:58:42",
"content": "Bring back the battery club!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421617",
"author": "sillyzombie666",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:18:19",
"content": "yamy local radio shack has allot of this stuff, some of the kits are priced ok, $10 – $13 for simple flashing led hearts, Christmas trees and just blinking led kits. the only other kit i saw was a build your own tv pong kit, but for $40 its a rip off considering you can just go to think geek and get what appears to be the same kit for $20",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421623",
"author": "Adam Outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:40:13",
"content": "Why aren’t USB adapters on that list? You know how many times I wanted to add a USB connection to my project and couldn’t? USB is the best source of regulated, protected, and abundant 5V power known to man. They REALLY need USB connectors in the parts drawer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421625",
"author": "Adam Outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:42:41",
"content": "Bring back Armatron!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421626",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:44:55",
"content": "I think that it will be nice to have quick access to a few more odds & ends close to home but I can’t imagine RS turning into a place where I would go buy all(or most) of the hardware for a project. I can’t handle standing in line, waiting to get robbed, behind people pissing and moaning about their first cell phone bill.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421629",
"author": "Grumpy Par",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:49:22",
"content": "Yah right..and in this time of SMD electronics, they would stock only 1/4 Watt through hole resistors…Bwahahahaha…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421647",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:27:09",
"content": "Yeah…radioshack cannot compete on a level playing field; they need to build up their playing field if they want a chance.A long time ago, they sold electronic project kits that taught kids the basics of electronics…they need to bring this back if they ever hope to get the next generation in the door (the current generation and all previous generations are not coming back so easily).Actually, they need to sell a kit with an Arduino pro mini with pins, an FTDI cable, a large breadboard, and 20-30 of the most popular DIP ICs. Throw in a bunch of LEDs, jumper wires, caps, a couple pots, and a 16×2 display as well…and include detailed instructions for working with every part on a DVD…that should be the “Kiddie” kit. Hopefully the DVD would prevent kids from getting discouraged, the large size (and cost) of the kit would make them more money when parents buy the kit for XMAS and the kid never uses it, and there would be enough there that once the kid starts to get a hang of it, they can create their own things easily, and without needing to order from digikey.For the current generation that they already lost, the only thing I can think of is that they need to offer something that you can’t get anywhere else…maybe an Arduino Pro Mini, but with A4 and A5 placed so they can be used with a breadboard, and with a 32PIN ATMega328P so that there you also have A6 and A7 (also located for easy breadboard use). They could also make up a kind of fPGA-duino…if they made both of those things for fair prices, even I would stop in (or at least order online).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421648",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:28:05",
"content": "I’m kinda surprised they didn’t start selling beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Helluva markup on that stuff, and a constant revenue stream in the economically-depressed areas.Echoing many of you, I’ve had those experiences at RS where I wanted to scream, gouge my eyes out, and spit hot nails at the same time…but this is an opportunity for RS to at least get back toward the right direction. I kinda knew it was ‘the end’ of my love for RS back when I was about 12 or so (I’m guessing lol), and those goddamned gray cabinets for the discrete parts started showing up in their stores. Can’t recall whether I actually cried or not ;) but I do remember a distinct feeling of disappointment. Then the f$*king cell phone displays showed up….Now that they’re finally realizing that they’ve gotten so far away from their core customers’ expectations, and at last listened to the public (how many retailers actually do that?!), I think I can give them another shot. If there’s something I need, RIGHT NOW, and they have it for a *respectable* price, I won’t have a problem buying it from RS. For that, they’ll need a much larger variety of parts, and more than one or two of each (economy of scale and availability, anyone?); seems they’ve addressed this, so kudos, and here’s to hoping it happens.The men & women working at my local RS are good people, IMO; they’re just not as technically-minded as most of US believe they should be. To *some* extent, I’m all right with that. But they should sure as heck know someone who DOES know the answers, or at least have one or two people on staff with in-depth knowledge of electronics. I’m not expecting an EE professor (ugh…bad memories…), but not Lenny from “Of Mice and Men,” either.Heck, if they’re looking for knowledgeable people, maybe I’ll walk on over (literally, as it’s less than 500m away) and see if I can’t land a part-time position, educating their current staff if nothing else!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421649",
"author": "Jonathan Wilson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:30:24",
"content": "If RadioShack wants to succeed, they need to realize that they cant win by trying to beat Best Buy, Wal-Mart, AT&T stores, Sprint stores, T-Mobile stores and Verizon stores in the sale of cellphones and plans and get out of that market. Or at the very least, decrease the amount they stock.Also, they need to end any and all requirements that sales staff must be pushy and must push particular products or services (i.e. cellphone plans)If you replace the pushy salespeople who know nothing about the products they sell except what it says on their scripted “checklists” with salespeople who dont try to push you into buying stuff but who do know what they sell and can answer those questions you do have, that would be a great way to draw more customers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,133.979511
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/22/adding-video-out-to-the-open-pandora/
|
Adding Video Out To The Open Pandora
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"handhelds hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"openpandora",
"pandora",
"tv out"
] |
There’s very few users out there who actually have their hands on an Open Pandora Console. But the ones who do might find this hack useful for
getting TV out up and running
. It’s actually not hard at all, but if you don’t want to alter the hardware on the device you’ll first have to find a cable plug that will fit the EXT jack. This proved more difficult than it needed to be, since TI carries the connector but only sells them in multiples of 2200. A group buy was organized and we’d bet you can still get in on that action.
The connector in question carries TVout1 and TVout2 conductors. These correspond to the Luminance and Chrominance signals needed for the S-video protocol. But [MarkoeZ] wanted to use a composite connection. Turns out that’s not hard either, he hooked up the ground from the plug to the ground of the RCA jack, then connected both video lines to the center conductor, making sure to add an inline 470pf capacitor on the Chrominance side. Check out the demo video embedded after the break to see the final product.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL7NzxVVjyM&w=470]
[Thanks RBZ]
| 29
| 24
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421451",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:11:13",
"content": "The reason why I don’t have my hands on an openpandora is because its wifi performance sucks, the hw developers don’t care about it, it’s closed hardware and they increased the price significantly recently. (And also, for quite some time it even looked like it won’t ever ship to anyone anyway)I wonder why are you so suprised that noone has it ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421461",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:40:57",
"content": "Seconded.Too little way too late and for way too much.Too bad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421464",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:46:53",
"content": "Ebay banned these devices because they could be used to pirate games…I think thats idiotic. Laptops,desktops and even mobile phones can now play roms. Are they going to ban them as well?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421470",
"author": "_matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:13:24",
"content": "I had really wanted one of these devices for the longest time, and by the time I could afford one, I got a new phone with better hardware for cheaper instead.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421569",
"author": "Nardella",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T02:28:47",
"content": "This is a worthy investment for anyone who enjoys portable gaming.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421605",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:37:50",
"content": "“This is a worthy investment for anyone who enjoys portable gaming.”I assume you were speaking of the android phone…because this thing is a piece of junk that is eclipsed by netbooks that cost $200 less (and you don’t need to group buy a cable for crummy analog output; the netbooks come with HDMI output)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421661",
"author": "simon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T07:25:28",
"content": "^^That^^When it was announced, specced and planned, it was great, but with delay after delay (not, by any means, all their fault) it’s been overtaken and outprced by much newer kit.At this point, the only reason I’m still in the line for one is that it’s already been paid for.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430697",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:27:41",
"content": "Same. Very frustrated as well. It’s like the Duke Nukem Forever of gaming consoles. But I’ll be excited for about a week after mine shows up!",
"parent_id": "421661",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421677",
"author": "someone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T08:48:38",
"content": "^Yeah, of course. And those Android phones/netbooks are killed by every calculator that costs even less.Only thing: Android phones and netbooks aren’t (just) calculators.And so the pandora isn’t a netbook. Comparing those both is plain stupid, because they have complete different purposes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421697",
"author": "mixup2010",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T09:52:43",
"content": "^^^^ Agreed ^^^^^^",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430698",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:28:47",
"content": "It’s still lame when Dual Core 1 ghz android phones are about and about and my single core 600 mhz console isn’t here yet. :(",
"parent_id": "421697",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421703",
"author": "Zeno Arrow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T10:08:30",
"content": "To all those people saying a smart phone is a suitable substitute for a Pandora, what are the gaming controls like on your phone? I haven’t seen any phone (including the Xperia Play) that has better gaming controls than the Pandora built in. Perhaps you have found one, if so please share.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421709",
"author": "koomi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T11:38:40",
"content": "The Pandora actually isn’t very expensive if you consider they only produce a couple thousands, obviously it will cost more than your shiny new Sony device of which millions exist.A smart phone also is no substitution, not only because it has no proper gaming controls/keyboard, but also because a phone is made by some multinational giant who is only out for profit and gives a sh*t about you as long as you buy his stuff. This is different with the Pandora, you can talk to EvilDragon, CraigX etc. on the boards and they actually care about you.But in the end it really just depends on what you want, some prefer the Panda, some an iPhone or Android.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430702",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:30:57",
"content": "Also not comparable in that my smart phone has capacitive multi-touch and decent wifi and my Pandora won’t have either (stylus != multi-touch.)",
"parent_id": "421709",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421717",
"author": "RIUM+",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T12:24:53",
"content": "Please, tell me of a similarly-specced device with dual analog sticks, d-pad & a keyboard. There’s a VERY short list of devices that meet that criteria.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421794",
"author": "MarkoeZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T16:15:17",
"content": "Wow, just found out my video got posted here. Pretty nice for a quick recording, initially only for the board members.About the Pandora: If you are the type that enjoys messing with your electronics, you will probably like it.If you want to receive it, insert a card, and play a game, it’s probably not for you.You either like it, or you don’t. So please stop the endless discussions… Please…All comes down to what you like, and/or need from a pocketable device.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430704",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:33:14",
"content": "Nothing is black or white. Saying “you either like it or you don’t” ‘… so please stop talking about it.’ is kind of pointless. Props for the video though. What *kind* of connector is it btw? I have a feeling it’s going to take another year *after* my Pandora shows up before I get the video cable.",
"parent_id": "421794",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421865",
"author": "Homer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T20:01:00",
"content": "Zeno Arrow: I use a Wiimote with the classic controller, works beautifully for emulators.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422046",
"author": "chippy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T04:43:01",
"content": "Open Pandora fail…How many years how, and the makers of the units still haven’t ship to all it’s customers. Better yet shipping units meant for original pre-order customers that ordered years ago, but instead they get sold to new people who are willing to pay more for them. Or how about using that pre-order money to help them make another product like icontrol pad…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422052",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T04:58:49",
"content": "“Please, tell me of a similarly-specced device with dual analog sticks, d-pad & a keyboard. There’s a VERY short list of devices that meet that criteria.”For $300 you can get a netbook with windows and bluetooth…for another $60 you can get a DS3 to work with it (or for $20 you can get a wide selection of gamepads that work by USB). If you actually care about controls, why settle for the controls on the Pandora? They might be better than iphone, droid, or even xperia play controls, but that isn’t saying much.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422055",
"author": "RIUM+",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T05:15:22",
"content": "@KillerBug It’s a little bulky but my Pandora does fit in my pocket as a fully-contained device. My netbook needs a bag. Pulling out a netbook & balancing it on my lap isn’t always practical when I’m on the bus in peak-hour traffic.. Especially when it’s standing room only.My netbook is definitely better suited for general computing, but it’s hardly better for portable emulated gaming. As someone who owns both, if I’m in the mood for oldschool gaming I’ll reach for my Pandora.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422150",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T11:45:07",
"content": "I didn’t know it would fit in a pocket…certainly does not look like it would.Personally, I’ll spend the $500 on paying my car insurance for a few months…enjoy your bus ride.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422180",
"author": "RIUM+",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:50:59",
"content": "@KillerBug I do have a car but I regularly take the bus because the parking fees in my city are outrageous. The average is $25 for one hour. At that price I’ll deal with the bus :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422409",
"author": "thefatmoop",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:50:24",
"content": "neato!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422530",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T11:55:43",
"content": "@KillerBug – public transportation saves lots more than $500…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422629",
"author": "doragasu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:42:28",
"content": "I’m a First Batcher. Mine costed me around 250€, and I LOVE IT. No doubt manufacturing process of the device is a complete failure, but the device is rock solid, fits in a pocket, has perfect gaming controls for most games, battery easily lasts for 10 REAL hours and its really powerful for a device of its size and battery life (search Quake II and Quake III videos for example).It’s a pity this device didn’t come out two years ago as it was expected at first, because now it’s a good device, but two years ago this would seriously kicked asses.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424239",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T04:55:44",
"content": "@koomi: there’s a big difference between ‘they care about you’ and ‘they respond to your posts’. I think in the case of openpandora developers, it’s just the latter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430711",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T20:36:14",
"content": "Except that they don’t respond to your posts.",
"parent_id": "424239",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "961562",
"author": "he",
"timestamp": "2013-02-17T22:11:25",
"content": "I own one of the classic pandoras and I would have to say after buying mine used from my friend for 150$ which is to include the new lcd cable that was installed already that this device is probably one of the coolest hand held gadgets i’ve come across. It isnt like a laptop where you have to sit down and put it on your lap or a table, you can simply stand up and all you need is 2 hands. It has qwerty keyboard so I can document my time and information into it as im a contractor on the go which this device is excellent for that if your always on the go and being portable, keyword here is Portable and when your done with it to grab some tools in your hands all you do is chuck it back into your pocket. It’s awesome to play games and surfing the web too as well when you have some extra free time. I would have to say that I am much pleased with the pandora.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.174576
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/klout-klok-tracks-your-popularity-time/
|
Klout Klok Tracks Your Popularity, Time
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"clock hacks"
] |
[
"clock",
"influence",
"klout",
"netduino",
"tft"
] |
[Fabien Royer] has been playing around with Netduinos and he just came up with a really awesome project that will
display the time and social media popularity
. It’s a very nice build, and we’d guess that his social media influence is going to go up very shortly.
Klout
is a service that connects to your Facebook or Twitter profile and tells you how much influence you have on a scale of
1 to 100
(possibly 10 to 100. see
this
). To build the Klout Klock [Fabian] used a
Netduino Plus
, a good choice because of the integrated ethernet port. The Netduino connects to the
Klout API
to either satiate vanity or admit prestige. The display is an adafruit
TFT screen
.
What’s really interesting about this build is the handling of the memory limitations of the Netduino. Not only does the project have to store 40kb for the display, but it also has to update the internal clock, fetch and parse the Klout metrics, and finally display everything. [Fabian] got around the screen buffer issue by using the SD card on the Netduino as virtual memory.
The data pulled down from Klout was another matter entirely – the standard .Net micro frameworks took up far too much RAM, so the project connects to the Klout servers with just a simple socket connection and stores everything to the SD card. [Fabian] couldn’t find a lightweight JSON parser either, so he ended up writing one of his own. Everything is coded to be as lightweight as possible, so the final build ended up as a C++ app that was written like a C program.
Check out the video of the build in action below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYyiglSI6iw&w=470]
| 7
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420773",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:44:11",
"content": "It’s really sad when people start caring how much “influence” that they think they have on other people. What is the word for this type of self-centered thinking? It’s becoming more and more popular nowadays – this entire upcoming generation seems to think that it’s all about them. Makes me sad :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420783",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:24:03",
"content": "Apparently, it is C# (.NET Micro Framework) application, not C/C++.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420799",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:46:10",
"content": "I’m with NATO, I use “social media” for very few things, though, mostly because I am required to for work. I track software updates/releases and a few other things.When someone starts posting about how they made an awesome eggroll, or they took a big dump, or they are getting coffee I no longer follow them. Who cares.The thing I like about my real social experiences is when I can actually look at my real friend, or my real wife and we can interact with each other… for real.As for the project: at least this person is doing something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420818",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:32:56",
"content": "@NATO: Agreed. But it’s business, not just egotism, driving it.The social media companies are so popular and profitable because they’ve convinced a relatively small group of people that they need to aggressively market themselves, as if they were a product (by using their services, of course). This minority spends a disproportionate amount of time doing that, competitively accumulating hundreds or thousands of so-called “friends”. More importantly, they try to get everyone they meet to join up too. Some are annoying about it and will nag you endlessly, and I’ve even had people try to convince me I need to have a Facebook page if I want to find a good job, girlfriend, etc. Every person that joins, regardless of whether they pursue it with the same zeal, is still another customer for the social network company.It’s classic multilevel marketing, using the labor of many individuals to generate profits for a few. Not much different than Amway. The individuals involved typically think it’s all about them, and don’t realize how they’re being used.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420897",
"author": "dormantlabs.com",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:59:06",
"content": "@NATOYou should have seen this coming when myspace hit the scene. Since then all similar services have followed suit :(But I didn’t know about klout! So I’m gonna check it out. There are so many undiscovered net apis out there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420948",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:55:41",
"content": "….Facebook?….Twitter?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421313",
"author": "NATO",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:23:49",
"content": "@ChrisI laughed my ass off when you mentioned Amway… Why? Because I used to work there!!! Not as an “independant business owner” or whatever the hell they call it, but in the IT department. Those were the days. Good ol’ Ada, Michigan. Did you know that the speed limit on the company grounds is 19 miles per hour? If you go faster, dudes in chevy blazers (wearing aviator sunglasses) pull you over and have a “talk” with you. That’s how it was in the late 90’s and it probably hasn’t changed much. I loved it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.108098
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/using-a-router-as-a-linux-based-pid-controller/
|
Using A Router As A Linux-based PID Controller
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"home hacks",
"Linux Hacks"
] |
[
"espresso",
"linux",
"openwrt",
"PID controller",
"router"
] |
[Nathan] had an small router kicking around and thought that he might as well put it to good use. He had always been interested in getting a better handle on his espresso machine, and figured that the router would be
a perfect Linux-based PID controller
.
He installed OpenWRT on the router, then disassembled it in order to get access to the router’s GPIO pins. He built a small PCB that allows him to get temperature info from the machine to the router using i2c. [Nathan] put together a PID package for OpenWRT, allowing him to control the machine over SSH, though he may build in a user-friendly web interface sometime in the future.
He says that most espresso machine PID controllers he has seen come in the form of big ugly boxes slapped on the side of the machine’s case,
though we have to disagree with him
on that point. Opinions aside, he is going for a minimalist design, and while he says that he is only about half way through the project, we think things are looking promising so far.
When everything is said and done, we hope to get a much closer look at all of his code, schematics, and more information on the router he used as well.
| 23
| 23
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420727",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T11:53:35",
"content": "Wow really light on details. What model and brand router? details on the schematic? how about a bit of code?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420729",
"author": "brad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:00:55",
"content": "@fartfaceDon’t worry. HaD says it looks promising, so it must be good.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420736",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:13:21",
"content": "@fartface I say what it is on my blog. It’s a Meraki Mini With OpenWRT Backfire loaded on it. It’s an Atheros based router",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420737",
"author": "Jimbo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:14:01",
"content": "When your only tool is a hammer mill every problem looks like a car body. This obsession of using Linux to do basic stuff is maddening. Why my Panasonic Plasma TV runs a Linux kernel is beyond me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420741",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:24:27",
"content": "I don’t want to respond to everyone, but I probably will. Basic stuff now reads as doing PID calculations and maintaining an even temperature? I could buy a generic PID box, but it wouldn’t :– Be able to have a time to turn it on/off at a certain time– Can be extended to have a web interface / iPhone interface.PIDs are annoying to program and are either an ugly box next to the machine or are placed in a giant hole you cut in the frame. This is more elegant in many ways.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420752",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:55:25",
"content": "@JimboUse Linux to only blink one single LED",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420765",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:05:39",
"content": "Not quite. You have to measure the temperature with an ADC chip and a ambient temperature chip, and decide for how much of that second the “LED” should be on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420769",
"author": "LinusTorvalds",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:31:53",
"content": "I really do not see the issue with people using Linux to do simple things. I brought forth the kernel from my sweaty loins so that you all may do with it what you wish, however you wish.Some people use paint brushes to make a picture, others choose to throw paint through a weed whacker. The result is a painting, regardless of how you cut it. Different tools can still yield the same results.That said, this guy clearly had a small router on hand that is crappy at routing, but good at being a small computer that runs Linux. Why should he purchase a PID or build one from the ground up when he already has a perfectly good tool at his disposal? Can you really justify going out and buying all the components he would need to build the PID when he already had everything he needed on hand? Why buy buy buy when you can re-use, re-purpose, and recycle?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420784",
"author": "tomn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:25:07",
"content": "Screw the web interface, this thing needs a HTCPCP (Hyper Text Coffee Pot Control Protocol) interface:http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2324.txt",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420785",
"author": "noah",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:30:42",
"content": "There is absolutely nothing wrong with using more than you need to do a job. It’s about using what you *HAVE*.Nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420788",
"author": "dext3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:51:59",
"content": "uhh, using linux gives you a ton of flexibility….…unless you hate flexibility.do you hate flexibility?*flexibility*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420790",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:12:54",
"content": "whats a PID?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420792",
"author": "Dan Swanson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:18:51",
"content": "I like the idea of boiling an egg with a nuclear pile. It comfort the soul to know who is the hunter and who is the prey.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420794",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:30:00",
"content": "Never heard of a Meraki Mini, but at a glance it appears virtually identical to the original Fonera.@Andrew: PID = Proportional-Integral-Derivative. A way of controlling something that has inertia (in this case thermal inertia) with minimal over/under shoot. Also used for motor control and many other things. Modeled after how we naturally steer cars, ships, or move our own limbs to desired positions. For a more detailed summary, look up “PID Loop” on Wikipedia.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420796",
"author": "Robot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:42:00",
"content": "@Nathan,Nice work. I’m going to pass this along to a friend who is working on a self-tuning PID SousVide controller.– Robot",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420797",
"author": "Al",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:44:49",
"content": "I miss the old photos of hackaday.com, black and white, with clear tape in the corners",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420832",
"author": "Brett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:50:42",
"content": "A slightly less overkill solution might be to use the Arduino PID Library (full disclosure, I’m the author)And because this is HaD and the Arduino is… frowned upon, let me also mention that did an extensive blog series accompanying the latest library release. It details all the steps necessary to turn a basic pid algorithm in to something of industrial quality.Library:http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/PIDLibraryWrite-up:http://brettbeauregard.com/blog/2011/04/improving-the-beginners-pid-introduction/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420836",
"author": "Lion XL",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:57:25",
"content": "dunno…maybe I’m the idiot… but at 45 yrs old, I always thought the art of hacking was to take what you have and make it do something it wasn’t intended for, i.e. using a router for a PID!I remeber when Tardis BBS (I think that was the boards name, but the name unimportant), there was OP named Zaphod (again i think that was the name, or it may have been Arthur Dent! ) had a ongoing thread about daily hacks and simple hacks.Simple hacks were like taping a plastic can cover over a scraped together speaker box to make it water proof (albeit marginally!). I guess he’d get the flaming of his life if he ever sent that stuff here….My point is hacks are hacks, and when people stop trying to one up the next guy, especially when you are not adding any value, just saying ‘I could name the tune in 3 notes’ is getting prety lame and some of you ‘hackers’ need to grow up…GOOD JOB NATHAN.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420864",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:20:25",
"content": "@Brett it’s overkill if you don’t want to do more than the limited Arduino hardware can do.– Have the PID on a timer that is different each day (I DO!)– Turn your coffee machine on/off while away from home (I DO)– Have the ability eventually have a simple iPhone interface for it (I DO)But sure, I should have written Arduino sketch instead of a OpenWRT package, though the work would be the same, and I’d have to buy and Arduino…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420865",
"author": "Brett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:26:04",
"content": "@NathanHell yes! rereading my post my tone is way off. this project is insanely awesome.I guess a better way to say it would have been “if you think this is overkill, perhaps a slightly less… blah blah blah”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420894",
"author": "nobody",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:49:30",
"content": "@NathanA real he-man hardware hacker woulda done it using 555s, like this dude is working on:http://www.paleotechnologist.net/?cat=248Sign o-the times: LinDuino,coming soon from some Hardwin*Fruit w/8-bits instead of just two…8-}*Hardwin = Arduino in English = “Strong Man”, makes one say, “Hmmm”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421037",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:46:43",
"content": "I really like this idea. I wonder how many other Linux-capable routers have GPIO pins.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421140",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T07:07:21",
"content": "This is never going to come close to full awesomeness until it includes a Kalman filter as well. For filtering that coffee, obviously, and just because we can.…oh wait, it’s an espresso. Right…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.233567
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/followup-portable-sid-player-is-now-pc-output/
|
Followup: Portable SID Player Is Now PC Output
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"digital audio hacks"
] |
[
"6581",
"8580",
"MOS SID",
"sid"
] |
When we first covered [Markus]’
portable SID player
we starting dreaming about an alternative universe circa 1987 that included a pocket-sized music player called the Commodore ePod. [Markus]’
updated firmware that connects his SID player to a PC
will have to do for now, we suppose.
The new firmware boots the Portable SID player as either a standalone device, or a ‘Network SID Device’. The portable SID player can now operate as the output device for either
Acid 64
or
GoatTracker
. Now, [Markus]’ SID player has the same feature set as a
HardSID
, or the long-forgotten
SID Card
.
[Markus] can play
40,000
SID chiptunes and can access all of them a lot easier than he could with the jog wheel on the original build. The new firmware is cycle-exact, meaning the sounds coming out of this SID player would be exactly the same as if they were played on a C64. We’d love to build one of these ([Markus] made the entire project open source), but gutting a C64 for the required SID just seems wrong.
There are other ways
to acquire a SID, though.
Check out the demo of the Network SID Device below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mimSNZdvRj4&w=470]
| 9
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420416",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:36:56",
"content": "More demos please…MP3s of the thing putting out some beetz for hours on end would be great…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420437",
"author": "MJD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:06:15",
"content": "for more C64 music than you can shake a stick at, in mp3 form:http://www.6581-8580.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420444",
"author": "Limey",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:21:10",
"content": "What’s actually changing by him turning that wheel? I cant hear any difference :P .",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420611",
"author": "Markus Gritsch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T05:16:29",
"content": "It changes the size of the playback buffer thus decreasing the latency as can be seen on the display.",
"parent_id": "420444",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420612",
"author": "Markus Gritsch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T05:17:41",
"content": "There is no audible change.",
"parent_id": "420444",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420473",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T23:11:12",
"content": "Do the theme from MULE, no do the theme from Seven Cities of Gold, no do…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420680",
"author": "Simakuutio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T08:49:18",
"content": "Ok, when I can purhace one device from you? :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421010",
"author": "Joe Kane",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:38:51",
"content": "Mule! How about Swinth? I lost way too many hours watching Swinth and vector bouncing ‘screen saver’ graphics. SID at its finest.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhSWyCvy65g",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424627",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T17:16:49",
"content": "Nice one, I’m definately going to build one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.277504
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/amazing-pipe-organ-desk-features-secret-compartments-and-an-all-wood-logic-board/
|
Amazing Pipe Organ Desk Features Secret Compartments And An All-wood Logic Board
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"desk",
"logic board",
"organ",
"pneumatic",
"wood"
] |
Feeling pretty good after putting together your brand new standing computer desk? Step aside please, [Kagen Schaefer]
has something he’d like to show you.
His Pipe Organ Desk is undoubtedly one of the coolest pieces of furniture we have seen in a long time. The project took [Kagen] over three years to complete, which sounds about right once you see how much attention was put into every last detail.
This desk is amazing in several ways. First off, the entire desk was constructed solely from wood. The drawers, the supports, knobs, screws, and even the air valves – all wood. Secondly, when one of the desk’s drawers are pushed in, air is directed to the organ pipes at the front of the desk, which plays a note.
A small portion of the air is also directed into the desk’s pneumatic logic board, which keeps track of each note that has been played. When someone manages to play the correct tune, a secret compartment is unlocked. The pneumatic logic board is an unbelievable creation, consisting of well over 100 wooden screws which can be tuned to recognize any number of “secret tunes”.
Sure a well-placed axe can open the compartment too, but who would destroy such a fine piece of work?
[via
Make
]
| 38
| 38
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420359",
"author": "Squintz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:54:36",
"content": "Here is a video:http://vimeo.com/25735281",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420363",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:01:01",
"content": "Wow, this looks like something I’d expect to see in a RPG game or something, just…wow.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420367",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:23:49",
"content": "Damn",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420374",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:34:23",
"content": "Dunno why, but this reminds me of the Cheers episode where Rebecca destroys an antique desk looking for a hidden gift, not realizing that the desk itself was the gift.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420377",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:39:01",
"content": "“FEED the organ and watch the floor”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420379",
"author": "ha_lol",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:41:38",
"content": "asheets, I seem to remember that episode as well but I don’t remember anything about a gift.I heard Kirste Alley was just hungry and someone had left a slice of pizza in one of the drawers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420385",
"author": "YS",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:45:27",
"content": "Well, that’s really cool! What a great patience to be working on it for years!By the way, what a strange video by link above, nothing interesting about the subject.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420386",
"author": "third",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:45:38",
"content": "Wooden Air-Powered Programmable Computer. In a desk. That’s also a pipe organ. And a puzzle.That man went above and beyond the call of awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420389",
"author": "scholarch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:57:02",
"content": "I would expect to see Atrus sitting at that desk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420404",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:15:57",
"content": "Ruh roh, Rob!Yeah, my first thought was that old episode of SD.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420412",
"author": "Stendall",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:31:26",
"content": "This guy it’s a genius when it comes to work with wood.Have you seen the other works he have?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420424",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:47:40",
"content": "At the risk of sounding fairly ignorant…Holy Fuck! You just blew my mind Kagen Schaefer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420430",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:55:52",
"content": "Wow. This is one of those things thatA.) Id like to do but never have the time/energy forB.) Would be really cool in your house/officeC.) Is a reference to a simpler time, when it would be more useful/effective. Nowadays you could probably just take a picture of it, send it to the Google machine, and itll send back the solution.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420440",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:14:49",
"content": "@YS Of course what’s interesting can be relative. After what may looks to to be the video creator’s stock intro footage plays, the builder, and the desk are very much the topic. No it’s not Norm or Roy showing the entire build, but it’s additional information non the less.The exterior finish of the wooden pipes most likely has no bearing on the function of pipes. I guess they paying client is willing to pay just to know that what they can’t see looks great.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420445",
"author": "mark g",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:27:49",
"content": "Reminds me of Goonies.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420447",
"author": "KiDD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:42:06",
"content": "I think I saw this desk in MYST",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420449",
"author": "Amos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:43:35",
"content": "@YS in fact, what you learn from the video is that what the “pipe organ computer” unlocks is actually a puzzle that you then have to solve to open the middle drawer on the desk, which is the real “secret compartment.”That is an amazing piece of engineering, as well as a beautiful piece of art. I wonder who his “patron” (or matron, as the case may be) is and how much he/she is paying for it. Whatever it is, it’s not enough!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420463",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:56:16",
"content": "Carpentry becomes magic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420515",
"author": "Jonathan Wilson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:32:56",
"content": "This has to be one of the most amazing pieces of furniture ever made.The fact that the guy has produced such a fancy machine using nothing but wood is extremely EPIC.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420519",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:42:57",
"content": "Truly amazing piece of work. functionality, creativity, artistic expression, all amazing in this piece. Bravo.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420532",
"author": "echodelta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:07:30",
"content": "Digital came first. Wood and leather penumatic digital to analogue converters in 1913. The Duo Art system. Digital pipe organs in 1500, 1600’s in this universe. What’s old is new.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420546",
"author": "Lingnau",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:27:12",
"content": "I’d really like to see a vid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420548",
"author": "dombeef",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:35:23",
"content": "@KiDD You just made my day, atleast someone online remembers MYST :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420550",
"author": "wernicke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:55:32",
"content": "@dombeef,you gotta give @scholarch credit for that one. Don’t you remember Atrus?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420587",
"author": "well",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T04:28:23",
"content": "+1 on all the myst references.This guys got my vote to help write Myst VI",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420607",
"author": "Hunter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T04:56:22",
"content": "Truly amazing. I’m quite in awe right now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420632",
"author": "Person",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T06:14:58",
"content": "Am I the only one that notices that the top is made from a single slab? That hunk of wood alone is well over $1000.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420638",
"author": "audiophil",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T06:36:23",
"content": "That, is a work of art.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420650",
"author": "Godd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T07:33:02",
"content": "Did anyone else notice that, on top of the screws, he even made wooden washers?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420663",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T08:16:03",
"content": "Honey, if you want your heart pills, you’re going to have to learn the five note alien communication from Close Encounters.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420666",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T08:19:40",
"content": "that’s awesome. Period.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420728",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T11:55:31",
"content": "Utterly Epic, at least 500X levels higher than any of the noids that post here… yes me included.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420744",
"author": "Grey Loki",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:29:09",
"content": "This is neat, but some of the other stuff this guy has made is even cooler –http://www.kagenschaefer.com/page2.htmlThe quality of his workmanship is just supreme; i’ve never seen woodworking like it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420775",
"author": "JamieWho",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:50:33",
"content": "Wow. +1 to all the Myst references as well.Also, at the end of the video, he says there are probably between 10 and 20 puzzles like that in the whole desk. So, he didn’t even start to show all the cool stuff in that desk.Yeah, this guy is a serious puzzle maker.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420782",
"author": "sourcetonuts",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:18:20",
"content": "Very nice! Do you think the sound helps one remember what drawer one put something in?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420953",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T22:05:12",
"content": "Here’s a nice write-up all about Kagen’s origins and The Desk!http://www.5280.com/magazine/2011/07/boxedI hope he releases more video of his “wildest imagination” soon!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422587",
"author": "Gregory Strike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:20:02",
"content": "Amazing!In the video Squintz posted does Kagen Schaefer remind anyone else of Seth Rogan? :)@Kagen, If you see this, “Hoe. Lee. Shit! Nice work!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424520",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:21:28",
"content": "Awesome, love the air logic!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.350618
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/roomba-used-to-map-indoor-air-quality/
|
Roomba Used To Map Indoor Air Quality
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"air quality",
"arduino",
"roomba"
] |
The next time you set off for a long day in the coal mines, forget the canary –
bring your Roomba along instead!
While we are pretty sure that canaries are no longer used in the mining industry, this Roomba hack could make a suitable replacement if they were. A team from the Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (PLOTS) recently showed off a Roomba which they modified to test an area’s air quality. Using an Arduino and a volatile organic chemical (VOC) detecting air quality sensor, the Roomba goes about its normal business, lighting an LED any time it encounters overly contaminated air. When captured via a long exposure image, the process creates a “bad air” map of sorts, with the polluted areas highlighted by the glow of the LED.
While the Roomba currently only detects VOCs, the team plans on adding additional sensors in the near future to expand its functionality. The Roomba is merely a proof of concept at the moment, but we imagine that similar technology will be adapted for use in unmanned explorations of chemically hostile environments, if that hasn’t happened already.
[via
DVice
] [Image via
TechnologyReview
]
| 11
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420311",
"author": "macw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:36:07",
"content": "The “bad air” map is an interesting idea, but doesn’t the air move around and change the distribution? Wouldn’t even the Roomba itself passing by blow some of the gases around into a new pattern?I think I like the idea of driving it around an office and making some kind of a heat-map of the VOCs surrounding a particularly gassy co-worker’s cube, or something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420313",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:37:16",
"content": "It’d be extremely useful if there were a mobile way to visually map the presence and concentration of radon (or its’ byproducts)…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420320",
"author": "Rounderkatt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:51:15",
"content": "Not really a roomba hack though, they just basically duct taped an arduino and a sensor with an LED to the top of the thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "903269",
"author": "Doffagne",
"timestamp": "2012-12-13T19:57:03",
"content": "They plan to draw he map of the Roomba with the results of the sensor, So we can see where is what.",
"parent_id": "420320",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420336",
"author": "luke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:42:47",
"content": "@george:It would be quite simple to adapt this for use in radon/radioisotope mapping, but a handheld detector with gps would be equally or more useful.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420352",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:33:34",
"content": "I’ve been wanting to play with my favorite local pollutant, SO2, but those sensors seem a weeeeee bit pricey (~$300).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420409",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:26:25",
"content": "Luke: I was thinking for use in indoor/underground confined spaces like utility tunnels, etc, where GPS wouldn’t work and people might not want to be using a sampling device at the end of their arm. Cuz, y’know, “Beep, beep, beep. Ohai, you’re kneeling in an area that exceeds the maximum permissible concentrations of $BADTHING, you should probably leave now.”cmholm: I prefer H2S, but to each their own. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420417",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:38:06",
"content": "haha…. now my roomba can avoid the bathroom after my in-laws visit too AND prove conclusively that the entire area surrounding the bathroom is hazardous.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420513",
"author": "zuul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:29:16",
"content": "code? i have been looking for code on how to use those air quality sensors",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420700",
"author": "Tom",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T10:10:58",
"content": "I don’t know how that sensor outputs it’s readings but surely there’s a way to dim an led with it without a whole microcontroller.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "903271",
"author": "Doffagne",
"timestamp": "2012-12-13T20:00:18",
"content": "Great.I like the way to extend the functionnality of the Roomba.+1.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.39943
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/output-up-to-768-pwm-signals-from-one-arduino/
|
Output Up To 768 PWM Signals From One Arduino
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"595",
"pwm",
"shift register"
] |
Here’s
an Arduino library that will let you drive a very large number of LEDs
. [Elco Jacobs], an electrical engineering student, is the author of the library. He has a work-study job that has him helping out others with their electrical projects and he was constantly being solicited for methods to control droves of light emitting diodes. This was the motivation that led him to produce the dazzling 16 RGB LED example seen in the video after the break.
His setup doesn’t use expensive LED drivers, but instead utilizes
595 shift registers
which are both common and cheap. He calculates that it is possible to control up to 96 of these shift registers, each driving 8 LEDs, with reasonably satisfying results. This is thanks to his well-optimized code that manages to drive the clock pin of the registers at 1.33 MHz. This optimization is done by writing each command in assembly, which allows him to precisely count the cycles. Each individual pin takes 12-13 cycles to address, totally 9984 cycles at worst when addressing the maximum number of outputs.
[Elco] thinks this is as fast as he can make the routine run, but he is asking for help with testing. If you think you know how to squeeze out a few more cycles, make sure you join in on his forum thread.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDmOvbga0uA&w=470]
| 46
| 43
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420239",
"author": "UltraMagnus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:05:49",
"content": "Yet another, “flash a LED with an arduino” project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420241",
"author": "Andy Goth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:10:03",
"content": "Wow, that’s a lot of shift registers! ;^)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420247",
"author": "Franklyn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:17:26",
"content": "@UltraMagnus Yet another mindless troll.This sounds like a case of arduino done right !, great work elco.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420250",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:21:57",
"content": "Nice, will check/try this out as I currently use a lot of TLC5940’s.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420252",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:22:28",
"content": "Needs more techno music.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420256",
"author": "Kenneth Finnegan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:30:03",
"content": "If getting speed out of it is so critical, why in the world did he use assembly and not just off-load it onto the SPI hardware? Set the prescaler to /4 and set SPI2X, and you all of a sudden have an 8MHz clock.[See page 176 of ATMega328 Datasheet]http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc8271.pdf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420258",
"author": "Pilotgeek",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:32:31",
"content": "I agree with Mike.But this is quite amazing. It’s not just another “flash a led” project, it’s flash MANY multicolored leds =P. It’s done very well, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420261",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:36:21",
"content": "A quick search on Digikey shows (in onsies) 74HC595 being $0.67. A PIC16F884 in DIP40 provides 35 I/O pins, has an internal clock, and costs $2.56. The ‘595 costs $0.083 per output, while the PIC is $0.073. The micro will allow for higher frequency PWM in large chains and could have a more sensible protocol than just shift-all-bits.I think we’re finally at a point where it actually makes more sense to throw a micro at a problem rather than use spartan solutions with discretes!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "533569",
"author": "gecebe",
"timestamp": "2011-12-12T23:53:26",
"content": "I’d have to agree – it’s kind of a snowball effect, for example, once upon a time one would use 3 handfuls of discrete logic IC’s to get things done, and then GAL/PAL’s became a more practical solution, and now?… as you point out, a lot of the time it may indeed be simpler/cheaper to go straight for upc chip and be done with it, with all the logic being executed in software. You’ll still end up with the need for output driver discretes, but that’s a fact of life =)",
"parent_id": "420261",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420269",
"author": "basura",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:03:17",
"content": "i did 64 rgb leds displaying 32 colors with 595’s a while back, though i did use SPI. problem i ran into was i didn’t want to just run pre-programmed sequences stored on the chip (which was running out of memory fast with all the pwm code). i added a simple serial protocol so i could send patterns/sequences over usb – basically a 8×16 color display. problem was, with all this overhead, the ‘refresh’ for redrawing all the led’s got pretty low with all this other crap going on. i wonder if this guy’s lib wold help out? or if it is so optimized, it would be hard to add in serial comms. hmm..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "431079",
"author": "lastchancename",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T08:30:04",
"content": "I just did something similar for24x RGB LEDs using software PWM on colour, and high-side hardware PWM on the master brightness.http://youtu.be/eewAOwAOzpw– shows 8 of the 24xRGB LED string in action.I get a good refresh rate, dot addressable 12-bit colour and 8-bit master brightness – but 20MHz in C was just about it with time avaialble for other functions to not interfere with the display",
"parent_id": "420269",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420273",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:14:13",
"content": "Memo to self: buy more shift registers. I’ve only got 3 left…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420277",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:24:28",
"content": "I think we’re finally at a point where it actually makes more sense to throw a micro at a problem rather than use spartan solutions with discretes!FINALLY! Most of the time I would rather grab a general purpose computer than deal with microcontrollers. Something still has to interface between the sensors / inputs / outputs though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420280",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:29:03",
"content": "This is pretty clever, living within the constraints of this development environment. As if all the world had was an Arduino and shift registers. It is a puzzle or a challenge, folks. UltraMagnus, the only thing your post does is indicate this is over your head. This is NOT another ‘“flash a LED with an arduino” project’.But as others have noted, it would be more practical to use more micros. A PIC slave chip would be cheaper, but not everyone is able to drive PICs from an Arduino. That’s silly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420287",
"author": "UltraMagnus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:40:56",
"content": "Seriously guys, my post was an attempt at sarcasm… I would have thought that was obvious…. but obviously not.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420290",
"author": "ScottInNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:45:07",
"content": "@chango –Since the person is developing for Atmel assembly, PIC comparisons are not very relevant. That’s like answering a PHP question with “use Python”.Assuming you meant he could do this with Arduino + “any” slave micro.. that makes sense, but attiny starts at about $2.25 each. 74HC595 is under 50 cents at Jameco, and Qty 10 (which is all that should be considered here) is 39 cents. 10 for $3 on ebay.I have to commend elcojacobs on the simplicity and elegance. Even the prototype wiring is very very clean. Nice hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420294",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:51:56",
"content": "As one who goes by the online handle “74HC595”, I approve.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420297",
"author": "psmay",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:59:42",
"content": "I do like ‘595s.On the topic of shift registers, I was recently looking for a FET-based counterpart to the ULN2803A Darlington array when I found the TPIC6B595, which seems to be similar to a 74xx595 but with a MOSFET-based output stage that can sustain up to 500mA on a single output or 150mA each for all eight lines on. So, it looks cool, but the price ($1.75 at Newark) does not compare favorably with a separate ‘595 and ULN2803A. Plus, I’ve already got plenty of both of the latter. But if I were trying to cram more parts onto a smaller board, it would probably be worth consideration.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420303",
"author": "G",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:22:08",
"content": "Or use WS2803 LED drivers that incorporate their own shift registers, handle the PWM for you and cost about 49 cents for 18 outpus (less than 3 cents a channel). If you can find them.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420304",
"author": "G",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:24:07",
"content": "Sparkfun carries the 3-channel WS2801 (with a nice hefty markup of course) but the WS2803 seems a better way to go.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420323",
"author": "Mike Szczys",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:22:32",
"content": "What about current consumption? I’m used to the supply current and ground current being a limiting factor when driving LEDs with a 595.Lets say you have all eight pins driving 100% duty cycle. If you’ve tuned the resistors for 20 mA for each LED you’ll 160 mA plus what the chip needs to operate when most 74HC595 chips have a supply current maximum rating around 75 mA.Are there high-current versions of the 595 (kind of what G was talking about with the WS2801), or is that just an LED driver chip?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420335",
"author": "Tomas Martinsen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:41:43",
"content": "The 595 solution works nicely and you can drive any load you want with mosfets. Any DIP packaged thing like TLC will go up in smoke if you want to produce real lightning. I ended up using SPI as mentioned in one post. The problem is really the refresh rate if you want to do animations etc. A good solution I found was to use Binary Code Modulation (!) instead of PWM. That way I could drive about 6 595s with 100Hz refresh rate and have enough cycles for remote control and all the animation stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420346",
"author": "DeadlyDad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:26:25",
"content": "Hmmm… 768 = 32 x 24 or 96 x 8 or (12 x 8) x 8Interesting possibilities…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420350",
"author": "ftorama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:30:57",
"content": "Did one with an AVR and MIC5891, being able to drive 2048 single leds ;-)http://www.motion-in-blue.com/@changoDon’t forget your PIC will never be able to drive 35 leds simultaneously without buffers, so you need to count them in your price",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420353",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:33:50",
"content": "Do the 595’s make that rapid clicking noise or is that the laptop HD?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420411",
"author": "zigzagjoe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:29:21",
"content": "This is a lot more interesting than the usual fare.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420438",
"author": "Tomas Martinsen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:13:28",
"content": "Here are a few sources I found useful:Binary Code Modulationhttp://www.batsocks.co.uk/readme/art_bcm_1.htmConstant current source for driving power leds with 595shttp://www.instructables.com/id/Power-LED-s—simplest-light-with-constant-current/That constant current source is simple and can drive _very_ large currents as long as you match your power source to be just a bit above the forward voltage of your led(s).Hope this helps!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420472",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T23:10:37",
"content": "Hi All,Someone notified me that my library was blogged here. To answer some of the questions asked so far:– I do not write in assembly directly, but I do check the assembly with objdump.exe -S, so that I can check that my C++ code generates the optimal assembly code.– I didn’t use SPI. I don’t think it will be faster. The 1.3 MHz clock speed now includes retrieving the dutycycles from memory and comparing each of them with a counter.The SPI sends out whole bytes, so you would have to put your bits into bytes before sending them out. Now I write the compare result to the datapin directly.– This library is written for Industrial Design students, so the aim was to just set the value in memory and forget about it (pwm generation is hidden in an interrupt). We always have a lot of shift registers in stock, which are free to take. We buy them in bulk.-Receiving PWM values from a PC is a next step, because I use this code to build an ambilight of 24 independent RGB LEDS for computer games.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420501",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T23:43:06",
"content": "If you would like to ask something, please do it in the Arduino thread to keep the discussion in one place.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420511",
"author": "Andy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:17:07",
"content": "Anyone happen to know a place to get large ish quantities of those LED’s for rather cheap? All the places i’ve looked bring them up near £1 each.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420565",
"author": "charper",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T02:50:25",
"content": "@Elco JacobsFirst off, very cool project. Regarding SPI – it would be faster than bit-banging the bus. Instead of interrupting to constantly toggle an IO pin, pick a few bytes that have the value you want and let some dedicated hardware hammer it out…So, for example, pick:01010101, 00110011, or 00001111for your 50% PWM. You can do this for any 8-bit combo. With each byte you can have anywhere from 0 to 1 average output with a resolution of 1/8. You can mix and match any combination you want with only a few bytes.Example: want average of 33.333% PWM. Some quick math shows that I want 24/72 bits. So, I want 3 bytes of full on and 9 bytes of full off – on average.If I were doing this… which I’m not, so I know my comment is only worth how much you paid for it…I wouldn’t worry about calculating it, but just set up the basic values (0, 1/8, 2/8, … 1) and just iterate towards an almost correct answer.So… say you have a 5-byte buffer. You’re given an odd value (say 42%) and you want to set up your buffer. Note that I pulled these numbers out of my… somewhere. They are not ‘convenient’ numbers.Step 1. Pick closest value (3/8 = .375).Step 2. Pick value that helps most (will be either 1 above or below). (4/8).We are now at 7/16 = .4375.Step 3. Pick value that helps most. (3/8).We are now at 10/24 = 0.41666Step 4. Low again… get the idea, (4/8).Now at 14/32 = 0.4375 (note we repeated)Step 5. High, pick lower (3/8)Now at 17/40 = 0.425.So… in a quick for-loop, you calculated out a length-5 buffer that gives you a PWM matching what you want within 1.2% error. Your hardware can now happily chew on that while you get back to doing useful things with your valuable program counter time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420569",
"author": "charper",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T02:57:18",
"content": "Edit/Addendum:For my example I should have re-edited to a 6-bit buffer… Note that the 6th iteration would have happened to been the first non-toggle. You ended up high, so you’d drop a 3/8 again. Getting you down to 0.41666.Anyway, you get the idea. Fill your buffer with something resembling the value you want and then move on. When your buffer empties, interrupt your routine to re-fill it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420635",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T06:29:51",
"content": "Just when I thought there was no way I could make a 100 – 200 led light staff I have found my answer! Do you think a standard arduino could handle this? IE with 5 volts or so. I’m still learning a bit so any help would be greatly appreciated!-Pat",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420658",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T08:02:20",
"content": "@Elco Jacobs:> – I do not write in assembly directly, but I do check the assembly with objdump.exe -S, so that I can check that my C++ code generates the optimal assembly code.That’s how the professionals do it! :) You learn all sorts of things about how to make your C compiler emit the code you want.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420696",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T09:39:45",
"content": "@PatYes a normal arduino can handle it. I tested it with the 168 and 328. Use a 5V version, because at 3.3 the clock speed is 8MHz instead of 16.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420750",
"author": "G",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:53:54",
"content": "This is really nice work but I really think WS2801’s and WS2803’s are much easier guys. You clock out the color levels you want (8 bits per channel), then stop clocking and they latch, and handle their own PWM. They will hold their color for as long as you want with NO further action required from your microcontroller so you can actually use it to do other things. They are used in lots of those “individually-pixel-addressable flexible LED strips” that are floating around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421050",
"author": "dbear",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T03:42:16",
"content": "Using 595’s like this is not exactly a new technique. It’s been done by the christmas light guys for several years now (olsen 595 controller) First time I’ve seen it on an Arduino though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421729",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T12:58:02",
"content": "I was thinking …Couldn’t you replace the LEDs with small caps going to ground followed by some transistors … then you could have (total number of outputs / 6) PWM Motor drivers or (total number of outputs / 4) H-Bridges?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421731",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:04:58",
"content": "You can use the PWM signal for anything.I drive 3W RGB LED’s with mosfets.I don’t see why you would need caps. Just PWM the motor with a mosfet and put in a freewheeling diode.I have a new version which uses the SPI and is more than twice as fast. Will put it online soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421738",
"author": "X",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:26:23",
"content": "The world needs a simple and generic LED driver that novices can play with like a Lite Brite. there is the Peggy and Peggy2 but those are pricy (about $100… when all we need is an artwork generic generic Pocket Ignignokt PCB as inhttp://web.jfet.org/ignignokt/)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421753",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:12:30",
"content": "@Elco to pull the signal line low briefly while the registers are changing … dont want an internal short though 3 transistors … but thats just a precaution I had thought of maybe it isnt as bad as I would think",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421758",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T14:18:47",
"content": "The 595’s have a latch input. The bits are shifted in internal registers and are put on the outputs instantly on a clock edge on the latch pin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422179",
"author": "drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:47:03",
"content": "@Elco as I said it may not be as bad as I thought . . . 128 Motor drivers here I come!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422181",
"author": "Elco Jacobs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T14:51:51",
"content": "I have a new SPI version online at elcojacobs.com/shiftpwmGot it down from 108 to 43 cycles per register.You were right after all. SPI makes it super fast!The SPI is set at 4 MHz and computation of the bits overlaps with transfer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6518951",
"author": "Adrian Samir",
"timestamp": "2022-10-06T02:11:21",
"content": "Hi Elco. That is exciting work. I would love to see it. I’m trying to add more PWM ports with fix frequency of 64KHz and variable duty-cycle and I have a hard time being able to create it. It would be great if you can share your findings. Thank you very much.",
"parent_id": "422181",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422223",
"author": "Red",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:12:15",
"content": "This is amazing!! you can contrlol an EyeBorg with that library and forget about carrying a computer or reduce the cost of the whole system !! great job",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.567172
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/hackaday-in-the-social-tangle/
|
Hackaday In The Social Tangle
|
Caleb Kraft
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"facebook",
"g++",
"googleplus",
"reddit",
"slashdot",
"twitter"
] |
Like any other organization out there, we’re always trying to find new ways to reach our audience. Admittedly, we’re not the fastest when it comes to adopting a new social communication site. We’re working on it though, trying to be a bit more interactive … or just plain active.
So, if you’re looking for other ways to get your hacking fix, or see some interesting commentary, find us on
facebook
,
twitter
, our
own forums
, and now G+. We just signed up to G+ and our name is
“Hackie Smith”
. If you need an invite, email us at
theofficialhackaday@gmail.com
see below. Sometimes there’s good discussion in those places that doesn’t end up here on the site.
You can also find several of us spattered across the web in sites like
Reddit
and
Slashdot
.
[Update: Our g+ page got shut down. Feel free to find any of the writers on g+. I’ll give out invites, look for “Caleb Kraft” or 60mango@gmail]
| 35
| 27
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420208",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:06:40",
"content": "Aaaaand that’s exactly what’s wrong with having so many social media platforms. Pick one, and stick to it. Personally, I prefer the website, because I don’t want to have to check 9 different places to find out what I missed at the other 8.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420225",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:23:42",
"content": "@JC,Oooh, good point. I updated the initial article to be more clear. We post all of our content to the site. Don’t worry, we’re not going to make you have to follow us elsewhere to get everything.",
"parent_id": "420208",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420211",
"author": "Grovenstien",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:10:25",
"content": "@jc my sentiments exactly!@hackaday the KISS method usually works fine.PS hackaday makes me smile everyday. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420212",
"author": "tz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:11:14",
"content": "I can’t find you on G+ – I need the name, not the email. It only searches by profile name",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420222",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:21:14",
"content": "@tz,Sorry, still figuring that whole G+ jumble out. Our profile is called “Hack a Day”. Who knows how long before they delete us!",
"parent_id": "420212",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420214",
"author": "Virtualmix",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:13:46",
"content": "I love Hackaday but I have to say that I seriously hate all those social networks.Facebook is killing the Internet. True story.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420215",
"author": "capn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:14:47",
"content": "I agree with jc here. If I wanted to be more updated on what you guys are doing, I would just subscribe to your RSS feed. “Like”ing you on facebook doesn’t do anything for me except tell other people that I like you. A little bit to circuitous if you ask me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420219",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:18:07",
"content": "@those who don’t enjoy the social tangle,Believe me, I know what you mean. That’s cool though, it just means you don’t utilize those sites. We’ve been getting submissions through facebook/twitter and now g+, so we’re just trying to be more responsive. There’s also some decent chatter back and forth on twitter sometimes, but it can be overwhelming with all the pointless tweeting. Much of our communication with Jeri Ellsworth and Phillip Torrone are through twitter.As with all the other posts, this will appeal to a certain group of users, and hopefully improve their experience. Hopefully they will also contribute cool projects, thus improving your experience!",
"parent_id": "420215",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420218",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:18:03",
"content": "I mostly read via google reader, it makes it easy to share articles that I like. Screw Facebook.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420224",
"author": "jc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:23:00",
"content": "OK, seriously here. Twitter is *not* an appropriate forum for a conversation. If people want to have discussions, you use a forum. Jeri and Phillip may use Twitter, but as a record of a conversation and for the purpose of a discussion, using Twitter is about as useless as you can get.A discussion implies (generally) an organized exchange of information between two or more people. Twitter is shouting into the darkness and hoping someone out there cares what you have to say.It’s fine for “I’m at the bar, join me for a beer, mate!” but if you’re trying to decide the future of a project, or teach someone about how transistors work, Twitter is NOT an appropriate media.Don’t try and tell me I’m out-dated and antiquated. I’ve seen a lot of internet/web-based technologies come and go, and the best two that will die a miserable death will be Myspace and Twitter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420226",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:30:37",
"content": "The profile name actually won’t give you good results — the G+ search appears to be a regular google search with profile results ranked higher. Why don’t you just give us the UID? (There’s a url shortener floating around specifically for g+ profiles to get around the UID thing, gplus.to, which tells you how to isolate the UID)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420229",
"author": "Telepath",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:37:42",
"content": "Well, don’t make too much effort, that account won’t be there long. Remember, only accounts with real names are allowed, no companies or groups or communities yet.One or more of you could register with your names and use that account, but an account for hackaday will certainly be deleted.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420230",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:43:44",
"content": "@telepath,yeah, there’s tons of companies doing it and getting randomly deleted. We’ll see how it goes.",
"parent_id": "420229",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420232",
"author": "Enohand",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:45:53",
"content": "still no +1 button tho?hopefully we can get that integrated.I also wish google would add +1 to google reader",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420235",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:52:34",
"content": "@Enohand,We’re working on it. It is a very long and complicated story, but making changes to our template is a huge pain. The only area I can freely modify is that top right corner where the featured banners are.",
"parent_id": "420232",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420233",
"author": "adric",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:48:44",
"content": "The RSS feed works for me. using services such as facebook openid, and perhaps g+ for authentication to comment, is kinda nice from site to site, but until they build g+ to be more configurable, (ways to collapse articles and threads) i would nto want to read my blogs in it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420238",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:01:51",
"content": "Looks to be gone :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420243",
"author": "Gh0sTly",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:11:04",
"content": "You actually need to search for “Hack a Day” with the quotes and it will be the first result.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420246",
"author": "MDude",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:16:56",
"content": "And here I thought you were planning on having other websites feature Hack-A-Day buttons. But if you did, should it say “Hack this article” or “This article is a hack”?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420248",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:20:25",
"content": "@MDude,heh, that would actually be pretty cool.",
"parent_id": "420246",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420263",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:37:18",
"content": "HA! The G+ fad is nearly over before it started. In six months I may be eating my words…if they do something unique with it.It’s like a Google-branded Facebook clone. I don’t need that, I have regular Facebook. I don’t want to bother with the setup and transfer of all contacts to a new service either – especially since Facebook and G+ aren’t playing nicely with each other.Can’t Google stick to what they’re good at(advertising, search engines, and smartphone OSs) instead of following Suck-it-berg into the pit of greed that is social networking?Perhaps nobody cares, but to the editors/running members of HAD, anything you post on G+ and not on this site will be seen by far fewer readers, one of whom will not be me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420264",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:40:52",
"content": "@M4CGYV3R,Again, all of our stories will be posted here on HaD. Don’t worry.",
"parent_id": "420263",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420275",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:19:05",
"content": "“one of whom will not be me.” — AND NOTHING OF VALUE WAS LOST??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420315",
"author": "Travis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:38:58",
"content": "Don’t forget to get a google- account too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420326",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:27:44",
"content": "As it stands, google is requesting that brands/websites/etc do NOT set up g+ profiles.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420355",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:47:32",
"content": "@M4CGYV3RWell, I have setup a Google+ account, I NEVER use Facebook, because it is too hard to separate, Work friends, from Family, from geeks, from other IT….At least with Google+ it’s easy to choose to post just to Family (like the rest of the world cares about our swim party). Or just to work (like my Family wants to know or would even understand what was posted there. Basically I have a Family Wall, a Work Wall, a Geek Wall. That should help get rid of a lot of the cruft that you get with Facebook.I think Google+ is going to make it much easier to keep walls up between the various facets of your life. Of course if Facebook revamps with a host of features similar to google+ people will stay. I know a lot of techno geeks that have already jumped off the Facebook ship. I took a tour of Facebook at the dock and went meh. Google+ I am like well I might take it for a cruise and see. So, for me at least, Google+ is a step in the right direction.RSS Feeds are great but posts to something like Google+ might be even more useful if done tastefully.Also Google wants to own social media because it increases the value of the advertising. They will have even more info about not only you, but your friends, family…, so they can more accurately target you. That’s why google is wanting in the social media bizz so bad. Same reason they are doing gmail, google docs, google maps, picasa…. It’s all about getting a complete dossier on you so they can charge more to advertisers, because they can better target the ads.For some strange reason my browser seems to be broken and doesn’t display 99% of ads, go figure. If I had to look at all the ads, I wouldn’t use the net nearly as much. If I wanted to look at ads I’d watch TV.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420425",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:47:47",
"content": "This is the exact opposite of what G+ is designed for. The whole idea of a G+ is to share between individuals in a more personal and meaningful way than you can with a list of 200+ people who you may or may not even know.G+ is not the service to be using for something like this. HaD staff can certainly have individual G+ accounts (seems like some do already, from a quick search) but the site itself absolutely shouldn’t. There is a reason Google is actively removing accounts that are made on behalf of sites or companies.On the other hand, being able to +1 articles and share them via G+ (whenever the G+ API is released to make this possible) is something that should be looked into.@M4CGYV3RI can only assume you have never actually used G+, and maybe just read something about it online or looked at one of the video tours. But it is certainly much more than a FB clone. It is already doing unique and different things that, even if G+ completely fails (which seems unlikely, with 10M+ users already), will certainly be adopted by other social networking sites/services going forward. The general response to Circles is overwhelmingly positive by anyone who has used the service. It looks like Joker put it into perspective nicely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420503",
"author": "0xFFFF",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T23:47:21",
"content": "A url to the google+ profile:http://gplus.to/hackaday",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420551",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:56:26",
"content": "With the camp above that the widget is pointless.I never use the others and often even refrain from commenting on certain pages that want access to my FB or gmail contacts. End up clicking the “No Thanks”. But it ALWAYS seems to be all or nothing. They can’t just have access to verify I have fb/gm, they have to have my birthday and contacts??? That is garbage. If I want to point out neat things to my friends, I just email them or tell them-each have an equal opportunity of never being checked out lol. If I was really serious about sending links around the internet I would start a blog in an already existing blogosphere of interest and then have “backpatting” links to each others blogs so that you have to see 4 blogs before ever getting to the source page lol. That is how all the powerhouses do it. BoingBoing is infamous for the ol reacharound link. HaD not so much, but there are definite darlings in their pocket too.Do what ya want tho, ck and pt. I’m sure more hits= more clout=more awesome HaD codes on dev board specials, which is a good thing. A lot of times I end up just adblobking the twitter and rss and stumbleupon and reddit clickies as it makes the page load faster lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420692",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T09:11:32",
"content": "Oh my, HaD just got all blurry and smeared-out all over the place. I can’t seem to put my finger on it any more. Where did it go? Oh there it is… no over there… no there… nope… GAH! Jut forget about it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420725",
"author": "Tech Joker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T11:53:16",
"content": "@DroneI don’t think HaD got blurry at all. To put it 50 years in the past they are playing around with shortwave. There are reflections of HaD all over the world, but they all come from the HaD site.@CarbuncleI am very much like you. “Use your Facebook account to log into our site.” No thanks, I’ll pass. I would much rather manage multiple accounts and passwords than give away all the data about my life, not that it is that interesting. Not that sites don’t already have scraps of the photo that is my life, but I would prefer not to give them the paper and glue to make it into a complete picture.—Really people, come on. You don’t want to do the google+, Twitter, Facebook thing. Fine, don’t. I haven’t until just last week I started poking around Google+ a little (still haven’t posted anything). But don’t cry about people/sites that do.The whole I don’t want to do X, so no one else should do X either thing is like 7th grade.HaD has made it abundantly clear that they aren’t going anywhere! They are staying right here, so don’t get your panties in a bunch. Sit back and enjoy the ride, or don’t, that’s up to you, just don’t try to spoil the ride for everyone because you choose not to take the ride.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420761",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:57:20",
"content": "@all,played around with g+ a little yesterday and did a quick “hangout”, which is like group video chat. [Ivan] showed us a neat looking SNES controller adapter he built for his PC and we requested he send us more details so we can publish it on the site. This is a great outcome for everyone! See, even though you may not participate in our various forms of communication, you benefit from us participating in it.",
"parent_id": "420725",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420772",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:41:45",
"content": "@techjoker This is a discussion to decide whether we want to use the HaD widget. People are supposed to come in here and spoil each other’s ride and provide opinions on what they use and don’t use.If a majority of users don’t want to use X then it stands to reason to not use x. If the y readers want x, they can write a script to parse things out the way they want and then host a php or reblog it (like the rest of the world) in the format they like. Similar to 7th grade, this is the way the rest of the US runs. Not trying to crawl your arse, just seemed like you came in and did the same thing you complained about putting me in that “not sure if you’re serious…” camp. Otherwise if things do go ahead, I’ll just block it and move on with my faster loading webpage without 18 widgets updating things in the background lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420786",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T14:33:53",
"content": "I suppose everyone will need to refer to HAD as “Hackie Smith” in the near future to avoid the realname police :>“Check out this cool project that Hackie Smith posted!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420845",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:24:08",
"content": "From PC World, July 8: “Google confirmed that it’s planning to roll out business profiles to its new Google+ social network.” The article describes its use within the entity as a means of communication within the entity as in employee to employee communication and some kind of tie in to Google Apps as well as a number of other Google services.The article also talks about google+ providing “a full fledged Web Presence integrated with its social networking platform.” So there you have google+ providing some of the services that Facebook provides businesses plus a lot more.http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/235272/why_google_business_profiles_will_trump_facebook_pages.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.638114
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/magic-the-gathering-nixie-life-counter/
|
Magic: The Gathering Nixie Life Counter
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"LED Hacks",
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"card games",
"life counter",
"magic the gathering",
"nixie"
] |
Someone sent in a tip that pointed us to
this Magic: The Gathering forum thread
where a user named [DistortedDesigns] made a life counter for Magic: The Gathering out of Nixie tubes. While there’s not many details for this build, it’s just too cool to be forgotten in a single forum.
The project began by
etching some plexiglas
. There’s some
earlier examples
of [DistortedDesigns]’ work that look very professional. The electronic are extremely simple – the 25 LEDs run off of 2 AA cells, and the nixies run off of 2 C cells. We were wondering when [DistortedDesigns] would drop the
A-bomb
, but it looks like this build doesn’t use a microcontroller.
The controls are back are toggle switches to power the LEDs and nixies. There are two knobs on the back, and from the write-up it’s pretty easy to infer that these are 10-position rotary switches. [DistortedDesigns] says, “the knobs in the back rotate around and supply power to each digit one at a time,” so with a transformer this seems like a very simple build.
It’s an excellent build that didn’t get enough attention when it’s author posted it. If you know of any under-appreciated builds, send it in
send it in to our tip line
.
| 26
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420971",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:09:03",
"content": "The only problem I can see with that is you could never use it in any kind of tournament, because you’d be so constantly mobbed by impressed passersby that you’d never have time to play the game. :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420972",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:09:07",
"content": "100 life = stack overflow!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420999",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T00:36:50",
"content": "C’mon, there are no lives involved with Magic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421011",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:42:28",
"content": "It does need a third digit, but it’s awesome anyway.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421019",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:57:15",
"content": "well thats just great but its a little big, and it doesnt count down how many “lives” you have, it counts down your life points you have remaining, cool build but a bit big for gameplay.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421026",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:20:31",
"content": "Looks like the knobs control the counters. neat design but needs some form of embededness. maybe add a webcam that looks at your cards and keeps track of stats via a small lcd screen, save the tubes for keeping score of wins/loses.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421038",
"author": "jake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:49:21",
"content": "do people still play this? i have a bunch of cards from like 10 years ago… can i sell them for some $$?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421039",
"author": "Colecago",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:50:50",
"content": "99 life max? Must not be playing an elf deck with that broken Wellwisher card.Neat build though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421040",
"author": "jake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:52:56",
"content": "actually, like 14 years ago… i’m getting old.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421046",
"author": "Cole",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T03:23:39",
"content": "I was playing this last year at AIT",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421096",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T04:52:02",
"content": "The wife has a whole bunch of 2010 cards, I play a white/blue deck against her once in a while, rarely get over 30 life though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421135",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:48:27",
"content": "Duh.. and I was thinking abouthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gathering_%28computer_party%29Well, demoscene is dead, isn’t it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421141",
"author": "anyone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T07:08:15",
"content": "@jakeYeah, if you have a decent number of rare cards. If I recall each booster had 1 rare, so you ought to be able to get atleast some money if you have a decent number of cards. Mayber even tons of money.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421166",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T08:34:57",
"content": "Magic is still going. However, your old cards only have value as collectors items. Every edition increases the strength of the cards. So using old cards vs new cards will be a slaughter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421175",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T08:54:36",
"content": "Gawd I love nixie stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421177",
"author": "Pup",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T09:05:09",
"content": "My DS homebrew life counter pales in comparison to this. :0",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421236",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:26:58",
"content": "“So using old cards vs new cards will be a slaughter.”Only if you suck at playing.I regularly utterly own n00bs that think they can only play with the new cards. In fact I have a very old deck that I built that will nail most anyone in 3 turns… Poof you are dead. and no it does not use any banned cards.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421250",
"author": "r_d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:59:32",
"content": "@Daid:You’re kidding about old cards being weaker, right?They aren’t even printing Counterspell anymore. Mono-blue control is forever crippled.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421380",
"author": "paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:14:44",
"content": "@r_dfor real! The list goes on, too: goblin grenade, sinkhole :D, dark ritual…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421401",
"author": "Maxwell Mudd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T19:22:46",
"content": "First, let me say, I’m not really a Magic fan. I do think the art is cool though. But this project is beautiful, well-done, and also useful to the game. Great job Magic Nerd!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421411",
"author": "kronos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:06:44",
"content": "there needs to be a third nixie tube!at 56 life i play [Beacon of Immortality]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421459",
"author": "j0z0r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:37:38",
"content": "@Daid – The very first edition has some of the most powerful and broken cards in the whole game. I have a mono-red burn deck with old cards that can hold it’s own against any three decks with only new cards. If anything I ‘d say they try to balance it more with edition that comes out",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421606",
"author": "DudeGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T04:44:28",
"content": "This is the nerdiest thing I’ve ever seen.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421711",
"author": "Hack Cell",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T11:49:39",
"content": "LOL at drop the A-bomb and @DudeGuy",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422737",
"author": "Lennox",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:55:41",
"content": "This comment thread is hilarious. None of you know anything about MTG.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6242479",
"author": "Steven John Satak",
"timestamp": "2020-05-04T17:01:57",
"content": "I was inspired by this article to build my own. Pat and I made three of them, steampunk-themed. Google ‘MTG nixie life counter’ and you will see it. Three digits. I designed an extra circuit to strobe the display to save power (70hz so that it doesn’t interfere with 60hz overhead lighting), but other than that, it runs off 4x AA cells for about 12 to 18 hours. Rotary switches allow you to select a digit. We built them in 2017, I think, and have been using them ever since.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.856071
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/power-tool-battery-charger-repair/
|
Power Tool Battery Charger Repair
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"charger",
"drill",
"fan",
"repair"
] |
[Webby] inherited a cordless drill from his dad and when he finally got around to using it, found that
the charger was dead in the water
. He disassembled it and narrowed the issue down to the charger’s primary transformer, but didn’t know where to go from there. A friend suggested that the coil’s thermal fuse might have blown, and upon further investigation, [Webby] discovered that his friend was right.
He removed the dead fuse and soldered in a piece of wire just for testing – not surprisingly the charger sprang to life. He picked up a new thermal fuse to replace the old one, but he wasn’t quite satisfied with the fix just yet. If the fuse burned out once already, there’s little to stop it from happening again, so he decided that installing a small cooling fan would be a good idea. He mounted the fan on the outside of the case after cutting some vent holes, leeching power from the charger itself.
While simply adding a fan to the charger might not be everyone’s idea of a perfect solution,
it has worked out quite well
for [Webby] in the past, so if it isn’t broken…
[via
HackedGadgets
]
| 14
| 12
|
[
{
"comment_id": "421000",
"author": "spiderwebby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T00:38:15",
"content": "If I knew this would end up on HaD I would have spent more than 5 seconds on the soldering… ah well, such is life! :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421015",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:50:29",
"content": "Educationg process. However, for safety reasons I would rather toss the thing. The fuse probably went of for a reason- may it just be poor design. But a fan is not going to remedy this reason. Would be cool if he had put in a small switching supply with super low standy consumption or so!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421033",
"author": "cj",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:37:47",
"content": "damn, a bosch charger… thats a POS =/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421034",
"author": "APE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:38:36",
"content": "Could put in a self resetting fuse instead.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421122",
"author": "mr foo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:30:47",
"content": "I have a makita charger that makes a helluva row due to its fan. A fan is a good idea",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421134",
"author": "Garbz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:45:48",
"content": "These thermal fuses can go out for all sorts of reasons. Often it’s user error rather than a safety issue. Throw a rag over the charger by accident for instance.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421242",
"author": "noone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:41:26",
"content": "could have just picked up a new charger on ebay for $10",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "4870112",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2018-08-14T16:47:47",
"content": "I am looking for this tool shop charger. Can you tell me where I can find it on Ebay???Thanks",
"parent_id": "421242",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421303",
"author": "spiderwebby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:05:28",
"content": "I think it may have been left plugged in and buried at some point.. I never realised how much heat an unloaded transformer produces until this little adventure.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421308",
"author": "Parcanman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:10:57",
"content": "My first thought was just add some kind of circuit breaker. When I ran my stage lighting company, all it took was having 8 lights off during the middle of a concert for the time it took me to swap the fuse to convince me to swap the fuses in all my dimmers with breakers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422192",
"author": "PocketBrain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T15:21:32",
"content": "@noone: the point is, he kept it out of the landfill for a minimal cost, and upgraded it. And yeah, a PTC fuse might be a good idea.I just (yesterday, in fact) rebuilt a 10-cell battery pack for a tool set that also had a bad charger. I’m not going to rebuild the charger as it was, however; I have a smart charger (Li-ion, NiMH, NiCd) that I am using now. I will put the charger back together, but cut the leads going in and simply attach them to studs so I can use the smart charger.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "437887",
"author": "whit richardson",
"timestamp": "2011-08-19T13:32:45",
"content": "I am not real techy, but can solder a bit. My Senco 9.6-24v charger blows the fuse immediately upon battery insertion. Anyone have any ideas??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "6157837",
"author": "Truk",
"timestamp": "2019-06-20T02:12:44",
"content": "Probably a diode shorted sends batter voltage the wrong place.",
"parent_id": "437887",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "2737580",
"author": "Jeff",
"timestamp": "2015-10-02T11:47:00",
"content": "I am in the process of reviving a dead Bosch 30 minute charger. Mine came to me with a perfect brute hammer drill and two batteries. Main fuse vaporized, mains rectifiers and capacitors test OK. Mains raw b+ measures a short on continuity test and about 4 ohms on resistance check. Source of the short is the primary side chopper transistor (v5}, a stp6nk90z power MOSFET. Swapping the MOSFET out with one from a computer power supply has the charger working again on the bench and the usual suspects all stock this transistor for under 3 dollars. I ordered one from digikey.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.688613
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/demystifying-pid-control-with-a-look-at-the-new-arduino-pid-library/
|
Demystifying PID Control With A Look At The New Arduino PID Library
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"library",
"pid"
] |
We’ve been hiding away in air-conditioned comfort to wait out the hot weather afflicting most of the US right now. Luckily we’re keeping busy with the great links coming into our tips box.
[Brett] sent us a note about his work on the new Arduino PID library. He is the author of the original library and recently decided it was time for a ground-up rewrite. But along the way he took the time to
explain PID control and the choices he made during development
.
We see a lot of PID controllers around here, like
this router based espresso machine add-on
. Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controllers are a way to make sure the control you intended to get from your devices is actually achieved in practice. They monitor a process and accumulate results over time in order to account for future events. From what we’ve just described you can see why the subject needs to be demystified.
Get yourself elbow-deep into [Brett’s] article. He does a great job of discussing each issue, and uses a multitude of easily understandable graphs to show the hurdles each portion of code is meant to overcome.
| 18
| 18
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420921",
"author": "Robot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:18:27",
"content": "Sweet! I especially appreciate the documentation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420924",
"author": "Stunt21",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:31:15",
"content": "I think that Brett has done a great job. Congratulations, it’s a great way to make PID easier.Anyway, I’ve always thought that the simplest (simplest final product) way to make a PID is the traditional one (the only shitty thing is that some more (not much) knowledge is required):·Calculate the transfer function knowing what’s your desired maximum error, damping, overshoot, etc… in a continuous system (most easy using Laplace Transform (I repeat, don’t scare, it’s quite easy, a (well) trained monkey could do it))·Convert your transfer function to a discrete one with the method you prefer (MATLAB, paper and pencil…etc)·Convert it to a discrete temporal system, with its delays and all.That’s what, in a scenario of a assembler programming for example, will be the simplest solution. Just sums, products, and delays :)Anyway I repeat, I like Brett’s job. Thanks for it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420941",
"author": "fronzbot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:43:44",
"content": "@Stunt21 – I’m currently writing my own PID for a project and that’s exactly how I’m doing it (going the MATLAB route too). I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you, too, were EE trained? Haha.This is a great PID lesson though, very informative and I may have to “steal” some ideas for my own project!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420946",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:51:55",
"content": "Will be reading…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420955",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T22:10:42",
"content": "This is good, I am pretty sure I could use this to improve my PID code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420959",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T22:37:35",
"content": "AWESOME, BRETT!I was just preparing to code my first PID, and this easily the best tutorial I’ve seen. The task looks a lot less intimidating now. I especially love how you show the complete code as it is incrementally changed to accommodate each improvement. Will definitely be reading again and studying in detail.This is a real asset to all of us. I would love to see you go further and explore:1) Feed forward. It seems fairly simple in concept, but an example in your style of writing would make it crystal clear.2) Reset tiebacks. I haven’t heard this one before and couldn’t find anything on it. What is it?3) Velocity instead of position. Again, an example would be great.4) Different PID forms. Maybe touch briefly on this. Are there any that have notable benefits/drawbacks in any given situation? Having that info would be a good start for individuals to further explore them on their own.Integer math is really a topic of its own. Although I’m sure you would do it justice, it’s not specific to PID; and probably adequately explained elsewhere.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420963",
"author": "Colecoman1982",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T22:51:58",
"content": "@stunt21: I always thought that the “traditional” method of PID design involved using analog electrical components…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420978",
"author": "Stunt21",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:24:23",
"content": "@Colecoman1982: That is right for my first point, the continuous (‘s’ or Laplace Transform) transfer function.But once you switch it to the discrete (‘z’ transform) transfer function (by using the Residue Theorem on pencil&paper, or any of the functions as ‘c2d’ on MATLAB/Octave on PC), such transfer function “works” (sorry proffessors, but the transform domains involve much math stuff) only on certain discrete values of time, such as iterations of a microcontroller.You end up with a ‘Action[k] = 2*Error[k-1] + Error[k]’ thing for your transfer function (‘k’ would be the current iteration), which obviously a microcontroller can solve efficiently :)The advantage with this method is that you can use a P, PD, PI, II, PID, or just any other controller you want, because YOU define your own transfer function, whether for (Hey, @Chris!) position, velocity, accelleration…and any with a % of error, or zero error (adding an integral factor (‘s’ or ‘z-1’) to the transfer function).I’ve made like 2 systems I can remember using PID, and after having done the calculations, the PID itself didn’t take more than 5 lines in the code… ;)I’m leaving for a 20 days backpack trip in some hours. If I can help you with PID, find my email on the link and let me know. Have fun with volts!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420987",
"author": "George",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:47:26",
"content": "Looks good, but although some of the math is too much, it would be interesting to talk about PID tuning and how the different parameters affect control (potentially leading to instability).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421018",
"author": "Darksmurf",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:55:50",
"content": "Now we just need a similar tutorial for kalman filtering….PLEASE?!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421032",
"author": "Colecoman1982",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:35:10",
"content": "@Stunt21: Actually I was trying to make a joke. I was drawing attention to the fact that you called your version of a PID “traditional”. PIDs pre-date digital logic. In fact, according to Wikipedia, they date back to the 1890’s and were mechanical in nature back then and for a long time after. After that, they were, also for a long time, designed using all analog electrical components. In neither case was it necessary to deal with the system in a discreet manner.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421101",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T05:25:13",
"content": "Wow, that’s great. I looked into a PID controller for my robot and eventually settled on a kalman filter because I heard arduino couldn’t handle PID. But, now there’s a PID library?! That’s awesome because I could never get my kalman filter working.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421139",
"author": "ed",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T07:06:28",
"content": "sorry… but i did not find any working sample code, if there’s any please provide the linkthx a bunch",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421169",
"author": "ino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T08:39:50",
"content": "That’s a nice job there.You can also have a look at Fuzzy Logic. It’s quite efficient and way simpler to wrap your mind around.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421210",
"author": "Brett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:49:20",
"content": "Hi everyone, thanks for the positive response.@Chris it’s going to be a while before I get to those things. It took me months to refine the library and writeup, and I haven’t even started thinking about how to best explain those topics.@George as part of my employment agreement I’m not supposed to give pid tuning advice without my company getting paid. This is also why there is no auto-tune for the pid library. If you’re specifically interested in tunings for your process, try the diy pid control google group. there’s a growing community that should be able to give you some tuning help@ed there’s a link to the Arduino library in the first paragraph. that should give you a working c++ library that you can use. Also, if you’re looking for Arduino-specific, there are examples included on that page, and bundled with the library.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421221",
"author": "Andy Lippitt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:19:38",
"content": "@Darksmurf:http://vizlog.com/robot/kalman.zip",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421481",
"author": "swighton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T23:22:36",
"content": "QUOTE: “They monitor a process and accumulate results over time in order to account for future events.”I think I know what you are trying to say but this is wrong -One huge drawback of a PID control system is that it is a purely reactionary – it doesn’t account for future events, only what has happened. Perhaps you are talking about the derivative term which helps to prevent overshoot but it still doesn’t account for future events.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422564",
"author": "Magam6",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:33:53",
"content": "Interesting link but for those new with the concept I will suggest to start with the excellent paper called “PID without a PhD” by Tim Wescot (first answers by google, prefer the Pdf file here:http://www.eetimes.com/ContentEETimes/Documents/Embedded.com/2000/f-wescot.pdf) also linked on the wikipedia page for PID.Very practical approach, which help me a lot to understand the tuning part for example (for which, the author of your linked page cannot explain much)(And sorry for my poor english which is only my third language :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.911049
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/intro-to-dc-motor-control-using-the-sn754410/
|
Intro To DC Motor Control Using The SN754410
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"h-bridge",
"motor controller",
"pic",
"sn754410"
] |
So your electronic hobby skills are coming along quite nicely but you’re not very comfortable doing more than blinking a few LEDs. Now’s a good time to try something new by
driving a couple of DC motors
.
You probably know that you can’t just hook these up to the pins of your favorite uC and call it good. The motors draw a lot of current (especially if they’re strained in lifting a heavy load) which would burn out your logic circuitry. Add to this the excess induced current that is generated when a spinning motor is shut off and you’re going to need a control system that can handle these dangers.
Enter the h-bridge motor driver. [Chris] has guided us through the process of
building and using a H-bridge
in the past. This time he’s using a motor controller that has four half H-bridges built into it. He hooks up the SN754410 to two motors, giving him speed and direction control for both based on the duty cycle of a PWM signal entering the chip for less than $2.50. Check out the video after the break for an overview of his methodology, then work your way through the multi-page post that he recently published.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzdSUYf7SLo&w=470]
| 10
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420903",
"author": "xeracy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:20:40",
"content": "Scorpian?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420919",
"author": "dombeef",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:13:11",
"content": "^I was thinking that!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420943",
"author": "TheCreator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:47:20",
"content": "I guess that is fine if you are only going to run 1A. The switching times aren’t great , using it for PWM speed control would give excessive ringing. You would get farther with some transistors or logic level fets. They can be placed in parallel if you need more amps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420944",
"author": "Thor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:47:30",
"content": "Cool scorpion driver.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420980",
"author": "Kuy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:30:46",
"content": "I saw no mention of clamping diodes in this post or in the linked article. FYI to those working with motors, relays, solenoids and so on: always use clamping diodes because the changing magnetic fields in coils can produce unexpected and unwanted high-voltage spikes in your circuits. Even if you’re using the popular SN754410-compatible L293D driver chip, which has diodes built in, design external ones into your circuit to be certain your micro is protected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421013",
"author": "Colin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T01:48:04",
"content": "totally thought scorpion the instant I saw it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421191",
"author": "Tyler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T10:23:33",
"content": "Good tutorial.Is he using the C18 compiler?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421209",
"author": "patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:45:18",
"content": "@kuy or any one who knows thissorry for my ignorance but clamping diode or free wheeling diode?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421448",
"author": "TheCreator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:03:45",
"content": "@ patrickThere are two similar soloutions for dealing with back EMF. I think kuy meant clamping network which is two diodes in series one being reverse biased.The other is the free wheeling or flywheel diode which is just a single diode in series that is reverse biased.Either way kuy is right in saying that external back EMF protection is necessary. Along with some appropriate sized bypass capacitors. A lot of higher amp / voltage designs use optoisolators to segregate the logic from the motor controller circuitry.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421450",
"author": "TheCreator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:05:29",
"content": "a correction in my post above.The flywheel diode sits parallel with the load. The clamping network also sits parallel with the load.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,135.011972
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/lg-tv-hacking-via-serial-connection-or-ir-codes/
|
LG TV Hacking Via Serial Connection Or IR Codes
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"LG",
"rs232",
"script",
"tv"
] |
[Brendan Robert] has been sending us forum thread links outlining the things he’s learned while hacking LG televisions. They were a bit hard to follow for the uninitiated, so we asked if he could give us
an overview of what he’s been working on
. Not only did he do that, but he made a little Hackaday shout-out seen above by adding the skull and cross-wrenches as one of the menu overlays.
He’s using a TV as his computer monitor, which he picked up at a discount because it was a display model. Without the original remote, and wanting to have features like power-saving mode which is standard on monitors but not on this TV, he decided to see what he could accomplish. A couple of things made this quite a bit easier. First, there’s an RS232 port built into the back which removes the need to investigate and solder your own onto the board. Secondly, since LG built on the Linux kernel for the set, you can download some of the firmware sources from their website.
What he came up with is a script that will find and communicate with the TV over the serial connection. The test script used during development polled every possible command, looking for valid return values. Once [Brendan] established which commands work and what they do, he was able to take command of the unit, writing scripts to adjust brightness based on the ambient light in the room as seen from the computer’s webcam. Make sure you check out the sub-pages to his post that detail the brightness adjustments, stand-by functionality, custom overlay graphics, and the extra commands he uncovered.
| 19
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420877",
"author": "M",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:52:42",
"content": "It’d be sweet if he ditched the KVM and used Synergy (http://synergy-foss.org/) and a custom hook to switch the TV input when his cursor hit the screen edge.Synergy only works if you aren’t VPNing though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420881",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:01:00",
"content": "Synergy is sweet indeed! I’ve had hit-or-miss luck with it in terms of error recovery (in the event of a flaky connection or reset router). For the most part, I try using ssh x-forwarding since both computers run linux. I’m considering winswitch, but am getting odd errors from it.I think it might be nice to have a custom PiP or maybe a pigin notifier using the OSD — so that I don’t miss anything if I’m watching TV or anything else that is equally unproductive. You can (easily) display a JPG and scale it to any size as an overlay very easily. The trouble is getting the image to /tmp on the TV without a memory stick.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420884",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:08:51",
"content": "Side note: My apologies for a total lack of artistic talent. It might have looked better if I used the actual HaD logo instead of a pixelated one. I originally tried using a transparent PNG but couldn’t get the OSD debug menu to blit anything other than JPGs. But I wanted something with transparency so it didn’t look ‘shopped.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420887",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:24:27",
"content": "This stuff has been known for a decade now. All integrators have been doing this with LG tv’s for a very long time. the CD that comes with the TV’s has all the codes documented.Now crack into the Firmware… That will impress me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420895",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:51:23",
"content": "Why reinvent the wheel? OpenLGTV and LGMOD are readily available. I’m not in a hurry to brick my TV in the quest to determine compatibility though. And, though you might think the codes are all documented, that is in fact not true at all. LG does not document how to set the tool options (useful for unlocking DivX playback) or all of the remote control button presses (MC commands). Nor do they document how to poke around the debug features to mess with the OSD. The hack here is gaining additional functionality WITHOUT modding (perhaps bricking) the TV.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420904",
"author": "Andrew Hooper",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:24:27",
"content": "It would be so cool to be able to use the IR port on the front of the TV to throw code and force a custom menu overlay up. This would make a trip to the local appliance shop so much more entertaining “Gorilla Advertising” :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420912",
"author": "defyboy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:40:22",
"content": "have been doing this for a while now, the tv’s user guide has all the information and codes you need.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420995",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T00:19:59",
"content": "defyboy: Check out the MC codes subpage for a few undocumented surprises. :-) My next stop is to manipulate the OSD debug menu to do more that fly a jolly roger, I just need to work out a solid file transfer mechanism.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421024",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:10:31",
"content": "This looks sweet. I’ll be looking for one of these for my next TV.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421027",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:26:02",
"content": "I’ve added a new subpage for this: How to send binary files over using the debug shell. Thank the FSM that this TV has awk in the /bin directory already. Many thanks to Peter van Eerten for his base64 decode awk script, which I’ve tailored to this purpose. Next step: custom OSD notifications!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421031",
"author": "truthspew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T02:34:12",
"content": "I have a 40″ Element Electronics 1080p set tht has a USB port on the back.So too the Motorola cable box. I gotta plug in and see what’s there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421292",
"author": "Volkemon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T14:32:32",
"content": "As I look around the back of my 47″ LG… YES!!!A serial port… JOY!! I had *NO* idea that I could hack my TV so easily.. WooooHoooo!!Thank for the eye opener BLuRry ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421343",
"author": "Jehu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:50:55",
"content": "One of my first jobs as a techie was to go around to peoples places to flash the firmware on there LG tvs as there was a run that was shipped with buggy firmware. I had to change the Baud rate first before running the software that LG supplied. There were a bunch of passwords for them and options to do a forced flash if the standard way didn’t work. Even if you bricked the TV by putting the wrong firmware on it, doing a forced flash with the right one would usually fix it…..damn, I wish I had kept that program and the password codes",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421379",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T18:14:11",
"content": "@Jehu: That makes TWO of us that wish you had that. ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421612",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T05:03:17",
"content": "Ok, a fun update: The page where I document how to draw on the OSD (on screen display) has been updated to include an example of using image overlays. I’ve shell-scripted the process of resizing an image, transferring it to the TV over the serial cable and displaying it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423228",
"author": "Stol24",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T18:42:23",
"content": "Nice work BLuRry !About the undocumented serial commands… How did you brute-force them?Assuming a letter-only four character command you get around 18000 combinations, assuming 0.25 sec/command gives 30 hours of probing for a rather limited space of potential commands..!Where you just persistent or am I missing something??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "459369",
"author": "suan",
"timestamp": "2011-09-19T15:46:49",
"content": "I also wrote a python library and script which makes it super easy to control your LG TV over its serial port, its cross-platform, supports most models and most common commands – all you need to do is provide your model number and serial port!You can check it out athttps://github.com/suan/libLGTV_serial",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2577328",
"author": "gsd932",
"timestamp": "2015-05-22T14:45:34",
"content": "hi everyone. i have a LG47LY330C and my tutor wants me to put the television on in lunch hours and put an app by omron that is like a video in the rest of the day, how can i do that? pls help me regards",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2577374",
"author": "gsd932",
"timestamp": "2015-05-22T15:22:24",
"content": "Good guys, I have a problem that is:I have a TV LG 47L330C at work and my boss wants from a RS-232 communication, I get in the lunch and dinner hours to tv connect to a television channel, outside of these hours you will need to open an application of omron in that this will be a kind of videos and slides.Appreciate a response to a future resolution of this problem.Thanks and a continuation of a good day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,134.967556
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/bypassing-manufacturer-imposed-battery-lockouts/
|
Bypassing Manufacturer-imposed Battery Lockouts
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"battery",
"repair",
"sony"
] |
When [Barret] went to use his camera the other day it kept shutting down on him, and upon inspecting the battery, he found that it was a bit swollen. Knowing that he needed a replacement,
he turned to an aftermarket battery
he had sitting around, but grew pretty annoyed when his Sony Cybershot camera would not accept it.
Apparently a recent firmware update causes his camera to reject non-Sony batteries, a situation he describes as “battery DRM”. There was no way he was going to pony up another $50 to Sony instead of using the perfectly good $10 battery he already had, so he decided to rectify the issue himself.
He stripped both batteries of their plastic coatings, revealing the lithium cells and their charging circuits. He desoldered the PCB from his Sony battery, transplanting it to his aftermarket battery after a little bit of trimming. He wrapped everything up with some tape and gave his franken-battery a spin. It worked a treat, and he was so satisfied with it that he did a similar swap in his aging Logitech mouse.
As more and more companies lock competitors out of the user-replaceable consumables market, these sorts of hacks are certain to become more and more prevalent.
| 62
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420808",
"author": "yetihehe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:05:37",
"content": "I think it’s good idea, but please watch out for explosions. Aftermarket batteries may have a little different chemistry, for which sony controller would be mistuned.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420809",
"author": "Pete Prodoehl",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:08:10",
"content": "Argh! I’ve had to deal with Sony battery issues as well. Here’s a brief write-up on it:http://rasterweb.net/raster/2009/10/28/fix-your-infolithium-battery/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420811",
"author": "Punkguyta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:08:33",
"content": "This is the kind of hack that makes me grin when I flip on here every day. You’re absolutely right Mike, we will see this kind of stuff more and more regularly.For example, my mother was trying to do a nice thing for me last year and bought me this really nice Kodak All-in-one printer/scanner/copier unit, it even has wireless access to my windows smb network via bonjour printing.Sad thing is, you can seem to only print like 100 pages and it says the black ink is about down to 1/4 full AGAIN (cartridge 4!) and when the printer decides it’s empty, that’s it, even if there is still in in there!My printer isn’t the only one that has a “DRM-cartridge” either, but no one has had any interest in hacking the same model printer as mine. If I had a buspirate or something I’d totally do it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420812",
"author": "nerdrage",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:11:30",
"content": "yetihehe, wont the charge controller learn the battery capacity after a full charge cycle? But yeah, I’d give that thing a few charge/ deplete cycles outside of my pocket before risking toasting my gonads.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420814",
"author": "xzor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:18:25",
"content": "People still buy Sony products?I can’t think of any other company that so hates it’s customers. They go out of their way to create non-standard standards.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "971025",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2013-03-05T19:52:05",
"content": "Apple are way worse than Sony for doing this. They even do it with software.",
"parent_id": "420814",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420819",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:36:00",
"content": "Having worked for a division of Sony in the past, I can tell you that we would buy batteries that were certified to work at conditions beyond the ratings of ordinary lithium cells (mainly temperature). Hacks like this could create a hazard.I’ve done similar things myself, but people should understand that there’s a (small) risk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420822",
"author": "RooTer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:40:37",
"content": "Hate this kind of thing – they are hidding “cost” of camera in new battery… There should be some regulations against that kind of stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420824",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:42:04",
"content": "i was thinking the same thing XZOR. they seem to be lees about there customer and there build quality. i guess the same goes for M$ to.i love these kinds of hacks it shows the man you can take your over priced drm bull s@#$! and shove it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420825",
"author": "Justin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:42:50",
"content": "xzor: You can’t think of another company? How about Apple? They’re always doing non-standard things.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420828",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:44:59",
"content": "Good hack, and great to see any company that participates in these schemes (especially Sony) deprived of income.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420829",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:45:11",
"content": "@Bill: There is no safety issue with this. The ‘certified’ batteries were just the ones manufactured by Sony, at the Sony-run factory, using the same cheap bulk parts, to ensure all exorbitant profits from the Sony device are funneled directly back to Sony themselves.For the record, I also used to work at Sony. Boy was that a treat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420830",
"author": "bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:49:05",
"content": "It makes me think of batteries whose controller will lock after x charges because the battery should be at the end of its life… Sad sad sad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420831",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:49:40",
"content": "It is a rather obnoxious trend, and while I can see that manufacturers are trying to make every dollar they can, the practice is odious at best.The saying, “It’s cheaper to buy a new printer than to pay for ink” is really not that far from reality. I bought a relatively cheap laser printer a few years back for around $85 on sale, but even “compatible” replacement toner cartridges can cost upwards of $60.When the supplies to maintain a product start to overrun the cost of purchasing a new one, there is no incentive for people to keep the stuff they have. This leads to excessive consumption, which is great in the manufacturer’s eyes, but terrible for the environment. Now I’m not an environmentalist by a long shot, but the last thing we need is more e-waste piling up in our landfills.I suppose this “disposable” mindset is good for the hacking community as we will rarely have a hard time finding salvage material, but surely there has to be a better way.As I mentioned in the post, I think that hacks like these will become increasingly more important as time goes on, so I love seeing this kind of stuff come our way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1848863",
"author": "CMH62",
"timestamp": "2014-09-20T19:59:08",
"content": "Mike – well said. +1 to you! :-)",
"parent_id": "420831",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "2234626",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2014-12-11T04:33:44",
"content": "Oh the irony! Don’t get me wrong here as I agree with what you say but then you ask “surely there has to be a better way”.Well there is, or was, the way we did this before. Before when we bought products from manufacturing companies and not marketing companies. [Your favorite company] doesn’t make [your favorite product] anymore, they’re just a marketing company.And yes, it is disgusting how much we are polluting this planet with e-waste but it will continue for as long as e-waste means profit for companies and cost for governments (and the people through tax). At the moment it isn’t costing that much because we ship all the toxic e-waste to places like Africa where they salvage some things for a pittance while exposing them selves to dangerous cancer producing toxic chemicals.This article is just another example of how bad and outright blatant this has become. In some places in Europe you have to pay for the disposal of a product at the time of purchase. This should be how it should be everywhere so that we destroy this false economy that puts profit in the pockets of ‘brand names’ while destroying our environment.I am waiting for this ‘paradigm shift’ but I don’t expect anything to happen before things get much worse in the environment.",
"parent_id": "420831",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420833",
"author": "Charles",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:54:05",
"content": "Oddly, the more I’ve learned working with a few batteries, the more this sort of hack worries me. For example, when he says, “identical, except for a different circuit board,” I now naturally look for something to jump behind.The “battery DRM” is not just a money grab. IEEE specs require two protection mechanisms to reduce the chance of damage (read: explosion or electrocution) in the event of a short, to cutoff charging if the battery is in an unsafe state, and to make sure that the charging scheme is appropriate to the chemistry. IEEE spec also requires one of those protection mechanisms to be embedded in the battery itself, specifically to reduce the chance of a crappy aftermarket battery and an incompatible device coming together and working just long enough to to blow up. Usually you would by two chips from set, put one in your device, and the other in your battery. The DRM makes sure the chips are really working together, and not just a clever hack by someone with just a little information. Keep the cell from exploding, and the company from being sued.If the cells used are the same chemistry, what Barret’s done here is no different than what you’d do at the factory by replacing a defective cell with a new one. Depending on various factors, his power meter may be inaccurate (usually the on-battery chip handles coulomb counting and multi-cell charge balancing too), but it will work.If it’s a different chemistry (say, lithium-polymer instead of lithium-ion), then it goes without saying that the charging process will be faulty and perhaps dangerous. Also, when trying this hack in the future, other batteries may require more effort to get them working, because the order in which some connections are made matters to some chips (to prevent accidental discharge when assembling the pack at the factory).I’m not usually out to rain on anyone’s parade, but this is a bit more involved than replacing ink in a printer. Precautions must be taken.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420835",
"author": "Philippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:57:07",
"content": "Not buying from Sony EVER again. I wish they go belly up.As for consumables, read this, marketing people: I don’t mind paying a printer or a camera or anything a reasonable price, so that everybody is happy, as long as its quality.But, please stop trying to rip me off by forcing me to buy grossly overpriced consumables.I find it an insult to my intelligence.Now, what kind of business insults their customers?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420838",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:08:44",
"content": "Seems like this has more to do with frivolous lawsuits than DRM.Please people of america stop suing each other anytime you get a whiff of a big payout.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420840",
"author": "JCottingim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:15:03",
"content": "I agree with RooTer… there should be regulations against DRM’ing batteries – but companies have been doing this sort of thing for years – not just ink cartridges and batteries.As an example, Apple used to do it with their hard drives. The SCSI drives they used had to be from Apple and were 3 to 4 times market price.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420841",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:16:20",
"content": "@PhilippeConsumers don’t buy printers that are reasonably priced. For electromechanical devices of their complexity, printers are grossly underpriced. The model is still to undercharge for the printer, and the profit from the ink. This is beneficial for the consumer when it allows someone who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford a printer to buy one, especially when they only use it sporadically.Commercial printers, on the other hand, have a larger profit margin, and ink/toner have less (although they are also being sold in bulk quantities). This has been changing with verification chips on toner. That’s just a dick move.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2234689",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2014-12-11T04:50:54",
"content": "I have to disagree with some of what you said but perhaps it’s just me. I buy printers that are reasonably priced but perhaps that is because I can fix them and get a reasonable life from the unit.My last mono-laser printer was about $400. It lasted about 11 years. My current mono-laser is about 5 years old now. It was about $300. Recently I bought a second hand color laser for $30. The normal retail is about $250.The previous mono-laser went until the plastic was literally de-composing from UV exposure. The current mono-laser has had the thermal film sleeve in the fuser replaced, a $5 part. The color laser also needs a replacement thermal film sleeve and it has only done 5000 pages.You said “This is beneficial for the consumer when it allows someone who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford a printer to buy one”.I disagree. The real evaluation of a printer is the total cost per page. Cheap printers are most often more expensive in the long run.Just as a side note – I had to go to a government department to pay an Eh Em ‘fee’ today and noticed that they were using oki-data dot matrix printers lol.",
"parent_id": "420841",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420843",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:17:54",
"content": "Good job Barret!This is a common thing for me to do. Although I usually open up the original battery, and replace the actual cells with identical chemistry, and ratings. (Same idea!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420853",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:58:33",
"content": "a percentage of the power is going to supply those pointless ICs..oh yeah and this is Sony, hope they don’t have the government raid your house and sue you..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420859",
"author": "kuhltwo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:14:53",
"content": "As far as battery chemistry goes, there are only a few manufacturers. Having worked at a battery manufacturer as a QC Inspector I saw the same battery go into 100’s of name labels. Same exact battery off the line. This 1000 to Exide, the next 1000 to Duracell, etc.This marketing of “throwaway” products will continue until the public gets wise to it.I use a “printer cartridge” re-cycler for my printer needs. If they don’t have my cartridge, I send them my extras so they can have them in their system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420867",
"author": "st2000",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:29:25",
"content": "1. Admittedly, I might try the same.2. Battery pack forgery is a real problem and the reason may have resorted to identifying authentic packs before using them. For example, what would you think if your fire department relied on their walkie-talkies while left in a charger. After market packs have been known to generate enough interference so as to compromise the operation of the radio.3. Just matching chemistry may not be enough. Chips involved in the care and feeding of secondary (rechargeable) batteries have dozens of settings which, if properly adjusted, are different even for the same type of battery. You usually need an SMBus reader to get to these settings inside the chip.4. The “fuel gauge” chip is usually smart and gets conditioned to the batteries in the pack through use. Switching out these batteries with new ones may result in false charge level readings. Maybe for the life of the new batteries.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420871",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:44:45",
"content": "For some reason, this reminds me of those slug AVRs that Sparkfun got. Not really comparable at all, it just made me think of it.(For those who don’t know, SF bought a bunch of AVRs from a questionable dealer, and got a whole bunch of chips that LOOK like an AVR but they’re just a lump of metal inside.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420873",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:45:59",
"content": "BTW: did anyone else notice that a FIRMWARE update did this? He had usable aftermarket batteries ON HAND, and Sony decided he couldn’t use them any more. That’s just bunk.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420882",
"author": "john",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:01:08",
"content": "“I can tell you that we would buy batteries that were certified to work at conditions beyond the ratings of ordinary lithium cells”That’s a laugh and so are all these ‘well the chemistry may be different blah blah blah’. A battery is a battery and a stupid camcorder aint nothin special either. Power in to recharge, power out to make device function. We’re not talking some specialized highly singular device which needs a special battery made in some special shape etc. IT’S A BATTERY.If the manufacturers want to try and complicate things with cheap parts, cheaper labor and or some kind of bs drm scheme, that will be their problem, not mine. I as the consumer will simply never buy their stuff again. Crapple included.If no one has noticed, all the best electronic devices are user friendly NOT manufacturer bottom line friendly.Great hack but just another reminder to never ever buy sony anything. Printers? Please, I have a $65 all in one and refuse to buy ink for it (seriosuly, i have printed maybe 20 pages and I already need 2 cartridges?) f that. My hp still works so when it’s ink runs out I’ll simply go next door, to a friends, or kinkos, but as a general consumer I will not be highway robbed ever again over ink. I don’t care who makes the printer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420885",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:14:32",
"content": "Solution?STOP BUYING from these companies, and publicly say, “I will not buy sony cameras because of their forcing me to use sony batteries instead of cheaper ones.”Honesty, are you people sheeple? Stop buying the new shiny from companies that actively hate you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1848919",
"author": "KC Koellein",
"timestamp": "2014-09-20T20:17:16",
"content": "No sh!t! Here! Here!STOP BUYING SONY! And any of the rest of em.But what do we know? We’re just the upstarts makin’ waves…",
"parent_id": "420885",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420896",
"author": "Pyrofer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T19:53:36",
"content": "Yeah, This sucks. DRM Batteries should not only be banned, but be illegal.It is a deliberate way to KILL old devices that would otherwise be fully functional.I have a £800 Sony Aibo.It Works perfectly.Except, It doesn’t, because I can’t get the batter to hold a charge.Sony No longer make or sell the battery.This hack is made even HARDER on the Aibo because if the protection chip loses power AT ALL, EVER it dies completely and never works again for any pack no matter what the charge or cells.Because of this I can no longer use a very expensive Sony product and there is no way to fix it.Thanks Sony. I too will never buy another Sony product, especially after they gave out all my personal info through useless (in)security.DRM Should only ever be legal in a situation where after it is NO LONGER available the product is released from the DRM. If Sony made a firmware patch for my Aibo to unlock it, yay. But they didn’t.Short story, Sony killed my pet dog.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1848941",
"author": "KC Koellein",
"timestamp": "2014-09-20T20:20:48",
"content": "…although this does present a business opportunity.Aftermarket replacement batteries for proprietary crap. Incorporate in the Republic of Zimbab-wistan, spin up an eBay account, and off you go!…charge a fair price… offer a quality solution… Everybody (EXCEPT SONY) wins!",
"parent_id": "420896",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420899",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:08:48",
"content": "@Pyrofer, excepthttp://www.batteryrefill.com/laptops/sony/aibo.phtmlWorks fine on my ERS7",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420901",
"author": "Haku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:13:39",
"content": "Sometimes you’re almost completely forced into a lock-in with a particular manufacturer regarding battery packs because there is no other conpany making clones.Case in point: electric bikes, the battery on the majority of ebikes have a specifically designed outer case for that bike (or the range of bikes the manufacturer sells), 3rd parties won’t necessarily bother making copies because the market isn’t big enough meaning the only way to get a cheap battery is to get lucky and acquire one 2nd hand and then you don’t know how old it is or how much use it has.I did manage to get lucky regarding my current (2nd) ebike battery, 2 years ago I got it second hand (it was a 10 month old ex-demo one that had been properly cared for) for less than 60% retail and only now it’s capacity is diminishing which is roughly on course for lithium battery ageing & use.Before the year is out I’ll be needing a replacement, brand new is the only way I’ll be able to get one for upwards of £250 (some ebike batteries are in the £500+ range!), however if I buy tabbed cells I can recell a pack for about £70-£80, roughly 30% of retail cost of a new pack.The stranglehold the product manufacturers have on consumers is often nothing but despicable, but sometimes there really is no alternative for the average consumer who doesn’t know the hot end of a soldering iron.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420911",
"author": "kuhltwo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:40:14",
"content": "Look at what the European Union did for phone chargers. They all have to be the same now. No more unique chargers for each and every phone. Save a lot of e-waste going to the landfills.They need to do the same with batteries. Like the A, AA, AAA, C, D, etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420913",
"author": "KT",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:42:15",
"content": "I remember the first time I swapped a battery in this manner. I had a Blackberry Pearl 8130 who’s battery got swollen (Too many nights on the phone with my gf while charging), so I pulled a battery that was about the same shape, size, and rating from a broken Samsung phone. A new battery would’ve cost me $40, but I couldn’t afford it at the time. My gf looked on in amazement as I did it, as she didn’t know anyone else who could do such a thing. That Blackberry lasted me another six months, until I sold it. I didn’t notice any ill effects from the swap.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420918",
"author": "jeff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:07:21",
"content": "another happy sony customer it seems.oh and by the way, i don’t think someone that shoves a NON-OEM battery in a product can have a case against the OEM if it blows up. Somewhere along the lines of your-own-damn-fault(tm).one is more likely being sued by Sony for doing that, given it’s frivolous legal track record.surely it’s about pure shiny profit, milking cash cows and giving the shareholders something to bite on.what’s next, DRM toilet paper sold by the toilet manufacturer?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420938",
"author": "Homer Simpson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:38:12",
"content": "Dimension 3d printers have chips on the cartridges that hold the platic material. You are 100% locked in to their cartridges at $250 bucks a pop!Thank GOD for reprap…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420954",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T22:09:53",
"content": "When the battery in my Canon camera gave out (and to use an external power supply) I made a fake battery with a male connector on the end. I also modified a Sony battery charger with the same male connector. Add in two unused cellphone batteries (one OEM and one 3rd party) with matching female connectors and I was good to go.How’s that for battery workarounds?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420977",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:23:28",
"content": "While I would have discovered this dependently if I where ever faced with the problem, it’s nice to know it before hand.Even if enough of the general public recognized what’s going, and raised a stink. Those in position of real influence will just say that’s capitalism, and like one commenter here blame “frivolous” laws suits. Most likely the corporations invented the practice of using the civil courts in hopes of getting other party to pay what is the first parties responsibility. Lemmings of all species are easy manipulated, so I don’t expect any changes soon. Anyway a proprietary battery pack can only increase the chance of a lawsuit being filed against the deeper pockets of Sony, if a hacked after market fails in a Sony product. Would I perform the hack? hell yes; I have already performed similar on my portable transceivers’ battery packs. Would I put them on the charger and leave the house on the initial charge? No. In the end I do expect enough of the consumers to keep handing over the cash to the manufacturers, while bellyaching to anyone who will put up with their bellyaching.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420981",
"author": "Volfram",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T23:31:06",
"content": "@xzor: Ditto that.When Sony used a software update to remove a feature they said they would never remove through a software update over a year ago, I said it wasn’t an issue of money or customers or security, it was an issue of principals. Sony wants you to know that when you give them money to purchase their products, you aren’t getting anything. The electronics, the batteries, the movies, music, or software you’ve purchased still belong to Sony, and they can still do anything they want to it(like removing features or adding battery lockout), whether you like it or not.Looks like I was right.So here’s what we should all do about it.Sony insists that you don’t own the products you buy from them. That means you’re spending money to get nothing.(This is commonly called a “scam,” by the way)You know, spending nothing to get nothing isn’t stealing.So what we should all do is take from Sony without paying them anything. They still own the products we use either way. It’s not piracy, it’s not stealing, it shouldn’t be illegal.Unless… Sony concedes that perhaps when you give them money, they ought to actually give you something in return.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1870572",
"author": "Sebastian Nielsen",
"timestamp": "2014-09-23T03:39:59",
"content": "I can say what you pay for. You pay for a service, a right to use the Product. Its the same when you buy a TV subscription with a free Set top box, or a broadband subscription with a free ADSL/Cable modem. Normally, you will have to return the Equipment when you end the subscription.In the same way, Sony Products with DRM can be seen. See it as you don’t buy a Product, you buy a service, that gives you right to use the Product indefinitely until it fails.Same with Music, games and other copyrighted material. You buy the right to use the material to listen. Not own it.Have you actually read the legal text on a SodaStream canister? The SodaStream canister specifically says that its not sold to you, its licensed, and other legal language that prohibit you from doing anything else than using it (which means you are not allowed to sell or give away the canister to a friend)And when you HIRE a Product, what are you paying for then? Yes the right to use the Product given the agreed contract and agreed time. You can’t keep the hired car and say that you are not getting anything in return for Money. Or when you hire a house, its not your house.I see no strange thing in DRM for physical Products, its just Another way to sell Products.",
"parent_id": "420981",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420997",
"author": "hin@heyyeah",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T00:29:20",
"content": "Volfram: great synopsis. I’d love to hear from Sony’s legal dept on what you are actually purchasing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421055",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T04:03:53",
"content": "the press jumps all over exploding batteries and the like, it causes a lot of harm to the rep, some dude in china had a home made gun go off in his jacket but for a while the cellphone battery was the blame, which is what people remember.You really think this big corps etc are making that much money off a possible battery sale to make it worthwhile to lock it down like this, or that it makes it harder to make knock off clones that can do way more damage in bad PR ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421133",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:43:42",
"content": "Aaaaaaand this is exactly why I have made it a point since a long time ago to only buy compact cameras with plain AA batteries (yes, my PDA used AAAs too – back when PDAs were still in use…) and to buy the printer with the most hackable / unDRM-ed cartridge type when I need one. Seems to work out great so far…Still, if you’ll ever be gathering a lynch mob against makers of cost-hiding ultra-expensive proprietary consumables, definitely do count me in. I’ll promise to keep my pitchfork nice and shiny just for them…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1856881",
"author": "LS",
"timestamp": "2014-09-21T12:50:07",
"content": "The infuriating thing is that fewer and fewer items use standard cells. Do you also get the you’re-a-crazy-man look from the sales people when you insist on a model that (the horror of it) uses standard cells?Ditto on the lynch mob.",
"parent_id": "421133",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421147",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T07:21:32",
"content": "Sony makes me hate Sony.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421183",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T09:40:12",
"content": "@ Philippe – You might be familiar with *this* business that totally relies on insulting it’s customers…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421194",
"author": "mattster",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T10:44:28",
"content": "The worst part is these companies can sue u and win using the DMCA for bypassing their schemes like a company who was making cheap inkjet cartridges using reverse engineered id chips.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421212",
"author": "Barrett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T11:54:22",
"content": "When I bought the camera the batteries were 80 dollars each at my local sony store. Unbelievable! After a bit of research I found that they are standard 3.7 volt used by almost every device manufacturer under the sun and not worth much more than $10.Just a couple of notes about battery chemistry: Its really important to match voltages. These batteries come in 2 flavours. 3.6 and 3.7. Never replace a 3.7 volt with a 3.6 or kaboom. As long as your swapping packs of the same voltage and chemestry you should be safe :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421218",
"author": "Barrett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T12:17:46",
"content": "More info: The batteries Sony shipped with this Camera are the older 3.6 volt flavour, however the Sony chargers are designed for newer 3.7 volt batteries. This probably explains why the battery packed failed so quickly (I had the camera about 1 year) the charging voltage is too high.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421302",
"author": "edeion",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T15:03:01",
"content": "When I was a kid French Sony’s catch line was “J’en ai rêvé, Sony l’a fait” (~I dreamt of it, Sony built it), it was very convincing. I later realized how pervert their commercial policy was. However, I couldn’t resist buying a VAIO TZ…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1856963",
"author": "LS",
"timestamp": "2014-09-21T13:03:30",
"content": "Up to somewhere around the end of the ’80s Sony had an enviable reputation for making great stuff. I wonder what old man Morita would have thought of the way Sony treat their customers now.",
"parent_id": "421302",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "2100544",
"author": "edeion",
"timestamp": "2014-11-07T10:49:24",
"content": "The nastiest is that they still do great stuff in some sense. But the greatness vanishes because of the lock they impose on their customers. To some extent, same sadness with Apple.",
"parent_id": "1856963",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "421369",
"author": "jh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T17:20:40",
"content": "I can understand having protection circuits on lithium batteries, but id chips as well just to lock out the competition? Anti-competitive practice. Looks like an FTC complaint to me. F! Sony and the horse they rode in on. My Nikon P100 is fine with aftermarket batteries. Saves me a bundle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421452",
"author": "john",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T22:13:36",
"content": "As for bike batteries. There is not even ONE single ebike distributor in the US who makes one worth buying. Not one. They are either chinese crap with pos motors or overpriced bs made for the wannabe rich kids.However, ecospeed makes both a motor and a controller that will accept ANY battery. Doesn’t matter if it’s a lithium setup you made, a lithium battery ecospeed made, a car battery, or even a power tool battery. It simply doesn’t care. They are expensive but made in the usa from development to production it’s very state of the art.They even offer an aftermarket lithium which is much much cheaper than theirs.My neighbor has an allinone hp and he has his cartridges refilled. He can afford it though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421557",
"author": "Steven",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T01:36:43",
"content": "Now I remember, that’s why I hate Sony.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421732",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T13:14:49",
"content": "Would anyone care enough to make something likehttp://www.defectivebydesign.org/especially for sony?– Rootkits on cd’s– The Oter os Stupidity.– Geohot– Memory sticks are almost twice as expensive as other flash form factors.– This Battery idiocy.Whad else have they tried?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "556327",
"author": "Mike Parson",
"timestamp": "2012-01-11T18:34:06",
"content": "I got a nice battery for my Sony DCR-SX45 but camera does not accept it. What can I do? Can you help me fix the problem? I would do everything but not buy an original battery to make Sony richer as they are already.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,135.108977
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/21/controlling-an-infuriating-game-with-an-accelerometer/
|
Controlling An Infuriating Game With An Accelerometer
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"game",
"gyroscope",
"processing"
] |
[Daniel] just made a
motion controlled game controller
to go with his
infuriating game
. Thankfully, [Daniel]
posted the source for this game
so first time players already know the level select codes.
The controller is based on an Arduino Uno with what looks to be a
Sparkfun 2-axis accelerometer
providing the tilt sensing. A similarly sourced half-inch force sensitive resistor and temperature sensor control the ‘jump pads’ in the game. A small vibrating pager motor strapped onto the controller as a rumble pack.
The game itself, built with
Processing
, is maddeningly hard (at least using a PC and a mouse) and fairly addictive. We’re going to keep telling ourselves that the game is hard because we don’t have a good controller. That saves us from taking out some frustrations on our laptop, but it does bring up memories of the MadCatz incident.
Check out the video below for the demo.
[vimeo
http://vimeo.com/25952079%5D
| 7
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420793",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T15:19:12",
"content": "That’s pretty cool! I was thinking along the same lines using the fram dev board I picked up from TI for $15 recently (I managed to read the accelerometer from java so far after hacking apart the demo source provided.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420820",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T16:36:16",
"content": "I was like “That’s not that infuriating of a game…” until I saw the levels where the target dot moves…that’s just mean.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420846",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:30:44",
"content": "do you think Nintendo started the same way for the wii lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420942",
"author": "Math",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T21:44:10",
"content": "@M4CGYV3RHave you seen the one where gravity is messed up?Now I understand infuriating…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421416",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:20:13",
"content": "When I read “The game… is maddeningly hard” I thought it would be a real challenge. It’s actually not that hard. I just finished it in like 10 minutes…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422405",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:04:55",
"content": "By the end of july I will submit new levels and some visual modifications. There are going to be some “mind blowing” ones!!!!I hope nobody gets crazy of being so frustrated…… I play all levels to ensure they are achievable :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430960",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-08-09T03:54:24",
"content": "Enjoy SmartBall 2.0Upgrades on mouse control and now 20 levels!!!!!http://www.switch-estudios.com.mx/Games/SmartBall/SmartBall.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.192882
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/beat707-le-a-button-pad-based-standalone-midi-sequencer/
|
Beat707 LE: A Button Pad-based Standalone MIDI Sequencer
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Musical Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"button pad",
"midi",
"sequencer",
"sparkfun"
] |
[Guilherme] picked up a SparkFun Button Pad and was taking a closer look at the device when he noticed that it was based off the ATMega328 microcontroller. Since he loves working with MIDI, he thought that the Button Pad would make a
slick yet compact standalone MIDI controller
.
Since his ultimate goal was to create a completely standalone controller aside from the power plug and MIDI interface, it forced him to work quite closely with the ATMega chip. He and his partners spent a good deal of time working through some serial communications issues so as not to block the LEDs or MIDI block timer during operation. Ensuring that the Arduino doesn’t block any other functions is obviously important when you are building a MIDI timer, and it seems [Guilherme] was successful in his quest.
The MIDI controller works quite nicely as you can see in the videos below, great job!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3KBr0tJkug&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4dpsLtee7k&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eESTo3ySTPk&w=470]
| 10
| 10
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420207",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:05:30",
"content": "Great stuff!How about chaining those up to e.g. 3pcs 4×4 boards?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420227",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:31:35",
"content": "Good question, I have to check if that’s possible, as the first board would have to talk to the others directly. With an extra Arduino its easy, but using them as they are, a bit harder. Depending on the demand we could do our own hardware for this and have the pins right, in a way we could stack those in an easier way. ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420253",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:23:02",
"content": "I love this, but the UI is pretty hard-core, no?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420283",
"author": "FredP",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:33:33",
"content": "@abobymouse – What, you find 16 unlabeled buttons with colored lights inside them hardcore? Why, this thing is simple to use! Just memorize what each button and/or color means and never forget. How much simpler could it get?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420307",
"author": "Bigdeal",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:28:11",
"content": "Novation does someething similar called the Novation Launchpad… but it’s a proprietary USB protocol made for Ableton Live. I wish someone would hack it to reuse the neat 8×9, bi-color led/button matrix for other applications, such as light cues launching or something…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420341",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:58:44",
"content": "@Bigdeal:The documentation is out…http://www.novationmusic.com/support/download/launchpad_programmers_reference_guide/668/Launchpadprogrammersreference.pdf",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420410",
"author": "Mudo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:26:44",
"content": "https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NuV_dzU5q4s/ThhoxZFLwgI/AAAAAAAAAfU/jO_5NB3gG-4/s640/la%252520foto2.JPG",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420439",
"author": "octave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:13:56",
"content": "Nice job,USB would have been much better draw power for the board and send the MIDI data over it. You’d need to write a USB device driver for the Computer tho’.May also simplify using multiple pads just hook them into a four port hub?Do sparkfun also have cheap sliders and pots cos my component supplier is charging crazy $$ for these items.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420467",
"author": "sawo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:59:14",
"content": "@MudoLooks like a Octinct there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422216",
"author": "sdlion",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T16:49:00",
"content": "Nice! I really like it.But as abobymouse said, pretty hardcore UI. A friend of mine asked me to build a sequencer for her if I have the time, but I doubt she could master the UI XD. She isn’t that type of person.Maybe with a second uC and lots of pretty hard work, you could integrate OLED displays over (or behind?) the buttons showing the current function. Human memory is the most unreliable human feature, just saying XD.Nice work again!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.399932
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/20/hacking-your-macbook-air-restore-drive-to-install-osx-lion/
|
Hacking Your MacBook Air Restore Drive To Install OSX Lion
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Mac Hacks"
] |
[
"lion",
"macbook air",
"OsX",
"restore"
] |
[Josh Wright] wrote in with
a handy little hack
just in time for today’s release of Mac OSX Lion. If you’re not familiar with the new version of the OS, Apple has decided to change things up this time around, completely eliminating physical distribution media.
In the event that you need to run a factory restore, this becomes an issue for some users. Computers with DVD drives can run a burned copy of the previously downloaded Lion installer, but MacBook Air owners are left hanging. Their restoration process is more time consuming, requiring a system restore and the download of OSX Lion, followed by the subsequent upgrade process. [Josh] thought it would be great if you skip the initial restore step and jump straight to installing Lion, so he hacked his USB restore media to do just that.
While copying the OS to a USB drive might sound trivial, the process is not as straightforward as it sounds – not surprisingly, Apple has put measures in place to prevent mere mortals from altering the contents of the drive. [Josh] put together an easy to follow tutorial that walks you through removing the drive’s protection and copying your brand new OSX Lion restore image to it.
While you might be asking, “Why jump through all these hoops when a normal flash drive would suffice?”, we think that his writeup is quite helpful. We see no reason to tie up a usable flash drive to store your restoration disc when you already have a perfectly good (albeit locked) drive at your disposal.
♦The only caveat to the process is that you need a Windows machine, virtual or otherwise, to complete the first step – a requirement that elicited a hearty chuckle from us.
| 26
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "420182",
"author": "TNTC",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:01:10",
"content": "Apple: Driving innovation in the hacker community by inconveniencing users.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420194",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:26:34",
"content": "I particularly like how the tool to hack the Mac runs on Windows…If you want to do what they tell you, use a Mac. If you want to do something useful, use something else.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420195",
"author": "sp00nix",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:29:54",
"content": "So would it be more convenient to just get it off a torrent as an ISO at this point?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420200",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:57:12",
"content": "Well, a legit download is just as easy, no need for a Torrent.I also just read that Apple will kindly sell you Lion loaded on a USB drive for $70, making this method even more enticing.http://gizmodo.com/5823002/apple-will-sell-you-lion-on-a-usb-thumb-drive-for-70",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420213",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:12:12",
"content": "M4CGYV3R: Don’t be a troll. What you are seeing here is vendor lock in to Windows: The maintenance program from Silicon Motion (maker of the flash drive controller chip) is Windows only.If you think Windows is required to get useful things done, you ain’t no hacker.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420216",
"author": "TheInternet",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:15:25",
"content": "$70 0_oSo they are getting closer and closer to the price of Windows. All of this for an update? Last time I checked service packs were free for Windows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420257",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:30:26",
"content": "Ken: Hacking is easier not-on-Mac. Hands down.Did you stop to think that maybe there’s a REASON that the maint. program was Windows-only? Probably because the vast majority of people who write code, and therefore the people who would need a USB-flash controller program, are using Windows. Linux works well, too, but Windows has more software available for it and WINE is iffy for a lot of things.Ease of programming? Windows wins.Openness of the platform to developers? Linux wins.Number of compatible programs? Windows wins.Percent of market share? Windows wins.Number of ‘net servers running the OS? Linux wins.Trendiness of case and UI graphics? Ok, Mac can have that one.http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspxThere is no situation (except their proprietary iPhone/iPad dev requirements) in which a Mac will do anything remotely hacker-ish better than a PC/*nix box. The fact that they had to run VMware or whatever to get that utility working is proof of that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420267",
"author": "Nate",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:57:05",
"content": "MC4GYV3R: well your whole argument is invalid seeing as Mac os is Unix based and therefore a “*nix” operating system so of course it can’t do anything remotely hackerish better than itself :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420274",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:16:27",
"content": "@ M4CGYV3R -“Windows has more software available for it ” — this is false.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420312",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:36:54",
"content": "”Windows has more obscure, poorly written software available for it ”There, I fixed it for you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420316",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:47:00",
"content": "This is a nifty trick if you need it, but I’d consider the Air restore disc the equivalent of a DVD restore disc. Sure, you CAN modify it, but 99.9% of users would not care to.Apple knows that MOST people would rather have something just work. Flash drives with the capacity for this are a dime a dozen these days, and available in most Wal-Mart checkout lines across from the gum.Better yet, make a nice, clean backup system on an external USB drive and save it for a rainy day. Emergency? Plug it in and boot into a clean slate in just a minute or two.Oh, and you can install Lion in Target Disk Mode. Do that on a PC, I dare ya.I use both systems daily, and both have their uses. But I have significantly more frustration using Windows.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420329",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:33:17",
"content": "Wouldn’t it be possible to just clonezilla a working os over to a backup then restore later? But this information WILL come in handy for me now that lion is coming out and I live in a community where all the schools are mostly mac based.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420372",
"author": "AlexM",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:28:20",
"content": "Guys, to tap in to conversation about Windows Vs. Mac, Mac is great “secure” platform, and really nice and polished as system for a house wife, or my twelve year old sister, but absolutely useless, when I actually need system to function without coding up a storm, I’m not saying, that Windows system doesn’t have issues, but at least when it’s get hung, you can kill process or service that causes it, and be merry on your way, mac, well, you get a beachball, aside from that, UI on macs is absolutely hirrendouos in some parts, and haven’t been improved in years, iFruits still don’t fully support bluray, they do make a damn good phones and decent tablets, however, last ones being pushed off by more powerful and flexible systems. So, here you go, after wasting a year with mac, I can say, that it’s pile of crap with shining smile of *nix.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420451",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:43:57",
"content": "@andar : since we’re already arguing semantics, a Mac is a Personal computer. A ‘PC’ if you will…If someone wants to play 2-3x more for the same components and worse case design as far as thermal issues go just so they can feel superior and trendy that’s their perogative.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420454",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:46:58",
"content": "Major coporations, working hard to screw you harder.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420462",
"author": "pskill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T22:53:29",
"content": "@AlexM: “I’m not saying, that Windows system doesn’t have issues, but at least when it’s get hung, you can kill process or service that causes it”—So you don’t know how to kill a unix process? Yet you feel you know something about unix?Gotcha.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420506",
"author": "GrizzlyAdams",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T23:59:20",
"content": "@Leithoa: Desktop Macs actually have pretty good thermal design, especially since the PowerMac G5. Multiple thermal zones, dedicated fans for each zone, and temperature control. Laptop Macs have been pretty good, recent unibody macs are great.Only Mac laptop I’ve known to have issues was the Core Duo MacBook (infamous mooing fans and case browning.)I’d love to see a retail Desktop PC shipped with good thermal design. Every motherboard I’ve ever installed had the fans default to 100% with no thermal/speed control.Also, your assumptions on price are *way* out. Build a MacPro or MacBook system and one from HP or Dell with the same specs. You will find out the prices are alot closer than you think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420510",
"author": "AlexM",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:12:58",
"content": "In the end it comes down to this, do you really want big brother breathing down your neck? Sorry, I had enough of frustration with my phone tracking me, not that I do anything illegal, but it kinda violates my personal rights, folks at apple become more and more like jealous girlfriends on PMS. reminds me of their old commercial, problem is, they are this big brother now with bunch of mindless minions…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420534",
"author": "Ken",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T01:12:52",
"content": "Wow – what’s with the haters?Hopefully readers can tell these guys are off the deep end.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420610",
"author": "FireSokar",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T05:16:10",
"content": "Waste of time, why not just capture the .dmg before updating and burn it? This is how all the pirated versions are floating around. Just did it today and it took half the damn time as this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420629",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T06:12:02",
"content": "Why not just finish the Lion install and image the drive?SURELY apple would have some pxe method",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420749",
"author": "grandmamac",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T12:49:38",
"content": "I bought my Grandmother a macbook about 4 years ago. She’s in her 80’s. It was her first time using a computer, and it has been grat.However… Needless to say, this move away from dvd media availability stinks. When I support the system during visits, I want to spend as little time as possible doing it. I bought the last OS version from amazon. That went pretty well.But I will *NOT* enable the stupid “mac store” apple has forced on users’ desktops. I will not give it a credit card. They are just trying to get all users buying from their “store”.So instead of buying the new OS, I’ll download it from some stupid warez site. Great job apple!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420776",
"author": "sochan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:51:00",
"content": "FireSokar the whole point is that the macbook air does not have an optical drive. Downloading and burning would be pointless since you have nowhere to stick the disc.if everyone bothered to RTFA and the world would be a better place.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420839",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T17:12:56",
"content": "Wow, two hacks in one, the real hack, and the social hack to start a @#$%& fest about which os is better.As someone who works closely with a laptop repair center, Mac’s cooling isn’t much better then PC, at least in regards to people who use their laptop on the floor/bed with their covers jammed in the vents.(on a personal note, I absolutely *hate* my Jan 2010 i7 mac book pro, it’s a slug unless I run windows [haven’t tried anything else under boot camp] on it, then it performs reasonably well.)(disclaimer, I work for a mostly pc repair shop)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421435",
"author": "Bikr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T21:08:25",
"content": "Yo!I wrote this article, thought I’d chime in here.I’m 100% aware that you could just do this with a regular thumb drive, but to me, hacking is about staying resourceful. My wife’s Macbook Air came with this drive, it’s tiny , it was bundled, and now that she’s on Lion, it’s useless.. Well.. It “WAS” useless..I thought it’d be an interesting read, as some people hadn’t even thought about trying to update it.If you liked it cool , if you didn’t I apologize..HUGE Fan of HackaDay though, always have been, and stoked they ran the story. :)Take it easy all! If you need to get me:bikr at bikr dot net..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "525835",
"author": "Jeffery Rodrick",
"timestamp": "2011-12-03T16:50:12",
"content": "BASSONG DIDNT LOSE US THE GAME! its a collective game blaming him when OTHER players where out of position.shear greediness of fullwards who cant pass to each other cost us Defoe and Adybayor .if Defoe had the brain of vdv he would be dangerous Harry and positional play modders wide left then right against newcastle i really dispairwork horses in midfield",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,136.905683
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/rc-transmitter-does-everything/
|
RC Transmitter Does Everything
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Radio Hacks",
"Toy Hacks",
"Wireless Hacks"
] |
[
"radio"
] |
[Demetris] sent in a tip about a project he’s working on: an
Open Source Remote Control transmitter
. This is one of the most impressive looking RC transmitters we’ve ever seen. The OSRC could be great for a
small UAV
– just get the GPS position from the aircraft and map it with the transmitter’s screen. There’s also support for a video downlink so
flying around New York City
is possible with a single device.
The transmitter/receiver combo are more actually referred to as transceivers. According to [Demetris], the radios on both the ‘ground side’ and ‘vehicle side’ can talk to each other on a 115 kbps data link on the 2.4GHz band. Sending commands and getting telemetry to something we’ve seen before, but never in a single integrated package. The expected range is in the neighborhood of 10 – 40 km. The ground unit is based on a
Gumstix
board and has a 4.8 inch display. This really isn’t so much an RC transmitter but a computer that happens to control RC airplanes.
[Demetris] has had
some success
doing some professional development with Gumstix boards, so it looks like he has the skills to build a very nice R/C controller.
| 56
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419876",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:06:05",
"content": "Holy crap that is cool looking. If I can afford it I am definitely in to build it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419879",
"author": "Greg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:13:33",
"content": "Whoa, sweet!@Spork your comment was the first thing that I said when I saw the pic. ha",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419881",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:25:48",
"content": "Sorry…but has any work actually been done on this, or is it just a pipe-dream trying to generate funds?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419892",
"author": "Techartisan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:46:01",
"content": "pipe dream….Im starting to dislike indiegogo and kickstarter. while I admire the concept…in principle…it seems that 48% of each site is ebegging by dreamers that couldnt get a thing done on their own….so theyre e-begging48% are just companies looking to presell their next “not so” innovat(ive)ion….so their really just e-commercing…and I havent the patience to look for the 4% of truly inspired projects that need an “angel” funding cycle to really make it.thanks HackADay for bringing yet another weak project to light…..I cannot seriously imagine any reason that anyone who finds this project of interest shouldnt forgo the ebeggers and just DoItYourself..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419896",
"author": "eric",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:48:41",
"content": "It’s only a hack AFTER you’ve done it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419903",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:09:46",
"content": "Good eric Good now we know this will never be a hack!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419908",
"author": "prototyper@gmail.com",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:23:00",
"content": "“This is one of the most impressive looking RC transmitters we’ve ever seen.”The problem is you haven’t seen it… Nobody has, because it hasn’t been made.I personally like the idea of kickstarter (and just learned of the indiegogo), but with regard to stuff like this the I think the backers should only support stuff with prototypes. Drawings and ideas shouldn’t reap financial rewards. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Make it dirty and ugly; by all means hack it together –> but make it function. Then I’ll think about giving you some of my cash.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419914",
"author": "Coligny",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:34:28",
"content": "Agreed, that’s no hack… that’s wishfull thinking… There is already some home made-ish long range RC transmitter plugin available at RC groups… Stuff you can actually buy…Not random wankfest of empty promises…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419918",
"author": "patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:50:58",
"content": "I wasn’t aware that remote controls had propriatory issues.I thought they were more or less application based and as such not very staderdizeble?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419928",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:20:34",
"content": "If you go to the website the picture shows it has “functional” switches. Whew.. For a second there I thought all the switches would be non-functional.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419937",
"author": "Ed",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:42:58",
"content": "That is Bad. Ass. I want one and I don’t even do RC stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419971",
"author": "jordan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:10:46",
"content": "site like that are noble in concept but naturally flawed due to humans’ desire to profit from zero labour. this is a prime example.while this controller is a great idea, it’s nothing more than that, and will likely remain at that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419981",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:40:51",
"content": "render and wishfull thinking :/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420001",
"author": "Simon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:53:11",
"content": "This is useless. It only has ten axes and twenty-five buttons. For it to be worth buying it would need at least twenty-six buttons. Otherwise you can barely do a thing with it,",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420006",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:15:44",
"content": "It seems like it would be much easier to go with the currently existing transmitters and FPV systems than this…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420008",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:16:39",
"content": "[sarcasm]…and the screen isn’t even glasses-free 3D…WTF?[/sarcasm]",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420041",
"author": "hin@heyyeah",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:51:46",
"content": "If this is tongue in cheek humor it’s been way to frequent lately at HaD. If this is a serious post then you guys have lost all credibility.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420089",
"author": "sinrtb",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T05:50:42",
"content": "I would think it would be easier to take existing hardware and software and put them together. You should be able to pick up an HTC Hero for less than $50usd and you have your touch screen, OS, USB interface and Bluetooth. Get the hardware for transmitting between the craft and remote and arduino as an interface and house them in a dirt cheap goodwill transmitter from a broken toy. Then all that needs to be done is an app and some hardware / software interfaces. The way this guy is going about starting this project seems backwards. Prototype first then manufacture not manufacture then prototype!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420098",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T06:18:10",
"content": "Hi Guys,Appreciate you objective comments and enthusiasm :)As you will see from the links on the IndieGoGo page and our own sitehttp://www.gizmoforyou.comthis isn’t our first device and every single concept that we or a member in our community created came to life and is currently available for purchase in our shop or through resellers and as always is Open Source with all designs available for download. So there is no reason to assume that we cannot make this happen. IndieGoGo wasn’t our first choice for “begging for funds” but it is a good way to get the word spread out and their Credit Card transactions are faster so we can begin working sooner since most of our own funds went towards developing Open Source hardware and currently we are a bit low on what makes the world go round.Check out the links in the article, check out our site and if in doubt always ask. Most probably every question you have already has been answered and if not then we shall be more than happy to explain anything on your mind.Once again thanks everyone for the feedback (may it be positive or negative)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420120",
"author": "randommate",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T08:19:54",
"content": "id have to say that this is something id probably buy, specifically if it could “mix” the FM, 2.4G dsm, dsm2 spectrum, FASST issues so we could buy any RC we wanted and use it with one controller..Saying that being unable to “do it myself” would force me to buy it.@sintrb – exactly what i thought..@demetris – anyone in there up to progressing the Plantranco “buddybox” idea on an Android platform? native Wi-fi or bluetooth or separate 2.4g phone cradle? kind of incorporates all your ideas and saves some of the tech leg work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420123",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T08:36:51",
"content": "@randommate – “Mixing” frequencies or radios is a possibility as the RF and other radios on the control are modular and replaceable. Unfortunately the whole system has too many new features and data going through so if modular placement of radios would be possible then most features we are developing would be non functional.The “buddybox” is a nice concept but for the time being we shall be concentrating in this project and pulling all our resources to complete it. If you you feel the need to make this as a separate project then feel free to post it in our forum under “I wish there was..” topic as a wish and we can go from there.What “sintrb” is suggesting is quite feasible if you are making one of a king experimental unit. However, we have been in the system engineering business for quite some time. Taking parts like “Arduino”, $50 smartphone and other similar components would be quite unpractical when designing a (hopefully) mass produced unit. Relying on parts or devices which could be out of stock, too expensive to mass produce or simply time consuming to develop on is pretty unprofessional. We have the Know-How on Mechanical design, Linux embedded design and many other fields. It would be silly not to use our knowledge and build a device reliable enough for future support and development as we see fit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420134",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T09:16:35",
"content": "Air & Space Smithsonian had an article in the issue before this one about hobbyists into this stuff.The stress seems to be about operating in an ethical and legal manner, so…you know…do that.The tech is wonderful. I was into wheeled ROVs for years and it never gets old.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420138",
"author": "BadWolf",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T09:39:12",
"content": "There is no proof until it’s on youtube.period.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420148",
"author": "Soundwavehi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T10:35:07",
"content": "YouTube video means nothing… Tool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420190",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:19:45",
"content": "Whaaaaa? How have I never seen that video of flying around New York? That’s way more impressive than the featured hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420210",
"author": "Caleb Kraft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:09:17",
"content": "@M4CGYV3Rhttp://hackaday.com/2010/09/14/ritewing-zephyr-build-and-flight-footage/we’ve covered those guys before, they’re awesome! I really am tempted to put something together similar to this.",
"parent_id": "420190",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420191",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:21:39",
"content": "“The enclosure has to be manufactured through Molding the plastic in order to make it affordable in large quantities. We also need to make the actual PCB’s for the electronics, order the displays and work on the initial Firmware release for the system”So I guess it doesn’t exist for real yet?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420206",
"author": "Techie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:04:42",
"content": "LAME!!! Since when a hack is an idea? LAME HAD!!!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420289",
"author": "Doug Bateman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:44:22",
"content": "Just what the RC hobby needs to put the final nail in the coffin from the FAA. And this moron flying around NYC really pisses me off. You want to do this shit, join the armed forces. End of story.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420299",
"author": "DerAxeman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:02:35",
"content": "WEll I think the estimate of $15,000 is a little low. FCC testing at the very least is about $8,000",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420342",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:07:33",
"content": "If they just made the thing a dock for an android phone and used the open accessory protocol, this would be way more likely to get off the ground. Plus you get cellular connections that way too.But I agree kickstarter is just a big pile of people who think an idea is all that it takes to make something awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420366",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:21:53",
"content": "@Taylor – That would be one way to do it but then we would have to assume that everyone who flies RC planes/Helis/e.t.c in the world has an Android phone and it would not be supplied with the unit, thus limiting lots of functionality which would make the whole idea quite impractical.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420395",
"author": "Haku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T21:05:37",
"content": "2-way communication.How & why is it that major RC comms manufacturers haven’t ventured into this area yet? Companies are almost always looking for new whizz-bang features/upgrades to sell to their customers so I’d have thought this aspect of RC’ing would have matured by now instead of being in its relative infancy.Sure Zigbee, XBee and now XRF devices are great for robotics etc. but there’s no ready-made handheld controller system available for these kinds of radio systems, which is why I’m in the process of retrofitting an old Acoms RC controller with an XRF plus a miniature LCD screen and extra buttons so it can be configured to control different RC cars with 2-way comms for sensor feedback, battery voltage etc..BTW the XRF radio transceiver module is quite astounding, cheaper than XBee and I achieved 3.4km line-of-sight with default antennas on it and it gives a solid 1km line-of-sight range, so ideal for ground based vehicles.http://openmicros.org/index.php/component/kunena/7-communications-and-protocols/60-achieving-34km-with-default-xrf-antennas?Itemid=0#60",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420527",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:59:31",
"content": "How does the person expect to get google maps like that on it? To get google maps, you need to be running some sort of hefty OS, such as android or large linux OS. That means a BGA microprocessor or SOC, which in turn means a 6+ Layer PCB. You are not going to design something like that in eagle easily, especially if you are using external DRAM which goes in the 100+mhz range.So you have:-BGA chip-coding for a large OS-expensive PCB to prototype-a software suite that is capable of high speed multi layer boards, which usually cost a few thousand, like altium.I have very very low hopes for this project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420643",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T06:53:12",
"content": "@Someonecool- You should read this news article before making conclusions:http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Gizmo-For-You-OSRC/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420870",
"author": "Jan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T18:42:59",
"content": "i had an idea to hack together a remote control, taking the cheapest f’ing remote i could possibly find put in a nice touchscreen for 50 dollar and a controller, target price 150 usd.try sourcing those 2 main joysticks alone, there are almost no ready made parts for it. every manufacturer makes them, some serious engineering and lots of injection moulds. 15K gets you nowhere.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420908",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T20:32:08",
"content": "@Jan- Thank you for your enlightening comment. Seems that you have it all figured out. I guess we just have to pack it up and scrap the whole project, fools that we are.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420994",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T00:16:49",
"content": "I wanna know how they got a distance of 10 km. Is that air line of sight or ground thru buildings. How many watts at the 2.4 range. I am in need of powerful radio. For an rc tank with video. The transmitter doesn’t reach the distance of the video. Anyone?Cheers",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421115",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:16:56",
"content": "@Joe- The range of 40 KM is managed by a 1 Watt 900MHz modem from Digi. Many Digi modems are replaceable with another and are pin compatible which gives the range (Line of Sight) although allot depends on the antenna used.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423302",
"author": "DroneGeek",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:26:53",
"content": "I think its a great project but just hope it will not be too expensive at the end of the day. I think it would be a great idea to perhaps integrate it with anopen source autopilotproject such as ardupilot?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423464",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T07:02:21",
"content": "Tnx DroneGeek. The price for the final device can be seen in the IndieGoGo campaign. Compared to other high end transmitters i think we made the price quite affordable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424521",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:23:44",
"content": "MUST HAVE.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432508",
"author": "lorenzo",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T15:58:17",
"content": "how much iss this radio transmitter????",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "432703",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-11T20:18:49",
"content": "You can find information about the project (including the price) here:http://igg.me/p/33899?a=60860&i=shlk",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "442655",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2011-08-27T11:23:44",
"content": "As of today there are only 7 days remaining on our IndieGoGo campaign. Although the deadline is coming to an end, there is still plenty of time to reach our goal as long as there is will and resources. We have made tons of work for this project and spent over 2 months of development to get the design and prototype to its final stages of manufacturing. Would be a real shame if all that work and dedication was done for nothing. Check out the project description one more time if you still haven’t and contribute through the available perks to make the device a reality.To find out more, follow the project link:http://igg.me/p/33899?a=60860&i=shlk",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "564159",
"author": "reason",
"timestamp": "2012-01-21T18:44:04",
"content": "Is this inappropriate for this site, or is hackaday part of the scam?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "564160",
"author": "reason",
"timestamp": "2012-01-21T18:45:44",
"content": "Ok, send me the 3 grand raised so far, and I’ll finish the project for you at that price.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "564605",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2012-01-22T10:50:27",
"content": "Not sure what you mean Reason but we are working on the project and are close to its finalization.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "707941",
"author": "foobarbecue",
"timestamp": "2012-07-20T05:16:11",
"content": "So… still close to finalization? I’m pretty annoyed with all the hype and hyperbole, it is downright dishonest. For example, os-rc.com says:“Become a reseller and join countless others” As far as I can tell there is one “reseller.” If you can’t count to one, I don’t want you designing my TX…“LIMITED QUANTITY!” Er, yeah, 0 is a pretty limited number.“The wait is over! The most advanced control system Is [sic] HERE!” Uh, where? I’m still waiting…Far worse is that you claim to be an open source project and as far as I can tell, have not released a single byte of hardware or software source. There is a bizarre quasi-religious paragraph athttp://os-rc.com/89-front-page-statements/87-what-is-osrc-and-how-it-came-to-beabout how very open OSRC is. Guess how many times the “OSRC team as well, always supported the Open Source effort and helped … the community in various different fields and applications”? Countless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "708225",
"author": "Jonathan",
"timestamp": "2012-07-20T14:45:25",
"content": "So, what is the deal with this Tx, nonsense or incredible? They appear to have a comprehensive website and many accessories available, but then when you go to actually order one, it then seems like its not really ready to ship yet. I am confused. They also have some YouTube videos that show the actual unit, but never too in depth. Some of the features seem really amazing, though, if they are in fact really there in the final release! Can someone comment and clear things up for me, as if this is really awesome then I’d probably be willing to be a test dummy for it to verify. Does anyone actually have one yet??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "708228",
"author": "2GsNoS",
"timestamp": "2012-07-20T14:46:41",
"content": "So, what is the deal with this Tx, is it hyped up nonsense or a dream come true & incredible? They appear to have a comprehensive website and many accessories available, but then when you go to actually order one, it then seems like its not really ready to ship yet. I am confused. They also have some YouTube videos that show the actual unit, but never too in depth. Some of the features seem really amazing, though, if they are in fact really there in the final release! Can someone comment and clear things up for me, as if this is really awesome then I’d probably be willing to be a test dummy for it to verify. Does anyone actually have one yet??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "794365",
"author": "Demetris",
"timestamp": "2012-09-24T05:53:43",
"content": "You should visit thehttp://www.os-rc.comwebsite which explains the situation.",
"parent_id": "708228",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,137.353269
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/chilean-teen-builds-automatic-earthquake-alarm/
|
Chilean Teen Builds Automatic Earthquake Alarm
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"alarm",
"arduino",
"earthquake",
"twitter"
] |
When an earthquake is about to strike in Chile, who do you think is first to sound the alarm? You might be surprised that it’s not the government,
but rather a 14 year old boy
.
After living through an earthquake in 2010 and seeing the devastation this spring in Japan, Chilean teenager [Sebastian Alegria] decided that he wanted to construct something similar to Japan’s earthquake warning system. He purchased an off the shelf earthquake detector for less than $100, and connected it to his computer via an Arduino.
Now, whenever seismic activity is detected, his sensor tweets an alert letting his 29,000+ followers know that a perceptible earthquake is 5 to 30 seconds away. Apparently the Chilean government is working on a similar system that is still at least a year away, so in the meantime his fellow citizens rely on [Sebastian] instead.
While it might seem like a relatively easy hack to pull off compared to
other earthquake detectors
, we’re impressed by [Sebastian’s] creativity, and his will to help others. He’s been pounding away at computers since he was about 4 years old and has several other popular Twitter-based projects under his belt already, so we won’t be surprised if we hear from him again in the future.
| 27
| 27
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419850",
"author": "Lee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:20:07",
"content": "I wondered how it worked so I checked their website:http://quakealarm.com/faq.htmkudo’s for the kid hooking it up to an arduino. Half of me says congrats to the kit. The other half of me says it’s not a hack in the sense he didn’t make the detector. But I know that same half is just jealous that I’m older and unaccomplished (in the worlds eyes at least).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419858",
"author": "Ghostrock",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:30:22",
"content": "This is one cool kid! He’s even wearing a linux Debian t-shirt!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419859",
"author": "supershwa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:33:16",
"content": "Way to go Sebastian!Seeing great accomplishments from people as young as this gives me relief that the future isn’t doomed by idiocy… :DGreat stuff — awesome article!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419867",
"author": "Donrata",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:39:47",
"content": "Great for the Debian t-shirt, and great seeing hacks from Chile.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419869",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:48:44",
"content": "I am AMAZED… at how clean his desk is. :DAs for the project, it is nice to see that he is coming up with ideas and learning to implement them. Good for him, I can’t wait to see what else he does.Now that the rapid prototype portion of his project is, seemingly, done. I would like to see him take the next step and move this from an arduino to a dedicated avr chip and board. I think he would gain a lot from that experience and possibly help him figure out his next project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419872",
"author": "Kyle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:52:01",
"content": "Just wanted to leave a comment on the awesomeness of his shirt. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419887",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:35:42",
"content": "I’m really liking this one. It might not be as technically impressive as some other projects; but the fact that he is helping so many people and doing it faster than his government could get their act together, make it more than worthy for these pages.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419888",
"author": "Lee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:37:27",
"content": "@MS3FGX Exactly what I was thinking, such a simple thing benefiting thousands!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419889",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:39:08",
"content": "“He purchased an off the shelf earthquake detector for less than $100…”I hope the entire project costs less than $100. Those detectors are only $30.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419890",
"author": "Lee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:39:50",
"content": "Maybe not in Chile? Import tax?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419891",
"author": "ss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:44:45",
"content": "Awesome! Very well done! Muchas felicitaciones por lo que hiciste!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419894",
"author": "daniel_reetz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:46:47",
"content": "Great idea and great hack. Congratulations, man.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419897",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:50:21",
"content": "You believe Chili has a 233% import tax? Really? Google is your friend.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419898",
"author": "Lee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:54:19",
"content": "uh. I was being sarcastic? You believe everything you read online?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419906",
"author": "Rodrigo Marin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:15:44",
"content": "Congratulations on your innovative work. still perfecting your work that will benefit our country Chile.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419921",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:52:32",
"content": "That is a lot of cash for an earthquake sensor that can be built for under $1.You only need attach a nut to a length of wire, like from a clothes hanger. That gives the end some mass so it will want to remain still. Suspend the wire inside a ring made of some metal, a washer will work. The smaller the hole in the washer compared to the wire size the more sensitive the sensor. Attach both to a surface and one wire to the clothes hanger wire and another to the washer. When the object is moved the nut on the end will want to remain still because of its mass and it being at rest but the washer will be moving and the wire and washer will complete the circuit.It is the same way sensors work in car alarms to detect when someone bumps the car.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419922",
"author": "Rollyn01",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:56:44",
"content": "If he was to hook up two more, he would probably be able to tell its epicenter, not to mention its type. That would require an avr though. Nice thinking for taking the initiative to fo something about it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419942",
"author": "krpalospo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:57:02",
"content": "hey… awesome T-Shirt",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420010",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:19:29",
"content": "LoL…it takes the government a year to setup a Twitter account and hook up an off-the-shelf detector? Yeah, that does sound like most governments…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420017",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:33:28",
"content": "@KillerBug – Actually the government hasn’t set its system up yet, and you know it will cost billions, be run by thousands and not be a tenth as good as this one. Hackers One, Bureaucrats minus Several Trillion, as usual.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420029",
"author": "Batou",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:26:02",
"content": "I can’t believe noone posted this:http://xkcd.com/723/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420079",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T05:21:12",
"content": "I personally like to get my earthquake alerts with 5 to 30 seconds max time before the quake hits AND be reliant on twitter functioning for it to work. Cool idea though – needs a bit of improvement though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420110",
"author": "M H",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T07:20:53",
"content": "The earthquake alarm involved sounds rather suspect. (Their web site has hardly any information, and one poorly punctuated testimonial. ) False alarms – one of the major problems of earthquake detection are not even mentioned. (Bad case of confirmation bias.)The quake catcher networkhttp://qcn.stanford.eduseems apropos – using large number of sensors for filtering. (But there don’t seem to be many QCN volunteers in Chile at the moment.)@Batou – nice cartoon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420240",
"author": "Khanzerbero",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:10:00",
"content": "@M H thay are currently out of sensors and apparently ive found no way to have its schematics",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420340",
"author": "Taylor Alexander",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:58:31",
"content": "You know what I use for an earthquake detector? MY FEET!Haha just kidding, neat project. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420580",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T03:51:41",
"content": "A great effort, but his efforts can only be as reliable as the detector he has chosen to rely on. The web page for the detector doesn’t really instill confidence for me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421132",
"author": "M H",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T06:42:19",
"content": "@Khanzerbero –The QCN sensors actually come from codemetrics –http://www.codemercs.com/index.php?id=134&L=1(don’t know if they have stock).Or one could create a driver for some other accelerometer, like the wiimote. I wondered if the accelerometer on the TI FRAM experimenter board MSP-EXP430FR5739 would work.http://hackaday.com/2011/06/17/devboard-deal-ti-experimenter-board-for-15-50-off/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,136.967291
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/obstacle-avoiding-hexapod-from-reused-parts/
|
Obstacle Avoiding Hexapod From Reused Parts
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"dorkboard",
"hexapod",
"ping",
"servo",
"ultrasonic sensor"
] |
[Rob]
built this hexapod
one day when he had some free time after work. Just like
the last hexapod we saw
, he based the build on
the Pololu design
which uses three servo motors for surprisingly reliable movement.
The hardware is very straight forward. A
Dorkboard
serves as the brain. It’s a PCB that is wider on each side by the width of one female pin-header than a standard AVR 28-pin microcontroller. This gives easy access to all of the pins on the Arduino chip while making it small and light. You can see that a four-pack of batteries hangs below the servo motors to provide power.
Protruding above the 6-legger is
a PING ultrasonic rangefinder
. This adds autonomy to the little robot, which you can see running some obstacle avoidance routines in the video after the break. We’ve asked [Rob] if is able to share his code and will update this post if we hear back from him.
Update:
Here’s
a link to the sketch
, and we’ve updated the picture with one that [Rob] sent to us.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2glaziGW5g&w=470]
| 11
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419848",
"author": "Ane",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:18:06",
"content": "OMG I like that sound!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419849",
"author": "2",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:19:13",
"content": "ahhhhhh! hello kitty backpack!!! runaway!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419902",
"author": "aztraph",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:05:38",
"content": "CUTE!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419912",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:28:38",
"content": "It’s fun to hear it clicking around for a bit but I have had it running for quite a LONG time to see how long the AAAs last. The clicking defeated me before the batteries died.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419962",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:47:47",
"content": "It uses audible pings, how does it work in a very noisy environment?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420186",
"author": "Tyler Crumpton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:08:46",
"content": "Austin, it doesn’t actually use audible pings; it uses ultrasonic pings with much higher frequencies than can be heard by humans. This particular module uses a 40kHz ping.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420192",
"author": "cb88",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T13:24:52",
"content": "I have heard horror stories about the ping sensors… they bought alot of them at my College for use in projects and they plain don’t work or break easily.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "420308",
"author": "rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T17:29:45",
"content": "I use Parallax’s PING quite a bit and have only good things to say. They won’t always see “soft” obstacles but with just two pins (servo and PING) you can sweep back and forth and gather a ton of info for course decisions. I wouldn’t call them fragile either. The one on that hexapod, in addition to all the spraypaint, has been beaten within an inch of its life on the front of an RC monster truck.",
"parent_id": "420192",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "420364",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:03:10",
"content": "It reminds me of that little spider thing in Minority Report, but in the Wall-E world.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420653",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T07:45:01",
"content": "At 0:37 the spider sees the terrifying Teddy bear and runs away.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "619637",
"author": "Gilbert",
"timestamp": "2012-04-03T20:46:44",
"content": "Why are these called hexapod, they dancehttp://www.hexapods.net/miniature_hexapods.php?h",
"parent_id": "420653",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,136.765209
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/one-really-big-quadcopter-that-is-following-in-the-steps-of-the-spruce-goose/
|
One Really Big Quadcopter That Is Following In The Steps Of The Spruce Goose
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"IMU",
"quadrotor",
"spruce goose"
] |
Behold the Land-Bear-Shark,
a quadcopter on a rather grand scale
. At a full eight kilograms it’s an easy target to compare the [Howard Hughes] behemoth, but in addition to the weight, this still has yet to make its first flight.
To give you some scale to the image above, the board at the center is an Arduino. It controls the beast, along with the help of
a SparkFun IMU
board which rides atop. Really, if any quadcopter of this size has a chance of working, this should be the one. The construction is beautiful, making use of carbon fiber rod along with 3D-printed connectors to assemble the frame. A lot of thought has gone into small things like conserving weight used on the landing gear, which are incorporated into the bottom corner brackets. The batteries are connected in a manner that makes them easy to adjust, acting as ballast for balancing the craft.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this will be more than the tongue-in-cheek title of the post which calls it a Quadrotor-shaped sculpture.
[via
Adafruit
]
| 39
| 39
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419795",
"author": "MumbleFysh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:14:47",
"content": "Still looking for a sweet video. We also need a separate Quadcopter section.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419799",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:24:03",
"content": "I really can’t wait to see and hear this thing flying!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419800",
"author": "anonymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:25:09",
"content": "This isn’t actually the LBS, it’s a tracked skateboard thing [1]. That one is called the “Emergency QuadRotor” [2].1:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?cat=702:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?cat=81",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419807",
"author": "ChArLeSg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:49:15",
"content": "Hey Mike,Quick error correction: The Land-Bear-Shark is actually one of my other odd vehicle projects, which is currently more presentable.You can find details on it on its summary page:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?page_id=1216A build report with video:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?p=1426The latest one, showing some… failure modes, but with better video:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?p=1473The quadrotor is just named “Emergency Quadrotor” at the moment, and does not yet have a project page. It might be better to wait until it either works or crashes epicly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419810",
"author": "M@",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:59:04",
"content": "Wow .. that thing looks dangerous. I like it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419811",
"author": "BobSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:02:42",
"content": "Looking on his website, the land bear shark is not the quadrotor, it’s some kind of tank tread thing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419813",
"author": "ChArLeSg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:06:50",
"content": "Hi all,Mike has corrected the error in the post. Thanks!(Yes, the LBS is a separate project!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419814",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:07:30",
"content": "This shouldn’t be on this website as it’s not complete.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419816",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:10:09",
"content": "Normally don’t like to double post but I noticed that the props are in the wrong orientation. And if you are going to use an Arduino, might I suggest ditching the standard and going for an Ardupilot with an Ardumoto board",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419819",
"author": "medix",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:18:18",
"content": "Where’d he get the fans? Never seen anything like this before..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419820",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:26:16",
"content": "Spruce Goose was wooden, that’s still a BIG step up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419827",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:33:58",
"content": "Those look like ducted fans and may be off the self. But they all seem to turn the same way so I am wondering about issues with the quad spinning. I know a good bit about helicopters and airplanes and not so much about quadcopters so I could be wrong. I mean you could defect the thrust to counter the rotation and provide yaw control but I thought they did it by couter rotation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419829",
"author": "madman1027",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:41:14",
"content": "all of those fans turn the same way so the quad will just spin, it needs two to turn the opposite way to allow torque steering in both directions",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419832",
"author": "Darkknight512",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:52:37",
"content": "@lwatcdrThey can be either or, I just made one with counter rotating props, I’ve seen a few with thrust vectoring tho.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419840",
"author": "Luke",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:09:31",
"content": "Holy shit. That’s pretty big. Counter rotating props simplify a design but are not completely necessary (or possible in all situations like a tricopter). I can hardly wait to see it fly!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419860",
"author": "Itamar G",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:34:11",
"content": "Am I the only one that thinks this can NEVER work? (at least the way this guy’s doing it…)I don’t think he’s going to get anywhere near the required control bandwidth from a fixed vector, fixed pitch quad.In my mind, a larger quad will only be viable with either variable-pitch rotors, control surfaces, or full-on vector thrust capabilities…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419862",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:35:47",
"content": "I would like to point out that Land-Bear-Shark is a tank-treaded skateboard, not the quadrotor.http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?page_id=1216The name of the quadrotor is the “Emergency Quadrotor”…http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?p=1435",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419868",
"author": "Jon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:41:43",
"content": "Having actually followed this project, here’s some more information1) This project is not called Land-Bear-Shark; that’s another of Charles’ projects. It’s called “Emergency Quadrotor” (for now)2) The ducted fans spin the same way and use 1-DOF thrust vectoring to correct for the rotation. Each fan mount is on a pivot and servo-controlled.3) The 3d-printed stuff was made on his DIY 3d printer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419870",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:49:49",
"content": "Hhe’s the chap behing the LOLriokart and yeah, this isn’t the land bear shark (which set itself on fire and is now dead):http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?cat=70This is his “Emergency Quadrotor”:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?cat=81",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419871",
"author": "knuckles904",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:51:19",
"content": "Ambitious. What are those fans from? It’s gonna be loud if this is any indication.http://diydrones.com/video/ducted-fan-tricopter",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419878",
"author": "The Timmy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:12:24",
"content": "I hope he doesn’t step on that soldering iron on the floor there.for a better sense of scale, just know that the floor tiles in that picture are probably 12 inches across, square.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419893",
"author": "ovaltine",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:46:32",
"content": "Go to the source for this one. I’ve been reading this kids site for a while now. Its pretty rad you should check it out. also land bear shark is a two tracked vehicle, not this copter…http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419923",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:00:08",
"content": "That is going to take a lot of thrust to get off the ground. The props are really too small for something so heavy so they are going to have to get some really high rpm going and that means low battery life.I have seen one similar but it was done with a tether to the power supply and not using batteries, the current draw was 12vdc @ 9A . Not something well suited to batteries and light weight.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419934",
"author": "Ted",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:31:31",
"content": "Ducted Fans? Really? Ducted fans are all wrong for a copter, they don’t work well at all when hovering, they need airspeed moving through the fans to be efficient. Really need to go with propellers here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419946",
"author": "Dino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:09:45",
"content": "I hope this thing flys well. I’d love to see all the nay sayers proven wrong. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419964",
"author": "Silver",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:52:16",
"content": "This is not the land-bear-shark, that is a project for a remote controlled motoriesed tracked skateboard.this is a project known loosely as ‘Quadrotor-shaped Sculpture’",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419969",
"author": "emissary",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:59:32",
"content": "Whoever wrote this article screwed up:The Land-Bear-Shark is a two tracked all-terrain skateboard.http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?page_id=1216This is the Emergency Quadrotor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419980",
"author": "ilektron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:37:32",
"content": "This thing will never work, or will struggle greatly. You can build a quad without counter rotating props, you just angle two opposing ones. The size of the quad is not a problem. Larger quads have slower time constants. The problem is the EDFs. They provide low thrust/weight. Plus, they will respond too slowly to command inputs. EDFs are also terribly inefficient. Good luck, sir!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420011",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:21:20",
"content": "There are so many comments here that would have been answered if Hackaday had chosen a better post to link to:http://www.etotheipiplusone.net/?p=1435That way, people who click through to the post get the beginning and not some middle one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420015",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:28:57",
"content": "Why do I get the feeling that this thing will work more like a hovercraft than a quad-copter? I really don’t wish him misfortune or anything; it just does not look like it will fly in the way that a quad-copter does.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420111",
"author": "foogoid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T07:31:28",
"content": "Wow,EDF’s for static thrust? Good thing he’s got those huge batteries.On the upside, it can probably climb REALLY REALLY fast.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420152",
"author": "hammy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T10:50:24",
"content": "One of the aerospace students here wrote a thesis on why using ducted fans for micro UAV thust is a terrible idea. The gist of it was that power use versus thrust for ducted fans is extremely poor in comparison to using wider props (not to mention higher sound amplitude and frequency!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420236",
"author": "lwatcdr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:56:35",
"content": "@Darkknight512 contra rotating is the way to go. Why waste thrust for anti-yaw when you don’t have to? And thrust vectoring if you need extra yaw authority. The one issue that you may have would be prop availability. Ducted fans vs props is a whole other issue. For maximum efficiency you want the largest prop possible in hovering flight. I am not an expert on ducted fans but I do know that outside of turbofan engines they have not been popular in aircraft. And I have never seen a production aircraft use a ducted fan for vertical lift outside of the F-32.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420260",
"author": "BobSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:34:25",
"content": "He didn’t actually correct it in the article. It still says the wrong name.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420688",
"author": "Richard",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T09:05:53",
"content": "perhaps he will be able to boost his hover efficiency with some Avro car style coander effect",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421410",
"author": "Crizz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:02:36",
"content": "it´s much easier to control a EDF-powered tricopter. Did the job using 3 pcs of 2,5″ ( 64 mm ) EDF w/ 4300 k/V outrunners on an Arduino-based control. Take-off weight is at 1100 gr. w/ 3s-2200 Lipo , sucks 45 Amps in hovering and joyride. I did two ways of yaw control and torque compensation : one way is tilting the yaw-EDF, the other is a thrust-vector control with flaps on the airstream outtake.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421571",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T02:43:52",
"content": "I look at that and think, strange choice of fan for the form factor…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421643",
"author": "Crizz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-23T06:12:14",
"content": "ducted fan is indeed the worst choice, it´s simply energy wasting. In my case , efficiency wasn´t the goal – it was just about possibility, but it´s fun to fly it. Most efficient would be Schuebeler-EDFs, but most expensiv too ;)IMU w/ magneto is recommended, it´s a big advantage in flight stability, works better on mine than use of acc.-sensor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "743499",
"author": "Thomas Lewis",
"timestamp": "2012-08-20T11:44:24",
"content": "Big is cool,check out Hobby Kings beer lifting contest if you want to see some big and super powerful quadrotors,these are capable of carrying your little brother or sister to 5000 feet,haha.I don’t have the link,but the Hobbyking site has it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,136.842871
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/gambiologia-brazilian-physical-item-hacking/
|
Gambiologia – Brazilian Physical Item Hacking
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"art",
"brazil",
"gambiologia"
] |
Gambiologia, according to the
source article
, is the “science of Gambiarra.” For those not from Brazil, Gambiarra is “a Brazilian cultural practice of solving problems creatively in alternative ways with low cost and lots of spontaneity.” In other words, the hacking of real-world items. Gambiarra also has a connection to recycling, as instead of throwing something used out, it becomes something else new.
Although hacking may not be thought of as art in the traditional sense,
[Fred Paulino]
aims to change this with his exhibition of 20 Brazilian and international artists. A “Gambiologist” himself, he’s put together quite a collection of hacks and mods for the world to see. From computer monitors with eyes displayed on them, to a toilet held open with a two-by-four, his exhibit seems to cover a wide range of physical hacks, or Gambiarra.
Be sure to check out the
article
, as many of the hacks are quite clever or unusual (even if some may seem a bit unsafe). For more examples of hacking items into something new, check out this
drill
made out of a pencil sharpener or this remote control
camera trigger
using air freshener parts.
| 13
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419757",
"author": "xeracy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:18:17",
"content": "Stateside, the masses dont trust kludges… or anything lacking iPod polish, for that matter.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_bomb_scare)Here, money is thrown at problems and DIY fixes are looked down upon as being ‘lower class solutions’. I detest this notion, as anyone can BUY solutions, however, it takes some creativity and knowledge to fix something yourself. I hope ‘Gambiarra’ finds acceptance in the States… maybe then my asshole roommate will stop asking me if im building a bomb every time i pull out my soldering iron…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419773",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T18:12:16",
"content": "Inb4 a bunch of wealthy 1st worlders bitch and moan about creative use of available stuff – “Why didn’t you just buy a new one?” they’ll say.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419790",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:05:17",
"content": "I’ve been doing this stuff for years, I just replaced a missing part on my laptop with a tin plate and electrical tape from the dollar store, hey it works! Reminds me of Afrotech Modshttp://www.afrotechmods.com/And remember if necessity is the mother of invention then poverty is the mother of the kludge.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419802",
"author": "daniel_reetz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:31:11",
"content": "I also made a post about gambiarra on Metafilter, and in the comments people brought in similar words from other cultures.http://www.metafilter.com/105621/Gambiarra-refers-to-an-unlikely-mend-an-unthinkable-coupling-a-solution-so-raw-and-transparent-that-it-illustrates-the-problem-at-hand-instead-of-eliminating-it",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419803",
"author": "Aleph Léptos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:33:45",
"content": "Congratulations to fellow gambiologist! :-) The met here, in Brazil, a very interesting meeting the “Ciclo Hack” at SESC-SP Pompeia – where they had several groups of hard-hacking, hack labs and digital art and personal Gambiologia was one of the highlights!Very cool!@HackADay, excelente post![&]s++;",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419817",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:10:46",
"content": "Even in the USA this so ordinary on a daily basis as well, it’s a big yawn. Yeah I know that goes against the common wisdom of certain group of “elite” here in the USA.;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419861",
"author": "Aleks Clark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:34:59",
"content": "yea, how is tying your audio cable up with a candywrapper a “hack” or even “art”? And attaching an electric drill to the end of a drillbit that’s also attached to a hand-powered drill? Way to make three perfectly good tools useless. the ZOMG TRANSCENDANT phraseology is getting old too. Great, you made a kuldge. get over yourself, it’s still a kludge, and most of these are trivial at best.Some of the items posted qualify as art installations, but a styrofoam cooler on a wheelbarrow? Wow, I took something made for keeping things cold and put it on top of something that moves things. GENIOUS SOLUTION for moving cold things.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419866",
"author": "Diego Spinola",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:38:30",
"content": "“Gambiarra” is widely used in Brazil as a dysphemism for “Hacks” and other “Workarounds” (pejoratively) both in Hardware and Software Development circles…I tend to avoid the term when referring to other people’s work…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419936",
"author": "Giovani Zancan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:37:07",
"content": "Well since nobody brought this up I feel I should say: the term ‘gambiarra’ here has a much broader meaning; from putting a book beneath the leg of a chair to make it still, to the hacking posted here on HaD. The thing is, the people here often do very ingenuous hacking based on ‘gambiarras’, just as an example my father developed a lever to increase the height of the wires my mom puts clothes to dry; he developed and made it from scratch, and it works quite well.Either way, if this should be considered art I wouldn’t know, but it’s useful as it is.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420132",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T09:11:28",
"content": "Yeah, well everywhere else this is called duct-tape engineering, ThereIFixedIt style (or more likely, lack thereof), and it’s about as much a “science” as “solarbotics” ever was.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420159",
"author": "Alien Bat",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T11:18:47",
"content": "Hey guys! I’m a Brazilian fan of the site. The post is nice, but here in Brazil the meaning of the word “gambiarra” is a bit different of what you understood. A “gambiarra” is a patch used as a rough-and-ready temporary solution (usually improvised) that ends up been definitive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420245",
"author": "Rodrigo Jäger",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:13:08",
"content": "I am brazilian, and as some brazilian guys already stated, gambiarra is a lot like what you can see at thereIfixedit. It is a cheap workaround to solve problems. Sometimes we manage to see something really clever, cheap, and with a very good perfomance. Appereance is not a must as you can see…Since most of the people here at south america have a smaller budget than you guys from north america have, we have to find other ways to solve stuff (buying a new one is not an option)…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420582",
"author": "Jeremy Cook",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T03:55:57",
"content": "@Aleph Leptos – Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.09819
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/jeri-ellsworth-builds-a-software-radio/
|
[Jeri Ellsworth] Builds A Software Radio
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"classic hacks",
"Radio Hacks"
] |
[
"fpga",
"ham radio",
"jeri ellsworth",
"radio",
"shortwave",
"software radio",
"software-defined radio"
] |
[Jeri Ellsworth] has been working on a direct conversion receiver using an FPGA as an oscillator and a PC sound card DSP. Being the excellent presenter she is, she first goes through the
history and theory of radio reception
(fast forward to 1:30), before digging into the
meat of the build
(parts
2
and
3
are also available).
Instead of ‘old school’ receiving sets, the functionality of a software-based radio can be changed by just modifying the program. Building one of these receivers doesn’t use many parts, but the math and programming behind the radio can be pretty intense. Everything is fed into an off-the-shelf PC sound card for processing. The 16-bit sound card [Jeri] used covers 22kHz of radio bandwidth, but that can be increased to 48kHz with a 24-bit card.
The build itself is just a small circuit that goes between the antenna, but we have to respect [Jeri]’s ability to deal with that amount of analog madness. There’s also a
great PDF
on software-designed radio that [Jeri] linked to explaining everything in a non-youtube format. This receiver is pretty impressive considering we’ve come a
pretty long way
over the past century.
| 27
| 23
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419729",
"author": "Seuros",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:07:24",
"content": "Jeri is the best presenter IMHO!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419735",
"author": "lee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:17:33",
"content": "forward on radio theory was great!stumbled this yesterday,http://www.elektor.com/magazines/2007/may/software-defined-radio.91527.lynkxit wouldn’t be a bad alternative at $139. It uses a CY27EE16 in-system programmable clock from cypress instead of the fpga in jeri’s design.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419740",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:31:37",
"content": "Wow, as usual Jeri is THE BEST. The PDF was well written and easy to understand. This is a very interesting part of electronics that I have yet to explore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419745",
"author": "ehrichweiss",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:47:03",
"content": "Nice. My current project involving a radio is getting a Teensy to talk to my Icom PCR-1000 so I don’t have to have a computer available to scan my favorite frequencies which will mean I can listen to it in my car(I already have my FCC license so I’m allowed to do this, at least in the states in which I travel).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "971151",
"author": "Dale Wilson",
"timestamp": "2013-03-05T22:48:51",
"content": "You don’t have to have ANY kind of license to listen. You only need an FCC license if you wish to transmit, whether that be AM,FM, TV, or Amateur Radio. I know this for a fact as I’ve been an SWL and Amateur Radio op for over 52 years.",
"parent_id": "419745",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "5588507",
"author": "Art",
"timestamp": "2018-12-12T14:12:04",
"content": "Long time since you posted, but wondering if you ever setup your Icom PRC1000 with Teensy board? If so, can you give some help with your project with the Teensy and the Icom PCR1000. Also would like to run my pcr1000 without a computer.",
"parent_id": "419745",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "419746",
"author": "emilio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:47:08",
"content": "some incredible things are possible with software radios. this type is fairly simple, yet powerful.i can’t wait until this technology gets really inexpensive!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419755",
"author": "eddy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:09:44",
"content": "Check thehttp://www.funcubedongle.com/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419765",
"author": "hpux735",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:44:32",
"content": "Very, very awesome. The element 14 stuff can get a little annoying, but her YouTubes with all the details are true gems.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419766",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:52:17",
"content": "Yeah, I second that. IMHO Jeri should start her own TV show.I had a look at the sound card chips the other day, to see if I could use one as a multichannel signal monitor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419776",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T18:28:15",
"content": "what *doesn’t* jeri ellsworth build :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419778",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T18:35:28",
"content": "@emilio — I just ordered a Japanese SDR from eBay for under $100. Personally looking forward to hacking up a webSDR myself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419797",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:17:44",
"content": "I am sad to say that almost all RF things, especially this, goes far far over my head.Anyone else have this problem?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419833",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:53:21",
"content": "“The 16-bit sound card [Jeri] used covers 22kHz of radio bandwidth, but that can be increased to 48kHz with a 24-bit card.”Not true. I haven’t watched Jeri’s video yet, so I’m assuming this is a misunderstanding on the part of the HAD editor.16-bit or 24-bit samples refer to the precision of each sample. This is not necessarily correlated with the sample rate.So, to get 48khz bandwidth you need a soundcard (or really any A/D converter) that can convert up to 48khz signals. (Or do even better and get a 96khz card!) Note that this doesn’t mean the device samples at 48khz, because it would have to sample at least twice that fast.If you get a 24-bit card you just get more accuracy along the way.I’m excited to watch this video later. I’ve been wanting to take on a SDR project and this sounds like a good place to start.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419916",
"author": "zrzzz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:40:56",
"content": "Jerri, you so awesome. Keep being you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420003",
"author": "Tyler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:02:18",
"content": "Only one mistake — F connector! Eek!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420034",
"author": "Jeri Ellsworth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:43:48",
"content": "Matt – You don’t need 2x the bandwidth when working with two channels(I/Q). I explain this in the video.-Jer",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420036",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:44:28",
"content": "Finally watched all the videos (up to part 7 on youtube, and then the element14 video too).Very much worth the time to watch.Worth noting that she actually uses the FPGA for signal processing later on in the project (though the summary here indicates that she only uses the PC to do DSP), with a bandwith of 176kz! I definitely have to check out the Cirrus chip she uses for A/D conversion.Very very cool project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420037",
"author": "Jeri Ellsworth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:45:45",
"content": "I should have said you don’t need 2x sample rate when you have 2x the bandwidth with two channels (I/Q)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420038",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T04:46:36",
"content": "Jeri–Good point. I didn’t know (prior to watching the videos) you were sampling I and Q.Very nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420292",
"author": "xradionut",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T16:48:25",
"content": "@SomeonecoolRF isn’t difficult, you just need to spend sometime reading and playing with it. Check out your local library and see if they have a ARRL Handbook.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420525",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:53:04",
"content": "@xradionutI actually bought the book a few years back, though it is the 1947 version ($1.25 when new back in the day! :P)I think I have a flawed understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum in general or something of the sort, I cannot get around the basics of how antenna’s work even.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "485882",
"author": "mark",
"timestamp": "2011-10-21T14:11:18",
"content": "I think she likes to “fluff” herself up. I mean, why would you want to build a transistor when you can buy one. ANyone can research how to do it, then impress everyone with the fact that you did it. She portrays herself as an mit engineer, but there is no way to self teath yourself this stuff to the level she proclaims to be at.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "608818",
"author": "gerry",
"timestamp": "2012-03-21T11:49:06",
"content": "@mark, I’m not sure why you believe that it’s not possible to ‘self-teach’ to PhD engineering level. The information is freely available, so all that’s required is the motivation and the intelligence to process the information.For example, I am a top-grade engineer designing high-availability telecoms platforms and my formal education stops at high-school level.",
"parent_id": "485882",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "886253",
"author": "mstone",
"timestamp": "2012-11-18T23:11:28",
"content": "@mark, you’ve just stated the anti-hacking manifesto in its most concise form: why build anything when you can buy it? Why learn anything when you can pay someone else to know it for you?You also show an attitude toward ‘credentials’ versus ‘skills’ that suggests you don’t have have much in either department. Being an ‘MIT engineer’ means you sat in a certain number of rooms, passed a certain number of tests, and wrote a certain number of checks. That experience may give you a better chance of doing the same things Jeri does, but at the end of the day, performance beats pedigree every time.FYI, most education above the BA/BS level is self-taught. Masters students spend a huge amount of time reading papers in order to get familiar with the latest information in their field. Their faculty advisers help them steer, and call bullshit when they try to handwave on things they should know, but most of the work involves being an information sponge. A PhD is self-taught by definition because it involves doing original research. No one can teach it because no one has ever studied that specific topic before.The stuff Jeri does is masters-level work.. studying the existing literature and doing it for herself to make sure she really understands it. I don’t know what species of bug crawled up under your kilt, but it won’t do any good to tell us she can’t know what she obviously does know, or can’t do what she clearly has done.",
"parent_id": "485882",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "541796",
"author": "Reg",
"timestamp": "2011-12-22T01:47:15",
"content": "The original Softrock radio receiver kits were ~$20US which is certainly cheap enough. Lotsof info can be found here:http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/Kit availability seems more problematic.I refuse to run Flash, so I can’t watch the video.I do wish there were links to things like schematics and Gerber files, but that’s a lot more work to do. And quite unreasonable if it’s a clever hack of surplus gear. In all fairness, she’s just tossing a pebble in a particular direction and leaving the viewer to take it from there.I think Mark’s comment is quite unreasonable. Jeri’s doing techno-entertainment. There’s nothing wrong w/ that. Jeri is not a Phd level engineer and I rather doubt she’d claim she was. However, she does know what she knows and can probably beat a fair number of Phds in various areas. There are inevitably gaps in everyone’s knowledge. For the autodidact it’s a bit worse. However, as long as you’re prepared to eat failure many times, it’s not an obstacle.Long before Jeri did it, I’d considered making a point contact transistor just for fun. It’s a neat novelty item for the living room curio cabinet. Not useful, but fun. Like my core memory or uncut IC wafer.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "542206",
"author": "Reg",
"timestamp": "2011-12-22T18:09:41",
"content": "Some links that might be useful:Some inexpensive (~$20US) kits in addition to more elaborate versions:http://zao.jp/radio/order/A general list of SDR projects:http://www.aagneyam.com/blog/?p=1053",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.047619
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/2011-ccc-r0ket-badge/
|
2011 CCC R0ket Badge
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"cons"
] |
[
"badge",
"chaos communication congress",
"RF"
] |
[Geekabit] wrote in asking if we’d seen
the 2011 CCC badges yet
. The answer is NO, we haven’t
seen
them because the image above is the only sneek peek we can find on their broken-certificate website. But we are glad that he shared the link with us, because it does tell the tale of what hardware and firmware features will be on this year’s badge.
Right off the bat we need to applaud them for several things. Most notably, the 3.7 volt 600 mAh LiPo battery which can be recharged via the USB port. It boasts an ARM Cortex M3 processor which is running what they call and ‘unbrickable’ bootloader that is programmed via the USB port. You can see there is an LCD screen which we’d guess is about 128×128 pixels (correct us if you know otherwise). You’ll be able to interact using a 5-way button, via the RF transceiver, and possibly using an optical interface but we’re not sure that feature made it into the final design. They’ve also rolled in a shield system for extra harware so that you can design your own add-ons before you get there.
As always, if you get your hands on one of these, we want to hear all about your project as well as get an overview of the stock badge and its features so don’t forget to
drop us a line
.
Update:
[Never_gonna] left a comment with a link to
a series of posts about r0cket development
including a video which we’ve embedded after the break. Thanks!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5uWfg9Zc6U&w=470]
| 13
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419701",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:30:34",
"content": "why?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419703",
"author": "never_gonna",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:34:16",
"content": "http://r0ket.soup.io/Little bit more info here.According to their tweet from June 23rd its a 96×96 LCD",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419717",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:47:53",
"content": "ARM Cortex-M3 with an “unbrickable bootloader” that is programmable from the USB port? That sounds like the NXP LPC1343 or a relative.I know this because I’m involved with a new dev board coming to market this week called the Forebrain, which also carries the LPC1343",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419718",
"author": "adam outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:49:28",
"content": "Just so you know… the cirtificate is likely not broken… they’re all about communications…. its likely thetly own their own cirtificate authority which you don’t have access to.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419720",
"author": "muth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:50:24",
"content": "Nokia 1200 – 96×68 (green) monochrome LCDhttps://r0ket.badge.events.ccc.de/hardware",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419723",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:52:44",
"content": "Oh, just to mention, it’s known as “unbrickable” because the USB/UART bootloader code is in ROM.However I know for a fact that you could do a pretty good job bricking it by setting the code read protection to level 3 while loading some broken firmware. Play with CRP levels at your own peril!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419754",
"author": "operative",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:08:45",
"content": "Yeah, all the CCC websites have certs signed by their own CA. That’s why you get a broken cert warning ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419825",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:31:32",
"content": "What exactly is so broken about the certificate? All it’s cryptographic functions check out just fine.Oh that’s right it’s not the trusted signers list. Keep forgetting the hackaday staff isn’t actually technical.(it’s so easy to hate on had, even though they’re doing a fine job! Sorry guys. (the certificate isn’t quite “broken” though! Really!))",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420144",
"author": "Hans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T10:05:27",
"content": "It should be mentioned that this is NOT the official badge and is not produced or created by the organizers of the camp (as far as i know).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420164",
"author": "wackawacka",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T11:40:11",
"content": "Obviously this is NOT the official badge.This is probably just by some pricks trying to show off. In the end they will only sell a few tens of it to some CCC family and friends inner circle.As always the official badge comes with Photo-ID, Fingerprint and Hologram.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420167",
"author": "Foo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T11:53:39",
"content": "Well Hans, sorry to say, but you are wrong.In fact, this badge *is* the official badge for the camp and all upcoming CCC-events.(Additionally: If it wasn’t they wouldn’t have got an .ccc.de-domain)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420384",
"author": "dormantlabs.com",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T20:43:45",
"content": "Thanks never_gonna, I was looking for the extra info. This badge looks better than the 2010 defcon badge, I really like it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "435635",
"author": "Hans",
"timestamp": "2011-08-16T02:00:33",
"content": "Foo: Well, it seems that the term “badge” created confusion not only in me as it was expected that the “badge” would again be some wristband (which was actually the official “badge” type association identifier).Oh, and getting a subdomain under .ccc.de really does not state anything to this regard.But yes, luckily these badges were issued in addition to the wristbrands, but not enough for everyone.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.147927
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/analyzing-tvs-talking-heads-with-processing/
|
Analyzing TV’s Talking Heads With Processing
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Video Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"closed captions",
"processing"
] |
[Michael] from Nootropic Design wrote in to share
an interesting and fun project he put together
using one of the products his company sells. The gadget in question is their “Video Experimenter” shield which was designed for the Arduino. It is typically used to allow the manipulation of composite video streams via overlays and the like, but it can also serve as a video analyzer as well.
When used for video analysis, the board lets you decode closed captioning data, which is exactly what [Michael] did here. He decided it would be fun to scrape the closed captioning information from various shows and commercials to do a little bit of content analysis.
Using a Processing sketch on his Arduino, he reads the closed captioning feed from his cable box, keeping a count of every word mentioned in the broadcast. As the show progresses, his sketch dynamically constructs a cloud that shows the most commonly used words in the video feed.
The results he gets are quite interesting, especially when he watches the nightly news, or some other broadcast with a specific target audience. We think it would be cool to run this application during a political debate or perhaps during a Hollywood awards ceremony to discover which set of speakers is the most vapid.
if you’re interested in learning more about the decoding process, [Michael] has put together
a detailed explanation
of how the closed captioning data can be pulled from a video stream. For those of you who just want to see the decoder in action, keep reading to see a quick video demonstration.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_2zWhPJvW8&w=470]
| 17
| 17
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419675",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T14:12:51",
"content": "Well, I’m quite impressed. I expected some meaningless new media BS, but this is interesting, useful, and effective.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419683",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T14:44:35",
"content": "Now you can keep track of the most used sensationalist words used by all newscasters.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419690",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:11:33",
"content": "keywords:obamadebt ceilingpalincasey anthonyspace shuttlelibyaheat wave",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419702",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:34:15",
"content": "I don’t know, but perhaps anyone who needs to use an Arduino to determine what set of speakers at a Hollywood awards show are the most vapid aren’t really in a position to judge. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419706",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:38:09",
"content": "I’d like to use this for the next apple key note ( or any other company ) provided they use closed captioning.It would be fun to write this into a piece of software to use this while recording/analyzing a broadcast and at the same time grab relative timecode positions for each logged word. Then select all the words you would like to export in a video clip. For now it would probably require you to adjust the in and out points for a shot list, but it would be much easier to create a clip like the following:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx7v815bYUw",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419712",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:46:42",
"content": "@mess_makerRecord the program.Scan through for all words have a separate data field for time.Just take the top 20 words or so and go to the times listed for those words re-record those times only and tada you have what you see up there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419730",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:09:08",
"content": "@Drake, yes, that is pretty much what I meant, though I got tripped up in my description. *blush*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419783",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T18:43:57",
"content": "This would be made into a Bullshit Bingo game machine.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzword_bingo",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419794",
"author": "Gregory Strike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:10:45",
"content": "If your computer has a TV Tuner in it, it shouldn’t be too difficult to pull the CC data from it as an alternative.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419818",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:15:32",
"content": "Anyone else notice that “Republican” and “Republicans” are pretty big, but nowhere in the list does “Democrat” show up? I’m going from the photo at the top, rather than the video.I also like some of the hidden messages, like “We’re Sorry” and “Against All Americans”, “More Mostly Needs No Appetite” and “Propositions Question Raising Reagan”, “That’s Theft! Then There’s These”and the winner is (drumroll) “Today, Together… Unemployed Washington.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419865",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:38:23",
"content": "Since the list is alphabetically sorted I am pretty sure that just happened to work out that way.I really like coming here because most everywhere else on the internet is so politically charged that I enjoy a small escape. I’d love it if HAD stayed that way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419873",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T21:52:46",
"content": "I just think they’re funny, that’s all. I’d rather avoid politics altogether, myself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419915",
"author": "Brian Neeley",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:37:34",
"content": "@mess_makerAh, if it were that simple…I work at a TV station, and all of our monitoring feeds have CC turned on, so I see QUITE a bit of it. I can’t say this applies to all stations, but I would guess it would be similiar everywhere.First, closed captioning almost never corresponds exactly with the spoken word. Sometimes it can be as much as a minute behind. When that happens, expect to see a dropped sentence or two. This problem is worst for live events, but is better if the closed captioner has a script available.Second, mispellings are not uncommon. Some programs are better than others, and I would assume that it depends largely on the individual captioner (closed captioning is done by someone at a keyboard watching the program). I have seen some truely horriable CC, and I do well to understand what was meant even when I hear what was said.Finally, sometimes the captions get garbled. If that happens, nothing is going to help.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420074",
"author": "Jack",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T05:10:59",
"content": "won’t be nicer if we can capture 100s news program, and provide real time statics on words mentioned in last 24 hours. I guess that means we need more than 100 Arduino too… :(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420075",
"author": "Jack",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T05:11:23",
"content": "any thoughts ?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420345",
"author": "resisatator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:23:31",
"content": "@jack:The real limiting factor for me is the access to multiple cable TV sources, not the electronics equipment, which is relatively cheap.Personally, I would only be interested in providing real time stats for CNN, Fox, and CNBC; that way you could show the real-time media topics. You could add in comparison with Twitter and Google News, and see how certain phrases started trending after showing up on the news.So that would only require 4 Arduinos and 4 Video Experimenters, so ~ $50 for each unit would make $200, plus a cheap laptop and a VPS to host a website. And 4 cable TV sources. VPS is ~$20 a month, and I don’t want to even think about how much cable for 4 TV’s is in my area…probably around $50 + a month, if I went for analog TV and not including the install price for cable…I almost want to start up a quickstart project on it right now…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "421426",
"author": "buzzkill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-22T20:44:47",
"content": "Something else that comes to mind with a project like this is that sometimes it is more important what is not being said. For instance, there was a recent article indicating that FOX was not reporting about the UK tabloid scandal for some reason. Why? What are they hiding? Pot calling the kettle black? Media watchdog organizations could put something like this to work quickly and cheaply.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.447654
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/hackaday-links-tuesday-july-19th/
|
Hackaday Links: Tuesday, July 19th
|
Jeremy Cook
|
[
"Hackaday links"
] |
[
"cnc",
"gameboy",
"multimeter",
"Pogo pin",
"useless machine",
"verbalizer",
"walle"
] |
Here’s another “useless machine” variant. The trick to this one is that it has dual “fingers” and can work either way. Which way it turns off is selectable via a switch on the side, and the fingers can both be turned on to “fight” each other. Check out the
video
here.
This video depicts the assembly of a
Gameboy MAME-style cabinet
. For those wanting to try something like this, this video may fill you in on some of the required assembly techniques, such as how to put decals on the side of your cabinet.
This video featuring the “
Autonomous Ultimate Wall-E”
shows this robot’s navigational skills around the house. Additionally, it has some nicely actuated arms.
The
Verbalizer
is a microphone designed to be used with Google’s voice search. It’s also designed with Arduino compatibility in mind and is open-source. Could be a good tool for your next hack.
These clever
multimeter probes
were built using
pogo pins
used in electrical test equipment. The springs inside of these pins help keep them planted firmly on the test point in question and reportedly gives a very good connection.
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419669",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T13:49:12",
"content": "Cool probes!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419693",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:16:44",
"content": "Looks to be one of those items you can’t really judge until you try using them for yourself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419752",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:57:41",
"content": "HaD already covered the Verbalizer didn’t they.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419874",
"author": "teroj",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:03:00",
"content": "I made recently mechanically similar cables for connecting the bench power supply to breadboard. The other end of cable had banana plugs, connected to 1mm cable and the other ends were cut from cheap breadboard jumper wires. The wires were soldered and secured by few layers of shrink tubing. They are really useful, quite robust and cost next to nothing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419932",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T00:29:38",
"content": "Any ideas for good sources of scavenging some of these pogo pins?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419951",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:25:38",
"content": "@jeicrash yup:http://hackaday.com/2011/06/26/a-badge-without-a-conference/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420004",
"author": "uzerzero",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T03:03:53",
"content": "I just pulled a dozen pogo pins off an old Xbox modchip I had laying around. Now I’ll have a dozen spring-loaded test probes!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420112",
"author": "John R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T07:32:03",
"content": "@steve – From HK/China on EBay.. got a box of them in all different sizes for cheap to make probes, ICSP cables, etc etc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.645114
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/19/modelling-chemical-reactions-using-an-fpga/
|
Modelling Chemical Reactions Using An FPGA
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"chemistry hacks"
] |
[
"chemical kinetic systems",
"fpga",
"stochastic solver"
] |
[Bruce Land] is a professor at Cornell University who was looking for a way to quickly solve chemical kinetic systems. He had used MATLAB but longed for a faster method. His upgrade achieves a 100 times speed increase by
using an FPGA as a parallel stochastic solver
.
It works by generating 100 pseudo-random 16-bit numbers using an Altera DE2 board. This is done once per cycle at 50 MHz so we’re talking about a lot of random numbers. They are run through the solver algorithms and used to compute each reaction cycle. On a 3.8 GHz P4 process running the MATLAB version one of these cycles would take about 1000 seconds, so the speed improvement can immediately be felt. It’s wonderful to have this new tool. It does make us wonder what could be done with
GPU processing that we’ve seen for password cracking
or bit coin mining. Much like FPGAs a GPU is prefect for running a large number of parallel operations.
| 9
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419650",
"author": "Orangensaft",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T12:21:22",
"content": "1.1 seconds on a FPGA, 1000 seconds on the P4 (sorry if that was obvious to everyone else)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419654",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T12:40:10",
"content": "http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=9047.0bitcoin mining with an FPGAhttp://nsa.unaligned.org/sha1/md5 hashing on an FPGA for password cracking",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419666",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T13:36:33",
"content": "Sometimes these writeups are almost unintelligible. I know it’s kind of cliché to decry the quality of HaD posts, but come on.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419673",
"author": "Spadusa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T14:06:02",
"content": "@Ioans: agreed. There are very few write-ups that don’t have issues thr make them difficult to read. Glad I’m not the only one to notice it.Otherwise, very interesting use for FPGAs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419697",
"author": "EccentricElectron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:25:47",
"content": "@spadusa: HAD don’t care – see this threadhttp://forums.hackaday.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=858",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419762",
"author": "Elias",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:34:35",
"content": "Very interesting!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419770",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:56:12",
"content": "Bruce Land is a legend. He is the one behind almost all of Cornell projects that get posted here:http://people.ece.cornell.edu/land/courses/ece4760/FinalProjects/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420575",
"author": "Ross",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T03:21:52",
"content": "It’s actually rather difficult to generate the quantity of random numbers needed to make use of a GPU for this sort of task.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420581",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T03:55:46",
"content": "This is very interesting and I’ll have to check it over very carefully.The tough thing about chemical simulations is the number of iterations required and the magnitude of the numbers being multiplied: 15 orders of magnitude change in concentration wouldn’t be unusual, and if you’re simulating millions of reactions, errors stack up fast.This was my first eye-opener for IEEE 754.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.740419
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/bringing-an-iwallet-back-to-life/
|
Bringing An IWallet Back To Life
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"iphone hacks"
] |
[
"bluetooth",
"iphone",
"iwallet",
"repair"
] |
The iWallet is a slick little device if you’ve got a big wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket. The $600 price tag was a little much for [cmw] to swallow,
so he bought a water damaged iWallet on eBay with hopes of repairing it
. Once took a close look, he knew that repairing it was a lost cause, so he decided to hack it instead.
He pulled out most of the wallet’s electronics save for the motor that opens the device, and replaced the damaged parts with his own. He installed an Arduino pro as well as a Bluetooth module, powering the pair with a small rechargeable LiPo battery. The iWallet’s fingerprint reader was then replaced with a series of LEDs that show the device’s Bluetooth connectivity status.
[cmw] can now connect his wallet to his phone, issuing unlock commands via Bluetooth. If you don’t want to fork out the cash, his version is nearly as good as the real thing.
Continue reading to see a quick video of [cmw’s] iWallet hack in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYFg0XafDN0&w=470]
| 43
| 42
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419293",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:16:29",
"content": "You spent so much money making your wallet, you ended up with no money left over to put in the wallet. :o(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419294",
"author": "Don",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:19:56",
"content": "Hammer and chisel to open",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419295",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:22:46",
"content": "this wallet would be cooler if it dispensed the cards to you and could open for money.sorta like one of those fancy pocket cigarette dispensers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419299",
"author": "Effigy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:34:20",
"content": "The wallet itself is a pretty pointless device, as it could be opened readily by anyone with, say, a large sledge or a bandsaw…. so maybe it keeps your kids from nipping a $20, but keeping the contents safe if stolen? yeah right…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419301",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:44:21",
"content": "It seems like any kind of storage device (whether it be keeping valuable physical items or data) can be opened or accessed if stolen, because then the thief can do practically anything to it.At that point the only thing you control is the time they have, based on your ability to track them down. (well, maybe more control if it has remote self-destruction)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419305",
"author": "Harvie.CZ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:58:55",
"content": "I’d just put in some cryptographic chip to protect my bitcoin wallet and credit card numbers :-) also hardware pin entry keyboard would be usefull in addition to fingerprint scanner.swipe finger, then enter pin and you can see your credit card number on hardware display and challenge the device for decrypting your bitcoins over usb :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419310",
"author": "Brett W. (FightCube.com)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T23:19:52",
"content": "Nice build!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419312",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T23:20:54",
"content": "Plastic gears are always a sign of a well built, durable device.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419321",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T23:59:20",
"content": "maybe you could put a low-yield explosive in there and if someone tries to open it without authorization, it would detonate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "419473",
"author": "dexter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T06:54:19",
"content": "It already has the LiPo inside, maybe make use of that.",
"parent_id": "419321",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "419328",
"author": "Retroplayer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:11:40",
"content": "@???? Yeah, THAT wouldn’t land you in prison!Well, maybe not if you don’t live in the USA. Here we are kinda required to be good little victims. If we fight back and win, we usually get the prison time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419334",
"author": "veneficus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:22:54",
"content": "5 Gears to move a tiny latch? :) This is nothing more than a good conversation piece.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419340",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:34:38",
"content": "This is nothing more than an overpriced conversation piece. At best.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419344",
"author": "BobSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:46:52",
"content": "@Retroplayer Yes, because blowing people is a crime, the government wants us to be victimized. Clearly someone stealing your wallet should be reason enough to blow their hands/face off with explosives with no legal consequences.If you want to protect yourself? Don’t carry cash. Use a debit card instead. If your wallet is stolen, call any debit/credit cards in as stolen, and get new ones. Then it goes from being any significant loss to being a mere inconvenience.And no, the government doesn’t insist that you be a victim. Most states have a process that allows you to carry a concealed firearm in public legally. I’ve taken advantage of this. You can too, if you like.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419346",
"author": "Neato",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:52:41",
"content": "This looked like a fun and creative project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419356",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:22:18",
"content": "the low-yield explosive would definitely destroy w/e is inside and cause minor injury to the thief. Then you don’t really have to worry about your stuff being copied to some database.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419358",
"author": "AnonymousCoward",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:27:08",
"content": "That’ll be one fun BT sniffing session…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419361",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:33:06",
"content": "Actually, if someone steals someone else’s wallet, I don’t particularly care whether they get their fingers singed — or amputated outright, for that matter — trying to get the goods out of it. There’s a very simple trick to avoiding injuries caused by someone else’s active-response wallet, and that is not to steal someone else’s active-response wallet. Surely this is not that difficult to figure out. (If you think such a vigorous response disproportionate, then let’s moderate the question a bit. What if I sew a razor blade into my wallet instead, in just the right spot to slash a careless filcher’s fingers? Have I now committed aggravated assault against the fucker who stole my wallet?)On the other hand, I do hail from the state with the nation’s broadest castle doctrine, so I appreciate that my ideas regarding the nature of consequences — that being, if you do shit you know you shouldn’t and you get hurt by it, don’t come crying to me — are severely out of fashion among the secular Quakers who run shit.And on the third hand, a $600 motorized wallet is just fuckin’ stupid, I don’t even care what else you say about it. But I bet the guy down my street, who has eight (count ’em) security cameras covering the two rather narrow approaches to his house, either already owns one or he’s saving up his pennies.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419362",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:35:02",
"content": "And hey, BobSmith, I like your argument about disproportionate response in light of your recommendation to investigate concealed carry.You know, because shooting somebody dead is SO MUCH BETTER than messing up his hands and maybe his face with a few grams of something that goes bang. That makes sense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419363",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:35:53",
"content": "(And don’t talk to me about muggers, either, because it’s a bullshit argument. Guy takes your wallet at gunpoint, can’t get the wallet open — what, you think he’s gonna shrug and walk away?)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419416",
"author": "Haku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T04:27:17",
"content": "Nice job with the rebuild, I wonder if it would be possible to do a version that pairs to a wristwatch such as the TI Chronos.Price wise the iWallet is pretty ridiculous, my ripper wallet cost me £3.50, in the mid 80s at a Glastonbury festival, the festival isn’t what it used to be but the wallet still is, no real signs of wear & tear even with the regular use it now gets.The iWallet looks like a nice gadget to own, but not entirely practical especially with that price tag and the need for it to be charged up every so often, couple that with the enivtable hammer + chisel opening technique by thieves.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419419",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T04:35:48",
"content": "Nice job with the rebuild, but what an incredibly silly product.@Aaron: Then the mugger tells you to open it, and shoots you when you reach for your phone..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419452",
"author": "a.d",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T05:45:36",
"content": "@Chris: Any mugger worth their salt already has your mobile. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419465",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T06:38:31",
"content": "Haku: Awesome, I didn’t even think of the power problem: “Oh, shit, I can’t pay for dinner, I forgot to charge my wallet.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419507",
"author": "Woeka",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T08:03:29",
"content": "Well why not add some GPS device, when it gets stolen you can track it. Never mind … the delay time to get inside won’t give you time to hop in your car for the chase.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419515",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T08:39:52",
"content": "I got a multitool in my backpack – that’s all its going to take to open it. It’s quite an odd concept really.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419518",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T08:56:13",
"content": "I have revolutionary anti theft idea chain you wallet to the belt ! wow",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419522",
"author": "Retroplayer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T09:06:30",
"content": "No, bobsmith, it’s because if you EVER use that firearm you proclaim to carry to shoot someone, EVER, even in defense… you will go to prison in this country at the very least for involuntary manslaughter or intent to kill. Period. Any other idea in your head, is simply that – in your head.Probably because of the people, people like you vote for.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419553",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T10:49:17",
"content": "Retroplayer:False. A number of states have clear, well-defined legislation regarding self defense, and many of this legislation is fairly reasonable.While using a firearm in self-defense will be a legal headache (not to mention the inevitable civil lawsuits from the crud’s family), many people defend themselves every year without going to prison.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419648",
"author": "bemis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T12:07:20",
"content": "It’s definitely a cool build, though I don’t see the point :-)@BobSmith, I live in one of the bluest states in the country and even here I will NOT go to jail for shooting someone with a firearm that I legally own as long as it is clearly self-defense.That said, the burden of being CERTAIN you are acting in self defense is so high that you would probably be killed by your attacker because they are exposing a similar firearm and are in your home (or in some other way threatening you). If you’re in a public space I’d say you might be held until the facts are clear. So yeah, killing someone is taken very seriously, as it should be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419653",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T12:25:29",
"content": "@BobSmith“And no, the government doesn’t insist that you be a victim. Most states have a process that allows you to carry a concealed firearm in public legally.”what? by most states you mean couple deserted places that no one remember about, in NY they fuck you up for having a pocket knife as for gun it literally impossible to get legally one",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419664",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T13:29:04",
"content": "Therian:Hah. Firearms are by no means illegal in the great state of New York. Carry permits are scarce, as in New Jersey. The vast majority of states have a process for carry, either concealed or open. It’s possible for your average person to legally carry concealed in a great number of states if they possess a Utah permit, which is available to non-residents.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419708",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:41:41",
"content": "‘scarce’ not a right word to properly describe what going on, it as scarce as footprints on the moon",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419711",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:45:15",
"content": "ps it more reasonable to carry a hammer than concealed gun",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419721",
"author": "cmw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:51:56",
"content": "haha i love the conversation path here. The wallet was really just a cool conversation starter. The batt actually lasts about 3-4 days without charge. The funny thing is I accidently locked myself out when testing and all it took was 5 seconds and a knife to pop the lock open. It didnt even damage it.. So no hammers required :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419758",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T17:22:08",
"content": "A $600 status symbol that does…nothing.At least there’s some people who will agree that a $600 regular wallet can in fact look tasteful and not be ridiculous.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419805",
"author": "abobymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:37:52",
"content": "@Aaron – “What if I sew a razor blade into my wallet instead, in just the right spot to slash a careless filcher’s fingers? Have I now committed aggravated assault against the fucker who stole my wallet?)” — good job on mutilating the medical worker who’s trying to get contact details for your family when your unconcious body is in their hospital after some accident.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419828",
"author": "Retroplayer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:35:34",
"content": "loans… nothing is “clear and defined.” You go before a jury, period. As far as home invasion, did you try to escape? Did you take every step possible not to have a deadly confrontation? Did you try to hide from the attacker first?You will likely go to jail. You will get out on bond. Then you might be held again before trial. MAYBE, just MAYBE, your state appointed attorney (if he really feels like caring that day – he gets paid either way) is better than the prosecution in convincing the jury that you tried everything (including trying to get the perpetrator quick medical attention in an attempt to save his life.) Oh… did you try to call the police before you shot the perp?Do you even read the news? I love how “legal experts” all think their opinions are law. “Bullshit, talking on the phone while driving isn’t illegal because I do it all the time.”Hate to bust your bubble, but what you think happens by millions of people every day (what a ridiculous statement on its own) just isn’t reality and isn’t how that fairy tale plays out.I know from experience what happens. What do you have? An opinion supported by what you believe to be just and fair (which I do not argue with at all as far as the just and fair part), and ridiculous statements not supported at all in any statistics.I bet you also believe that the phrase “innoncent until proven guilty” can be found in a government document somewhere other than possibly an opinion piece. In fact, I bet you are so sure of it that you will search right now to prove it is. Good luck.Pay attention, people. You fall asleep, you might wake up to a nightmare.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419900",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T22:54:44",
"content": "@Retroplayerbetter be judged by 12 then carryed by 6",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419961",
"author": "Retroplayer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T01:46:12",
"content": "@therainI agree 100% with that. I would never try to convince somebody not to defend themselves or their family, no matter the consequences.Mine was more of a political statement that so many have this fairy tale view of ‘freedom’ in this country, just take it for granted, meanwhile it gets eroded away more and more while they sleep.I would say one of the reasons that crime is so high in this country because of the fear of the consequences for defending oneself. Criminals don’t follow the law, but it is very convenient for them that you and I do. Makes their job so much easier. And year after year, more laws or ‘public perception’ leading to the successful passing of more laws are created that re-enforce that. That’s how guns get banned. It’s really NOT as far off as some sleeping beauties might think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420333",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T18:38:07",
"content": "Thats a sweet wallet. what else could you put in there hey?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420523",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T00:49:04",
"content": "@Retroplayer“As far as home invasion, did you try to escape? Did you take every step possible not to have a deadly confrontation? Did you try to hide from the attacker first?”In Indiana, the legal code is clear. There is no duty to retreat before using lethal force to repel a forcible invasion into one’s home, or to prevent an assault when one has a legitimate fear of death or serious bodily harm. (IC 35-41-3-2)“You will likely go to jail.”It’s a probably. I acknowledged that any self-defense shooting (or self-defense in general) is a legal headache.“Oh… did you try to call the police before you shot the perp?”Again, there’s no duty to retreat. What’s important is that you’re the first one to call the police.I understand your point. I also acknowledge that unfortunately, our legal system does not always reflect what’s right, fair or even just. That said, the law, in my home state, is clear (despite your insistence otherwise) on the nature of self defense. If you glance at the noted piece of Indiana, law, you can’t argue with that.The fact of the matter is, the general opinion of this country is that the citizen doesn’t (it would seem) have the right to defend himself. States make it impossible for their residents to carry a firearm (I’m looking at you, east coast), or do not provide clear legal protections for a man defending his home and family from violent crime. Many police officers are uneducated on the rights of citizens in their jurisdictions to carry a firearm. Many a tale can be recounted of a law-abiding citizen being needlessly hassled, man-handled, and insulted by people who should -applaud- the citizen who chooses to protect himself.It’s a sad state of affairs, but when my work doesn’t take me to states where rights are infringed, (Massachusetts now) I carry every day, and I understand my rights and (more importantly) my responsibilities.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420770",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-21T13:37:03",
"content": "abobymouse, my driver’s license is right there in a clear plastic sleeve as soon as you open the wallet, and right behind it is the card with the “here’s who to call if you’ve just scraped my smoking corpse off the side of the highway” info. The razor blade, if any, would be in the billfold pocket, where the money goes. Nice try tho.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.821988
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/building-a-computer-around-a-ttl-cpu/
|
Building A Computer Around A TTL CPU
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"computer hacks"
] |
[
"cpu",
"homebrew",
"magic-1",
"minix",
"ttl"
] |
[Bill’s] worked on
his homebrew computer
for almost a decade. He didn’t start with a Z80 processor like a lot of the projects we’ve seen, but instead build the CPU itself from 74-series TTL chips and a ridiculous amount of wire wrapping to connect it all.
The video after the break shows off the functionality. We love the front panel, which is packed with information but manages to remain organized and offers many convenient features. Our favorite is the ability to pause execution and scroll through the registers by spinning the dial. The clock signal has a variable speed which is selected by an internal DIP switch package that can be changed during a pause. It runs MINIX and has a library of programs, but perhaps most surprising is its ability to serve webpages.
Lately we’ve been interested in
drilling down through program language abstractions
to understand what is going on inside the silicon. This has given us new respect for those building processors from scratch. Think of it this way, if you actually need to build each instruction out of gates, you’ll be able to understand how those instructions work at the most fundamental level.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbSjsEPlhU8&w=470]
[Thanks Jamie]
| 26
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419272",
"author": "polossatik",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T21:34:16",
"content": "Gotto love the “lots of blinky lights” comments..But this is the coolest thing i’ve seen here yet",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419273",
"author": "Cpt. Obvious",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T21:35:10",
"content": "In retrospect he should’ve called it “Blinky-1”, excellent TTL porn BTW.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419286",
"author": "exuvo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:05:40",
"content": "It truly is a remarkable feat to build a computer and actually get it working with full internet connectivity. I am currently logged in to it over telnet and trying its game “Adventure” ! The processing speed is quite noticeable though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419288",
"author": "Psion",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:11:11",
"content": "Best.Hack a Day post.EVER.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419290",
"author": "bootnecklad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:13:43",
"content": "I’m still building my fairly small TTL CPU. I’m still impressed by this every time I see it. Makes me want to build something even better!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419292",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:14:19",
"content": "I feel compelled to say “this has been around for a very long time,” but I love it so much. This is something I’ve always wanted to do.If anyone has hit the comment section without clicking the link, go back up and visit his site now! Bill is a pretty funny guy, the whole story is a good read, and there are lots of awesome photos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419296",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:29:02",
"content": "Reminds me of the old Altar 8800 that a couple friends and I built back in the late 70,s in the F14 Vast lab when I was stationed at PAX River TC. Looks like the 8800 has a successor! Just KEWL!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419313",
"author": "MooglyGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T23:21:29",
"content": "@Alex, I’ve been an avid fan of this guy’s work since ’02, but nonetheless, I’m just glad HAD finally covered it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419327",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:08:05",
"content": "deja vuThis must be the third time magic has been featured on had?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419329",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:15:46",
"content": "Thanks for the reminder of Bill’s computer project, I haven’t gone to his website for a while. One of the most epic home-built CPU projects out there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419342",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:42:53",
"content": "So, likehttp://hackaday.com/2009/02/27/bmow-a-home-made-cpu/(http://www.bigmessowires.com/category/bmow1/), just less intense?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419386",
"author": "Julian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T02:07:53",
"content": "I definitely remember reading about this one on here, thought it was awesome.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419389",
"author": "AussieTech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T02:22:09",
"content": "Wonderful! Reminds me of my old Alpha-16 Mini’s. *Real* computers have rows of flashing LED’s and switches. ;))",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419392",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T02:39:11",
"content": "reminds of the educ8 published in electronicsaustralia during the 70’s",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419396",
"author": "Miroslav",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T03:15:17",
"content": "Well done. Wish I had done that :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419448",
"author": "Urza9814",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T05:40:08",
"content": "Wow. We ‘built’ parts of CPUs in my one university class (to run code that was a variant of MIPS), using basic logic gates…and I thought that was kind of challenging. This? Wow. Though I’m more impressed by the software than the hardware — and I generally consider myself a ‘software guy’! I mean I get that it’s largely ported, but still…I wouldn’t even know where to begin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419451",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T05:44:32",
"content": "Ahhhh… Wire-Wrap",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419479",
"author": "Angmar",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:06:48",
"content": "What is real purpose of this?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419536",
"author": "JS",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T09:35:05",
"content": "@AngmarReal purpose? Some guys spend time watching the clouds.I bet that if we appears with that “box” under his arm in some companies that will beat any curriculum. That is not something many of us can do.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419554",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T10:52:35",
"content": "Real Computers have switches and lights. A very nice job. And even better, it’s microprogrammed and runs MINIX!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419662",
"author": "Blue Footed Booby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T13:14:11",
"content": "@AngmarSome hacks are to solve a problem. Others, like this one, are a hobby. It’s like building model airplanes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419678",
"author": "HackerK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T14:29:48",
"content": "WOW! Hardware Pr0n! WOW!!It is cool… and nicely build.My only question is… is the air filter installed in reverse? I see airflow is going out of the case, or is this home brew computer also doubling as a air purifier?(Am I just discovered the Easter Egg?)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419699",
"author": "Hungry_Myst",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:26:34",
"content": "NicePersonally my favorite DIY computers are the ones built out of relays. I just love that *clickity-clickity-click* as the relays process the instructions <3",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419975",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:28:49",
"content": "Why the repost — is there something new? I thought the Magic-1 was finished a long time ago… Isn’t he working on a 16-bit cpu or something now?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419978",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T02:33:41",
"content": "Oh I see, the front panel/case is new, is that it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424533",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:34:37",
"content": "“I built my own computer”“oh you bought the boards and installed them yourself.”“No….I wirewarped the components on to the boards.”F.T.W.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.882788
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/iphone-to-arduino-communications-sans-jailbreak/
|
IPhone To Arduino Communications Sans Jailbreak
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"iphone hacks"
] |
[
"apple",
"arduino",
"iphone",
"sdk"
] |
When Google released their ADK allowing Android smart phones to interact with Arduino-based devices, we’re sure there were at least one or two iPhone users who felt left out. Thanks to the folks over at Redpark, those people can now
interact with an Arduino without having to jailbreak their phone
.
For anyone looking to do any sort of iPhone/Arduino interaction, this is a good thing – except for the price. The 30-pin to serial cable is currently available over at Make for $59, which honestly seems pretty steep to us. When we first saw this announced, our initial thoughts were that we would see an open-source version in no time.
Unfortunately, that idea was short-lived, as we were quickly reminded of
Apple’s MFI program
. If you are not familiar, MFI (aka Made for iStuff) program limits what can be connected to an iDevice via licensing fees and a boatload of legal agreements. While we won’t be picking up this dongle any time soon, we’re all ears if someone has done any reverse-engineering of those pesky MFI chips.
| 13
| 13
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419232",
"author": "FaultyWarrior",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:15:59",
"content": "Someone’s already “hacked” the MFI chips by chopping up an Apple USB cable and desoldering the chip. There was an article on here a while back about it. I think it was a clock radio or something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419236",
"author": "Android fan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:23:12",
"content": "A gazillion “Glad I`ve an android phone instead of an apple” in 5, 4, 3, 2 ….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419242",
"author": "Skitchin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:48:24",
"content": "Now make the iPhone interface with an Android through the Arduino and then scream buzzword bingo!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419249",
"author": "julky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:04:06",
"content": "We used buspirate, python and an ipad via serial port (you can see some photos herehttp://tiny.cc/lvd2p).I think the Redpark Breakout Pack is a little bit expensive whether you can buy a Logic Level Converter board for 2$ and an iPod Connector Male for 4$, if you want to used then with arduino board.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419250",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:05:08",
"content": "FaultyWarrior,That is true, we have seen someone hack apart a dongle purchased at DealExtreme and wire it to his dock, which you can read more about here:http://hackaday.com/2010/01/13/tricking-an-ipod-into-trusting-your-dock/My comment was geared more towards developing a native MFI solution, but I do not have any personal experience with any sort of iDongle, so all I can do is speculate.The article you mentioned shows the MFI chip in question, though it’s completely unlabeled as you might expect. It could be a simple as sniffing the the bus of an authorized device as it is connected to an iPhone and replaying that data with your own microcontroller, but I suspect it’s a bit more complex than that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419287",
"author": "spiritplumber",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:06:04",
"content": "If it helps any, you can also use the headphone-to-serial trick that was featured here for android phones.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419343",
"author": "Xshi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:45:45",
"content": "I think an easier way to control/interface an arduino is with an app like this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX-VxmEOtIM",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419462",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T06:27:45",
"content": "This is only expensive for those non hardware engineers. As they don’t realize the investment required to produce 1,000,000 units to make it retail for $5. So unless you have actually developed a product on a large scale and made your risky investment, i’d think twice about complaining. Ebay & China have made electronics really cheap, and I really feel sorry those guys that get slammed for selling a product which will probably not make enough to actually break-even.You guys should be greatfull that non made-in-china products are actually available to buy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419519",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T08:56:46",
"content": "MFI chip? What? Isn it just a level converter? Jailbreak + kermit have worked for me a long time now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419533",
"author": "y3max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T09:23:58",
"content": "I think so,you can also use the headphone-to-serial trick that was featured here for android phones.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419537",
"author": "Soundwavehi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T09:43:46",
"content": "Wasn’t the official android breakout development kit $400 to begin with? I think a $60 cable is fine compared to $400… At least people are strangely civil about this even being here. It’s nice to see an actual universal serial cable, I want to know if it can interact with routers, since Redpark was the only company that made a legit cable to program “cisco” gear. ( I remember people talking about it working with other routers but they all had a cisco iOS backbone right?)To anyone who buys one, please try it out with a router, let the hacking world know what it will work with cause I’m sick of using my microphone pseudo-serial port…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419688",
"author": "glasspusher",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:08:53",
"content": "The good news is that Redpark is releasing this thing now without a $2500 or so dev agreement to their SDK.I have one of these widgets, haven’t gotten around to playing with it. When the iphone came out I was hoping for an easy bluetooth link for it, but alas, the MFI program…It seems that Apple is interested in having people do stuff with wifi and discouraging the other forms of communication. Get a wifly or wishield for the arduino- the former is cheaper than this serial connector, and kiss the wires goodbye.Still, it is nice to see this as an option for wired serial, which doesn’t seem to want to die any time soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425991",
"author": "KaR]V[aN",
"timestamp": "2011-07-30T22:04:27",
"content": "Hi!About the serial cable, I made one by myself for a few bucks (13€) by buying parts in ebay.I documented everything onhttp://karman.homelinux.net/blog/archives/624Regads",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.696891
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/diy-book-scanner-processes-600-pageshour/
|
DIY Book Scanner Processes 600 Pages/hour
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"digital cameras hacks",
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"book scanner",
"books",
"ebookreader",
"ereader",
"image processing",
"it scans all books - scifi AND fantasy"
] |
Like any learned individual, [Justin] has a whole mess of books. Not being tied to the dead-tree format of bound paper, and with e-readers popping up everywhere, he decided to build a
low-cost book scanner
so an entire library can be carried in a his pocket. If that’s not enough, there’s also a complementary
book image processor
to assemble the individual pictures into a paginated tome.
The build is pretty simple – just a little bit of black craft board for the camera mount and adjustable book cradle. [Justin] ended up using the
CHDK software
for the Cannon PowerShot camera to hack in a remote trigger. The scanner can manage to photograph 600 pages an hour, although that would massively increase if he ever moves up to a 2-camera setup.
We’re wondering if OCR could be applied to this build – it’s nice to have an image of a page on your computer, but searchable text would be amazing. If you have experience or a story about a massive OCR job, be sure to leave a note in the comments. Check out the videos below for a walk-through of the build and a demo of the operations.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-wJs3Xg4Y4&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C_yJ7eMs24&w=470]
| 39
| 37
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419204",
"author": "svofski",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:10:47",
"content": "I found the title to be a little bit misleading. Although it’s a great and simple setup, the speed of scanning isn’t one of its highlights. If it had automatic page flipper, it would have been justified.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419206",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:12:47",
"content": "This is exactly what my next project was going to be, book scanner. This build looks great! Going to go for a two camera one, though.Definitely not going to use it for college textbooks. No way.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419211",
"author": "Spork",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:30:09",
"content": "No automatic page turning = no use.I appreciate the effort put in, and it looks like a great start to a project, but this is not what I hoped for when I saw the article.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419213",
"author": "Chalkbot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:34:36",
"content": "Hmmm, is there a way to easily automate page flipping or are you better off just seperating all the pages from the binding and doing a double-sided scan of the whole pile? I’m guessing you could get a whole book done pretty quickly (and automatically) that way, but the book would be mostly destroyed in the process.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419214",
"author": "Carry The what",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:36:32",
"content": "@Sporkmy thoughts exactly…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419216",
"author": "John Avitable",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:45:24",
"content": "I agree with the above, there’s limited use in a book scanner that doesn’t automatically flip the pages. Might as well read the book while youre at it :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419219",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:48:23",
"content": "page turner would be doomed. its sometimes tricky for a human to turn just ONE page. you usually turn 2-3 then rub your fingers together til the pages separate.but if you could get every page to be charged say a positive charge they would repel each other and turning would be much simpler. as it stands they tend to be attracted to each other.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419221",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:50:06",
"content": "Ha all I thought about was Harry Potter book torrents.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419223",
"author": "Ike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:50:41",
"content": "Nice little build but really of no use to busy people. Automatic page turning is a must or just take the book apart and put it through a document scanner.Some will cry sacrilege at cutting a book up but show a little pragmatism. It’s the information, not the format that is important.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419225",
"author": "reipoom",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:57:12",
"content": "@RobNot use it for text books? If there was a cheap automatic scanner on the market that’s all I’d use it for.Sorry i don’t care what the publishers say. 300+$ for engineering books is ridiculous, and they’re changed nearly every semester.i think my intro to chemistry was ~350. How do you explain some of the crazy math book prices when there really isn’t anything different.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419227",
"author": "tzangcr",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:06:13",
"content": "Can’t mention book scanning without these:http://www.diybookscanner.org/http://bookliberator.com/doku.phpI wonder if they’ve already been featured on HAD.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419231",
"author": "Ross",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:15:47",
"content": "For more information on these types of buildshttp://www.diybookscanner.org/Ross",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419234",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:19:20",
"content": "@Brian Benchoff: Canon, not Cannon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419240",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:40:59",
"content": "Needs an automatic page turner, badly; even if it’s only 99% reliable. Missed pages can be detected by OCRing page numbers. Manually capturing a few pages is better than having to manually capture them all.And if you do run all this through an OCR for use on an e-reader, I highly recommend archiving a copy of the original JPG images! You can OCR again at a later date as technology advances for better accuracy and formatting.Plus, there’s the issue of the OCR output format. Chances are it’s Acrobat. Many years ago, I converted many important documents to Acrobat; naively believing Adobe’s hype about it being a good archival format. Now I regret that decision, because newer versions render some of them so poorly they’re unreadable. I have to start a virtual machine to run an older Acrobat version every time I want to view them. I’m still looking for a way to permanently update them that won’t cause conversion errors (any tips appreciated).But JPG really is forever. It’s relatively simple and open source. You will always be able to correctly view a JPG, no matter how old. Even 100 years from now, you will still be able to batch convert them to whatever format your OCR software then accepts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419241",
"author": "aci",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:46:07",
"content": "For image processing, check outhttp://scantailor.sourceforge.net/http://www.diybookscanner.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=8For OCR and djvu packing checkhttp://code.google.com/p/djvubind/Alternative:http://sourceforge.net/projects/bookscanwizard/http://www.diybookscanner.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=9",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419245",
"author": "aci",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:49:57",
"content": "Chris: feel free to join in with your own work on automatic page turner designs at diybookscanner.org . There several design paths are explored. But it is a really tricky engineering task to get especially if you have low cost aims. The best manual page turn designs, in comparison, are dual camera and allow much quicker page turns than in the unit HD highlights above. Besides, post processing takes more time than the initial book capture.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419248",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:57:22",
"content": "Very good advice, Chris, and that’s easier than ever now that hard drives are so cheap.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419252",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:08:17",
"content": "@ Ross- I understood there was a web resource for home shop built book scanners, but I couldn’t think of it right off, and I’m too lazy today to go look for it.I suppose real busy people would build a two camera unit, rather the single camera one. Many books are too expensive to destroyed for speed. A college student could possibly recover a tiny portion of a text book. I understand pragmatism, but there is a YMMV component to pragmatism too.The man said with practice he can scan a 600 page book in an hour, I see no reason not to believe him. I downloaded the software zip file to see if it could be of some use to me A thank you to Justin for making it available.Having seen the machinery for a bulk snail mailing facility in operation, I have no doubt an automatic page turner could be developed, but you may have dedicate a bedroom in your home for the scanner only.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419255",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:19:23",
"content": "I’d like to have seen a short video where @Justin is in production mode, flipping pages, to see how smooth the work flow.Auto page flipping? This is one of those times I wish HAD had a better search function, so that I could have found this in a few seconds, rather than a few minutes:http://hackaday.com/2009/12/17/lego-book-scanner/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419269",
"author": "HHH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T21:18:46",
"content": "I think svofski is right…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419297",
"author": "erniejunior",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:31:45",
"content": "@Chris: Normaly you put the images you take in the pdf files you create. Than you put the OCR text output behind the images. This way you can read all the words no matter how bad the OCR is and you are still able to search the book for most (depending on the OCR) words.As OCR I like to use Tesseract. With a few hacks you can make it recognise the layout of the file too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419300",
"author": "mark g",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:38:13",
"content": "@ChrisJPGs don’t play well with e-Readers, nor can you properly index them. Give me plain text any day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419302",
"author": "grythumn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:47:55",
"content": "@Chris: OCRing page numbers is not as easy as you think. I prep books for distributed proofreaders (older fonts, true) and the page headers are more likely to be missing or wrong in the OCR than the body text. Missing/damaged/duplicate page checks are still generally a human task.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419322",
"author": "daniel_reetz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:04:26",
"content": "Thanks for the support here in the comments, and nice single-camera build. We have a few like it.Page turning is a very hard problem. People on the DIY Book Scanner forums are working on it – here’s one video from user dtic:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SBF51g3X7IHere’s another from jck57:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsENrb4HE0Q",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419348",
"author": "Dosx",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:58:41",
"content": "Honestly my thoughts on this would be to cut away the page and digitize them argh page turner….argh page flipper ahh the moment u decide to scan a book or bend a page is the moment u decide to destroy it….for anyone here that works and stands in an office or has had to stand at a copying machine copying a book thats over sheets-backed you would know the stress of flipping pages to get to the next side and because of how some books are put together you cannot get a proper scan/image in this case/ of the book only good way and best way to get the entire page and perfectly readable at that is to have lose sheets/pages so my advice cut umm loose u lose a book but u save it at the same time. NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR THIS HACK",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419400",
"author": "will1384",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T03:26:08",
"content": "I have made a two camera book scanner, andhave also used a flatbed scanner to scan books,the book scanner is “amazingly” faster than theflatbed scanner, even when you have to turn the pages by hand when using the two camera book scanner.I got the plans / info for the book scannerover athttp://www.diybookscanner.orgI get around 25 to 30+ pages per minute, withthe book scanner.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419481",
"author": "Nagel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:10:41",
"content": "I was expecting automatic page flipping for the reported scan rate, as in a fire-up-and-forget type device. I’d rather use a band saw to saw off the book’s spine and then use a copy machine to scan the pages than turn each one and reinstall the “page flattener”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419486",
"author": "Nagel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:16:30",
"content": "Oops… Redundant posting. Read /then/ post, Nagel! Should have known with 26 prior that we’d all be “on the same page!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419661",
"author": "Blue Footed Booby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T13:09:47",
"content": "Eh, auto page turning would be a big improvement, but being able to go turn-click-turn-click with little to no waiting for the scanner to finish is still a lot better than what you’d get with a normal home scanner or something else along those lines. It’s not enough if you want to scan, say, the Bible or a dictionary, but it’s still not bad for a DIY solution.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419733",
"author": "Rob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T16:14:58",
"content": "@reipoomDefinitely not for textbooks. Because I’m totally a law abiding citizen who wouldn’t rent them from chegg, scan them, then mail them back to get my money back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419831",
"author": "420nmSciurus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:49:05",
"content": "This is a really neat idea. I would probably do it if I had the time in the same place where all of my books are…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420127",
"author": "Dex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T08:51:37",
"content": "I’d say if you want to build/design an automatic page turner you might as well spend the time flipping the pages yourself.I was a cheap student and experimented with different ways to digitize books from 1st year to 4th year.First method: Chop and ADF scan. Works for more textured paper at a pretty good success rate and very good image quality, but only if the paper is “grippy” enough. This does not work for textbooks with super thin slippery pages – which are most of them. Those ones would jam up the scanner and I ended up spending more time unjamming the ADF than actual scanning. Not to mention you destroy a book in the process.Second method: Setup a tripod to position the camera to shoot over your shoulder and start shooting, flattening the pages with a piece of plexi. Works, however setup time is almost as long as doing all the page flipping. It would take me about 3 hours to do a 1000 page textbook from beginning of setup to end of page flipping. Getting to a printable “product” (white background without all the gradients) is another story. Had to figure out Imagemagick batch scripting to do postprocessing for me. Yea it’s pretty mind numbing, but get someone to help you out and take turns.Tips:– do 2 pages at a time, whether you use 2 cameras or 1 camera across both pages– use software that acts as a viewfinder so that you can see if the picture you took was too blurry, going back and correcting images is a pain– get friends to help you when you need a break– use a good camera, DSLRs are nice, having some sort of remote is a must (a wireless mouse taped to the floor with its cursor positioned over the shutter release button in the viewfinder software is what I used)– use a fully black background behind your book, imagemagick has nice cropping commands that you can use based on color– make sure you set up right (reflections are a pain) so your pictures don’t change much from beginning to end (that includes lighting and position of the book relative to the background – lighting because your contrast & brightness changes will mess up your batch scripts and changing the background will mess up your cropping scripts.)– Omnipage is the best for OCR (also most expensive if you buy it) BTW it took me a while to figure this one out but if Omnipage isn’t loading your pictures remove your EXIF info! You should be doing this anyways … (EXIF Stripper is handy). Acrobat actually sucks for OCR but I did use Acrobat to shrink the PDF size to about 100MB depending on things like color vs B/W and number of pages. Omnipage isn’t very good for compression but it will spit out a nice OCR’d pdf (that you can shrink nicely with Acrobat).That’s roughly 4 years of experience for you. If there are classmates and friends willing to help you in exchange for a copy of the digitized materials (provided that they own a copy of the book of course) it makes it worthwhile. Doing all this yourself and just for yourself is really a pain in the ass but if you’re dedicated enough it can be done.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420131",
"author": "Dex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T09:02:31",
"content": "One more tip. For doing a check on page numbers – DON’T count through all of them. Just check the page numbers after tapping the arrow key 5 times. This would be every 10 pages if you’re going 10 pages at a time so you should only see for example “10 … 11, 20 … 21, etc” and it’ll only take a couple minutes. You’ll know when you messed up if you see say “32 … 33”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420139",
"author": "maximan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T09:51:30",
"content": "Extending the tip of Dex, you could also do binary search: Check if the last page number is correct, if not, check if the middle page has the correct number if so, you know the error is in the second half of the pages & apply this recursively.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420217",
"author": "slacker247",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T14:15:46",
"content": "If you don’t care about the book/mag then just cut the binding with a bandsaw and use fujistu scansnap s300. That’s my setup. I can do about 200 pages in about a half hour.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "988930",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2013-04-04T03:47:52",
"content": "This look solid but huge.i think alot of company is coming out with portable book scanner.Check this out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2p_Nt2WQE0",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1008748",
"author": "Rick_R",
"timestamp": "2013-05-26T23:13:45",
"content": "Regarding Slacker247’s comment, for a lot of people it’s not easy getting access to a band saw. I just saw on some other sites that the in-story printing department at office supply chain stores like Office Depot have page cutters than can slice the spine off a book, they’ll do it for around $1 and it’s becoming a common enough request that they’re used to doing it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1365743",
"author": "KJAFortWayne",
"timestamp": "2014-04-21T00:30:07",
"content": "Many of the semi-skilled staff at office supply and Kinko’s stores don’t know how tightly to clamp the guillotine paper cutters, Therefore, during slicing, the material slips and the finished cut product is not square. I recommend that you mention this to the staff if you go this route.",
"parent_id": "1008748",
"depth": 2,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1365748",
"author": "KJAFortWayne",
"timestamp": "2014-04-21T00:33:04",
"content": "The reason squareness is an issue is because, (a) you might want to rebind (wire or comb or other process) the pages, and (b) the side guides of the feeder of your scanner need a square original to feed properly.",
"parent_id": "1365743",
"depth": 3,
"replies": []
}
]
}
]
}
] | 1,760,377,138.0447
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/getting-more-information-from-your-battery-charger/
|
Getting More Information From Your Battery Charger
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks"
] |
[
"atmega",
"battery charger",
"uart"
] |
[Dane] bought a reasonably cheap ($17) Hobbyking Echo-6 battery charger and wanted to see
what sort of information he could pull from the unit
. Since the charger is designed for a variety of battery chemistries and sports an LCD screen, he figured that it contained a fairly decent microcontroller which he could tap into for some useful data.
He disassembled the unit and started looking around for any useful items. He discovered that it used an ATMega32 microcontroller and had quite a few unpopulated areas on the PCB, which led [Dane] to believe that the Echo-6 shared its main board with a more robust charger. He tapped into the ATMega’s UART and began seeing data immediately. Once he figured out what was coming over the serial line, he piped the data into LogView, resulting in some nice graphs showing off the charge/discharge processes in detail.
Tapping into the Echo-6 seems easy enough for any skill level, and we assume that just about anyone would benefit from getting kind of information out of their battery charger.
| 9
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419196",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T17:30:06",
"content": "Can’t say how well it works in practice, but that looks like a really nice tool for $17.Though I’m curious what those rows of bussed SMT components (resistors?) are for on the lines leading to the JST connector.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419202",
"author": "st2000",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T17:51:37",
"content": "“Though I’m curious what those rows of bussed SMT components (resistors?) are for on the lines leading to the JST connector.”Probably to increase the amount of power they could handle and to keep down the cost of hand placed parts. But neither make a whole lot of sense as near the bottom of the same right end side of the board are large through hold resistors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419207",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:16:16",
"content": "If they are resistors it seems like it would be a waste of expenses to create.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419209",
"author": "yan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:20:08",
"content": "They are probably for the balancing function of the charger, balancing each array",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419289",
"author": "wkpad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:11:48",
"content": "I’ve reversed the firmware because I received one from a clone maker and they didn’t bother to set the code protection fuses. Check out the discussion here:http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=827821– there’s lots of good hacking info including how to upgrade the resistors so the balancer doesn’t damage individual LiPo cells.And I’m working on GPL firmware here:http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1370248",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419815",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T20:09:45",
"content": "I go to order one of these awesome things, out of stock. Did they have like 2 or did HaD readers raid the site?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420172",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T12:09:02",
"content": "Why not just buy the complete USB Kit with monitoring software for 10 euro ?http://www.ev-peak.com/en/productview.asp?id=25orhttp://www.osmot.net/osmot-macropower-datalogging-fuer-osmot-mserie-p-6369-3.htmlThis kit plugs into the temp out slot of the charger (have to enable USB in chargermenue first)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1238254",
"author": "wkpad",
"timestamp": "2014-03-05T08:51:58",
"content": "Not all these type of chargers have the serial out. Some designs use the pins for a temp sensor.",
"parent_id": "420172",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "487460",
"author": "goebish",
"timestamp": "2011-10-22T22:51:29",
"content": "@Robert: where’s the fun in that ? ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,137.969364
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/robot-band-covers-marilyn-manson/
|
Robot Band Covers [Marilyn Manson]
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Musical Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"Marilyn Manson",
"robot band"
] |
[James] built himself a robotic band from obsolete computer parts. The band needed something to play, and [Marilyn Manson]’s
Beautiful People
fit the bill. While it’s not the
Rock-fire Explosion
, having the [James]’ band cover [Marilyn Manson] is nearly as terrifying.
[James]’ original plan was to cover
Mad World
, but the stepper motors were drowning out the music for that song. While trying fix the cello problem the servos started acting up and reminded him of a certain song. While it’s not faithful to the
original
, we really like the arrangement on this version.
We saw the EOL band cover
Rock Lobster
when it made its rounds on the blogs earlier this year. The [Marilyn Manson] build is very similar to the previous one – we can see the same HP Scanjet 3C scanners and guitar and solenoid setup used from the previous project. Although [James] didn’t use the
TI99/4a
for the lead vocals this time, it’s still a very, very cool project.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QMtDyvAzVw&w=470]
| 25
| 25
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419141",
"author": "theodore",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:19:56",
"content": "When the robots rise I will hold my lighter in the air.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419145",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:35:11",
"content": "Cool.. Should have used a text-to-speech engine for the vocals.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419149",
"author": "improprietary",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:43:14",
"content": "it definently fits marilyn manson’s early years before they had a drummer!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419152",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:52:34",
"content": "fucking showbiz pizza! hell the fuck yeah!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419157",
"author": "T313C0mun1s7",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:19:01",
"content": "@theodoreYea, that should help them target you nicely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419159",
"author": "Anon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:21:11",
"content": "Worst, cover, evar!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419160",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:23:27",
"content": "When are you going to release the single.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419162",
"author": "T313C0mun1s7",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:27:23",
"content": "I still prefer the string quartet arrangement performed I believe by String Vindaloo. Amazon.com shows singles available as from the Vitamin String Quartet, but the album I have which matches the album art from Amazon.com is suppose to be a various artist album with String Vindaloo as the performers. Whatever.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419168",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:50:09",
"content": "Very cool. I agree text to voice would be amazing.Some how I thing Marilyn Manson would sing with the EOL.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419173",
"author": "Icarus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:54:56",
"content": "pretty coolsounds very nice",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419174",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:59:20",
"content": "Fuck yeah! …And printer head noises!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419175",
"author": "dongchim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:02:24",
"content": "very cool! I like the cello. reminds me of this:http://www.capturedbyrobots.com/If they ever come to your town do yourself a favor and go!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419181",
"author": "supershwa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:44:30",
"content": "Just…awesome!Printer’s inkjet belt to control the cello’s bow…also loved the scanner as an instrument…way too cool.Very creative, and just so entertaining to watch!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419182",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:46:23",
"content": "So, if the members of the band (the robots) are simply playing the music they are programmed to play, then it’s not really any different from a musician who compiles music digitally: one creative person and a sophisticated instrument or set of instruments. But, this evokes the term band because we see different instruments. So, do the human who play the instruments add anything? Many musicians have already discovered that the humans playing the instruments are fairly replaceable. If the job of a human is simply to translate the score sheet into sound, then there is no difference between robot and human players except maybe the illusion that the person playing the bass guitar/drums/vocals is doing something impressive (being creative).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419183",
"author": "supershwa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:46:33",
"content": "Hey Dave – that was a scanner head. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419187",
"author": "T313C0mun1s7",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:55:06",
"content": "@andrewIf your view of music is that it is nothing more than sounds set to a particular timing scheme, then you would be correct.However, I don’t think a robot (at least not yet) can use intuitiveness to adjust the nuance of the instrument play. It does not have feeling, or soul, and can not communicate such to humans. So don’t cont on machines to replace real musicians any time soon.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419191",
"author": "RB",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T17:11:41",
"content": "reminds me of “the trons” robot band:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2JChnwv2Ws",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419208",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T18:18:02",
"content": "@supershwaAh, so it is. My bad. That’s what happens when you randomly wake up in the middle of the day after working third shift.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419229",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:13:40",
"content": "the only thing that keeps a robot from replacing humans is appearances. most of the nuances you talk of are things expected to be avoided. you are expected to play exactly the same every time. now when you play live people expect a show, run around shoot pyrotechnics etc, and there is a psychological effect of having a person as it allows you to invent meaning where none may be, to feel the music give you insight into the player but usually the player is just hitting notes on time.now if its TOO perfect people notice, its like in computer modeling when you make a perfect sphere or a perfect mirror, it looks fake. but if you add random dents or scratches or imperfections then it looks more real. so having the robot randomly miss a note or deliver it a fraction of a second late or early could give the impression of being real while not being real.also this mechanism addresses a problem which exists with most synth, that being the notes arent real, they are generated and usually generated EXACTLY the same EVERY time, it becomes noticeable. adding randomness to the notes can make them seem more real.i dont think robots will REPLACE humans in music, but they may have a place along side them. there may be a time when robotic bands hold concerts with pyrotechnics and laser light shows (not too long ago the synthetic diva miku put on a live concert in japan, of course japan is more robot friendly than western countries)personally i enjoyed the performance, i love seeing instruments play themselves. and the scanner head making noise that matched the song was pretty nice coincidence.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419258",
"author": "DoktorJ",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:36:54",
"content": "I’ve never known of a robot to get really into the music and play a 10 minute improvised guitar solo in the middle of a song that normally doesn’t have one. I guess you could program a robot with a set of guitar solos and then have it play them randomly, but I doubt it would be the same. Some of my favorite music comes from instruments being played in ways they weren’t intended (playing guitars using the vibrations from the amp, semi-controlled feedback…). This kind of stuff requires a feedback loop with a brain that understands what it should sound like and can intuitively move the guitar around to modify the sounds. Robots are a very long way from accomplishing that, however, when it comes to Pop and other types of music that are engineered by a marketing group with a very specific and repeatable formula, robots are actually perfect for this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419408",
"author": "mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T03:59:41",
"content": "@DoktorJCan a robotic instrument randomly play a solo where there normally isn’t one? No. Would you be able to tell if the random solo was actually pre-planned? No, because a solo was played when you weren’t expecting one.Can a hand full of stepper motors, servos, and actuators connected to a PC effectively play a guitar using the vibrations of an amp? Probably, given enough time for trial and error a relatively simple robot could be programmed to do such a thing. Could a robot built with a world tour budget play using an amp’s vibrations? Absolutely.99% of what happens on stage has been rehearsed and performed before. Even the random solos and zany tricks. In order to ensure a smooth set, a band is much like a sports team. Each member knows what the others will be doing at any given time. The other 1 percent is unintentional, and even that can be mimicked by robots.We don’t see robots on tour because (for most people) it’d be as entertaining as listening to a CD, or maybe watching a taped human performance, with 5,000 strangers. Also, nobody would spend $90 to see a few instruments play themselves.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419491",
"author": "Mad Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:24:25",
"content": "@DoktorJ: Playing or (even composing original) music by machines is far less uncommon than you might think. Programs like featured in the articlehttp://hplusmagazine.com/2010/03/22/has-emily-howell-passed-musical-turing-test/do exist, and “Emily” is just the tip of the iceberg.Which is NOT to say that they are self-aware ore even aware of the effect / contents of music they play/compose – that would probably be strong AI territory and we’re (officially) nowhere near that. Even then, differences in how AI and us experience the world might make their works meaningless for us. Or quite the opposite, it might be the rare common point. We won’t know until we get there.The point really is that:– machines as of today are quite capable of simulating / replaying pretty much anything you can think of asking them to, including “spontaneity” if their programming provides for that – up to “improvising” their own original music.– machines would be quite capable of putting up a show matching (and likely far exceeding) anything humans are capable of, simply by virtue of being different than what we got used to and not being bound by limits of a human body. It would be a very different kind of show, certainly, but if providing entertainment is the point, they would do just fine (clue: I’m not talking about “animusic”-style static self-playing instruments here, and even those are already somewhat entertaining…)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419509",
"author": "Tyler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T08:15:28",
"content": "@AustinYour f***ed! Lol. You must listen to techno.Don’t get me wrong, the robot band is sweet, but“the only thing that keeps a robot from replacing humans is appearances”GIVE ME A BREAK!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419707",
"author": "derp",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T15:38:53",
"content": "the stepper motor/scanner thing at 1:10 is what made it for me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422234",
"author": "kaoD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T17:30:17",
"content": "@andrew, that’s where REAL music comes into play. Real musicians don’t transcribe the sheet music literally, but add their own unique touch. That’s even more noticeable for improvisational music like jazz, where you don’t just play sheet music, but instead flow with the harmonic arrangement with the rest of the musicians.Now THAT’S a creative effort, not just playing the same song over and over again, and, IMHO that makes jazz (and improvisational harmonically-complex music, which I don’t know any besides jazz) the real creative effort of music. The next level.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.208978
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/diy-robot-remote-control/
|
DIY Robot Remote Control
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Robots Hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"remote control",
"xbee"
] |
[Patrick] wanted a remote control to control some of the robots he’s built. He also wanted to get some data back from his robots, so an inexpensive off-the-shelf solution wouldn’t be up to the task. Like all good geeks, [Patrick] decided to
build what he needed
.
For analog control, [Patrick] decided to use a Wiimote nunchuck. This turned out to be a very good choice – the nunchuck has a 2-axis joystick and 3-axis accelerometer in one small, easy to interface package . The wireless radio is taken care of with an XBee module. For the microcontroller, custom “
lcd backpack
” was created that provides an I2C port for the nunchuck, inputs for the buttons and the single pot, and 2 serial ports for the FTDI and XBee.
While the idea of fabricating a PCB with the pins for an LCD display already lined up is pretty neat, we’re wondering about what kind of data can be received from the robot. 9.6kbps isn’t a whole lot of bandwidth, so video is out of the question. If you have any ideas on what could be downloaded from the robot, put it up in the comments.
Check out the videos of [Patrick]’s custom controller below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5egHV2l_So&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVdeYgdxxjM&w=470]
| 5
| 5
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419130",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T13:35:52",
"content": "It seems a bit overengineered to me if this is just for sending joystick info to the robot. However, I can definitely see him reusing the controller on other projects, so all in all it looks like a pretty cool device. I like the clean execution of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419148",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:43:13",
"content": "Very cool. I don’t think it is over-engineered at all. It does mention that he wants to receive data back from the robot so it looks like it is a good design to do so. I am very impressed.I have been getting more and more interested in making my own remote controlled vehicle, lately… something like this could be useful to look at as it could help me to design my own controller and such. Excellent job.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419166",
"author": "grinan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:41:13",
"content": "Very nice, although not the first I have seen, the fact that he has incorporated the wii nunchuck into it is very cool. Definitely worth lucking at further.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419257",
"author": "nes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:31:10",
"content": "Acceleration / collision feedback via a vibrate motor in the controller? Or junk the nunchuck thumb stick and use a force feedback joystick perhaps?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424128",
"author": "MeatWagon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T01:32:47",
"content": "I like everything about this project except one thing tiny… he flips the toggle switch DOWN to turn the controller ON, I shouldn’t be surprised as he appears to be using a mac :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.084721
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/18/hacking-your-nesfamicom-console-for-better-video-and-audio/
|
Hacking Your NES/Famicom Console For Better Video And Audio
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Nintendo Hacks"
] |
[
"famicom",
"nes",
"playchoice 10",
"ppu",
"vintage"
] |
[Dominic] wrote in to share a pretty neat Famicom console mod that
improves both the video and audio output of the system
. While some of you may be familiar with the PlayChoice 10, we’re guessing that many of you are not. The PlayChoice 10 was an arcade-style machine that allowed you to play up to 10 different NES games. The system’s hardware was quite similar to the Famicom/NES consoles, but the graphics and sound performance was superior to either console.
[Dominic] decided to tweak his Famicom system, and ended up replacing its native Picture Processing Unit (PPU) with one from a PlayChoice 10. This allows the console to output RGB video natively, resulting in a crisper picture with brighter coloring. He didn’t stop there however. His Famicom system also sports an upgraded audio circuit that boasts psuedo-stereo sound as well as increased bass response and better overall audio clarity.
The console looks nearly stock, and performs quite well according to [Dominic]. Be sure to check out the video comparison embedded below to see how the modifications improved his system’s performance.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v7e-bjB13s&w=470]
| 20
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "419096",
"author": "MrBishop",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:03:55",
"content": "Amazing, that sir is a heck of a hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419097",
"author": "Johannes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:08:35",
"content": "Is it just me or is he “just” installing a kit available fromhttp://translate.google.com/translate?hl=da&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fhomepage3.nifty.com%2FF-LABO%2FIt looks like it is exactly the same kit, with minor modifications",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419098",
"author": "Johannes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:11:23",
"content": "To view the avaiable products from the website just click “products”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419099",
"author": "BoKu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:14:10",
"content": "I recently upgraded my NES-101 to have AV out, only single channel audio though, figured I wanted to keep as stock as possible, included “classic” retro sounds.But this sounds great!I wonder did you ever or do you plan to ever overclock the CPU?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419100",
"author": "BoKu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:15:04",
"content": "…but I built my from scratch onto perf board, not from a kit",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419105",
"author": "brandorf",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:48:46",
"content": "I’ve always liked the idea for this mod, however there are two things I don’t like about it.1) For each one of these mods, a Playchoice 10 arcade board has to die.2) Because the PC-10 has slightly different color pallets, some games will have different/screwed up colors. (though I have yet to see an example of this).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419112",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T12:30:56",
"content": "this is nice but there are some games made for the crap gfx chip by dithered tiles (blaster master looks better on the crap chip). So what you would basically end up with a RGB hack that has an emulator-like looking screen. With it, all the perfect square pixels making you wish you could now hack in a filter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419122",
"author": "zacdee16",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T13:06:46",
"content": "Johannes might be right. Those boards look identical. Either Dominic used a kit or the kit is just a playback 10 repackaged.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419124",
"author": "Rifleman",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T13:12:13",
"content": "I’m sure I’ll be blasted but, I really don’t see the point of modding a NES at this point. Emulators do the same thing as this mod with a lot less effort. I can appreciate it for the workmanship but this would be along the same lines as someone hacking an old bag phone to work with a digital carrier. At the end of the day you still have an old outdated piece of equipment with very limited use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419138",
"author": "steaky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:01:15",
"content": "erm… he says on the first post in the forum about having the “required money to order the custom kits from japan”.I think thats pretty conclusive",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419155",
"author": "z",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:04:46",
"content": "This is actually a really old mod (people have been doing this for well over a decade now). The problem is that Playchoice boards are not easy to find (compared to demand) and they are not cheap.Brandorf is correct about the color palette differences. They are pretty subtle, but there are a handful of games with noticible differences (I’ve seen them detailed on the web). However, I’d say that the benefits of pure RGB video certainly outweigh this in many respects.I feel that the bigger problem isn’t necessarily composite video. It’s that modern televisions suck at displaying interlaced video (RGB or composite). I keep an old, but decent quality CRT on-hand for that very reason.Emulation isn’t an alternative for many gamers. Sure, the emulation works, but nothing looks or sounds or plays like the real hardware. Some people may consider that a good thing, but I love playing on a real NES, in spite of its quirks. The 10NES mod and a new 72-pin socket are (in my opinion) the best mods that you can perform on an old NES.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419177",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:24:22",
"content": "@ rifleman and z: agreed. The emulators have come along nicely and with the ones on my xbox (minus n64-never found a decent emu for that lol) the output is tweaked for rgb naturally making the pic on my lcd nice and clear. The gradients that made the snes graphics so warm and pleasing are back and such. And also as someone else noted above, at some point the defined pixel blockiness can easily be fixed on an emu filter as opposed to real hardware. Ya kinda end up with a nes picture that looks like a sega :(As for the hack/build- good work either way! You figured out what ya wanted and got the desired effect :) It was nice to see those palm trees whipping in the wind again :)I would also suggest the good ol “pseudo surround” for NES as it is pretty neat for a budget. Ya basically run the rear set of speakers with the negative wires tied together. Worked great when I was 16 :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419180",
"author": "APE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:44:25",
"content": "It is a kit, he openly sells NESes that have had the kit installed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419188",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:55:09",
"content": "I want an NES with upscaling and HDMI out…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419228",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T19:07:00",
"content": "It is the kit Johannes linked to.I don’t think this should have been featured. We may argue over the definition of a “hack”, but I believe it includes freely sharing information and encouraging people to DIY, neither of which Dominic is doing. He says:“Oh and for people looking to order the kit I build and make it themself good luck. The website is only in Japanese. The order form doesn’t have any mention of paypal. The kit instructions are all in japanese. And even if you’re smart enough to figure out the instructions, there’s a lot of very difficult soldering involved, I hope you enjoy surface mount soldering.”Dominic has apparently figured out the kit instructions, but *isn’t* sharing; and discourages people from even trying:“I’m not refusing the post a “how to” guide on this mod because I want more money for myself. I’m refusing to post these instructions because paying me to do this mod actually is cheaper and a better value than putting in the time and effort to do this mod yourself.”Since only an individual can determine what their own time and effort is worth, that leaves only the following interpretations:1) He really does want more money for his efforts (that’s ok, but only if you admit it).2) He thinks we’re all idiots and will screw it up.3) He wants to appear smarter by making it sound harder than it really is.Not very nice. Neither is this:“Luckily I have a hardware fix for this. I won’t say what it is but it will clean up the jailbars noticably.”So what manner of supergenius proprietary hardware hackery has Dominic come up with that he is so reluctant to part with the information? He relents and reveals it two posts later:“It’s nothing special it’s just a ceramic cap between a video line and ground.”Wow, no one else could have figured that one out. What an arse.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419283",
"author": "Dominic",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:00:49",
"content": "Yes that’s right this system is based around the kit from:http://homepage3.nifty.com/F-LABO/ProductsList.htmlFeel free to order one and built it yourself I won’t stop anybody. I don’t make these to make huge money otherwise I would have charged much more than I did for the commissions. A lot of “hacking” was involved to get all of the features out of this system. This mod required more work than simply building a kit and installing it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419360",
"author": "BoKu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T01:31:12",
"content": "NES easy AV out …http://www.dutchretrogamer.nl/nes2_avmod_eng.htmlno need for another board or kit",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419397",
"author": "Doug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T03:15:25",
"content": "dude boku composite sucks and thats the reasom for this mod learn to read",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419412",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T04:19:27",
"content": "@Chris,Yup, I agree completely. The guy just sounds like a dick talking about how he’s not gonna share his knowledge.Also, talking about his desoldering skills that he learned in 3 minutes and just spraying solder everywhere? Ridiculous, that’s not the right way. I may be a bit of a dick in thinking this, but anyone who uses a radioshack soldering iron (or that quality of one) by choice must not be very good at soldering, those irons suck. The desoldering irons aren’t the best either, but I haven’t found any other sort of desoldering iron (and I can’t figure out the braid, maybe if I had braid that wasn’t 30 years old and oxidized, and a chisel tip).Here’s how I desolder with the iron:unless there is already way too much solder on the pins I want to remove, I pile on too much, and use leaded solder that helps the desoldering iron more completely melt the solder. Then I squeeze the desooldering iron, put it on the pin for a second or two, then let it suck, then pull it off and spray it into something (a beer can with the top cut off and folded down is great), then I try again. do this on every pin, then you might have to heat up each joint and move the pins to break the connection they have left on the side. A fair amount of the time I the part I’m desoldering just falls off after this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "1027486",
"author": "JustBrianD",
"timestamp": "2013-07-16T19:31:06",
"content": "I cant cant believe people are raping Playchoice parts just to mod a Nintendo. What a waste.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.144032
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/cheap-and-easy-pcb-agitator-from-an-old-cd-rom/
|
Cheap And Easy PCB Agitator From An Old CD-ROM
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"agitator",
"pcb",
"recycled"
] |
Instructables user [mzsolt] enjoyed making his own PCBs, but
he wanted to speed up the etching process just a bit
. While some people put together elaborate bubble tanks and agitators, he wanted to keep his simple and more importantly, cheap.
He looked around the house and discovered an ancient CD-ROM drive that was collecting dust, which he figured would make a great agitator for smaller projects. He picked up a decade counter and a handful of other cheap components, then got busy pulling the drive apart. He connected the motor and the drive’s limit switches to the decade counter, which controls the entire setup.
When powered on, the drive ejects, taking his container full of etchant with it. When the drive hits the outer limit switch, the decade counter reverses the motor until it hits the inner switch, reversing the motor once again.
As you can see in the video below, it works reasonably well. He suggests using a variable power supply to regulate the motor’s speed, but a variable pot would probably work just as well. Obviously the agitator is best suited for smaller projects, but since it was so cheap to put together, you won’t hear us complaining.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5enNCC2iODo&w=470]
| 32
| 32
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418798",
"author": "spiderwebby",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:06:16",
"content": "brilliant hack, but I think after about 2 mins of that noise I’d have to take a hammer to it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418802",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:18:51",
"content": "Clever idea! but like @spiderwebby says, it’s annoying to stay near it.I also think you probably won’t get that much life out of it considering the mechanical stress and that the gears are plastic…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418809",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:33:24",
"content": "When I seen the title, and the photo I really did LOL, from the instant imagination of it in operation. Original AFAIK. Personally I think it too noisy, but your sure not to forget to check the progress of the etching, so you can finally turn it off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418813",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:49:08",
"content": "I think the inner limit switch should be adjusted outwards so that the tray is not allowed to “dock”. Theres a gradual deceleration happening that doesnt shake the tank as much as the sudden change in direction does at the other end.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418821",
"author": "weirdalyanksyou",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:08:16",
"content": "i like the idea but it could be simpler with a single dpdt switch",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418828",
"author": "Insignia96",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:31:16",
"content": "This is a really good idea! I made this with a relay and it works great!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418830",
"author": "NotImpressed",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:44:29",
"content": "variable pot = redundantThat is like saying voltage potential.FYI",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418833",
"author": "RB",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:58:47",
"content": "I dont think it needs that much linear motion. I can hear the gear assembly that raises/lowers the laser platform. I would have removed it or move the stop switch at the end of the tray to minimize the noise, No need to raise/lower something that doesnt exist. Also keeping the gear assembly lubed will keep noise to a minimum. But the build could be worse the whole assembly could have been belt driven like many of todays drives, It would have failed in a day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418835",
"author": "Nardella",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:11:45",
"content": "It is possible to do this with an unmodified drive (at least electronically).Simply make it impossible for the drive to open all the way and make it so when the drive closes the eject button is depressed.Great idea!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418836",
"author": "anti-fanboi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:17:56",
"content": "I use a glass tank 2cm wide 30cm long and 20cm high. It has a long aquarium air stone in the bottom fed by a cheap aquarium air pump. Have to replace the air stone about once a year. Works a treat.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418865",
"author": "GTech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T00:41:38",
"content": "I built my stirrer out of of my old k’nex. I use a small motor mounted to legs which hold it over the tub and a stir thing goes down into the mix. Its completely silent and the etchant obviously wont eat plastic k’nex. Still playing with my toys!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418871",
"author": "RooTer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T01:03:00",
"content": "Love it. Maybe it’s not the most silent solution for this problem, but very practical one, as almost every tech-savvy person has some not-exactly-working cdrom around",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418881",
"author": "fauxsoul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T01:47:14",
"content": "MOSTANNOYINGOISEINTHEWORLD!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418884",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T01:59:50",
"content": "^ I LoL’d. But I completely agree. I’d go nuckin’ futs.I had a completely different preconception of what it was going to do before watching the video of it in action. I thought it was going to power the disc-spinning motor and then use vibrations from that to agitate the solution. But now that I have that idea, I think I might run with it, possibly attaching a bar magnet and then plopping a piece of vinyl-coated steel bar into the tank. It doesn’t take much to keep the solution circulating and effective, does it? Though it depends upon the geometry of your PCB & tank, and the amount of solution you use.Take that, multi-hundred-dollar laboratory equipment makers!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418891",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:11:15",
"content": "I saw a project on robotroom.com where he used a peristaltic pump to flow echant over the board he was etching:http://www.robotroom.com/Color-PCBs-3.htmlIf you combine this post with a pump, you can have a stationery nozzle above and a moving board below. Maybe it’ll work better.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418907",
"author": "bobdole",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T03:00:02",
"content": "#!/bin/bashwhile truedoejectsleep 1done",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418915",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T03:42:39",
"content": "I think he should partner with the fleshlight company.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418924",
"author": "Standard Mischief",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T04:56:21",
"content": "@ bobdole$ while true; do eject /dev/cdrom ; sleep 1 ; eject -t /dev/cdrom; sleep 1; done #and let’s hope your cdrom is supported!@original posterVery cool hack, but fumes from the PCB etchent will attack the metal in the CD-ROM drive. This is actually a very good reason why not to etch PCBs near your computer or in your kitchen.Also, the bubbles from a aquarium stone somehow do a far better job on etching than mere agitation or a circulating pump will produce. I’m not sure why though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418967",
"author": "sneakypoo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T06:36:11",
"content": "Personally I just slosh the stuff around myself for 3-5 minutes, you have to check on progress anyway so I don’t see the problem really.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418985",
"author": "Rotceh_dnih",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T06:56:32",
"content": "@sneakypoo i also do this, however dont the fumes get to you? i find myself unable to be around the mixture for longer then 30 sec’s without feeling like i’ve been nova gased lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419030",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T07:45:17",
"content": "Maybe scale it up a bit? Several drives moving simultaneously attach short legs to the drives so that you can move a much larger tray.Although technically it only has to be as wide as the pcb. Why not two paines of glass five mills or so apart drop the pcb in with hooks so you can retrieve it easier. A line of air hose with holes (or several small air stones at the bottom). You would use less etchant and check the progress more easily.Maybe a pipe on the bottom with a small plastic tap to empty etchant. (think I saved some of thoughs little ball valve taps from a wine box a few years back). Lifted in and out of a rack with a robotic arm CNC style I could just leave it etching 20 boards a night :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419045",
"author": "Farkanoid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T07:58:14",
"content": "CTRL+F ‘fleshlight’Dammit John, you beat me to it :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419081",
"author": "sneakypoo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T09:47:35",
"content": "@Rotceh_dnih: I use potassium persulfate and stand under the fan in my kitchen so I never have any problems really.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419087",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T10:28:51",
"content": "Good idea, but I would put the circuit board in a box to protect it from any spilling liquids.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419088",
"author": "Janez D.",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T10:32:37",
"content": "I wonder what the life span of the drive will be…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419103",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T11:26:12",
"content": "Can be done even without extra electronics, most disk drives notice they’re “stuck” so jamming them at both ends keeps them going :).(although this has more potential)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419119",
"author": "Rupin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T12:54:19",
"content": "Pretty Creative hack…I have used a cdrom drive in the past to make a crawling bot…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419121",
"author": "Matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T13:03:58",
"content": "I read this article because I thought the title said ‘pcb alligator’. I was disappointed when there was no craft with clag glue and paddle pop sticks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419170",
"author": "shadowing",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:51:40",
"content": "Why not just connect the end-switches with the eject Button?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419172",
"author": "shadowing",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:54:04",
"content": "Also: looks linke some kind of Tupperware, so using the lid would prevent spilling.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419291",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T22:14:08",
"content": "@shadowing I assume the lid was off for the demo, so we could see the fluid motion",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419585",
"author": "KanchoBlindside",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T11:53:49",
"content": "@aex155 I’d kept reading “peristaltic pump” as “penis pump”, and didnt dare click on the link from work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.278965
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/impressive-steampunk-keyboard/
|
Impressive Steampunk Keyboard
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"hardware"
] |
[
"brass",
"keyboard",
"leather",
"steampunk"
] |
This
amazing steam punk keyboard
was sent in to the tip line, and while it’s not necessarily a ‘hack’ in the purest sense, the level of quality in the build is incredible.
Each key was crafted from brass tubing that was later filled with a wooden dowel and covered with the key cap label. While there’s no mention of how the key caps were made, we do especially like the
abstract Windows Key label
. After the PCB for the keyboard matrix was enclosed in a bit of plywood, the hand tooled leather was applied to the front. The
name plaque
that was hand engraved with a modified screwdriver is especially nice.
The build is based around the amazing
Das Keyboard
with Cherry Blue switches, one of the only keyboards currently being manufactured that comes close to the feel of the
One True Keyboard
. While it’s not a
keyboard built from scratch
, it’s still one of the best steampunk builds we’ve seen, most likely because
not a single gear was glued to the project
.
| 20
| 20
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418781",
"author": "spiritplumber",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:08:22",
"content": "+1 for steampunk done right.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418784",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:14:00",
"content": "“not a single gear was glued to the project.”Nice! Now, if one was added for a volume control or something, that would be fine, but useless gears are useless.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418793",
"author": "gen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:45:42",
"content": "The “One True Keyboard” is still manufactured by Unicomp, they bought the IP and the tooling… And you can order custom keycaps from them… (red Escape key, yummy)Still, impressive work. Must be heavy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418796",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:52:54",
"content": "i was wondering about how heavy it was to. purity impressive work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418799",
"author": "D_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:11:32",
"content": "While I consider steam punk a fashion trend, one that doesn’t appeal to me in the least. Having said that I can appreciate a quality build, and this is a quality build from what I can see.“while it’s not necessarily a ‘hack’ in the purest sense”, so sad when the zealot comments lead the HAD staff preempting them, thing is it’s not likely to ever pacify the zealots. Perhaps the bulling should change to hack a day, now incorporating build a day. would that make HAD BAD A**? IMO it would, not that means that HAD isn’t currently bad a**. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418804",
"author": "Brian Benchoff",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:24:10",
"content": "@gen:Yes, but my model M was made on 4-23-90 (sn 6029462), so it can legally buy alcohol.I like the idea of my keyboard weighing more than my laptop. It’ll be good melee weapon for the zombie uprising.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418806",
"author": "Alex Parting",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:28:28",
"content": "wow nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418812",
"author": "Paul Potter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:47:04",
"content": "Very impressive.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418820",
"author": "S Wesley Steam",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:02:07",
"content": "This is beautiful, thank you for sharing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418837",
"author": "doug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:20:10",
"content": "impressive workmanship",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418844",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:38:51",
"content": "Neat project and a great writeup.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418859",
"author": "slippin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T00:16:30",
"content": "That is a killer keyboard. Very nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418874",
"author": "Andy W",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T01:18:33",
"content": "If you want an actual Model-M, they still make them. Unicomp has the rights to them now, and I can attest that they are identical in every respect to the Model-M, save for lacking removable caps. They even have the drain holes :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418901",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:42:53",
"content": "It looks like something right out of bioshock…nice work.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418926",
"author": "Cromag",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T04:59:46",
"content": "Lovely build. I would have made the windows key legend a old fashioned double-hung sash window with shutters and curtains.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419117",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T12:48:33",
"content": "so nice they should sell this. I would BUY one. LOVE the lock LED lights.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419143",
"author": "Daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:28:11",
"content": "Love well done keyboard mods, always wish i could have a workshop to do projects like this, he did a top notch job on this, elegant and understated.I have a black Unicomp Customizer 105 in UK spec sounds and feels like a Model M to type on, though isn’t as heavy which i prefer anyway, and you can get it in USB.I will offer caution as i live in the UK and obviously had it shipped from the US and got seriously screwed with import taxes and the keyboard ended up costing me about £115 in the end, a note for people buying overseas.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419339",
"author": "emilio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T00:30:23",
"content": "beautiful build! really nice details.now, shame on you for not using a Unicomp. they’re cheaper and arguably better, and are one of the last American-made computer peripherals. hey, your money…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419496",
"author": "john",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:31:41",
"content": "Is it just me but for f sake, to do all that work and to keep the plastic end of the original keys should be a crime.Deck makes some nice keyboards. If the keys had been illuminated then it would be awesome but I can’t imagine myself actually using it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "424534",
"author": "IJ Dee-Vo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-28T15:42:18",
"content": "Steam dream come true, really great work!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.465525
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/led-headgear-is-marvel-of-free-formed-circuitry/
|
LED Headgear Is Marvel Of Free-formed Circuitry
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"LED Hacks"
] |
[
"atmega8",
"hat",
"tlc5916"
] |
Hackaday contributor [Nick Schulze] popped out
an impressive set of LED headgear
for a hat-themed party.
[Nick] is no stranger to working with LEDs. Previously he built a blue 8x8x8 cube something like this other
512 node full color version
. He had a bunch of LEDs left over from that project and decided to put them to
good
use.
The first part of the build is the frame itself, made from thick fencing wire. He just started bending it around his head and got an uncomfortable head-shaped hoop to which he could solder. From there, enameled copper wire wraps its way through the system, supplying logic levels to all of the LEDs. Everything is done without a circuit board of any kind. The LED drivers themselves are attached by first using a zip tie to affix a resistor to the frame, then by soldering the TLC5916 chip to that resistor. Even the ATmega8 is included dead-bug style by soldering it to the frame which we think servers as ground. Program it with the free-floating female pin header and you’ll get the fantastic animations seen in the video after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jMiPNVYAgM&w=470]
| 6
| 6
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418786",
"author": "Vampyredh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:15:44",
"content": "Why did he shape it like that? I think A top hat shape would have been much cooler.Otherwise nice job.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418815",
"author": "Cpt. Obvious",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:51:35",
"content": "Mesmerizing!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418886",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:03:14",
"content": "reminds me of a Comb Jellyfish.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418904",
"author": "BitMage",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:47:34",
"content": "Proofread that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419057",
"author": "Bobby J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T08:16:39",
"content": "Hat-themed party? As in…”hey, let’s have a party and everyone wear hats”? Really living on the edge there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419083",
"author": "Mark A",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T10:17:33",
"content": "If you have a bright idea when waring it, will it light up?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.316182
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/fpga-arduino-shield-uses-kickstarted-as-a-preorder-system/
|
FPGA Arduino Shield Uses Kickstarter As A Preorder System
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Microcontrollers"
] |
[
"arduino",
"Crowd Funding",
"fpga",
"jack gassett",
"spartan 3a",
"xilinx"
] |
[ Jack Gassett] is working on
an FPGA shield for the Arduino
. At first the idea of this expansion board seemed a little silly. But [Jack] mentions that the FPGA board can be quite useful for adding higher-order electronic complexity like HDMI capabilities to an Arduino. We’re not totally sold on the idea, but he’s not making the board solely for use with an Arduino either.
The plan is to use a Xilinx Spartan 3A FPGA which comes in a ball-grid array package. And that is the reason [Jack] decided to use Kickstarter for this project. He shared some of his issues with
BGA components in a home manufacturing process
a while back. To get these working reliably you need to have them professionally assembled, and that requires a sizable upfront investment. But as we read through his proposal it struck us that he’s actually using Kickstarter as a preorder system. You can get a base model with just the FPGA soldered on the board for $55. Not bad considering the chip will cost you at least $20 without assembly. Each level up includes a few more components like SRAM or add-on PCBs.
We get a lot of tips pointing to Kickstarter proposals but this is one of the few that seems right on the mark for supporting open and innovative development. Great work [Jack]!
[Thanks Simon]
| 35
| 35
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418741",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:14:35",
"content": "Yay, BGA hobbyists!This is pretty clever, I might have a go at making some BGA based systems shortly as this seems to be the direction things are going.As for inspecting the board, one method I ran into is using far infra-red (aka FIR) using threaded fibre under the chip and a really good low light peltier cooled camera underneath. Takes a bit longer but it gives results only slightly worse than X-rays for a fraction of the cost and hassle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418748",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:45:56",
"content": "Excuse my ignorance but I have heard of FPGA’s before but I am not entirely sure what their function is. Could someone shed some light on the subject for me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418753",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:05:41",
"content": "@JoeIdunno, I could Google “FPGA” or you could. The first 5 results all explain what they are and what they’re used for.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418761",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:22:07",
"content": "@Bob D thanks for helping me find google. Did you ever consider that I already googled it and that is why I am asking? You are just angry because you are a neck beard who can’t get a date so you try to put people down on the internet.P.S. Fuck you",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418762",
"author": "baobrien",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:29:58",
"content": "@joehttp://lmgtfy.com/?q=field+programmable+gate+array",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418763",
"author": "ll",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:31:40",
"content": "@ Bob D & Joe Hurray for the internet",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418764",
"author": "baobrien",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:34:13",
"content": "@joeIn a nutshell an FPGA is like a chip who’s circuit can be changed without physically altering the chip. It can be programmed to act as a number of different chips.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418766",
"author": "andres",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:37:59",
"content": "seems like a neat cheap way to jump into fpgas. i may have to start saving",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418768",
"author": "Dataflashsabot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:42:30",
"content": "@baobrien Soo… it’s a microcontroller? :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418769",
"author": "kernelcode",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:44:17",
"content": "@Joe – Imagine a large number of logic gates (AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR…) which can all be connected to each other in almost any way based on a description given in code. Amongst other things, they can be much quicker than doing something in software on a microcontroller because the functions are built into hardware instead of potentially needing many assembly instructions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418771",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:52:39",
"content": "@Joe : what a dumbass you are. Go date a FPGA :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418776",
"author": "Revar",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:57:00",
"content": "microcontroller:software::FPGA:hardwareIe: A microcontroller lets you load it up with different software so that it can do a number of different tasks, but it does them in a linear fashion, one instruction at a time.An FPGA is like re-programmable hardware. It lets you load it up with different designs so that it can create a number of hardware circuits. FPGA’s are inherently parallel in nature, meaning you can do things like create hardware divide designs that do in a few cycles what a microcontroller may take hundreds of cycles to complete.You can create a microcontroller as a design in an FPGA. You cannot functionally create an FPGA from a microcontroller.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418785",
"author": "xtc",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:14:03",
"content": "This site has CPLD shields already available if you are looking for a cheap introduction to programmable logic…http://www.amani64.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418795",
"author": "joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:49:40",
"content": "@Revar @kernelcode @baobrien Thank you so much for all the information.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418805",
"author": "Alex Parting",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:27:14",
"content": "http://excamera.com/sphinx/gameduino/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418808",
"author": "m1ndtr1p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:31:10",
"content": "@JoeIt took me all of 5 seconds to find it on Google… It took 45 mins for you to get a real answer, you could have researched it yourself and find much more in depth descriptions which would have helped you understand what FPGAs are more than anyone here could have explained it… Yet you chose to wait for a reply.Seriously, stop being so goddamn lazy and do the research yourself.This is what’s wrong with people these days, they want everything handed to them on a silver platter without putting any kind of effort into it (even if that effort only takes 5-10 seconds of typing and reading), and when they don’t get what they want when they want, they stomp their feet, throw a hissy fit and start insulting people who don’t help them like Joe up there just did…Grow up kid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418810",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:36:49",
"content": "If anybody wants a quick intro into FPGAs and some demo projects (building interfaces such as a 10baseT transmitter, 1-bit DACs and so on) have a look athttp://www.fpga4fun.com.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418818",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:53:04",
"content": "But I still wonder how better is an FPGA compared to the new much easier to program XMOS chips? :-\\",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418842",
"author": "bigbob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:36:22",
"content": "@ Beat707You’re comparing apples and oranges here.Also, I wouldn’t necessarily say “much easier to program”. While I agree that it is commonly accepted that HDL design is not as easy/simple as “programming’, once you understand your system it is not significantly more difficult in my opinion.VHDL or verilog is not difficult to learn. There are plenty of resources online and in books to help. One thing though, is that a development board is definitely the way to go for an introduction to FPGAs, while not necessarily for microcontrollers.For anybody interested in working with FPGAs, I would highly recommend going to digilent’s website and buying a development board, and using Xilinx’s free ISE. For a hundred dollars you can be up and running. It is more expensive and complicated than micros, but it can also be orders of magnitude more capable depending on your requirements.One final tip… If you’re considering getting into hardware design, I suggest picking up “Circuit Design with VHDL” by Volnei A. Pedroni. I feel it is an invaluable tool in this area, and it is easy to read and comprehend.Also, a great blog on VERY basic FPGA info ishttp://www.idle-logic.com.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418845",
"author": "toodlestech",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:42:01",
"content": "“Kickstarted”? You cant even re-read your title before submitting? I hope you were drunk when you submitted these last few heavily typoed posts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418853",
"author": "Jack Gassett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T00:08:37",
"content": "@JoeI recorded a video to explain FPGA’s by making a comparison to recordable CD’s. Hope this helps give you a quick conceptual understanding of FPGA’s.http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13588168/papilio-fpga-shield-for-arduino/posts/95203Jack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418864",
"author": "thesilentinnovator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T00:40:52",
"content": "First off everyone seems to be a little high strung, I think we should all relax a little.@m1ndtr1p very true, but your assuming that joe completely understood everything that was on those sites. I took a class directly dealing with FPGA’S and I must say for some people they aren’t an easy concept, thus asking questions for clarification isn’t a bad idea.@bigbob well put, for starting out I agree a standalone FPGA dev bord is the way to go for just starting out. BUT that said it makes this no less interesting and exciting to see this in the works. With luck this will be fully compatible with the Mbed’s!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418906",
"author": "marcus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:58:24",
"content": "but the basic question is:what can we do with a FPGA shield? Not counting learning and killing time ..any way, a nice project …",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418911",
"author": "bigbob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T03:25:25",
"content": "marcus, I had wondered the same thing. It may be more useful as the primary board, with the arduino being the accessory…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418922",
"author": "Joe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T04:45:03",
"content": "@jackThat video was awesome. Thank You!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419073",
"author": "Eric",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T09:10:32",
"content": "For $24 you can buy a CPLD shield to learn programmable logic. Use the arduino to test your design or use the two together and offload CPU tasking onto the CPLD. You can even plug Digilent PMods into your CPLD shield.http://amani64.comIf you need more logic go for an FPGA shield… it’s a matter of picking the right tool for the job at hand for the right price. Long synthesis times on FPGAs can bog down development times. CPLDs are better suited for rapid prototyping.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419080",
"author": "Jakob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T09:36:54",
"content": "And as always, FPGA questions can be asked at overmapped.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419140",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:14:20",
"content": "Why on earth is eagle being used for this board, which is most likely a 6+ Layer PCB? Just torrent Altium and and use that, it is much more capable than eagle.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419165",
"author": "Jack Gassett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T15:40:47",
"content": "@marcus @bigbobThe question is “What can we do with an FPGA Shield”. This shield is also the next generation Papilio board so for starters it can do everything that the current Papilio boards can do:– Run Arduino sketches on soft processors.– Work as a 200 Mhz Logic Analyzer.– Recreate classic arcade games like Pac-man.As far as what can be done when it is used as a shield, the Gameduino provides an excellent example of whats possible with Arduino/FPGA integration. The FPGA provides the VGA controller and supporting hardware that is fast enough to generate game elements such scrolling backgrounds, sprites, and sprite collisions. The Arduino then controls that hardware using sketches and libraries that make it easy for makers of all skill levels to make a game. The end result of the Arduino/FPGA integration is a solution that can accomplish something the Arduino would never be capable of while maintaining the ease of use that the Arduino is known for.The Papilio FPGA shield embraces this idea but provides a more general purpose platform that will allow Arduino interfaces to be created for *any* type of hardware. VGA, TFT LCD’s, HDMI/DVI are just the examples that come to mind first.The Papilio community is hard at work on some demos as we speak, Alvaro Lopes has created a VGA core and an Arduino library that makes it easy to create VGA interfaces. With it he has created a sketch that implements a Tetris clone. BenL has created an elegant solution to allow NTSC/PAL TV output using a handful of resistors.We are also looking at making an Arduino library that will make it easy to transition from LiquidCrystal interfaces to VGA or NTSC/PAL interfaces. The idea is to create a virtual HD44780 inside a VGA or NTSC/PAL controller. All an Arduino user would have to do is use our library instead of the LiquidCrystal library and specify a couple extra things like a background image and the location for the virtual HD44780 display. The end result? Arduino users who have built a sketch using the LiquidCrystal library would be able to switch to VGA or NTSC/PAL by simply changing the library they use and adding a couple more lines of code!@SomeonecoolI hear you, Altium would be much, much easier for this 4 layer design. :) There are two factors that make EAGLE the tool of choice here, while Altium is great it is just too expensive for me to use right now and when it comes to Open Source Hardware designs EAGLE is the clear choice. I want maximum acceptance by other Open Source Hardware designers so that means using the same tool that everyone else is using, even if it can be a huge PITA sometimes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419317",
"author": "lbd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T23:35:23",
"content": "@marcus @bigbobAny digital system can be implemented in an FPGA, so pretty much the only limit to what you could do with an FPGA is your imagination. Jack Gassett mentioned just some possibilities.In this case, as FPGAs usually have a high amount of I/O pins, they are great for offloading I/O from the Arduino. For example, the Spartan-3A planned for this shield has 144 user I/O pins, making it a great choice for stuff like motorcontrol(with external drive circuitry), quadrature decoding, and in general anything that requires a lot of I/O.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419789",
"author": "Chris Zeh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T19:05:03",
"content": "This sounds like a pretty cool project. I once stumbled across a project where they actually embedded, or recreated the Arduino inside the FPGA which might be an even more powerful pairing.Like bigbob said, my blog has been putting together some basic details of what an FPGA is how and how to start working with one check it out at idle-logic.comPerhaps this article would be a good source of basic information:http://idle-logic.com/2010/02/11/dissecting-the-cyclone-2-handbook-part1/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420254",
"author": "Jack Gassett",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T15:27:17",
"content": "Hello Chris,The project to recreate an Arduino inside the FPGA is actually one of my projects for the Papilio. :)http://hackaday.com/2010/04/08/arduino-implemented-on-an-fpga/The board in this hackaday article is an early Papilio board.All the Papilio boards support an embedded AVR compatible soft processor that allows Arduino sketches to be run on the FPGA.Jack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420348",
"author": "Chris Zeh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T19:30:25",
"content": "Aha! I knew I saw it somewhere :-)Thanks Jack, awesome project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425201",
"author": "Eugene",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T16:08:33",
"content": "I see from the first few comments that the new comment policy is working just great.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "5509794",
"author": "Solomon",
"timestamp": "2018-11-25T12:43:22",
"content": "Knowledge sharing is what will transform our world. If Albert Einstein told us all what was in his mind we would be 100 years in the future technologically. Thanks for sharing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.536402
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/dont-buy-an-ipad-make-one/
|
Don’t Buy An IPAD, Make One!
|
Nick Schulze
|
[
"computer hacks",
"ipod hacks"
] |
[
"diy ipad",
"tablet pc"
] |
When [Liu] decided he wanted one of the new iPads, rather than fork out the cash he decided to
build his own
tablet Mac. His creation functions just as you would expect any tablet PC with some nice extra features such as running on Windows XP for any of you Microsoft lovers. [Lui’s] tablet apparently only cost him about $300USD, about half the price of the real thing. The two part video shows the entire construction in fast forward including a demonstration of the final working product. It looks like the tablet is built using spare tablet/laptop components and the case is constructed from sheet aluminum before being painted and labelled with apple stickers. The final product is a bit thicker than the real thing but looks great in the laptop style case [Lui] has whipped up. Kudos to the guy for saving a few bucks and making something great in the process, the video after the break is definitely worth a watch. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of thing, actually we’ve
seen a few
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6TAguL2nFU&feature=related&w=470]
| 37
| 35
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418697",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T16:09:51",
"content": "that is vary nice. it cost half the price and it has more function than the i pad.it also can run xp. it looks a bit thick but i don’t think i would mind if it has more power and more function.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418711",
"author": "_txf_",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T16:40:08",
"content": "Not also CAN run XP. It runs windows xp. I would argue that it would have been better to run Android (x86), rather than skin XP to look like an ugly OSX.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418715",
"author": "EFH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T16:44:57",
"content": "Personally, I don’t get it. The Windows UI works terribly in a tablet form factor; if it worked well, we’d see successful tablet PCs on the market, but we don’t. As it stands, this is cute and fun to do, but the notion that it’s as good as, let alone better than, an iPad is pretty ridiculous. It’s an underpowered PC with no keyboard — big whoop.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418725",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:18:06",
"content": "EFH, no offence but have you actually done this before yourself ? – if not which is possibuly the best bet, i wouldnt pass judgement if i were you.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "958166",
"author": "Desertfrog702",
"timestamp": "2013-02-11T12:01:45",
"content": "Peter I completely agree with you. this dude is going to be the next steve jobs/bill gates of china if he keeps this up. great so ” this isn’t an ipad” NO SHIT PPL!!! guarantee you looked up build an ipad on google and this came up. I want to see you solder some computer shit together and it be able to turn on. THIS IS WHY AMERICA IS SCREWED this little china man mad his own table. WHO CARES WHAT HE CALLED IT!!!! that was one of the coolest youtube vides ive seen. you thinks its lame, well then go ask your momy to buy you one, if this guy keeps this up hell be making his own tablets in a few years. Peter you are one in a few with your head on straight. I think the rest of the comments on here are from nutless kids. and I mean 16-28 possibly even older IDIOTS. ITS THE FUTURE ! WE CANT RELY ON PPL BUILDING SHIT FOR US. THE TECH IS THERE THIS IS A SMART MAN YOUR ALL FUCKING IDIOTS…..that being said I love America goodnight",
"parent_id": "418725",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "418726",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:19:05",
"content": "@EFH“It’s an underpowered PC with no keyboard — big whoop.”So are all tablets, including iPads.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418727",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:24:29",
"content": "It’s a nice build, but I would have to agree with the others, actually comparing this to an iPad is pretty disingenuous.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418729",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:26:49",
"content": "That’s awesome. It’s even cooler that it doesn’t run iOS. I would say “does it run crysis?” as a joke, but it probably does.@_txf_: OSX is just ugly period. Seeing as how it isn’t really a Mac, you can install whatever OS you want(that supports the drivers needed). I would personally shoot for some BackTrack 5 on there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418730",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:31:17",
"content": "“The Windows UI works terribly in a tablet form factor”Not at all worse than the non-iOS version of OSX. It’s not a tablet OS. They -do- make a tablet edition, though, which works just fine.“if it worked well, we’d see sucessful tablet PCs on the market, but we don’t.”Are you kidding? Have you been under a rock for the last two years or so? Here you go…http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000407&IsNodeId=1&Description=Tablet&name=Tablet%20PCs&Order=BESTMATCH",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "686803",
"author": "Cybernite777",
"timestamp": "2012-06-23T14:23:06",
"content": "@M4CGYV3RYou must be joking “Are you kidding? Have you been under a rock for the last two years or so? Here you go…http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000407&IsNodeId=1&Description=Tablet&name=Tablet%20PCs&”Have you used, or even just read the reviews for those tablets??? Video card issues, digitizer issues, 2-3 hour battery life for the most popular tablet, that is a joke! There is a reason Apple sold 3,000,000 new iPad’s in the first three days, you can’t even argue with that.",
"parent_id": "418730",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "418732",
"author": "Nitori",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:39:29",
"content": "Looks like he just repackaged a netbook to make this.I was able to see him wiring things up the the mini PCI-e slot likely to get the USB signals.The most impressive part was he made the case.I can think of better ways to implement this maybe use a Beagleboard xM and repackage it into one of those cheap Chinese android tablets you can get for $100 off ebay.That way you can get better battery life and the beagle board has headers so no messy point to point wiring.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418733",
"author": "stevie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:51:08",
"content": "I’m not sure why this is being compared to an Apple ipad. It doesn’t run mac OS X, it doesn’t look anything like the ipad, it doesn’t have multi touch support.It’s just a regular Windows tablet. He could have bought a nice slim android tablet for about $150.Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice project. But it’s not practical.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418734",
"author": "stevie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T17:53:30",
"content": "I meant iOS, not OS X. But since it’s being stickered up as Apple, you’d expect he would have at least installed OS X, since it can run on anything intel now days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418742",
"author": "Wolfton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:16:38",
"content": "On the second video, it’s shown running Mac OS with stills of running Windows. This is a good hack.I wouldn’t have compared this to iPad, but perhaps to the EeePad Transformer. As with any hack, this is better for some, and not for others. Personally I would rather have seen the keyboard dock or connect via bluetooth rather than be connected USB, but show that a user still has the option of connecting USB peripherals.I wish I had the skills to put something like this together. If I did, though, I’d just upgrade my old TX-1410 that isn’t reading USB or SD anymore.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418743",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:22:42",
"content": "Nice hack, maybe I can put some of my salvaged AA1 motherboards to good use.For those who are attempting this, one hack which might be worthwhile is to tear apart two small LCD panels and mount them onto a larger backlight panel “back to back” with the pcbs undeneath. Then solder two 24Cxx eeproms with the copied AA1 screen code onto the relevant points on the VGA and LVDS connector, and locate a spare compatible LCD monitor LVDS board for panel *2.As far as the AA1 is concerned the official screen is installed, which means it can drive two (yes two!) 800*400 wide panels for a combined resolution of 800*800 i.e. very nearly XGA in a very small form factor.Probably even higher if you add code to the end of the HID table in the memory for a larger screen.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418745",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:29:10",
"content": "Did I mention the pen hack which uses a 3 axis magnetometer sensor to allow you to use a touch screen without the usual headaches? ie drop in contrast, reflections etc? :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418749",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:47:22",
"content": "I really wish people would stop calling what amounts to a processor and some storage with an LCD slapped on it an iPad. If it can’t run IOS it ain’t no iPad.Nice packaging, though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418754",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:06:14",
"content": "Oops, forgot the two builtin video cameras. Probably a bit heavy, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418757",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:09:58",
"content": "No, it’s not an iPad. However the iPad is by far the best selling tablet computer anywhere. So it’s reasonable that most media outlets, in fact most people, consider tablet computer==iPad.C’mon, are you telling me you’ve never called a non-apple portable MP3 playing music device an iPod?I wish the pedants would shut up and actually appreciate this sweet build, or shut up and go make something better.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418760",
"author": "avrpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:21:55",
"content": "@Bob D,No I’ve never called an mp3 player an iPod, but I have called them “media players”. Do you call bananas Chiquitas?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418767",
"author": "Per Jensen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:38:22",
"content": "Very nice build, he really knows how to package the stuff up. I’m a bit dissapointed that the internals is not from a Macbook (it can run OS X without hacking) – at least he could have made an hackintosh out of it… But a nice hack anyway!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418772",
"author": "Piku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:53:16",
"content": "“Chinese man makes iPad look-a-like from scratch”No, he really doesn’t. Has Rupert Merdoch taken over HaD?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418775",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:55:51",
"content": "I’m with avrpunk on this one. Used a tablet PC in 2004 at work and tethered Palms for wap so when the big iPad explosion happened, I laughed a little and told myself these were the same folks that were amazed that we had an electoral college a coupla presidents ago lol.Closest I got to this was the Asus EEE touch screen mod which I updated to JoliOS before selling it. Anyone who hasn’t checked out that distro (may be called jolicloud) might enjoy its iOS/Android interface and insane support for most drivers ala linux. Dunnohttp://www.jolicloud.com/download-yeah I know like we need another distro lol. In the end I enjoy keyboards so I’ll probably never go “full retard” and have a tablet as my main computer, but I guess that really isn’t their purpose.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418794",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:47:54",
"content": "“C’mon, are you telling me you’ve never called a non-apple portable MP3 playing music device an iPod?”WTF, no. Why would you?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418834",
"author": "Stefan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:00:01",
"content": "In what way is this an iPad? It’s a tablet PC with an Apple logo. Nothing special here.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418866",
"author": "Josh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T00:42:14",
"content": "You guys forgot a period in the title, right after “Dont buy an ipad.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418900",
"author": "silvesterstillalone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:37:10",
"content": "Heh. Come to think of it, this REALLY isnt an iPad.Replaceable batteryRuns FlashExpandable storageUser serviceableMany, many more portsOh, and nobody is likely to steal it at the airport…as long as those stickers are taken off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418948",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T06:07:06",
"content": "The point regarding calling an mp3 player an iPod was: have you ever called product by the most popular brand rather than the generic term. Such as I’m sure many people have called a facial tissue a Kleenex regardless of manufacturer I know I have. Another example would be lock-jaw pliers== vise-grips. Or no-wash hand sanitizer being called Purell. You all knew what the poster was talking about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419009",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T07:18:47",
"content": "“In what way is this an iPad? It’s a tablet PC with an Apple logo. Nothing special here.”The iPad isn’t anything special either.“C’mon, are you telling me you’ve never called a non-apple portable MP3 playing music device an iPod?”No, I never did (I have called the iPad an overgrown iPod if that counts)…but yes I have heard people call Zunes iPods, and I have heard someone call my Toyota a Porsche too (they were not joking…just ignorant)…just because one idiot can’t tell the difference, that does not make them the same thing. An iPod is a lot more than an MP3 player, so calling a $20 MP3 player with no screen an iPod would be incorrect on multiple levels. In the same way, calling a device like a tablet PC an iPod just because it can play MP3s is completely wrong (the only exception being the iPad, as it has the same OS and functionality as an iPod). Even calling something like a Zune an iPod is wrong…because the Zune does not require you to install malware on your PC just to load music, and that is a massive difference from the iPod.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419132",
"author": "hawkeyeaz1",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T13:39:35",
"content": "Cool, but does it run flash? (And the answer is a resounding “Yes!”)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419142",
"author": "Dustin Evans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T14:27:39",
"content": "I just got a Chromebook and was looking at doing this exact same thing. Anyone have any tips?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419176",
"author": "max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:11:50",
"content": "is every tablet pc an ipad??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419253",
"author": "William W",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T20:10:06",
"content": "At various times I carry one of 3 android tablets, and/or a nook, and regardless of which one I have out, I inevitably will hear comments “That’s one of those iPads” or get asked if it is an iPad.But pedantic people will be pedantic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "420076",
"author": "Sordeo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-20T05:12:12",
"content": "I’d agree xp doesn’t work well with touch (he does use a stylus) but 7 works wonderfully with touch:http://windows7tablet.blogspot.com/2011/05/windows-7-touch-optimizations.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422258",
"author": "TRONhack3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T18:31:10",
"content": "yeah kudos to that guy he installed a solid state drive and a battery that probably has more battery life than the ipad so its a win+ as a bonus he can have whatever operating system (maybe even dual boot) he wants which is something the ipad will never have-",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422712",
"author": "Fili",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:37:00",
"content": "Can it get 7-10 hours of battery life. No… (If you ever opened an iPad you’d see that it’s a big screen with a huge battery and a tiny-tiny board inside.)Multitouch? No…Less than 9 mm thick? No…It also has advantages (like removable storage and OS choice) but it’s not an iPad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "461851",
"author": "Hunter Nordeng",
"timestamp": "2011-09-22T15:43:04",
"content": "Only thing i really wanna know after looking at all these comments is, Battery life i could get out of it. Wifi cappabilities, Memory, and can i customize the casing with a Led cut out",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.650659
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/17/megavallometer-camera-trigger/
|
Megavallometer Camera Trigger
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"digital cameras hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"dslr",
"intervalometer",
"light sensor",
"sound sensor"
] |
[Tobe] has an intervalometer for his camera, but he wanted a device that could trigger the shutter using several different methods, not just time.
He calls his creation the Megavallometer
, which can utilize any one of three distinct criteria.
He recently purchased an Arduino and a couple of shields, so he figured this would be a perfect project in which to use them. He hooked up a microphone and a photodiode to the Arduino, allowing him to use both sound and light to trigger his camera, depending on which mode he selects. Of course, the Megavallometer still incorporates the functionality of a standard intervalometer as well.
Once connected to his camera he selects one of the three trigger programs, and the Arduino handles the rest. If either the light or sound triggers are selected, the respective sensors measure the ambient levels upon selection, allowing for accurate results in any setting.
While the Megavallometer is a bit larger than
other intervalometers we have seen
, it looks incredibly useful and can likely be strapped to a tripod or similar if need be.
If you have a minute, be sure to check out the video on his site for a sneak peak if his Megavallometer in action.
| 4
| 4
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418668",
"author": "The Ideanator",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T14:03:32",
"content": "It seems a bit slow with the light and sound triggers, especially if this is intended to take something fast, like water drops or things igniting/exploding. I suppose it could be done better and smaller if need be.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418671",
"author": "INquiRY",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T14:04:15",
"content": "> can likely be strapped to a tripod or similar if need beYes, also, you can put it in your car or a backpack. Incredible! You can also use the case for something totally different, that will possibly give it a dozen other uses. Truly universal!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418672",
"author": "Tobe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T14:14:36",
"content": "The sound in the video is a bit off. Actually its quite fast. Not fast enough to capture a balloon popping really early, but fast enough to shoot the pieces flying around with little distance (20cm) :) I also managed to get waterdrops with this setup.I have to admit, the case is kind of big, but i built a screw-nut underneath so I can screw it on another tripod, as my main purpose for this device is the laser trigger.An auxiliary port would be nice, too, maybe I will include this in the next few weeks. I did not want to invest too much time in this project and I wanted to screw around with this arduino board, so I did not make my own board. Sure it would be possible to build this setup in 1/4 of the space it takes right now.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418848",
"author": "netd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T23:48:44",
"content": "Looks very similar to one I designed a couple of years ago, although I just put in an auxilary port for external triggers instead.http://3hams.net/2010/01/intervalometer/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.578378
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/16/android-controlled-t-shirt-cannon/
|
Android Controlled T-shirt Cannon
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Android Hacks",
"Arduino Hacks"
] |
[
"android",
"arduino",
"cannon",
"t-shirt cannon"
] |
Every year, Qualcomm hosts the “Battle of the Schools.” This year the goal was to build homemade contraptions that would be judged on how cool they are. [Doug DeCarme], [Shaver Deyerle], and [Zach Rattner] – three Qualcomm employees at Virginia Tech – built an
Android controlled t-shirt cannon
for this event and ended up tying with Michigan State for first place.
The cannon is built around an Arduino Uno and a
BlueSMiRF Bluetooth modem
. [Doug DeCarme], the Android developer of the group, put together an app that would fire each barrel independently. The valves for the cannon are just 150 PSI inline sprinkler valves, bought from the local Home Depot. From the project breakdown, the team spent less than $150 on entire project.
From the
video
, we see that they’re getting some pretty good distance firing t-shirts at 160 PSI. Although we question the wisdom of using PVC as a pressure vessel holding 160 PSI, changing the PVC to a proper air reservoir wouldn’t be that hard.
| 33
| 32
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418519",
"author": "zigzagjoe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T00:54:12",
"content": "It looks like all they are doing is using the Arduino/android linkage is to fire the mess. Why not put a push button (optionally with relay) on some decent length wires and have done? About, what, 500$ cheaper?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418522",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T01:06:18",
"content": "STOP using PVC for compressed air. It is an extremely unsafe use of the material for that application.Yes, you can “get away with it” – until something goes wrong and it explodes and throws razor sharp shrapnel all over. PVC is NOT appropriate for compressed air use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "579222",
"author": "Davis",
"timestamp": "2012-02-09T21:06:16",
"content": "It is completely safe to use PVC as a pressure chamber for a t-shirt cannon. PVC can be bought pressurized with a ratingg up to about 210 psi. All that is necessary for safe use would be a pressure release.",
"parent_id": "418522",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "418523",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T01:06:38",
"content": "Why is PVC unsafe for storing air when it is used all the time for safely transporting water and other liquids?Water, like most liquids, is not compressible, therefore it cannot store energy. When a hydrostatic failure occurs, water is projected, but the shrapnel is not projected very far.On the other hand, air and other gases are compressible. This can result in large amounts of stored energy. System failure could lead to a disastrous situation when this energy is released, sending shrapnel outward. Severe injury and damage can result.PVC is susceptible to breaking – through physical damage, crushing, sudden impacts, etc. Small scratches on the outside of the pipe can turn into stress points that when combined with air pressure behind them, can lead to sudden and rapid failure – and injury.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418528",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T01:39:41",
"content": "Slightly dangerous? Yes!..but no one is going to make a spud gun with anything else, so stop preaching this. 99% of people don’t have the capabilities or equipment to work with other materials. The danger is negligible when these things are only used a handful of times.Hell, it’s even remote controlled, which means that they won’t need to be standing next to it if it goes off.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418531",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T02:12:00",
"content": "How hard is it to weld on an NPT fitting and attach a steel pressure tank that you can get for $20 – $40?There is no excuse. Make the barrel out of PVC if you must. Just don’t make the pressure containment out of PVC. Can you get away with it for a while? Maybe. Should you? No. This isn’t rocket science, we know how PVC behaves under pressure. It is wholly unsuitable for use as a containment vessel for air, especially when used in close proximity to people.The danger is not negligible – it becomes dangerous the very first time you fill it with air. The fact that you only use it a few times might mean the total risk is lower than if you used it thousands of times but the risk is not negligible.You are correct that is able to be remotely fired but the only way to minimize the risk is to fill it remotely to maintain distance from it. The danger, as you seem to indicate, isn’t when it goes off. The danger is if any kind of physical damage takes place to the PVC while it is under pressure, causing a sudden and catastrophic failure of the PVC vessel.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418539",
"author": "rusty",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T02:41:59",
"content": "you need a life^",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418541",
"author": "pinky",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T02:45:42",
"content": "@Hackerspacer you’re argument is unsound. Whether it be liquid, compressed air, or whatever, PVC pipe is rated to a certain pounds per square inch. Beyond that point, it will fail. Granted, there is a factor of safety, but it doesn’t matter how much energy, if it is beyond the ultimate stress (which is in lbs/sqin) it will FAIL. Whether you want to be around 300psi releasing in a .25 square inch rupture is up to you. But, sir, I would do the math before you attach your paintball gun to some drainage pipes.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418545",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:12:10",
"content": "@pinky- no, he’s right. When liquid cracks the pipe it just leaks, the liquid doesn’t expand. When air does it it explodes and you see catastrophic failure.I have seen both failures occur first hand, and I fortunately still have both eyes. I now take extra precautions- like if I DO store compressed air in a PVC pipe, I keep that pressure vessel in something that will contain the shrapnel, like a wooden box with enough air holes to vent the gas but contain the plastic.What would help more in a forum like this though is a link to instructions on how to build a metal pressure vessel with available materials. Not just the vessel, but a large output orifice (by large I mean 3/4″) as well. Most of your metal pressure vessels are limited by 1/4″ output somewhere.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418546",
"author": "loans",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:12:48",
"content": "If it’s rated to 300 psi, is that -after- any kind of stress? PVC tubing is fairly brittle, and scuffs/scratches/dings easily to boot. I think concerns about using such a material to contain pressure are valid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418548",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:19:42",
"content": "As someone who has seen PVC fail under pressure and is very thankful that no one was around it when it blew I can assure you its not a good material for storing compressed air. I think if you go on some manufactures websites they will even say not to use it for compressed air. It can and will go boom and little pieces of plastic end up everywhere. (150 psi air compresser on it by the way)That said, I replaced the PVC line that blew with pex which isn’t rated for 150 psi either. Heck, at least when that fails it will just split.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418549",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:22:50",
"content": "http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Basics/HazAlerts/902.aspThere. Even a government somewhere says don’t do it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418552",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:41:24",
"content": "BRB while I build more PVC air cannons to piss off Hackerspacer.My life, if I’m willing to take the risk then you have no right to tell me not to. It won’t hurt you.Quit your whining.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418556",
"author": "pogyhauler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:54:56",
"content": "Hey Andrew;Your right. it’s not a crime to be an idiot.It’s not even a crime to be an idiot in public.However, There is such a thing as Gross Negligence with Criminal Consequence.Build it if you like. That’s what the Darwin award is for.But, Hurt somebody else, Or Make statements contrary to facts as you know them, encouraging others to engage in dangerous behaviors,And I will be there to cheer when they flip the switch on your ignorant ass.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418557",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T03:56:22",
"content": "That’s a pretty neat little Maude killer (Simpsons referencde) and as for PVC storing compressed air and shrapnel, what about wraping in in carbon fiber or its cousin, duct tape.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418562",
"author": "pogyhauler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T04:13:44",
"content": "Or, How’s ’bout you don’t futz with compressed air without a reasonable container?Home Depot will sell you a few thousand ways to kill, Maim, and be Generally Dastardly.That don’t mean you gotta go try them.Stick with paper airplanes, and arduino shields.You -can- hack to your little heart’s desire without dancin with the devil.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418570",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T04:42:52",
"content": "According to the data on this site, its pressure limit is dependent upon the pipe’s length, as well:http://www.harvel.com/tech-specs-pvc-pipe-40.aspIt’s probably safe to assume that the danger level increases in some proportion to pipe length, wall thickness, damage (if present), and pressure level.That said, the Schedule 30 stuff works freaking GREAT as air inlet tubing! And as a vacuum reservoir when you use a pipe with caps on both ends.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418601",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T07:01:49",
"content": "While it is important to keep in mind the very real danger that the PVC/compressed air combination can be, think about the reason why this hasn’t stopped happening.As a readily available and cheap material, many inexperienced people who are starting out may choose PVC as a building material without knowledge of the risks it poses.As these people progress, they should become educated on its various failure modes and then move away from PVC if they want to continue their new hobby (both life-wise and progress-wise).So, rather than indicate various dangers and ratings and such on a site like Hackaday, go to Instructables or contact the original author if they don’t have an appropriate warning, because it would make much more sense to have those precautions where people are reading about the actual build.Pressure vessel choices aside, I think the group had a nice execution for the contest and they did a good job.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418602",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T07:04:21",
"content": "Also, if you say that inexperience isn’t a reason, and that people should read up before attempting a build, that’s all the more reason to have a warning with every build-log or instruction.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418636",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T11:26:03",
"content": "Maybe the adition of one on thoughs portable cigaret lighter powered air compressors to refill the compressed air at a distance (maybe with a pressure sensor to provid feedback via Bluetooth) (a big stack of salvos to auto reload would be nice too) maybe a doubble buffer sort of arangment were one barrel is attached to two vesels one being loaded and charged whilst the other is fired? And maybe some way to aim the system. Maybe with face tracking :DOh and as numours people have already pointed out… A safer means of storing the compressed air.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418646",
"author": "password",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T12:27:41",
"content": "this might make a lot of people here cringe , but a good pressure vessel for compressed gas is 2l coke bottles",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418675",
"author": "Jerry_J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T14:26:47",
"content": "That fact that someone is giving awards for unsafe designs bothers me more than anything. These are, presumably, engineering students.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418678",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T14:54:31",
"content": "@Jerry_J: Safety may not have been a factor in the contest, although I agree, it should not be overlooked. I don’t see a presence sensor on the business end either. At 160psi, I’m betting the muzzle velocity of a tshirt could easily put out an eye. I think that if you’re going to enforce safety, you’ve really got to lay it out in the requirements.@password: It’s better, but still not perfect. When a coke bottle explodes (at about 150psi) it doesn’t toss much shrapnel, but if you wrap a tshirt around it it’ll shred it pretty nicely. And anybody nearby will lose their hearing temporarily.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418686",
"author": "Otacon2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T15:36:35",
"content": "Meanwhile there’s a comment on their website about pvc being no safe choice for this kind of project, which should keep people from just copying their design. Thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418774",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T19:55:11",
"content": "@Otacon2k Exactly what I mean.Regarding the mention of soda bottles as air reserviors:Most bottles that hold carbonated drinks are usually good to about 120 PSI. The people at aircommandrockets.com have used fiberglass and epoxy resin to reinforce 2L coke bottles and they’ve used them in rockets up to 250 PSI. If you were planning to use plastic bottles as an air tank, maybe fiberglassing them would make them much safer for use at 100 PSI. A sort-of hybrid air tank. It would also be much lighter than any other tank of the same volume. Just be careful with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418792",
"author": "BacklitVillain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T20:39:18",
"content": "With regrads to the saftey of using pvc pipe, could the risk of danger from explosion be over come by slipping a wider tube (say 10-30mm) over the pipe contaiing the compeesed air?If the compressed air does explode the shrapnel fired of will be contained in the larger tube rather than flying of into the surrounding area, minimising the risk whilst keeping material costs down.Im not an expert and this is just something that came to me reading the same argument about compressed air and pvc again.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418800",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:13:36",
"content": "@BacklitVillianYou would need sufficient vent area to allow the expanding gas to escape while maintaining the structural integrity of covering pipe, which might be hard to do.Maybe there are other protective coverings that can be used? Chainmail? Kevlar?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418801",
"author": "aEx155",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T21:14:24",
"content": "But then again, you’d have to weigh the cost of a protective covering versus a proper pressure vessel, too.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418889",
"author": "Steve-O-Rama",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T02:07:45",
"content": "I’d think a blow-off valve would be better than a containment vessel (think of water heaters and turbochargers), but those can sometimes fail as well. Another type of container would be the best choice (obviously), but this is merely prototype work in its bare naked form, IMO. I’m sure that many HaD’ers have made dangerous prototypes over the years, myself included.Grabbing an idea off of the Internet and running with it, without a fundamental understanding of what’s really going on, is plain stupid, let alone dangerous, and I think that’s what most of us are saying… ???",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419019",
"author": "Alan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T07:30:38",
"content": "Am I the first one to suggest ABS? I’ve used it in spud guns in the past because it is known to split rather than fragment. I learned a lot from burntlatke.com",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419020",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T07:32:00",
"content": "Who cares about safety on something like this? The only reason they used an arduino was so that they could get out of the blast radius…if it was shoulder fired like that fireworks RPG thing a few days back it would be a different story…but no one can get injured if no one is nearby!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419186",
"author": "Hacksaw",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T16:50:07",
"content": "Pressure ratings are pressure ratings.Schedule 40 PVC 3″ in diameter is rated at 260 psi with a 2:1 safety factor. Someone suggested “welding on an npt fitting”…What kind of pipe are you suggesting there? Black iron? Galvanized? you go ahead breathe the fumes from welding galvanized i’ll live a lot longer than you even building pressure vessels out of pvc.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419201",
"author": "willow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-18T17:50:09",
"content": "Aside from all of the comments, nobody else noticed they’re running 160psi through a 150psi valve? Bueller?@Andrew: You can be stupid all you want, but if the chamber-turned-potential-bomb erupts with anyone else nearby.. then you’re involving others. Shrapnel from a small vessel like this will fly a good 100′ in all directions. The soundwave will temporarily deafen anyone within half that range.@Hacksaw: Pretty sure he was referencing steel vessels which can be had for cheap $20-$40 locally or online, which usually only come with 1/8″ or 1/4″NPT fittings.Pressure-rating aside you still have to calculate the derating figure. Most PVC has a specific maximum operating pressure for a set temperature (usually 72*F). Anything above or below this will change the properties of the pipe, and you have to use a derating calculation.If the ambient air temperature, or the PVC temperature, hops to 90*F, a general derating figure of .75 for SCH40 PVC should be used. This immediately drops 160PSI rated 2″ pipe down to just 120PSI. With a fast-inflation (recharge) of the PVC chamber, the air temperature easily shoots over 100psi instantly and this can be a dangerous situation. Moreso with warm air.If it’s cooler the PVC becomes brittle, so the slightest jar or sharp strike at just the right time can lead to failure.Something else to remember are the fittings. Threaded fittings are more likely to introduce failure, than properly-glued fittings.They’re pushing the PVC to the limit, and they don’t have to. They could spend $3 and get pressure gauges also, which would be wise, and another $5 for a safety-pop valve.Also, they could’ve easily gone to 4″ PVC, double the chamber volume, drop the operating pressure to about 60psi (or even less), run a 1″ Rainbird valve and ended up with an even more efficient launcher, using less air, far below the de-rated PSI limit, which is far safer.One of my frequent toys uses a ~200ci steel chamber with a 3/4″NPT outlet, 1″ valve, 28×2″ barrel, operates at no more than 40psi and can launch 30g projectiles more than a football field at ~215fps. And that’s a pretty inefficient setup (the 3/4″NPT is the chokehold).Do the research folks. Hackerspace is right on target with this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.80923
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/16/vga-pong-on-a-chipkit/
|
VGA Pong On A ChipKIT
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"classic hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"chipkit",
"pong",
"uno32",
"vga"
] |
[Nathan] got his hands on a chipKIT Uno32 development board and wrote
a Pong sketch that you can play with a VGA monitor
. We love the hardware that makes this feel very much like the classic. It uses a collection of resistor-based digital to analog converters to generate the color signals for the VGA protocol. The score for each player is show on a 7-segment display instead of being printed on-screen. And the paddles are made up of a pair of potentiometers.
You’ll remember that
the chipKIT Uno32 is an Arudino compatible 32-bit development board
. This project shows how the hardware handles, and how easy it can be to generate VGA signals with it if you know what you’re doing.
For those interested in the game physics themselves, [Nathan] provided a nice explanation about ball movement at the bottom of his post. If you need even more details, dive into the code package that he links to.
| 1
| 1
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418644",
"author": "Andrew Smith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T12:18:06",
"content": "Looks good, I have this piece of kit but haven’t played with it yet. Usually pong games are researved for my fpga",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.733482
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/adding-usb-connectivity-to-old-benchtop-tools/
|
Adding USB Connectivity To Old Benchtop Tools
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"bitbang",
"frequency counter",
"usb"
] |
[Scott] was recently given a frequency counter, and once he brought it home, he started contemplating
how he could possibly make it better
. While the counter worked well as-is, he wanted to find a way to record data readings over a reasonably long period of time. He figured that interfacing it with his computer would be the best way to do this, but he had to find a way to connect the devices first.
He started poking around inside the frequency counter and stumbled upon a possible data source when taking a closer look at the display board. He found that he could read the frequency data as it was being written to the display, and send that data to his computer. He used an ATMega48 to intercept the data and code from the V-USB project to bit-bang the data to his PC over USB.
Now, anything he sees on the frequency counter can be easily collected and graphed on his computer with little fuss.
Stick around to see a quick video demonstration of his hack in action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6uFN52LGnc&w=470]
| 7
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422727",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:16:44",
"content": "This is great but could there be a more detailed schematic for this great design!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422734",
"author": "mess_maker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:41:52",
"content": "I really like this project… I don’t have a use for it at this point, but I like that he “accomplished his goal.”Looking around his blog I am pretty impressed with his comprehension. I have added him to my list of “Blogs to watch”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422768",
"author": "beaglebreath",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:11:11",
"content": "Everything about this is AWESOME. I especially love the bitbanging of the USB data.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422795",
"author": "Scott",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:13:53",
"content": "@SuperNuRd – I updated the post and included notes about the schematic. The application is very device-specific, but the USB-related components are described.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422986",
"author": "Mike S",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T07:14:02",
"content": "Very nice job, great video, thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422988",
"author": "error404",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T07:17:39",
"content": "Clever. I’ve been thinking about building a USB GPIB interface for my counter but it seems like just too much work to get datalogging. Snarfing the data from the board is much less elegant, but much less work. Great hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430530",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:39:08",
"content": "Nice, essentially a low level version of screen scraping… I love it.Props for using VUSB, I’ve never been able to talk it into compiling.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.693963
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/singing-robot/
|
Singing Robot
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Musical Hacks",
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"Musical",
"robot"
] |
The 4DOF CXN-I anthropomorphic robot arm in the Mechatronics Lab at FICES-UNSL (Engineering faculty, San Luis National University, Argentina) was built from scratch, and it is still a work in progress to teach and learn about mechatronics , in order to build another, more robust and precise arm in the future. When one of the students working with the device thought “hey, these motors are quite noisy, aren’t they? let’s put them to work towards something more useful”.
Armed with some guitar tabs, a robot and some noisy servos, [Guille] got the robotic arm to sing a little song raised a couple of octaves, and included it in the introduction video. Because hey, whipping a metal arm around like that is pretty mechanically strenuous, and its not all that great for the servos either.
Join us after the break for a quick video, the singing starts about 58 seconds into the show.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQvWT_AYUX0&w=450]
| 19
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422645",
"author": "kaoD",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:12:49",
"content": "Worst post ever for SO MANY reasons.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422665",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:40:53",
"content": "Ha I would have put that to better use and smash it with a sledge hammer this sucks and I pitty the minds behind this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422667",
"author": "XBMC^N",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:45:40",
"content": "Should have been polyphonic at the very least.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422668",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:45:44",
"content": "that was interesting. they should of did a classic and put a conducting baton in it grips. another cool thing is take an old RC car moter and connect that to a stereo.then put the moter on any surface like your head or teeth or desk or wall…. its like those music pops back in the day.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422671",
"author": "macona",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:50:14",
"content": "Those are steppers, not servos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422685",
"author": "karl",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:25:20",
"content": "That was more humming than singing – 33 years ago, I had built a bit-slice disk controller for a 2314 type [washing machine sized] removable pack hard drive. My diagnostic would play ‘taps’ on the drive if the diagnostic failed.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422690",
"author": "HanSolo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:31:29",
"content": "everyone should quit whining.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422702",
"author": "Michael",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:16:40",
"content": "I like the note it plays when it is lowing the ball at 0:38",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422709",
"author": "Manuel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:30:35",
"content": "I like this masterpiece better:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmoDLyiQYKw",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422718",
"author": "me.",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:57:38",
"content": "@tooth: Please stop abusing the English language! For example, your second sentence should look like this: “They should’ve done a classic and put a conducting baton in its gripper.”You should note that “should of” does not exist. It CANNOT be used instead of “should’ve” or “should have”. Also, it is “motor”, not “moter”.Apart from that, why should the baton be conductive? I mean… most batons are in fact conductive as they are made out of metal. But one made out of wood would work just as well…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422731",
"author": "Peter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:35:50",
"content": "Obligatory “seen that with a scanner before.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJgSraig-bUHeard stories about how old school computers would do the same with tape drives and hard drives big enough to rattle the floor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422750",
"author": "leadacid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:23:37",
"content": "@me.Are you serious? tooth meant a kind of mimicry of an orchestra conductor; play a classical music piece and make the robot hold the conductor’s baton. Conductivity has nothing to do with it… I dunno, it made sense to me. :-/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422796",
"author": "wardy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:14:25",
"content": "The video could perhaps do with being longer. And might benefit from improved audio. And technically it’s illegal to play anything other than Super Mario tunes on stepper motors.Apart from that it’s a win.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422800",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:22:42",
"content": "Here’s another classic —http://www.afrotechmods.com/cheap/hdspeakers/hdspeakers.htm",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422931",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:03:17",
"content": "Kevin; from here on out rather than use “should of”, I recommend you write shoulda. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422934",
"author": "Frogz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:08:50",
"content": "omg your all stoopidclearly its using stepper engines to produce the musicbut this are no mor impresive than a computerized numeric kontrol(cnk) or a scannar producing musicit needs more LED BULBS and atleast 3 aredreenosnicely designed arm however, even if it cant really produce polyphonic music, hey i have an idea, has anyone made a cnc or a robotic arm or a scanner or whatever that accepts STANDARD MIDI INPUT yet?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422941",
"author": "Frogz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:26:06",
"content": "and to complete the “better submissions” in these commentshave a cnc playing mariohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS8-vVE7iGI",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422944",
"author": "tooth",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T04:29:50",
"content": "@ meha found one of them there nazi from grammar villy.sorry for my inability to not be dislexit i shulda keep u in mind. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423189",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T17:27:05",
"content": "@FrogzAMAZING THIS SHOULD BE HEADLINE!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.939298
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/50089/
|
Hybrid Roller Coaster Concept
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Transportation Hacks"
] |
[
"hybrid",
"regenerative braking",
"toyota"
] |
Toyota recently ran an ad campaign touting “Ideas for Good” in which the actors speculated uses for Toyota Synergy Drive hybrid systems in non-automotive related applications. One idea that was floated involved using the car’s regenerative braking system at an amusement park, in an effort to reclaim and use some of a roller coaster’s kinetic energy.
Toyota sent a Prius t
o the team over at Deeplocal
, who deconstructed it and found that the car could generate 60 amps of current when braking. That’s not an insignificant number, so they decided to create a cool demonstration showing how powerful the technology is. They built a coaster car from the Prius’ guts, and positioned it at the top of an elevated platform, which was connected to a 70 foot track. In the video embedded below they push the car from the platform and down the track, using the regenerative braking system to illuminate a large display of amusement park lights.
While the video is little more than a well-produced advertisement for Toyota, we can’t help but think that it’s pretty cool. It’s doubtful that we will suddenly see an inrush of hybrid-based roller coasters any time soon, but the concept is interesting nonetheless.
[via
Notcot
]
[vimeo
http://vimeo.com/22778905
w=470]
| 36
| 31
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422610",
"author": "Aleks Clark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:15:45",
"content": "more credible if they had shown the lights going *out* after the car came to a halt…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430541",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:51:22",
"content": "How do you figure? 60 amps at a decent voltage should be enough to power everything there for quite a while.I for one, think it would be more credible if the mentioned the voltage.",
"parent_id": "422610",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422612",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:17:26",
"content": "Dear HaD,Please stop embedding videos with six layers of javascript coming from eight different servers. Either link directly to the youtube video or host it yourself. There are those of us not willing/able to allow javascript from untrusted servers.-Will",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422615",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:24:25",
"content": "@Will,It’s a Vimeo video, embedded directly from their site. There was no other video available, so that is what we posted. Unfortunately we cannot control if they choose to utilize a CDN or javascript for serving their videos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422627",
"author": "tenfingers",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:41:19",
"content": "@Aleks Agreed. They actually mention in the video around 1:10 that they are “simulating” the amount of energy created in the lighting set. A little too showy, melodramatic, brand promoting for my blood.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422630",
"author": "JDN",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:42:53",
"content": "All their talk of efficiency, blah, blah, and yet they use lots of incandescent light bulbs. Or maybe that’s the intentional resistive load for the braking system. Still, seems incongruous.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422635",
"author": "andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:51:05",
"content": "Why did they have to deconstruct a working car to figure out how much current it could generate? That information should have been available from Toyota.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422640",
"author": "tulcod",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:04:33",
"content": "alternative summary: toyota dumps money into art group; art group buys prius and proceeds to demolish it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430545",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:52:21",
"content": "+1",
"parent_id": "422640",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422644",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:11:44",
"content": "“Using lights from Kennywood amusement park, we simulated the amount of energy we were able to measure being generated from the regenerative braking system”So they didn’t actually use the power from the car to light the displays. They just measured it and let “the same” amount of power through to their lighting displays.What do I have to fake and gimmick up to get a free Prius?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422652",
"author": "ColinB",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:23:47",
"content": "“the car could generate 60 amps of current when braking. That’s not an insignificant number, so they decided to create a cool demonstration showing how powerful the technology is”It doesn’t matter how much current is generated; the amount of energy reclaimed is the critical factor (at least reporting the peak power produced during braking would be an interesting, if not complete, metric). So it is pointless to report 60 A without reporting voltage as well, and even then, if the current and voltage are constantly varying, simply reporting current and voltage separately is not useful either. How much energy goes into the roller coaster, and how much is reclaimed by regenerative braking? —> That is, what is the efficiency? How much money and/or energy would such a design save an amusement park?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "430553",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:58:11",
"content": "Agreed. Voltage at the same time as Amperage is definitely required; I initially figured it must be a decent amount of voltage at that amperage to power all those bulbs, but now, I wonder if they left that figure out on purpose.",
"parent_id": "422652",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422664",
"author": "adam",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:33:53",
"content": "at ~4:07, it’s obvious – the video flashes up “Dramatization. Lights not actually powered by roller coaster”.well, that was a waste of 5 minutes…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "427624",
"author": "Barnsey_2",
"timestamp": "2011-08-03T01:32:06",
"content": "nice catch, completely invalidates everything that they did",
"parent_id": "422664",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "430547",
"author": "Mikey",
"timestamp": "2011-08-08T15:54:09",
"content": "You sir, have amazing eyes. If you die first, and they’re still good, I call dibs.",
"parent_id": "422664",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422666",
"author": "austin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:42:46",
"content": "the thing i disliked in the original commercial was when they said they could “power the amusement park” on the reclaimed energy. now this is obviously not correct, the maximum energy that could be produced by the breaking mechanism is equal to the amount of energy used to lift the carriage to the top of the hill, otherwise we have some weird defiance of the law of conservation of energy.the actual energy produced should likely be less, even 100% efficiency of the breaks to convert all kinetic energy of the cart into electrical energy would still not be equal to the amount used to lift the cart due to energy lost from wind resistance and the smaller amount lost to friction.that being said, the ability to reclaim the energy (which would likely happen once the cart has come to a rest, so the energy would need to be stored in a battery and then attached to the grid…its just safest that way) would be a great boon to the amusement park, as it stands they use energy to lift the cart and then use energy to stop it (though a backup break would still be a good idea)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422672",
"author": "Jack",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:51:21",
"content": "And the application ends up being just as dumb and pseudo-science as the commercial “We could power the amusement park off of regenerated energy!”. Go back to freshman physics please.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422673",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:54:40",
"content": "@ColinBMy thoughts exactly, but you also need to report time as well to get energy. Just volts and current is only power, not energy. You hinted at this, but I just wanted to make it a little more clear.They could only have measured 60 Amps at 12V for 1 second, and that’s unimpressive.System voltage for a hybrid is 201V. So if it was 60 amps at that voltage, that’s 12kW, but I’m guessing only for the 2 seconds of braking. So it would only capture 24kW-seconds or 6.7 Watt-hours. So it would power a 60W light bulb for 10 minutes.Math done in my head while at work, so it may be off. Can someone confirm/deny?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422674",
"author": "Aleks Clark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:56:22",
"content": "Yea more free prius’s and fewer faked gimmicks please. I’m sure every commenter here, myself included (excluding the javascript whiner ;), could come up with some better demonstrations of the efficiency of regenerative braking.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422683",
"author": "Beat707",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:20:01",
"content": "If its just a simulation and not the real thing, its just stupid. They think people are that dumb? Come’on, make it output the real voltage and use that for the lights, and lets see what happens them. ;-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422687",
"author": "Jax184",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:29:40",
"content": "This is just bizarre. Hybrids work in stop and go city traffic. Roller coasters only have one go followed by one stop. Coasters are designed to, well, coast. You inject a great dollop of energy into them at the start by dragging them to the top of a steep hill, then they run carefully off that energy all the way down. As far as I know most coasters are designed so that they never brake during the run. So for most of the run, you couldn’t recover any energy or the coaster would stop too soon. The energy could only be found at the very end when the cars are brought to a stop at the station. So at best you’d get a rapidly falling off spike of power in the last 2 seconds of the ride.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422692",
"author": "nono33",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:37:18",
"content": "Actually, many amusement parks use motor drivers that can regenerate current. They just pump it back into the grid.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422698",
"author": "TomF",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:02:57",
"content": "Actually, the idea is not so new. I work in the automotive industry and we had a request for information from a company which builds so called ‘powered coasters’.Their idea is to use coasters powered basically by the drive train of a battery powered car. They would not need any power rails, because the recovered energy would help the battery to last through the whole ride. The battery would then be charged after the ride.The recovered energy helps to reduce energy costs, as well as battery costs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422715",
"author": "Charlie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:43:26",
"content": "I have a question for Toyota… If you have more than one Prius do you say Prii? LOL",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422736",
"author": "Drake",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:51:34",
"content": "In agreement with everyone else …How is the power getting from the “car” to the lights? I don’t see a long powerchain anywhere!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422766",
"author": "j.neutron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:00:23",
"content": "I’m pretty sure some Rollercoasters have been using regenerative AC drives for quite some time.Regenerating current from a spinning (or falling) load is nothing new, and Toyota should be ashamed with themselves for trying to say they are pioneering it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422785",
"author": "therian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:53:32",
"content": "every rail ride already design to reclaim energy otherwise ridewould be boring single rise and down, so the idea to steal energy will halt the ride",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422807",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:41:14",
"content": "HAD, you should just take this post down and pretend it never happened.IT IS A COMMERCIAL",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422872",
"author": "MysticWhiteDragon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T00:58:43",
"content": "Yea Pittsburgh! 45 min. from my home!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422926",
"author": "jim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:46:48",
"content": "ugh. bicycle dynamos have been doing this for years and make a more appealing concept rather than taking the entire drivetrain of a car just to use its motors as a generator and the unused parts as a weightbasically i’m saying that i’d prefer an advert that compared hybrids to the lights on bikes, rather than try and appeal to my childhood through images of roller coasters",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422959",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T05:39:39",
"content": "Before going further, I wonder how many out there in the DIY community are working energy recovering methods of any kind? While a portion of the script in the begging did prompt an involuntary groan, the only thing I heard about powering an amusement park was on the order that it could supply a portion of the power an amusement park uses or send it into the grid. Even it can only return half the amount of energy used to lift a roller coaster to the peak, there’s a net gain. While it’s a commercial for Toyota, it’s really hard to find fault with the dialog about the goal getting more out of the energy we are going to be using anyway. So it’s a dramatization, until someone can show use the the reality doesn’t live up to what is being said I’ll have a problem with this dramatization. In the event I’m supposed to have a problem with this dramatization for only because it’s a dramatization, excuse me if I don’t. That would mean I should have problem with dramatizations that effectively teach capacitance, inductance, and so on, I generally don’t require visual aids, but many do. Would have been nice if they did build power rails, that power actual light circuits, but I’m pleased the entire dramatization wasn’t created with software, and actual get your hands dirty labor was employed. In the event that this was a dramatization, I have to believe that that lighting shown, wasn’t built on set, and where stock photographs, meaning this commercial didn’t use incandescent lamps one here finds problematic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422976",
"author": "N0LKK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T06:33:07",
"content": "@therian In the roller coaster example the ride has to stop to allow one load of passengers to unload, and another to load up. I believe it safe to assume this will not occur until ride has used up the energy it needed to give a not boring experience, that has to be true if regenerative braking is employed or not.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423012",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T09:55:07",
"content": "So … if they didn’t actually use the regenerative breaking to power the lights…… did they even use breaking at /all/ on the coaster? or did they just slow it with a winch?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423014",
"author": "Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T09:55:35",
"content": "braking. gah. it’s not 6am yet. :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423051",
"author": "Anonymouse",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T11:38:16",
"content": "If your roller coaster has substantial kinetic energy when the ride ends, you’re doing it wrong.Alas, kids these days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423156",
"author": "Dan Fruzzetti",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T16:26:03",
"content": "If it can only reclaim half of the energy used lifting it, that’s still called a “net loss,” not a net gain.Honestly, that commercial made no sense.And yes, more than dozens of us are working on waste energy recapture in this delicate time in the developed world.My biggest concern is recapturing waste heat shed by air conditioning systems. I’d like to capture all of it using the Seebeck Effect or something similar — turn it into light or water sterilization or something.Truth be told, we are still living in the ‘water age;’ all of what we have is a result of learning to bring water to population centers…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.887384
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/robot-vacuum-makes-cleaning-into-a-game/
|
Robot Vacuum Makes Cleaning Into A Game
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"CAN",
"missile command",
"roomba",
"vacuum"
] |
This is not a Roomba hack, but a ground-up vacuum cleaner robot build. It’s the result of a class project from six students at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. There’s a slew of information available in their paper, but fair warning that it’s
an 8.6 MB PDF file
that we couldn’t get Google to translate. We were able to skim the PDF and cut and paste to translate the interesting bits we found.
Unlike a Roomba, which just uses a little sweeper to pick up debris, this robot actually includes a vacuum. The image above shows that the cylindrical body is wrapped in an LED matrix, with an ultrasonic sensor on the front for obstacle avoidance. The robot uses a CAN bus to control the various modules inside. We don’t think there’s any autonomous function, but that’s made up for by the remote control. It communicates via a ZigBee module, and includes a d-pad, touch screen, and accelerometer.We’re a little bit hazy on how the games are played, but there are at least two interactive version: one called ball, and another modeled after the classic game of missile command.
You can
check out the source code
for the project in their repository, or join us after the break for two demo videos.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrsCk6_gJcY&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4gP8wc6pdQ&w=470]
| 7
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422582",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:08:02",
"content": "“Unlike a Roomba, which just uses a little sweeper to pick up debris, this robot actually includes a vacuum”Pretty sure roombas have vacuums, and not just sweepers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422588",
"author": "jon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:23:53",
"content": "Roomba also includes a vacuum… unless you get the expanded dust bin… they expand it by removing the vacuum from the dust bin.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422594",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:40:12",
"content": "That’s some fancy LED effects!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422607",
"author": "[lum]",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:11:10",
"content": "Seems a bit small of a project for 6 people at a tech school don’t ya think?I’m from Sweden as well. Stuff like this is not uncommon for an enthusiast to do on their own in the same time frame.Given an enthusiast most likely wont do a paper about their project I guess.Anyway it’s modular and every student was responsible for a module. I guess the LEDs where a kind of filler.I’m too lazy to translate it all for you. Sorry.But I have to re-fix and re-paint a room today so I save my energy. He he. True story though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422653",
"author": "Rooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:24:42",
"content": "How long until they start saying “Exterminate! Exterminate!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423017",
"author": "christoferjh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T10:02:42",
"content": "We did include a “killer mode”…. and a dance to “its friday”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423357",
"author": "Gray Simpson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-27T00:22:22",
"content": "The iRobot ‘dirt dog’ had no vacuum, but all the standard roombas do. If you need proof of thisclaim, hit the flickr feed (linked from my site) ‘sets’ ‘short hacking projects’ – a few photos of my older Roomba.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,138.985344
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/clocks-built-from-old-aircraft-surplus-parts/
|
Clocks Built From Old Aircraft Surplus Parts
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"classic hacks",
"clock hacks"
] |
[
"aircraft",
"atmega",
"clock",
"indicator unit"
] |
A few years ago, Tube Clock forum member[Sine1040] bought a set of four brand new aircraft indicator units that were built some time in the early 70’s. He had no idea what the units were actually used for, but he did know that he could repurpose them
into some pretty slick looking clocks
.
He disassembled all four boxes and between them, scrounged enough parts to build three clocks. After gutting the clocks and rearranging the digits, he built a timekeeping circuit using an ATMega8 which is clocked by a DS32 oscillator.
While the time is displayed using the large projection-style digit displays, the seconds are ticked off in the left-most analog meter. Minutes are also represented in the clock’s right-most analog window, swinging the needle from top to bottom as each one passes.
[Sine1040] paid special attention to keeping the boxes looking as stock as possible, with the only external modification being a power plug installed in place of an old grounding screw. The clock is definitely a different take on keeping time, and we think it looks great.
Continue reading to see a quick demo video of the clock in action.
[Thanks Brian]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMbgb7q2Syw&2=470]
| 26
| 26
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422554",
"author": "daqq",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:12:50",
"content": "Great build!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422557",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:14:55",
"content": "I have only one thing to say: Gorgeous!I want one :d",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422566",
"author": "jafoca",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:43:02",
"content": "I want one too!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422569",
"author": "Anthony",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:48:08",
"content": "That is awesome. Looks like a great build. I think I am gonna try and put one together. Great job Sine1040 keep it up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422578",
"author": "Robot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:59:18",
"content": "OMG! Penultimate clock p3rn!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422586",
"author": "Justin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:18:14",
"content": "Fantastic and clever. I totally want one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422590",
"author": "D33PCOR3",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:31:40",
"content": "WTF! Absolutly awsome… i want one… that´s sure. Where to buy?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422605",
"author": "Pablo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:00:17",
"content": "Totally awesome!Is there a website you can buy aircraft parts like this?If so please tell :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422606",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:05:04",
"content": "Shut up and take my money!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422616",
"author": "Chris Muncy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:29:20",
"content": "Agreed! These are really secsi! I’d love to find one of these and build my own.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422670",
"author": "DS",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:47:51",
"content": "Need the Top Gun music in the background…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422754",
"author": "mowcius",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:29:13",
"content": "Wow they’re pretty awesome :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422762",
"author": "Grumblenuts",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:50:55",
"content": "Sorry not to add much to the entries above, but WOW this is absolutely amazing!I’ve seen hundreds of clocks on hackaday, and to be honest I usually find them incredibly dull and pointless.All different now…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422767",
"author": "Digital_Entropy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T21:02:53",
"content": "Two things:One: Awesome project.Two: Like everyone else on here, I really really want one =)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422789",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:00:53",
"content": "I’m also highly interested in old aircraft parts, particularly displays, controls from early 90s and back. If anyone has some resources, please post!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422801",
"author": "madcows",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:27:18",
"content": "BAD ASS!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422802",
"author": "HackerK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:27:49",
"content": "Nicely done… put one on eBay and see how high the bid goes. ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422809",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:49:19",
"content": "Very cool, looks like the dashboard clock from the Millenium Falcon, I raise a Colt 45 to you Sine1040!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422876",
"author": "El Toozero",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:07:29",
"content": "What sort of digit display is that?Google is looping back to this very article when I search for “projection-style digit displays”.I’ve seen Nixie, this is something on an entirely different (and more beautiful) level.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422896",
"author": "The Steven",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T01:47:42",
"content": "\\/\\/ /\\ |\\| -|-",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422909",
"author": "MattE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T02:41:29",
"content": "Fantastic! :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422918",
"author": "HeK",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T03:05:45",
"content": "I’m not totally sure, but I think these used to be radio direction finders…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423237",
"author": "Sine1040",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T19:05:08",
"content": "Hey Guys,Thanks for the nice comment.I have put the last unit up for auction :http://cgi.ebay.com/160627177445",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425346",
"author": "pRtkL xLr8r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-29T20:33:13",
"content": "OMG…spit my coffee out when I saw the auction price!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "461227",
"author": "adam",
"timestamp": "2011-09-21T18:45:54",
"content": "sine1040 are you seriously getting almost 500$ for these?? I mean they are pretty freaking cool but 500$ cool I dont know. Either way really sweet idea man I love the way they look.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "909285",
"author": "Henrik",
"timestamp": "2012-12-24T22:01:19",
"content": "So awsome, i would pay more than that….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.046055
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/25/arduino-powered-2-4-ghz-spectrum-analyzer/
|
Arduino Powered 2.4 GHz Spectrum Analyzer
|
Jesse Congdon
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Radio Hacks",
"Tool Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"frequency analyzer",
"spectrum analyzer"
] |
[Fred] dropped a note in our tip line to let us know about arduino forum user [bilbo]’s
latest project:
A 3-in-one spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, volt-meter combo. The build consists of an Arduino, radio board and Nokia 5110 LCD breakout board. The (thin) video after the jump shows the rig in action. Though soldered to a full sized perf-board we can see later, smaller, battery powered versions prove useful in rooting out wayward bluetooth signals, or just finding that lost microwave oven. Although [bilbo] uses the same radio
board
as
similar builds
his creation boasts several different display modes, as well as doubling as a volt meter and miniature-oscilloscope. There is no shortage of
previous
spectrum
analyzer
builds
, but this one is the first one we have seen running on an Arduino.
Thanks for the tip [Fred]! If you feel like wedging some frequency scanning capabilities into your next project don’t forget to check out [bilbo]’s
forum
posts
for source code!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIXmWpsmYs&w=470]
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "422538",
"author": "rick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:27:44",
"content": "Along a similar-ish line from last year:http://hackaday.com/2010/12/29/bringing-the-shark-to-the-bee/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422655",
"author": "fdawg4l",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T16:31:05",
"content": "I am not an expert. I also have not read TFA. That said, calling it a 2.4Ghz spectrum analyzer is a bit misleading. Not, that it isn’t a really (really) hard problem to solve!Chances are it’s analyzing baseband at some 10s of Mhz. The arduino doesn’t have the chops for the full 4.8Ghz sample rate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422730",
"author": "Jonathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T19:31:29",
"content": "@fdawg4lIndeed, you haven’t RTFA.This article and the original mention the use of a radio module.Namely a CYWM6935 WiFi module, whose RSSI output appears to be used to do the acquisition.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422748",
"author": "fdawg4l",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:16:59",
"content": "@Johnathan,I gathered that from the code snippet he posted. Again, I’m not an expert, but I believe my theory about it not being 2.4ghz spec an. stands.RSSI means it’s actually demodulating and decoding a signal. A spectrum analyzer will show you the spectrum regardless of the presence of a signal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422962",
"author": "GrimR33fer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T05:50:25",
"content": "Has anyone else noticed the nice label on the MCU, really simple, i must implement that on my teaching units. such a great idea.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423094",
"author": "Rodrigo Jäger",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T13:44:48",
"content": "Can anyone explain to me how that is possible? I donno the arduino’s clock speed, since my thing are PIC’s, but according to Nyquist theorem, to acquire a signal, for fidelity purpouses, one need to sample it atleast 2 times faster than its frequency. How can it be done at that speed with a microcontroller (and it also handles graphic display oO )… Sorry for bad grammar, english is not my first language",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "423308",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T21:42:59",
"content": "Yeah, I second labels on the micro.Makes sense and avoids expensive mistakes when swapping chips over.What would be pretty clever is to have the programming and USB pins on the chip broken out via an optical interface like the TOSlink so that it is fully isolated from the host PC to reduce noise.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "425571",
"author": "Bilbo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-30T02:25:08",
"content": "Hey all, i’m the one who made this project. Just to address a few things:-I can’t claim complete credit for the chip label idea. Sparkfun does it on the atmegas that they sell, and it seemed like a good idea so i made one for mine.-About the frequency issue, the radio module scans in channel widths of 1 mhz, and the total power of that band is displayed, even if there is not another device transmitting on that frequency.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.64517
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/24/hacking-14-year-old-power-pc-mac-back-to-life/
|
Hacking 14 Year Old Power PC Mac Back To Life
|
Kevin Dady
|
[
"Mac Hacks",
"News"
] |
[
"linux",
"macintosh",
"ppc"
] |
For a while now I have been battling a dying 2.6Ghz dual core computer, but due to laziness and budget I just let it ride. At first it would occasionally crash in games, then it got to where it would crash during routine activities. After a year of this it would nail 105 degrees C in like 20 seconds and that is where the drama starts!
I threw my 2ghz “electronics” computer into my main machine’s case and used that for a few months. It’s motherboard had suffered from every electrolytic capacitor on it being puffy, but it has worked fine for nearly 5 years. I was surprised by the sound of what ended up being 2 caps blowing off of the geforce 7600 video card. In shock and excitement I removed the blown caps, slapped her back in and got another 4 months out of it before 2 more capacitors blew and took out a voltage regulator (and who knows what else with it).
Only armed with the craptop, I was stuck in a pickle! Then a co-worker came up to me and said “hey man you want this mac I only want its zip drive”. Well of course, going bonkers without my avrgcc, datasheets, and calculators, I took on the 14 year old Apple Power Macintosh 9600/300 as my bench machine, and I will now show you how I turned it from a novelty relic to a daily useful machine after the break.
So the machine I bought for the price of removing its zip drive is a 1997 powermac 9600 with a 300Mhz 604e motoroloa power pc cpu, stock 64 megs and a 8 meg non accelerated video card. These sold for 4,200 bucks new.
This one however was part of an AVID system and came to me loaded with every PCI slot filled with video gear, SCSI2, and 256 megs of ram in 8 out of 12 slots (32 meg sticks). It still had its *bitchy Rocket128 8 meg video card, and luckily a Targa2000 card with VGA output.
The cards, while impressive, are practically useless. Even if I had the dongles required to run avid stuff its mid 90’s technology that eats great amounts of power. All of these double board full length heaters were removed except for the Targa2000 card because of its VGA output. I don’t have a Macintosh monitor or adapter. Regarding the Targa2000 video card, its a fine card for the era, but a card made in this century would be awesome. With this video, mac os works, 8.x is snappy but a little limited. 9 is a dog 9.2 is better but its nothing impressive, any generic pci svga card could do the same, and so video became issue #1.
Video is kind of tricky for mac, it has to have its own rom, and its 2x as large as a standard pc rom (512Kbit vs 1024Kbit), So the first thing to do is find out what cards were available as “mac editions”.
Looking at
The Mac Elite Software Downloads
will give you an idea of what you can use. I have a power pc machine and would like to use an original rom, so that reduces my list down to the first table. The other tables include some roms for intel based machines, reduced (in attempt to fit the large mac rom on a smaller pc rom chip) and modified which are not really supported cards, so good luck.
To install these roms you pretty much need an x86 IBM compatible machine to use the rom flash software, and your card is going to need to have that 1mbit rom. This posed a problem cause at this moment all my pc’s with pci slots are toast, and the one card I have that might work is a 9250 with a pc rom, and the only mac side updater I could find still available for download was for OSX and this mac by nature will not go past 9.04.
Moving on I started reading about the radeon 7000. It is a pretty darn fast card for this machine, I could
find mac os9 rom updates and drivers for it
, and you can get the PC versions all day for cheap! Traditionally people would go on a hunt for a couple brands of cards that offered both PC and Mac versions and just never changed to the smaller rom for PC use. Those cards dried up pretty quick and if you see one now its going to cost an arm and leg (a 10 year old mac edition card used is like 40 bucks new around 100!).
During my search for software (ATI mac drivers went bye bye when AMD came in) I ran across an old site where dude grabbed any old pc 7000 and
cut off the rom with a pocket knife and soldered a larger one in its place using a stove and a flathead screwdriver
. He then proceeded to put it in his pc for the old 2 flash process but wondered if that was even needed. In fact no it isn’t! You can put a radeon7000 with a correct size blank rom in a mac and it will update it just fine.
I got online and instantly found a pc-pci version 7000 with 64 megs of ram brand new for 14.99 with free shipping. Once the card arrived I checked its rom and found it to be a nothing special 512Kbit 25×512 SPI eeprom that everyone has made at one point or another. I then dashed off to digikey and found a 25LC1024 made by microchip that would fit on the pads. Once that arrived I tried my best to do a professional job removing the chip, and yep a guy with a stove and a flathead had no problem, but I hosed the ground pad (doh!) … its nothing a little bit of 30 guage cant fix.
At this time I have a 15$ card with a 6$ (including mail) chip sitting on it and no bios. We need to correct that. First and foremost you need at least system 9.While I was waiting for all that shipping to happen I started upgrading my OS. The machine came with OS8.1? and I had a OS9.04 on a CD, which is the max this machine will take without some fiddling. MacOS9.04 is dreadfully slow and every other mac application you try complains about wanting 9.1 or 9.2(the last version of classic OS). Thankfully some people have sat down and cracked this problem in a program called
OS9 helper
. Using this program and the update disk images (
US English available from apple
, but I found a
set for the international crowd
too) you’re just a hop skip and jump away from 9.22 and the latest ATI drivers for a 7000 and much more!
Now we are ready to finish up that ATI card, insert the card into a unused slot, I wont remove the working video card yet. Then I fired up the mac and downloaded
R7000-ROM-208.hqx
and
ati-retail-9-2-2-jan2005.hqx
. Decoded and extracted both, ran the rom updater first. This will bring up a little ui asking if you want to update. It should only take a few moments to flash the blank rom and when it says that it is good. I am now ready to remove the old Targa2000 card and install the drivers.
This R7000 makes a HUGE difference in classic mac OS, where as before you could almost watch the Targa card draw windows, and
Classilla
(a mozilla browser for mac os9) was scrolling web pages about as my 386 would, I am now in a land of accelerated 2D and 3D graphics, Classilla is pretty useable and the computer plays a pretty mean game of Quake3 Arena @1024×768 all options cranked, but the issue is OS9.22 is very old in computer terms, software support is long gone and its still pretty slow just from its age. Besides what if I want to program my avr’s? Or get to a datasheet that is buried behind some java script? Really for this thing to be useable it needs a modern OS, something light but easy and can run on a Power PC cpu, with a ton of tools and programs, something Like Debian PPC…
I downloaded the newest version of Debian PPC as a
200 meg small CD
. There are full cd’s and DVD’s but this one gets what you want off the net so its more practical for me. In order to boot linux on what is called a “Old world Mac” you need a bootloader and a place to install your distro. The main bootloader that works on these old machines is called
bootX (linux)
. It is old and unsupported but works like a charm. The down side to it is you need to at least partially boot into OS9 first, so yeah, you have to keep OS9 around, even if its a tiny install.
As far as a place to install my copy of linux, I have a 9.2 gig SCSI (all the drives are SCSI in this old of a mac) that came out of a PC. Unfortunately, yes macs are a pain in the butt about hard drive’s too, and require that they also have a apple driver loaded onto them before the machine can use it. In the past you needed to use tools like “Hard Disk Toolkit”, which were commercial packages, that do just an OK job. Luckily people have
patched apples own drive tools
so you can initialize partition and format any drive. These tools do not like my install of OS9.22, so in order to use them, I had to use an OS8 boot disk.
I don’t need to partition and format the drive that linux is going on, but it does need its driver “updated” and initialized, which spatters data onto some special partitions so the computer knows what the heck you’re talking about later when you’re asking it to access the drive. In my situation the linux partitioner would not even see the drive until it been initialized.
I have a boot loader, and I have a decent enough disk to put linux on without killing my OS9 fun drive, so lets get this CD spinning! I extracted the bootX bootloader onto my desktop. Inside the folder is the application, a folder for linux kernels, and a system extension so when you’re done you can set it up where you dont have to go all the way to the OS9 desktop first before starting linux. I put the Debian CD into the drive and copied off the vmlinux and initrd from the install\powerpc folder to the bootX linux kernels folder. Start up bootX and point the kernel selection to the vmlinux off of the Debian PPC linux disk, and then point it to use the initrd ram disk also from the CD and click linux.
Sometimes if the CD was not in the machine at boot it will try and lock up. Just reboot and try again. Otherwise you should be greeted by the usual linux text chatter, then eventually launched into a basic text based installer. Simply follow the menus for the most part. When you arrive at the partitioning section it does not really matter how you partition the disk, just keep in mind to not wipe your OS9 partition or any partitions from the Apple disk drivers. So any option except use entire disk is probably safe. Also at this time it is wise to write down where the different linux partitions are, I have a boot partition at /dev/sdb7 and a root partiton at /dev/sdb8, though really I should have just stuck it all in one partition as the boot partition does not really do anything.
This is the trickiest part of the install. Debian will try to install another bootloader. You might get lucky and it might work. I have tried on a half dozen machines over the years and I have not gotten it to work, and it did not work this time either. That is fine just ignore it. The trick is to get the now customized linux kernel and ramdisk from my boot partition to my mac OS partition. Most tutorials on installing Debian on a “old world” machine say “just mount it and copy”, some even suggest using a apple prodos partition but never mention how to mount it … This install of Debian had no clue what a HFS+ disk was and I tried a dozen different ways to get it mounted or copied over. In the end the final part I needed for my main desktop computer had made it in the mail so I just gave up, used a PC SCSI card and linux on my PC to copy the 2 files off of the drive and just emailed it to myself on the mac.
Now that I have the boot files for my machine I just point bootX to use those, tell it where my root drive is, and within a few moments I am sitting at a nice little login prompt. A few apt-get installs later I was starting to build up my software. I had chosen, in the installer, to just give me a basic command line machine, if I had chosen “gui desktop” then I would have been loaded down with GNOME and a bunch of stuff I did not want or need on this machine, so I choose to install it myself. I ended up with xorg as a display server and XFCE as a desktop manager. Overall its pretty darn snappy for a 14 year old computer if you let an application or webpage load before messing with it, and over the month or so I have been using it near daily I have been happy and impressed with its performance.
Here is a short video of it coming up from a cold boot, into OS9 then into bootX, then into console linux into XFCE, which loads up a gecko browser, pdf reader, task manager, IDE, terminal and file manager along with all the desktop stuff in a reasonable amount of time. Sure its not going to break any speed records, but if you had to be stranded with this computer you would live quite comfortably. As far as its retro appeal goes, this machine is able to boot as low as macOS7 so you can get a ton of retro ware running on it, and was one of the very last models that was able to read and write Apple’s funky 800k DD floppy disks which is invaluable for my mac SE. The fact that I was able to keep it around as a cool old mac to poke around with and make it something that can be productive in my electronics work with near daily use makes this machine worth the hassle and the zip drive.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkrv-uVkahA&w=450]
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[
{
"comment_id": "422341",
"author": "Bill",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:49:46",
"content": "I spy with my little eye an TI EvalBot box on the floor there behind your computer.(possible double post, HAD comments is acting up)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422344",
"author": "j",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T22:57:36",
"content": "a lot of that was tl;dr. I lost interest when the author failed to address the cause of the blown caps.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422347",
"author": "Perry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:15:19",
"content": "Woah, alot of effort right there! The system just seems to be a relentless string of problems.Though for 14 year old equipment i wouldnt complain about its speed :P (i’ve had worse mordern machines)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422349",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:21:24",
"content": "I am so glad I’m not the only one seeing old hardware being able serve a purpose. I actually just wrote a rant on my (shitty) site last night about this g3 300mhz I’m typing on now. I went a different route though, using an early version of OSX rather than going with linux. For some reason, debian ppc has simply never felt right on a mac.Have you looked into haiku at all? It’s snappy as can be on an old x86, and should be much faster on a ppc due to less compiler drama in the dev arena.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422351",
"author": "MS3FGX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:30:04",
"content": "I don’t understand this at all…I have almost the exact same machine, and all I did was spend the few dollars for the VGA adapter that let me use the onboard graphics with a standard monitor, and installed Debian. It took me 20 minutes at most to get it sorted out.This is one of the most overkill things I have seen on HaD, and that is saying something.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422353",
"author": "jordan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:39:17",
"content": "so your not doing this for hobby, this is your main computer? not trying to be rude, but why dont you go buy a computer?but that’s really cool! i would love to have old macs to mess around with too, but unfortunately i have got my hands on any.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422355",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-07-24T23:49:06",
"content": "@MS3FGXPretty sure overkill is the name of the game here. This is my 867mhz g4. 1.25gb ram, 120gb hd, usb2 pci card connected to a hacked in HP card reader, and a 24v wall wart ziptied to the back of the power (above the cdrom) for the quicksilver’s extra power feed. Oh yeah, it’s a quicksilver in a GE case with a sawtooth PSU.http://i52.tinypic.com/35k5y54.jpg",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422362",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:14:33",
"content": "@Bill yes, need to do something with that!@kaye I tried 10.1 (via Xpostfacto) since I had it, it worked great but it has a lot of outdated software which interfered with stuff like avrgcc and would not have fit the end goals@MS3FGX thanks!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422363",
"author": "Carlos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:15:00",
"content": "I’d run MacPuppy Linux in the old girl and install the fastest cpu that mobo will support. I’ve done a similar project with a 12 year old Gateway G6-350. I added a 600 MHZ P3 KATMAI CPU, 512 mb of backwards compatible PC133 RAM and an 80GB harddrive. I’m currently using the latest version of Puppy Linux expressly designed for older machines called Wary 5.1.2. Any of the Mozilla-based browsers work just fine. Stay away from the Chrome based browsers, they’re just too hungry for the older CPU/RAM combos.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "621043",
"author": "Omlethead",
"timestamp": "2012-04-05T02:15:59",
"content": "I have a gateway G6-333 and it’s still going strong :) I just wish I could switch cpu’s, but can’t because of mmxII technology. Power to Win98 and other old gold os’s",
"parent_id": "422363",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "422364",
"author": "Kenneth Finnegan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:16:18",
"content": "1999 PowerBook G3 checking in. Apple really makes some nice hardware, for it to still be functional and useful (USB ports and 100bT ethernet) 12 years later.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422367",
"author": "Mitch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:20:50",
"content": "Nice dude, i got one of the first G3 “bubble” iMacs from a friend, while I was able to get OS9 and OS X (10.4) but not a lot of up to date software is compatible with it anymore. I thought about going with Debian myself but decided to go with Gentoo because I could choose exactly what I want on the machine and can keep it really light weight. It took forever to install Xorg using just the iMac and since I use Gentoo on my PCs, I research help on setting up distcc which allowed my PCs to help compile for it. I recommend using or at least trying Gentoo, the documentation is great and could possibly speed up the machine. Of course, after a long compile time…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422368",
"author": "Paul Potter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:20:58",
"content": "That’s some nice work.Sitting next to me is a G3 400 which runs OS X 10.4.11. Will be using it for UNIX type stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422374",
"author": "jeicrash",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:45:43",
"content": "This kind of thing makes me wish I had kept my wyse winterms, can’t even remember the specs aside from the 4gb flash to ide card I loaded xpud on. Ran great for basic stuff.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422375",
"author": "Ketin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:48:54",
"content": "Interesting read but… Keystone? Ick.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422378",
"author": "Nardella",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T00:53:17",
"content": "Very impressive, the things we will do to get out fixhttp://xkcd.com/466But I am confident I could find a more powerful windows box for ~21$ on local listings.Was there a reason you wanted a mac?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422380",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T01:17:02",
"content": "I actually have an old mac like this (mine’s 250MHz), and I’m a difficult time getting mine running how I want. I’m trying to set it up to use a really old CD burner I’ve got (SONY CDW-900e). I found that an old version of toast works with that burner. The problem is that I can’t find any OS 9 discs in american english that will install on it (I have 2 or 3 discs that are 9.2, and found online downloads for international english 9.1 or 9.0). Is there any way you could help me out?Cheers,Andy",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422385",
"author": "BLuRry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T01:41:27",
"content": "We are useful. Everything that boots is beautiful. :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422396",
"author": "OldMacBoi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T03:01:37",
"content": "Old PowerBook G4 here. Party hard. Nice that someone cares about PPC more than me. I personally think PPC is the best. I mean Moto has been apples mothership since the (beginning?) 128k days. Intel: 6 years. I am running Maverick (ubuntu) on my PBG4 2001. Leopard on my PBG4 17 inch G4.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422397",
"author": "OldMacBoi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T03:05:09",
"content": "BTW: NNIIICCCE.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422412",
"author": "aarku",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T04:54:22",
"content": "You could use XPostFacto to install Mac OS X on it.http://eshop.macsales.com/OSXCenter/XPostFacto/Open source.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422415",
"author": "Robert Johnston",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:07:59",
"content": "I did something similar but put BeOS on it a few years ago…but Debian squeeze would be great now…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422416",
"author": "geekdude",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:10:30",
"content": "I have lots of computers that are at least five years old that still boot. In fact since I like to fix things my room has become where most of my friends computers go to die and i have only seen about 3 that have problems with the capacitors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422422",
"author": "geekdude",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:23:05",
"content": "I have a quicksilver G4 that I put blue g3 pannels on, and cleared out the grey sides. I also put 2 120mm clear fans on it. I use it occasionally to play os9 games. It sits next to my hackintosh. I also have a mac classic which gets used even less, and a power mac 6100 and a performa 640 that sit in storage and do nothing. I cant bear to throw them away though because their macs",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422427",
"author": "Rick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T05:58:32",
"content": "> It’s motherboard had suffered from every electrolytic capacitor on it being puffy, but it has worked fine for nearly 5 years. I was surprised by the sound of what ended up being 2 caps blowing off of the geforce 7600 video card. In shock and excitement I removed the blown caps, slapped her back in and got another 4 months out of it before 2 more capacitors blew and took out a voltage regulatorUhh, if you had replaced the capacitors with good ones, this computer would still be working. Then you could have been spending your time on some other hipster project.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422436",
"author": "cmholm",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T06:47:05",
"content": "I went through a similar process after receiving a G4 AGP (Sawtooth) for zip. I needed a ‘new’ old Mac to run my router s/w and act as my hobby server, and gradually upped it from stock to dual cpus, max ram, upgraded graphics, DVD r/w, and a sata controller and disk, along with a free 19″ CRT. I enjoyed the process of seeing the machine reach its max potential.After running this setup 24/7/365 for three years, it occurred to me to put it on a Kill-A-Watt to see what this was costing me in the land of $0.32/kwhr… about $400 a year. I picked up a Mac Mini Core Solo with busted audio. Power draw works out to about $50/year. Based on power savings, it payed back its purchase price + bigger disc in 9 months.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422479",
"author": "jos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:27:19",
"content": "I have a ppc g4 mdd. First the hdd wasn’t working well and then the “superdrive” was burned while trying to install macOS so I changed it for another dvd drive. Then when the hardware was ok and everything installed I turned on the computer on and does nothing. I don’t know if it is the psu, or a cpu pin… Now I’m trying to convert a normal atx psu to work with the special one on the mdd, but if it is the cpu I won’t spend my money in that shit again.Is the hardware old, bad luck or mac hardware is a shit? Because I’ve never had all those problems in older pcs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422481",
"author": "fixer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T09:31:40",
"content": "mmmmm old iron, nice blog",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422519",
"author": "Az",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T11:21:04",
"content": "Let me clarify something here. You have a machine constantly blowing caps, have you at all looked at the power supply? And when you say you ‘removed’ the caps, I hope you mean by that that you replaced them, not simply got rid of them. As for those Avid cards you have no use for, you can probably make a couple quid if you hock them cards on ebay – some of those emac fanatics are crazy enough to buy em :)Aside, touch up on your soldering skills if you’re lifting pads on pre-lead free hardware, its not that hard to find scraps to piss about on…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422537",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T12:15:40",
"content": "jolicloud OS",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422553",
"author": "planetjay",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:08:19",
"content": "You can and should overclock it too. I ran one just like that for a few years with a G3-400 over clocked to 425MHz.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422565",
"author": "Buzzles",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:36:34",
"content": "I concur with others, this seems like a dreadful misuse of time as the original problem that killed the two machines was never addressed.Poor cooling? Or a faulty psu?Seems suspect as normally PC hardware can and will run for decades if kept within normal operating parameters.Hitting 105c in 20 seconds sounds like the heatsink fell off tbh.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422568",
"author": "AnonymousCoward",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:47:10",
"content": "I just wanted to say that NetBSD has really nice instructions on how to use the OpenFirmware to load different OS. This means you can totally distch the Mac OS partition! on boot, before the chime hold cmd-alt-o-f.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422579",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T13:59:49",
"content": "@Buzzle; you just don’t understand–this is Hackaday… It’s not supposed to make sense–or to make it easier for yourself. I don’t know how many times the editors here have praised “hacks” for their creator imposed difficulty (which, to be honest, seems like the complete OPPOSITE of what a hack should be.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422584",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:13:01",
"content": "So what us macheads were doing 14+ years ago is now considered “hacking”?What is impressive is that he found older firmwares.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422596",
"author": "MikeLinPA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T14:44:24",
"content": "Nice. I still have a Mac Clone from that generation. A PowerComputing PowerBase, 240 GHz. It was the best Mac I could afford at the time. PowerComputing made better Macs than Apple did! It came with both mac and PS/2 keyboard ports, and both VGA and Mac monitor ports. I never could afford a new Mac monitor in those days, so I was able to stop using the adapter I used with my LCiii.I still have it, and my first Mac Classic II. I can’t bear to part with them, even if I never turn them on anymore. Good times!PS I loved Mac OS 8.6! It was so right!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422609",
"author": "Woofpickle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:14:48",
"content": "hm, Maybe I should dig my 68k performa out of the closet and see if it still boots…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422613",
"author": "Kevin Dady",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:19:30",
"content": "Address of my original machines since people seem to be worried about it:Power supply: no power supply is one of the best I have ever owned, my original cpu blew a core being overclocked … no mystery therePuffy caps on my old PC: it was connected to a crap power supply for 3 years in a 80 year old house, no mystery there either, and I was not about to recap a MSI socket754 board with agp8x and ddr with like 3 dozen caps, I only paid 50 bucks for the entire machine 5 years agoAbout OSX: I have 10.1 and its way too old to do what I want, avrgcc wont compile so that is a deal breaker, even with Xpostfacto the best this machine can do in X is 10.2 anyway.Thanks for all your interest and stories!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422631",
"author": "asheets",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:43:38",
"content": "105 degrees C in 20 seconds? My microwave can’t boil water that face. I don’t think caps were really the problem.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422632",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:43:57",
"content": "“I have 10.1 and its way too old”–I lol’d.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422638",
"author": "jaspel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T15:59:48",
"content": "I do not understand the hate. Repairing a non standard piece of equipment that is now ancient, sounds perfect for HAD.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422676",
"author": "Eddie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:01:47",
"content": "Great post cmholm.I have a G3 Wallstreet (Old World ROM) (upgraded form 233MHz to 300Mhz – saw a TINY improvement) and a 400MHz iMac DV (New World ROM) on which I run Slackware derivative Slackintosh.http://workaround.ch/I used to compile stuff on the iMac and rsync to the Wallstreet and also used distcc which is GREAT.They both work fine using the above mac/linux bootloader.I haven’t used them in a while ever since I tried to sign onto my Hotmail account, and because the PowerPC architecture comes up as PPC, which Hotmail interpreted as PocketPC which caused Hotmail to present a severely reduced login page suitable for the tiny screen of a PccketPC.That was the final straw. I bought a used Thinkpad R40 which is faster, more memory, LIGHTER.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422689",
"author": "APE",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T17:30:31",
"content": "Love the comments from people who clearly don’t understand why any of this is anything worth doing.Perhaps you’d all prefer to just burn anything made before 2010?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422714",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:42:42",
"content": "@APE, perhaps you’d like to lend me your free time?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422720",
"author": "beeboue",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T18:59:33",
"content": "Nice work. I have a 9600 sitting out in the garage right now…hmm.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422743",
"author": "kaye",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:08:02",
"content": "@AnonymousAnon recruiting on hackaday?Arm the plasma pistols and the anoyatrons, boys!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422761",
"author": "Andynonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T20:48:54",
"content": "Damn. I should do something like this. I think I have an old powermac kicking around somewhere…It was the first computer I used at home… I think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422803",
"author": "Plaid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-25T22:28:54",
"content": "I ran Yellow Dog Linux on an old 7600/132 for several years. I didn’t have to jump through so many hoops, though. The on-board video will work with a VGA monitor with a $5 adapter, and I wasn’t looking for video performance, since I ran it headless.I didn’t use a MacOS based bootloader, either. The OpenBoot firmware will boot from several different compatible bootloaders, and then you can ignore all the issues with MacOS disk “drivers” and keeping an OS 9 boot parition around.At it’s best, my single-CPU 132Mhz 604 (non-E) with 64M of RAM could serve double the number of page hits to a complex e-commerce site, as the same site running on a dual 200MHz PentiumPro w/ 256M of RAM, on WinNT and IIS.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422953",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T05:22:25",
"content": "If you stuff it full of RAM you can get it running OS X with XPostFacto. I’m pretty sure you can get G4 upgrade cards for it as well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422992",
"author": "the drain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T07:46:19",
"content": "I remember having wet geek dreams that involved the 9600. Hard to believe it’s a 14 year old clunker now. Totally had forgotten about it until now.Where does the time go?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "422993",
"author": "Phil",
"timestamp": "2011-07-26T07:55:41",
"content": "I agree with all of the detractors who said that this approach was totally overkill.But I still found this rather fascinating.I started using Apple computers _WAY_ before the first Macintosh. Macs have always been, for me, more expensive than PCs (YMMV). So I stopped upgrading my Macs in 2003 and my last Mac is a PowerMac 9600. It still functions, it’s on my current network and with DAVE (excellent software BTW) it can transfer files to and from the other computers on my network. I only use the Mac when I’ve got a specific need, like a piece of software which won’t run on my PCs or to retrieve old files which were archived on floppy disks. So the computer does still serve a useful purpose.I don’t see why the OP had to go to such extraordinary efforts to get a functional video card. I’ve got a handful of Mac to VGA adapters in my junk box and they sell for about $8 on eBay. You can get a PCI video card for a Mac for about $20.And, as many others have already noted you can get a fully functional PC which somebody no longer wants for about $20 too (if that much) so having a computer is not really a justification for this much effort.But still interesting to read about this approach.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.363254
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/15/extmedia-an-xbmc-disc-changer-interface/
|
ExtMEDIA: An XBMC Disc Changer Interface
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Video Hacks",
"Xbox Hacks"
] |
[
"ben heck",
"blu-ray",
"changer",
"htpc",
"xbmc"
] |
A while back, [Ben Gilstad] built his first HTPC, loading XBMC on it to manage all of his digital media. He loved XBMC’s features and flexibility, but he
needed a way to enjoy his DVD and Blu Ray collection
on the device without too much hassle. Far before [Ben Heck] considered
fitting his Xbox 360 DVD drive into a CD carousel
, this [Ben] was busy hacking a Blu Ray player into his.
He bought a broken disc changer at a garage sale, and tore apart a standard SATA Blu Ray player in preparation for the optical drive transplant. An ATMega168 controls the changer’s mechanics, monitoring the carousel’s position and triggering the proper motors when discs need to be swapped out. The AVR currently takes its direction from the HTPC over its serial port via a UDP proxy as XBMC did not support a serial interface at the time he was building the changer.
The second half of [Ben’s] project is an XBMC add-on that he uses to manage his huge collection of optical discs. In order to get XBMC to recognize each disc as a valid ‘file’, he created a clever workaround involving blank WMV clips. This enables him to view his DVDs as if they were digital files on his hard drive, complete with cover art.
It’s a fantastic project, and [Ben] says that his system should be able to support any number of physical disc changers simultaneously, without much issue. Unfortunately the project went on hiatus when he lost his job, so it’s packed away in storage for the time being. Once he gets back on his feet however, he has a whole list of planned changes and improvements to work on – we can’t wait to see it once complete!
Keep reading to check out a video demonstration of his XBMC add-on in action.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8uq1zcHOrQ&w=470]
| 19
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "418026",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:26:51",
"content": "If it’s streaming then why not just store it on the server computer’s hdd? I love all things Ben Heck, and thoroughly enjoyed his 360/multidisc hack and vid, but this seems like a lot of cart before the horse if I am understanding the blurb correctly. The converting of files is something Tversity and Orb mycast do automagically and makes your 360 useful again.If it is for original XBMC, then the T3CH 3.4 SVN hack should handle it fine. Maybe not fullscreen jitterfree, but it can still plow thru things I wouldn’t consider it capable of. I still have a revolving stable of original xboxes that get sent out to friends as they get savvy enough to stream over their home network lol. Often though most don’t get past the emulators and reliving childhood lol.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418037",
"author": "Dmitry Grinberg",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:36:57",
"content": "Discs? What are discs? some new way to say “file on a file server?” Or are those the things greeks threw in competitions back in the day?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418044",
"author": "kabadisha",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:51:06",
"content": "This is a great piece of work, but to me it just hilights why people illegally download films – no poxy discs to feck around with. It’s time for the industry to buck up it’s distribution model rather than pay lawyers for legislation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418047",
"author": "Ben Gilstad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:53:35",
"content": "Sorry for any confusion – This is designed for an HTPC running the XBMC software. No streaming/servers/file conversion/XBOX required. The .wmv files act as placeholders for real physical media (Blu-Ray/DVD/HDDVD) and the playback is done directly from these optical discs.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418052",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:57:23",
"content": "“but he needed a way to enjoy his DVD and Blu Ray collection on the device without too much hassle”you RIP them. Not much hassle in that by using the right tools, heck if you know linux you can automate the DVD ripping. BluRay ripping is not much harder but harder to automate.Handbrake FTW. He could have ripped every disc he owned in the effort he took to build this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418053",
"author": "Arthur Benemann",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:58:14",
"content": "Take a look at this project I made some time ago:http://www.instructables.com/id/IR-USB/It would be a great addiction to control the XBMC running on that PC, if you don’t have a Microsoft remote.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418056",
"author": "fdawg4l",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T18:07:12",
"content": "More of a tangent, but my experience with XBMC throughout the years has been poor. Or maybe it was simply my media. However my PS3 has never had a problem with the same media so I’m pointing the unnecessary finger at XBMC.It seems like every time I want to watch something using XBMC on my {laptop, atv2}, XBMC dies and restarts a few minutes in.To pass the gf test on a Friday night, things have to work the first time, every time, without the use of a terminal. Sadly, in the many years that XBMC has been around, I have to put it in the “not quite there yet” category.This hack seems really neat and very well thought out. I wonder if it passes the gf/wife test in production.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418058",
"author": "facefart",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T18:08:46",
"content": "@Ben Gilstad,No apologies needed – welcome to hackaday.The crap you see is the typical mouth breathers complaining or commenting on yet another build without reading the fracking article.God forbid anyone f**king hack something around here. If someone takes the easy route everyone bitches that they did it the easy way. Do something creative and hack some hardware then they bitch that you did it the hard way and suggest the easy way.Perhaps he didn’t want to rip his discs since full blu ray rips can pile up quickly. He could buy 5tb of disc space that can fail at some point or hack together a sweet changer…gee I know what I would do.Rock on man it looks slick as hell.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418065",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T18:27:00",
"content": "@fdawgI recently built an HTPC based on the AMD Zacate platform. I had quite a few problems getting it up and running with either the linux or live versions of XBMC. However, when I installed Windows 7 and XBMC everything worked perfectly right away. I haven’t had a single problem streaming my 1080p movies from my main PC. XBMC is a great platform but you do have to put effort into setting it up correctly. My gf can operate now with ease, using my harmony one remote.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418091",
"author": "vonskippy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T19:34:06",
"content": "Nice work, but is it really that hard to get up off the couch every 90 minutes or so and change the disk? Britain might have invented the fat ass, but America is working overtime to produce it wholesale.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418097",
"author": "kakureru",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T19:54:18",
"content": "this is something I want to do. I got me a 200 disc changer ready for hacking :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418108",
"author": "Ben Gilstad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T20:56:31",
"content": "@fartface – Sure, I could just rip them, but that solution isn’t exactly “legal”. Besides, where would the fun be in doing it that way?@vonskippy – It isn’t really a hassle to load discs, but that solution severely lacks “nerd appeal” – Not to mention that would pry me away from my Big Mac and 64oz soda. The software could be used by itself, which is actually how I’m using it at the moment since I don’t have the hardware with me. The software just ejects the DVD drive when one of the files is played and waits for the disc to be inserted.@kakureruI’ll be releasing all my files once I have a chance to finish this project up. In the meantime, feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions about getting your own version up and running.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418117",
"author": "durfdee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T21:24:54",
"content": "@vonskippythink outside of the box that you call your living room.one might have the discs and xbmc machine in a central location in order to switch/serve video and audio to multiple rooms, much like youd have a server closet. this type of hack is perfect (and really the only solution short of a $3000+ sony BD changer) for such scenarios where ‘getting up off the couch’ doesn’t really apply/isnt viable.@allthenoobsnewtopiracyits 2011. touting that you can ‘just download’ all of this content and stream it to the xbmc machine is NOTHING new. most of us using xbmc for years have been there, done that, and sat back and watched as all of the noobs gobbled up the ‘media players’ that used sneakernet/external drives to get media to their TVs (and before that, noobs with dvd players that would play divx) only to see people finally ‘getting it’ with backend fileshares to their media with hdd-less frontends to play them back. Now you think you know better than those who WANT the quality that physical media brings, by stating the obvious?while you might think your x264s are extra snazzy, actually ‘HD’ and no different (or good enough) than the bluray sources; ive found that those who spout ‘Discs? What are discs?’ have no idea what they are missing. Bluray (albeit NOT free of its own issues) is vastly superior and there is damn good reason why someone would prefer the content on said disc vs a high compressed copy.Wake me up when linux gets bluray menu support and we can talk about building that multi-terabyte array just to house said disc images. When the cases they are sitting on the shelf they dont require power, 0 stress on your local network while viewing, are much less likely to fail vs a hdd array, and you still retain full bitrate. Not to mention parent/friend-friendly ability to loan said content out. How many people do you know with a 64GB thumbstick and the time to wait for the transfer? :PCool hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418148",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T22:20:06",
"content": "If you own the disks, rip them. You don’t have to wade through menu after menu after preview and you know that a small scratch on a DVD isn’t going to interrupt your movie watching experience. Plus, you don’t have to build this – AND – moving your collection over or even duplicating it becomes trivial.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418154",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T22:32:28",
"content": "I would much rather buy a bunch of 2TB drives….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418252",
"author": "Jac Goudsmit",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T04:34:07",
"content": "For those who don’t understand (or remember) “disks” (or “discs”): Those are the things that spouses and parents use and understand, so having the ability to play them without the need to grab and convert them first, definitely lowers the Spousal Acceptance Factor threshold when you’re building a HTPC.And a carousel CD changer usually has so much unused space inside that there’s plenty of space for a motherboard and one or more hard disks for the other members of the family.===Jac",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418736",
"author": "Nitori",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T18:00:03",
"content": "Nice hack but I would not bother as it’s easier to just rip and re-encode the discs and put them on a server.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418825",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:19:08",
"content": "A bunch of 2TB drives sits there wasting power, is much more likely to fail and can’t work with a console/bluray player etc without faffing around breaking copy protectionEspecially as the price of writable bluray discs falls there will still be a good case for disk media as storage.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418832",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-17T22:55:12",
"content": "Rumour has it that 2TB microSD cards are less than a year away, based on 18nm 35 layer chips.Ironically its actually cheaper this way, as a 17 layer 32GB has lots of bad sectors. More layers = more errors BUT the increase in areal density means that it is a relatively simple matter to even map out bad layers entirely and take a small hit to overall capacity.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.231846
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/did-microsoft-steal-the-kinect/
|
Did Microsoft Steal The Kinect?
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"News"
] |
[
"Carlos Anzola",
"gesture interface",
"HiE-D",
"Kinect",
"microsoft",
"Project Natal"
] |
In 2009, while Microsoft was busy designing and marketing what would become the Kinect, [Carlos Anzola], an inventor, tinkerer, and self-ascribed geek from Bogotá, Colombia, had been working for years on a nearly identical gesture interface for the PC. His creation, the Human interface Electronic Device, or HiE-D – pronounced ‘Heidi’ – was capable of gesture recognition years before Microsoft would release the Kinect.
After developing his gesture recognition device in 2007, Microsoft showed interest in [Carlos]’ device – going so far as to request a prototype. Microsoft suggested that he should apply for a patent on his technology. [Carlos] did just that, sending in patent applications to both the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
and the
World Intellectual Property Organization
a mere two days before the announcement of Project Natal and a full seven months before
Microsoft applied for their Kinect patent
.
Since the release of the Kinect, [Carlos] has been showing the HiE-D around Bogotá and has put a few videos of his technology up on Youtube, one of which can be seen below. You can also check out his
Youtube channel
for some great demos.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5jfOJ3TwyI&w=470]
With a reputation of experience in computer video, animation, and 3D processing, [Carlos] was approached by a technophobic American dentist who wanted a faster laser scanner for 3D modeling of his patient’s teeth. [Carlos] built an improved laser scanner and
was featured on
Caracol Noticias
, a Columbian Newscast. [Carlos] had to deal with a bit of feature creep from the technophobe dentist, because he now wanted to manipulate the models of his patient’s mouths without using a mouse. [Carlos] was hugely influenced by the
Minority Report
computer interface, and decided the easiest way to interface with a computer would be a gesture interface.
[Carlos] set out to build a device that would allow a person to control a computer using only gestures. His HiE-D would be a surprisingly simple but devilishly clever device. The HiE-D projects a pattern of dots, or constellation, in infrared onto the user. Infrared is invisible to the human eye, but is easily picked up by a camera onboard the HiE-D. This is how the Microsoft Kinect works, and can be seen by a
video camera in nightshot mode
. When the camera detects a change in this constellation, the image is processed and can identify reference points in the user’s face, hands, or even their entire body.
After hearing of the HiE-D, Microsoft courted [Carlos] and requested a prototype. He gave Microsoft a prototype of the HiE-D, and according to [Carlos], it was taken to Redmond in February of 2007 – more than two years before the announcement of Project Natal. After meeting with Microsoft two more times that year, he was told by Microsoft that a patent on his invention wouldn’t be a bad idea.
While any action on Microsoft’s part would be speculation, we will say that the Kinect is remarkably similar to the HiE-D. Both use a ‘constellation’ of infrared dots projected on the user, and both can are able to detect the ‘skeleton’ of a user for motion control. The image below, from the HiE-D patent, shows how the movement of a face can be tracked.
Today, [Carlos] is in talks with a few interested companies that would like to produce the HiE-D. He says it would sell for only $50 USD, compared to $140 for a Microsoft Kinect. The HiE-D doesn’t have a camera to capture video of a user, so
playing dress up
with a HiE-D would be impossible. This wouldn’t be to much of a drawback, because some of the
most impressive
Kinect hacks
we’ve seen
wouldn’t change at all with the HiE-D.
[Carlos] says he’s been in contact with a few lawyers in Boston, who believes he has a case against Microsoft for patent infringement. He’s undecided about how to proceed at this point – Microsoft does have the war chest to go after Google for
Android
and defend itself over its use of
3D mapping
. If we were [Carlos], we’d be pretty skeptical about our chances as well.
A flurry of interest from the hacker community surrounded the Kinect before its release date – there were
bounties posted
to develop an open-source driver so the Kinect would operate outside the closed Xbox ecosystem. The fact that a driver was released hours after the official launch of the Kinect is a testament to the interest in gesture recognition and the
Minority Report
interface. At Hack A Day, it’s not unusual to see tinkerers and geeks re-imagine existing products; there have been
copies of the Microsoft Surface
, and an attempt to
reverse engineer the Playstation Move
. Most of these are reimaginings of existing ideas or devices, which makes the uniqueness of [Carlos]’s build all the more amazing.
We’re reminded of the abilities of the anonymous home tinkerer every day. To us, “hacker” is a label of creativity, investigation, and understanding. Like [Carlos], some of us eventually stumble upon a new idea that will change how humans interact with their environment. Although [Carlos] may not get the windfall he deserves, we’re still pretty jealous of his ability to build something, alone in a small workshop, that would change how people interact with computers.
| 86
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417816",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:02:47",
"content": "They bought it from a 3rd party company. /thread",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417819",
"author": "Sean",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:09:35",
"content": "Microsoft didn’t invent the Kinect sensor technology, PrimeSense did.http://www.primesense.com/Microsoft licenses the technology from PrimeSense. Although they did buy a competitor 3D camera company 3DV, which uses IR time of flight cameras – but mostly for patents.What Microsoft did do is create a very robust skeletal tracking system, a very robust directional microphone system, and applied these to their game console.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417820",
"author": "earl",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:15:34",
"content": "if the story is true, sounds pretty cut and dry: Microsoft took it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417822",
"author": "J",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:21:13",
"content": "Well, that explains the Microsoft’s openness with the IP… it was not really theirs to begin with.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417825",
"author": "Enzo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:31:32",
"content": "I wonder why it does not surprise me that much?:-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417828",
"author": "RR",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:36:47",
"content": "Isn’t the Kinect’s technology patented by Primesense? I guess Microsoft looked at a bunch of different people’s stuff and integrated them together into Kinect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417831",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:44:49",
"content": "The only thing that surprises me here is that a techno*phobic* dentist (i.e. a dentist who is scared of technology, or wants to stay away from it) would contact a tinkerer and inventor.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417832",
"author": "Leithoa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:44:54",
"content": "R&D *does* stand for rip off and duplicated…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417835",
"author": "BlueCoder",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:47:52",
"content": "The Kinect wasn’t original. The idea of gesture recognition has existed for a long time. No different than facial recognition or environment recognition. The only thing original was applying it to games and marketing it and Nintendo gets the credit for that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417836",
"author": "Kinkfisher",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:48:38",
"content": "It’s a bit more complicated than that. Microsoft’s contribution to the Kinect is in the software and algorithms that map the depth map from the IR camera to a human model, and translate the movement of the model into gestures to feed into apps. This is reflected in the claims in their patent application. The sensor itself is from PrimeSense.Carlos’s claims are more about the device as well as detecting gestures from IR depth map, but it does not mention a human model, i.e. His and Kinect’s are different approaches. As such his patent is more relevant to PrimeSense.Now the problem is, what Carlos’ patent describes had probably been done long before by PrimeSense and an erstwhile rival, Canesta, both of whom have a bunch of patents on that technology already. Canesta was also snapped up by Microsoft recently – most probably for its IP.As such, Carlos’s patent application is likely invalid because of the earlier patents from PrimeSense and Canesta. Hence, his chances seem slim to me.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417837",
"author": "Jack Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:50:29",
"content": "or did Mircosoft Purchased the tech.http://www.metrolic.com/how-apple-missed-the-opportunity-to-buy-kinect-technology-144265/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417842",
"author": "nrp",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T05:13:47",
"content": "If I’m not mistaken, most if not all of the patents related to the structured light 3D end of Kinect belong to Primesense, not Microsoft.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417843",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T05:17:29",
"content": "Microsoft didn’t develop the technology that drives the Kinect anyway. The IR dot pattern emitter and sensor were developed by an Israeli company called PrimeSense. Microsoft simply used their already-developed technology to make the Kinect.It seems a bit silly to claim that MS stole the idea from this guy when they openly admit to using tech developed by someone else to power their toy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417846",
"author": "rasz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T05:26:33",
"content": "SOFTWARE patent = worthless",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417861",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:18:58",
"content": "that music just does not match with that video",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417862",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:21:47",
"content": "His system seems to work a bit better than the Kinect. If he can produce them cheaper than Microsoft can produce the kinect maybe he could bring them out to allow gesture control of PCs to become a standard or as an open source device for the robotics community (:A few of these mounted on a wheelchair to achieve 3d mapping could be an interesting concept.Throughout history people have stolen ideas and bent patients if this is the case with the Kinect shame on you Microsoft.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417864",
"author": "CRJEEA",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:27:39",
"content": "PS.This really does go to show that the hack of today truely does have the potential to be the world changing technology of tomorrow. (even if few people know it was you who sparked it all off first until years later)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417867",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:39:21",
"content": "Ersh that is painful to read.A structured light depth measurement system which looks slightly similar to the Kinect so therefore Microsoft must have stolen it. Seriously the article doesn’t even mention Primesense.So it tracks a skeleton…. thats something people have been trying to do for a long time. Just because they use a depth image means Microsoft stole.Article completely misses the point, maybe try googling primesense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417873",
"author": "Helb",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T07:03:15",
"content": "Look at Jeff Han’s work with multitouch. Months before MS Surface was announced.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417875",
"author": "cpmike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T07:13:37",
"content": "i think hes actually better off, from a business perspective. let microsoft get the masses/people familiar with the interface under the restriction of it being only for gaming. now all he needs to do is develop the appropriate API package, and he is free to sell his device to any of the number of companies dying to implement this interface commercially, but were restricted legally by MS. he’ll make a buttload…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417885",
"author": "jos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T07:58:30",
"content": "both ideas are similar, and maybe microsoft’s idea comes from this man’s design. But when we talk about patents, what is a copy, original idea, violation… it’s more much complicated. They are “only” ideas.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417892",
"author": "Climate Change Kills",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:06:49",
"content": "The patent system has been coopted by the banks to create credit, so no matter who invents anything, eventually it will be patented in canada or the US and noone will hear about the original inventors.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417893",
"author": "Old duffer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:08:25",
"content": "For crying out loud. I saw an IR-based system similar to this demoed in 1995, running end-to-end on what would now be deemed a mid-range microcontroller.There’s nothing new under the sun, people.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417894",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:14:13",
"content": "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417895",
"author": "xyros",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:20:32",
"content": "a salute to one of the few… who creates something out of nothing… :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417896",
"author": "torwag",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:23:09",
"content": "Well if he is lucky, Microsoft does what big companies do in such cases…they give him a few million dollar and he grants all rights to them. Whatever they offer it might be worse to consider to take it rather then feeding a bunch of lawyers over the next 5-8 years. If it goes to court, at the end everyone is rich and happy beside of Carlos for sure",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417899",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:27:49",
"content": "What a garbage. They didn’t steel it, because the idea is ubiquotus. Different people came to the same conclusion. If Carlos can’t market his invention but takes forever to develope: too bad for him. If Microsoft even tells him to apply for a patent! Or he shows it before patenting- i mean, come on! You get out what you put in.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417903",
"author": "thekanester",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:58:11",
"content": "Seriously HAD, this article doesn’t demonstrate very good journalistic rigour, and is on the verge of being litigious. If I were you, I’d pull the title before MS get word of it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417914",
"author": "lexi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T09:23:53",
"content": "I have worked with Panasonic’s d-Imager before (it uses similar tech). I know of at least 7 different companies that uses the same technology in their sensors. The gesture recognition software is arguably the biggest differentiator for Microsoft. They even said in an interview that protecting the ip contained in the software is more important than locking down the sensor. And I agree. A dept sensor alone is not worth much. Its Microsoft’s combination of innovations- the depth sensor, its pivoting base, the array microphone, the color camera, and especially the software that makes it better than any competing offering.We payed almost $3000 for the Panasonic d-imager at the start of the year. I think its simply amazing that you can get the Kinect for $150. And I’d rather have that, than some dude in colombia’s shitty prototype",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417918",
"author": "Bob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T09:54:35",
"content": "If you actually read the patents they don’t even work the same way anyway! You can only patent a method because anyone can have an idea, it is making it work that is the hard part.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417921",
"author": "Charlie Pearce",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T10:07:37",
"content": "I’m usually the last to defend Microsoft, but I thought they bought the connect technology from this company:http://news.cnet.com/New-game-controller-Your-hands/2100-1043_3-6222024.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417926",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T10:26:10",
"content": "Actually, you can patent an idea, and people often do. An individual could never defend such a patent, but a large corporation of patent trolls can, even if the patent was issued years after that method was open source and public domain. Apple actually has a patent for using a touchscreen display as an input device (what else would you use it for?)…they got it a couple YEARS after HP released the iPaq with a touchscreen, and they are currently suing Samsung for “violating” this patent. HP never sued Apple because they didn’t own a patent either; they took the idea and methods from someone else who had taken them from someone else, and so on.Actually, an individual can’t defend any patent. It does not matter if they stole your source code letter for letter to the point that the “about” menu has your name in it or the PCBs have your copywright on them…huge corporations always win against the little guy with no capital to fight.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417942",
"author": "KanchoBlindside",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T11:40:59",
"content": "@Climate Change KillsWhere on earth did you get that idea? A hole in the ozone layer? The exact OPPOSITE happens, and not a thing to do with credit.Patent anything and the Chinese legally sell 99.999% of your design in western countries within a week. I know, I have three patents; one for an (OBD-1) EEC-IV handheld using 15 cents of electronics, the other two for companies I’ve worked for. They did this at least as far back as 1988, when I made the EEC-IV tester.Sears magically had one on their shelves that summer after I showed it to a CPA and the VP of Sears’ tool division/ex E.F. Hutton VP.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417950",
"author": "uzerzero",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T11:56:16",
"content": "I like the fact that rather than making a big legal scandal out of this like the patent trolls that have been looking to make a quick buck, [Carlos] is offering up a comparison of his product to the Kinect and possibly producing it as a competitor. He says he’s undecided about bringing a case to Microsoft, to which I say he should be more worried about trying to protect HIE-D from Microsoft suing him in the future.It’s nice to have “homegrown” competitors to the big tech giants, if only they could stand their own.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417951",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:00:21",
"content": "Hey guys, I heard microsoft bought the kinect technology from primesense.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417959",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:31:47",
"content": "Um unless he invented a time machine where he won the DARPA land challenge then no, he didn’t invent the Kinect. What a retard for even trying to pull this. Everyday on HaD we see builds “similar” to other devices-that happens when you work with pre ordained components. This sad little person will swallow himself whole with his twisted view of reality. He should just chalk this up to life and try inventing a bulletproof meth dildo or a submarine made of cocaine, both of which would be highly prized in Bogota- if it hasn’t changed much in the 6 years since ive been there.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417961",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:37:11",
"content": "@ blue carbuncie Thats a bit harsh on poor Carlos Anzola, its not his fault that being able to read the wikipedia page on the kinect before writing an article on the internet is not mandatory. (see first line under technology heading)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417971",
"author": "Thermos",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:43:25",
"content": "This is a stiff lesson to all hackers, engineers, inventors, and the like about keeping idea notebooks. If you have a notebook, esp. a hard bound one with acid free paper, with conceptual ideas dated before another group patented their idea you stand a good chance of invalidating the patent. Do not let the computer house all of your work. Keep a design journal and safe guard it with your life. Remember ink can be tested for age and is like its own timestamp; especially when there is a constant stream of entries into the journal with the same type of pen.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417974",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:47:50",
"content": "poor judgment HAD, seriously. Why don’t you take this article down?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417975",
"author": "Ru",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:48:18",
"content": "Microsoft looked at multiple cameras before settling on the primesense device which is what may have been infringing on this guy’s patents. I’m sure MS can argue that they licensed the hardware from primesense in good faith; for once, MS are not the bad guys here.Most of the clever work on the kinect is in the skeleton tracking software, anyway. The next gen kinect will use a different camera technology too. This guy isn’t really going to get anywhere with his complaints.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417976",
"author": "dext3r",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:50:20",
"content": "@blue carbuncle: more info on said ‘bulletproof meth dildo’, please. thank you.lol",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417977",
"author": "Ru",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:56:32",
"content": "Whilst I’m grumbling, I’ll note the demo video shows neither face tracking nor gesture recognition. It uses some trivially simple position cues for the demo games of the sort that almost anyone could cobble together given a decent depth video source, of which there are many.Seems like his claims have little substance.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417981",
"author": "xGROMx",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T14:19:03",
"content": "Not Microsoft, they would never use some one elses technology and call it their own…….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417984",
"author": "Dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T14:44:26",
"content": "Once upon a time when DOS was king and Apple Computers were tinkering with a GUI interface, they opened their doors to Microsoft so they could gloat about the future of computer interfaces. Microsoft took a shit ton of notes and later developed the Mac OS into MS windows. The Mac OS was already stolen from Xerox by apple a short time earlier so it was just desserts really for Microsoft to return the favor.Either way, Gates has stolen in the past. He has stolen in the present. He will steal in the future.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417989",
"author": "Yazoo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T14:56:34",
"content": "Isn’t this the typical story though? Big money company comes out with a product that was either licensed, acquired, or developed in-house and then someone screams bloody murder about said big money company stealing their idea?Realistically speaking, multiple people can come up with the same idea sometimes and how they implement it depends on how successful the effort or end product is. Furthermore, as others have pointed out, this isn’t exactly a new and groundbreaking idea.So my advice to him is to have a little cheese with his whine :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417991",
"author": "Kuhltwo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T15:02:40",
"content": "When I worked for a Point of Sale software developer, we entered Micro-squirt’s software competition. One of their requirements to entering was the inclusion of your source code.I warned my boss about that, and he didn’t think they would “borrow” our code. Sure enough, 2 years later, they came out with their own POS software package. Even the user interface was the same.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418005",
"author": "Cesar H. Osorio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T15:35:00",
"content": "WELL I KNOW THAT IS TRUE BECOUSE I WAS WITH RAMIRO CARLO’S FRIEND, TALKING TO THE DENTIST, ACOUPLES YEARS AGO, IN MIAMI, SINCE THAT TIME I KNEW ABOUT CARLOS INVENTION, I’M LEAVING IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR 11 YEARS.CESAR H. OSORIO",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418009",
"author": "Zeta",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T16:04:15",
"content": "It wouldn’t be a surprice if microsoft stole the idea and set up another company to save themselfs from the blame on pantent infrigement.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418018",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T16:51:29",
"content": "I agree with Yazoo. I mean Ive written plenty of scripts yet Ive seen plenty of them that are the exact same as what Ive created.Great minds do think alike.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418023",
"author": "blackxino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:11:26",
"content": "no surprise here as Microsoft love stealing things",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.54493
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/adding-extra-buttons-to-a-cintiq-drawing-pad/
|
Adding Extra Buttons To A Cintiq Drawing Pad
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Misc Hacks",
"Multitouch Hacks"
] |
[
"cintiq 21UX",
"drawing pad",
"linux",
"wacom"
] |
[David Revoy] recently picked up a brand new Cintiq 21UX, and while he liked the drawing pad overall, he was less than impressed with the tablet’s buttons. He says that most 2D linux apps require a good bit of keyboard interaction, and
the built-in buttons just were not cutting it
.
After seeing a fellow artist use a joypad to augment his tablet, [David] thought that he might be able to do something similar, but he wanted to add a lot more buttons. He dug out an old Logitech game pad that was collecting dust, and disassembled it, rearranging some buttons in the process. Once he was happy with the layout, he built a cardboard enclosure for the PCB and hooked it up to the Wacom via USB.
He spent a few minutes mapping buttons to key presses using Qjoypad, and was up and running with an additional 14 buttons in short order. He says that the extra buttons make his job a ton easier, and add a little bit of comfort to his long drawing sessions. We like the fact that it is a non-permanent fixture, and that he was able to repurpose an old game pad in the process.
Check out the video below for a quick demonstration of his drawing pad hack.
[via
Adafruit blog
]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBN23rNdWI&w=470]
| 7
| 7
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417661",
"author": "????",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:07:50",
"content": "I like it when people custom tailor their home equipment to suit their lifestyle. Would recommend you upgrade the cardboard to abs plastic (vacuum form) or a project box.+1",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417710",
"author": "Guilherme",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T23:22:59",
"content": "I always found it interesting how people use the keyboard at the same type as they draw on the Cintiq. It looks pretty awkward, but apparently you get use to it, and can easily use Ctrl/shift/etc.If you need to hold down a button for a while, I much prefer holding a good solid keyboard button, instead of a tiny one on the side. Maybe a USB numeric keypad, with the keys re-mapped and different modes of operation (resize, rotate, change brush, etc) would be ideal.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417713",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T23:46:35",
"content": "I had a similar frustration using blender with a standard keyboard, using the numpad for camera control. Once I added a USB numpad on the left side of my keyboard, I hardly have to move my hands when I’m working steady.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417763",
"author": "RoboGuy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T02:38:46",
"content": "Oh man, I wish I had the extra money to buy a Cintiq…@andar_b That’s exactly what I have, except I’m using a laptop. If you want annoyance in Blender, try using a laptop without a mouse (and therefore without a scroll wheel/middle mouse button) and without an external numpad.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417955",
"author": "bu",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:10:03",
"content": "@andar_bWhy not just turn on “Emulate Numpad” and save the money and desk space?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418020",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T16:55:47",
"content": "if i knew this was a hack then i would have submitted mine a year ago. I use a TC1100 tablet by HP/Compaq. Internal bluetooth with glovepie and a wiimote. I can have 19 different keys at my disposal with the wiimote. I even added a mini usb port on the bottom so it can run off usb power and not waste batteries. sure I could write up a tut if anyone is interested in doing it themselves.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418241",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T03:21:33",
"content": "Creepy, I was thinking about doing this for my old (Regular) wacom just last week, also by using a gamepad or possibly some other common input device that I could lay my hands on.I was even looking on websites how much wireless gamepads are these days, but the price doesn’t seem to have dropped the last few years, the wired ones you can get cheap but the wireless are still rather pricey.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.274561
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/building-a-single-button-combination-lock/
|
Building A Single-button Combination Lock
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"arduino",
"lock",
"padlock",
"security"
] |
[John Boxall] of Little Bird Electronics was thinking about combination locks, and how one might improve
or at least change the way
these locks work. Traditional combo locks can be implemented in a variety of ways, most of which we are all familiar with. Standard rotary padlock and keypad-based electronic safes work just fine, but he was interested to see how one might implement a single button combination lock.
[John] determined that the best, if not only way, to build this sort of lock would require him to measure button press intervals. In his case he decided to monitor the intervals between his button presses instead, but the concept is the same. He first tested himself to see how accurately he could press and release the button, leaving a one-second space between presses. After looking at the results he determined that he would need to incorporate at least a 10% margin for error into his code in order to compensate for human error.
He then created an Arduino sketch to test his idea, defining a set of key press intervals that could be used to ‘unlock’ his imaginary vault. It worked quite well, as you can see in the video demo below.
Now we’re not suggesting that you lock up your mint condition My Little Pony collection or your illegal arms stash with this type of lock, but it could be useful as an extra failsafe for certain projects/gadgets that you want to keep all to yourself.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRtMYWTwv5c&w=470]
| 15
| 15
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417642",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:17:57",
"content": "Reminds me a lot of this projecthttp://grathio.com/2009/11/secret_knock_detecting_door_lock/Though it doesn’t look like it uses any of the same code.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417644",
"author": "DrAltaica",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:19:05",
"content": "“In his case he decided to monitor the intervals between his button presses instead, but the concept is the same.”Hay! is not that Hookswitch dialing?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417646",
"author": "jcinacio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:20:10",
"content": "While this certainly has it’s use, i find a single Potentiometer used as a safe lock more practical (both simpler and faster to use).Also, i found “The concealed codelock” idea interesting – A dual potentiometer can be used to conceal the lock on an appliance that already has one (amp, etc)Seehttp://www.daqq.eu/index.php?show=prj_concealed_codelock",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417653",
"author": "Bigred(tkkrlab)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:49:46",
"content": "Why not type morse code to the lock.That way you can make A combination of numbers and letters.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417659",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:06:30",
"content": "I like that system much better jcinacio, but the knock-lock I also like better than this to be completely honest, this seems a bit too basic and simple – and frustrating to have to wait x seconds.But a rotating knob thing just has something appealing to it, and the ability to opt for hiding it is even more win :)Still, it’s nice to have options so we can all pick what we like best.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417671",
"author": "Fetret",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:33:29",
"content": "Mint condition not mind I think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417674",
"author": "MisterPG",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:38:04",
"content": "reminds me of the Spyder III SmartSwitch, which requires a combination of clicks/holds to activate, and then further more clicks to change power settings..http://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-tech/smart_switch.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417707",
"author": "Will",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T23:15:56",
"content": "Sounds a lot like the arduino secret knock lock. Only this one uses buttons, which are far more likely to give accurate data!I’ll stick to my rotator for now :P I could short the wires in that thing pretty quickly, even if it was in a case. Now, maybe with 3 keys, which all have separate rhythms that have to be in sync…..but that’s too hard to enter.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417754",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T02:00:50",
"content": "Let it be known that on July 14th 2011 at 2:01PM hackaday.com fell to the brony hoards…. or at least the last blog I frequent to not mention ponies until now.OT: I can’t help but think it takes a bit too long to enter the code. But it’s an interesting idea and is implemented well.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417871",
"author": "Eirinn",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:58:15",
"content": "@Bob DI did a knock detection unit once – but i had a problem with (was living in a dorm at that time) it picking up sound from people slamming doors.It is a really nice idea, but if i was to do one again it should have some serious calibration added to it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417915",
"author": "smoker_dave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T09:27:10",
"content": "I would think the problem with knock-detection is that people can hear your knocking pattern?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417952",
"author": "KanchoBlindside",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:04:34",
"content": "Mind Condition?Here I’d thought of the new memes and zombie ponies coming out from this old 80s cartoon rebirth, but realized Typo-A-Day was just turbotyping again.“mint” :P",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418292",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T08:32:08",
"content": "Interesting idea…but I agree that morse code would work better…it wouldn’t even have to be real morse code…just make the difference between 0 and 1 based on how long you press the button, not how long you go between button presses…there is a reason that the world uses this standard, and it isn’t just coincidence or habit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419503",
"author": "Nagel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T07:51:37",
"content": "Does anyone actually knock on doors in multiples of seconds? A Morse code S.O.S. takes <10s, and personally I'd be creeped out if someone knocked so slowly on my door. Seems like deci- or milliseconds should be the proper scale, thereby allowing Rachmaninov-fast entry codes as per (the original) Willy Wonka & The Chocololate Factory movie!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "533908",
"author": "John Boxall",
"timestamp": "2011-12-13T06:53:51",
"content": "I have created another lock that may be of interest – the “Ultrasonic Combination Switch”http://tronixstuff.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/project-ultrasonic-combination-switch/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.597609
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/vodafone-femtocells-hacked-root-password-revealed/
|
Vodafone Femtocells Hacked, Root Password Revealed
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Cellphone Hacks",
"Security Hacks"
] |
[
"femtocell",
"security",
"vodaphone"
] |
As phone systems have evolved over time, the desire to break them and exploit their usage continues to flourish. Just recently, [The Hacker’s Choice (THC)] announced that they had
accessed secure data from Vodafone’s mobile phone network
last year, via their femtocell product.
The purpose of the femtocell is to extend mobiile network coverage to locations where reception might not be ideal, routing calls to Vodafone’s network via IPSec tunnels. [THC] knew that this meant the femtocells required a high-level of interaction with the carrier’s traditional mobile network, so they started poking around to see what could be exploited.
After gaining administrative access to the femtocell itself using the root password “newsys”, they found that they were able to allow unauthorized users to utilize the service – a simple ToS violation. However, they also had the ability to force any nearby Vodafone subscriber’s phone to use their femtocell. This enabled them to request secret keys from Vodafone, which they could then use to spoof calls and SMS messages from the victim’s phone without their knowledge.
They have been kind enough to release all of the
pertinent information about the hack on their wiki
for any interested parties to peruse. Now we’re just wondering how long it takes before stateside carriers’ femtocells are exploited in the same fashion.
[Thanks, kresp0]
| 14
| 14
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417623",
"author": "Terry",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:20:03",
"content": "eesh! this could be pretty bad news if the AT&T femtocells get the same treatment.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417624",
"author": "Jon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:24:30",
"content": "But what color is the box that I use to do it?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417634",
"author": "Gomiboy99",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:57:38",
"content": "Check this story on the register:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/14/voda_dismisses_femtocell_base_station_hack/",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417649",
"author": "tutnixzursache1",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:38:04",
"content": "god damnd old! THC is presenting stuff from 2009.LAAAME !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417762",
"author": "Someonecool",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T02:35:08",
"content": "I hope that ATT does get hit with this, it would put a nice big smile on my face if they get some problems and have any difficulty what so ever with this exploit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417780",
"author": "Tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T03:17:38",
"content": "Anyone notice the Vodafone ad below this article! ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417815",
"author": "biozz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T03:57:17",
"content": "LONG LIVE #ANTISEC!!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417935",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T11:10:31",
"content": "Nice, but I want GSM/UTMS -> hacked femtocell -> VoIP50£ for a Vodafone Sure Signal, anyone buying one?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418024",
"author": "lobo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:13:30",
"content": "Yeah, this is old news and was patched months ago. The ‘gaining root access’ pieces are sound but any risk to Voda’s network is overstated at best.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418036",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:36:35",
"content": "Wow a trusted source MITM attack. Color me impressed :P1974 called and wants its “hack” back.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "587498",
"author": "samuel maina",
"timestamp": "2012-02-23T08:57:44",
"content": "its cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "628673",
"author": "voxellabs",
"timestamp": "2012-04-13T22:40:37",
"content": "The diagram is wrong; The HLR is interfaced with the SGSN via the Gr interface for MAP signalling, not the GGSN!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "697455",
"author": "mark",
"timestamp": "2012-07-08T10:38:10",
"content": "http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/14/voda_dismisses_femtocell_base_station_hack",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3226710",
"author": "dast",
"timestamp": "2016-10-10T12:29:10",
"content": "were can I find the patch umts_sniffer",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.695896
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/red-bull-creation-contest-results/
|
Red Bull Creation Contest Results
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"contests"
] |
[
"accelerometer",
"chalkbot",
"creation",
"red bull",
"see-saw"
] |
72 hours of hacking came to a head with the completion of the Red Bull Creation. This years challenge was to build something out of junk that moves a human. It’s hard to pull all the aspects of the event together in one place, so here’s some links you’ll want to check out if you weren’t able to attend.
Tech Crunch has
an overview of all the event winners
. One of our favorites is pictured above. The spinning see-saw is not your average playground toy. Its built-in accelerometer waits for the forces to peak, then snaps a picture for later enjoyment.
Techshop
, a San Francisco hackerspace, took the team prize for their work on it. Don’t miss the video after the break
The overall winner was a team from Minneapolis called 1.21 Jigawatts. They produced a human-sized hamster wheel that pulled a small follower behind it. As you walk, the follower prints incoming text messages on the sidewalk, kind of like the
chalkbot
. We searched around for video of it, the best we could find is
this one
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_cERJsDn3U&w=470]
[Thanks NeonDion]
| 9
| 9
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417578",
"author": "anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:29:59",
"content": "The uploader has not made this video available in your country.Sorry about that.!@#$%^&*",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417587",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:44:15",
"content": "Anonymous just search arund for it there are more god ones like this available everywher!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417596",
"author": "johnsmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T19:01:04",
"content": "and why would someone want to pay 25$ this? Lower your prices maker faire….",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417753",
"author": "bsom",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T02:00:24",
"content": "What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with Maker Faire…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417940",
"author": "c3p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T11:29:37",
"content": "“The uploader has not made this video available in your country.Sorry about that.”worse than gema -.-",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417968",
"author": "Stephen",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T13:25:59",
"content": "This competition was extremely fun! I suggest more of you guys compete next time! I learned to weld, decently too! The best part about the competition was the awesome teammates, every team helped another team, we all wanted each others creations to work, and we really enjoyed working side by side!Hopefully this won’t be the last.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418013",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T16:25:41",
"content": "Nice, at least they didn’t call it Maker Rodeo or something Maker-ish dumb.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418045",
"author": "John",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T17:51:58",
"content": "Any details on how the see saw was built?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418088",
"author": "Carter S.",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T19:23:56",
"content": "Hey peeps,This is Carter (the blue haired guy from Team TechShop). Stephen is absolutely right, the build was Awesome, all the teams helping one another to get the projects built, just a great group of people to work with/against :) The video crews wanted to play up the drama between teams as much as possible, but after designs were finalized and there was no going back, everyone I spoke with was More than happy to lend a tip/hand/piece of bicycle to the cause. A HUGE shout out to all the people that I met along the way!Anywhoo, John, what do you want to know? The largest thing about our build was that we spent almost the first 20 hours JUST drawing and planning. We didn’t have a single weld until day 2, and I think that really helped to pull off such a large project in that time frame. We knew by then that there was no way we could do this (relatively) safely without some additional steel, so we then went and scavenged from a few metal recycling centers and “Build it Green” recycling. We over built the whole thing and I’m sure now with a few tweaks that I’ll be able to hold 2 people per side no problem. The wheel mechanism isn’t quite fast enough, so we’ll be adding another gear reduction and a second drive, that way both the up and down action per side will contribute to keeping the rotation going :) We’re collecting and cataloging photos and footage of the build, so when we have a bit more, I hope to put a build page together. Ask questions in the meantime!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.739865
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/ibutton-is-opening-doors-at-the-tkkrlab/
|
IButton Is Opening Doors At The TkkrLab
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Hackerspaces"
] |
[
"ibutton",
"key",
"lock"
] |
Finding
alternative ways to unlock doors
is a favorite hacker pastime.
TkkrLab
recently took on the challenge themselves. The hackerspace, which is located in the Netherlands, faced a problem common to communal workshops; how could they manage keyed access for a large number of members? The metal keys for the door are special, and cannot be cheaply duplicated. To further compound the issue, they are not the only tenants in the building so they can’t replace the lock with one that uses less-expensive keys. So they decided to add an electronic solution.
They first looked at a method for electronically opening the door. Often, this comes in the form of an electronic strike, but rather than alter the door jamb, they replaces the latching mechanism. The electronic latch was compatible with the original cylinder, which means the old keys still work in it. You can see the new assembly above. Just to the left of the lock is an iButton reader.
We’ve seen this hardware in projects
many times before. It’s cheap, and easy to work with. Now TkkrLab issues an iButton to each member, and can keep track of who is coming in door.
| 25
| 25
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417546",
"author": "FredP",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:49:30",
"content": "“…they replaces the latching mechanism.”should be…“…they replaced the latching mechanism.”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417552",
"author": "Jwatcher",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:21:12",
"content": "Never mind that you can EASILY emulate the I-button with a nice little bus pirate.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417553",
"author": "David M.",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:21:48",
"content": "I’m confused. What’s to stop someone with a phillips head screwdriver from letting themselves in?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417561",
"author": "TheInternet",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:40:23",
"content": "I too am confused at why there are what appears to be screws accessible to what appears to be the outside of the building.I would like to see a fingerprint build for something like this.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417565",
"author": "Bigred(tkkrlab)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:55:01",
"content": "There is nothing to so behind the metal plate.Only the wooden door just like on this picture from the inside.http://www.tkkrlab.nl/wiki/File:Buitendeur1.jpgThe only thing you can do by removing the metal plate is access the back of the I-button reader.The wires that run behind the reader are the same wires that lead to the front of the reader itself.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417566",
"author": "RicoElectrico",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:57:06",
"content": "I wonder what could happen if I used piezo igniter from a lighter on this iButton socket ;>",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417568",
"author": "nimitzbrood",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:03:01",
"content": "A friend of mine did this for years at his last house.He put the iButton reader next to the door frame under the doorbell then used a solenoid latch in the doorframe so he didn’t have to modify the door at all.It worked fantastically! :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417569",
"author": "Swist",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:03:54",
"content": "Two Words:Bus Pirate",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417570",
"author": "nimitzbrood",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:05:12",
"content": "@RicoElectrico – likely nothing. The system requires a microcontroller or computer to read the code on the button and validate it before popping the latch.And yes they should have used security screws at least just to prevent casual tampering.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417577",
"author": "fartface",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:28:28",
"content": "Been doing this for a DECADE with ibutton",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417580",
"author": "Drbytes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:36:12",
"content": "@RicoElectricoHopefully the added esd protection with 2 schottkey’s will prevent frying the microcontroller ;)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417582",
"author": "Dennis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:39:00",
"content": "Locks only keep honest people out…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417588",
"author": "mjrippe",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:44:25",
"content": "@ Dennis – Agreed! But honest or not, anyone who is a member of a hackerspace should be able to defeat this lock. Maybe make that a prerequisite for membership?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417592",
"author": "NoX",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:50:20",
"content": "If you see the images carefully, removing the front panel won’t allow to open the door, it only would be possible to remove the ibutton reader.They use a panel to be able to mount the reader in it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417594",
"author": "Bigred(tkkrlab)",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:56:33",
"content": "@nimitzbroodThis door is opening to the outside, that would mean we had to install the solenoid latch at the outside of the doorframe.@mjrippeThe only fast way is brute force but then it will be easy-er to break A window.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417595",
"author": "Drbytes",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:58:40",
"content": "The panel is indeed only for mounting the reader, removing it will not help to open the door or lock.Also using a bus pirate or any other device to emulate the iButton will not get you far, if any invalid code is read there is a time out of 15 seconds so you could try 240 codes an hour or 5760 a day. this is not very helpful with a code consisting of 64 bits…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417627",
"author": "Ian",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:33:40",
"content": "I’m betting this would work with the Java ring as well…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417629",
"author": "fhunter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:37:12",
"content": "it is 56 bits, last byte is CRC. But the point still stands",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417648",
"author": "bzroom",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:31:51",
"content": "butt-pirate",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417665",
"author": "adam outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:11:01",
"content": "Exposed screws fail.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417722",
"author": "YaBa",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T00:06:14",
"content": "1 – People. you often forget that this is a quick hack, they were not designing some super-secure lock that will be used on fort knox :P2 – I would have go with RFID… easier to hide :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417725",
"author": "Andrew",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T00:23:11",
"content": "You could also have a webcam hooked up which takes a snapshot whenever there is any activity on the reader (legitimate iButton, banned/unrecognised iButton, BusPirate or piezo lighter).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417745",
"author": "Anonymous Coward",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T01:32:57",
"content": "@andrew, sure but you could put your finger on the web cam lens or a piece of masking tape, or chewing gum, or.. you get the point. As YaBa said, this is a quick hack, not the entrance to fort knox. If the point was to hack this I would surreptitiously* read someone’s iButton with a bus pirate then Bob’s your uncle.*if that seems too far fetched, then the thinks about the exposed screws, makes mounting a stealth monitor in parallel with the iButton receptacle behind the metal plate to capture all button scans.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418248",
"author": "Zander",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T04:10:05",
"content": "Good work!We are using a similar iButton setup at our hackerspace.No it is not completely secure. But they again neither is an actual key.But when it comes right down to it no door will keep someone out who wants to get in.So this is not a security system, it is an access system.Anyone who has managed a door with dozens of people using keys knows that when someone loses their key it can be a big pain and cost.Someone lose their iButton; who cares just take them out of the system.Don’t even talk to me about RFID! I have not seen a more useless technology for door access.10 times more expensive than iButton. Plus you can easily hack in to RFID by just listening…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418459",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T19:45:30",
"content": "Just use normal screws like they did and put a LDR behind the plate that sets off an alarm, you’d nicely trap would-be dumb burglars.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.801423
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/a-beginners-guide-to-magnetometers/
|
A Beginner’s Guide To Magnetometers
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Arduino Hacks",
"how-to"
] |
[
"arduino",
"beginner concepts",
"magnetometer"
] |
The folks over at LoveElectronics recently published
an article that explains some of the ins and outs of magnetometers
for those who are interested in trying one out, but might not understand how to use them.
A good part of the article focuses specifically on how to manipulate the HMC5883L magnetometer from Honeywell, but a lot of the information can be applied to other makes/brands of compass sensors. They start out discussing in very basic terms how the compass works, then delve into some specifics on how to interface the chip with an Arduino, courtesy of a breakout board that they sell. The breakout board is actually quite simple, so any number of custom iterations could be built for your own testing purposes.
They walk through the use of an HMC5883L-specific Arduino sketch they produced, making it easy for beginners to start getting useful data from the compass units. While a pre-made sketch might seem like a bit of a cop out, it at least gives the curious/motivated beginner a chance to look at some completed code in order to see how things work.
If you are interested in cutting your teeth on some
additional beginner concepts
, check out
these other how-to articles
and
tutorials
.
| 9
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417488",
"author": "Brad",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:24:59",
"content": "Android phones come with a 3-axis magnetometer standard. Along with a 3-axis accelerometer, and many other sensors.The API for accessing the sensors is incredibly simple and great for beginners.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417496",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:43:44",
"content": "Hi Mike,Thanks so much for publishing my tutorial. I hope people can find it useful. I’m people let me know I’d be glad to a tilt compensated version about how to correct for a badly orientated compass.Thanks,James (Love Electronics)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "979544",
"author": "Jonathan Howard",
"timestamp": "2013-03-17T00:00:20",
"content": "James,I am having a great deal of trouble with the library code – is it posible that IDE 1.0.3 in some how not complient?",
"parent_id": "417496",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "417507",
"author": "Drone",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:21:52",
"content": "The USGS has a nice site about magnetic declination. There’s a downloadable calculator, data, tutorials etc. Look here:http://geomag.usgs.gov/and here…http://geomag.usgs.gov/software/baseline/equations.php",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417524",
"author": "James",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:33:01",
"content": "@DroneGreat source! I shall definitely include that information in my next tutorial with a tilt-compensated implentation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417534",
"author": "Max",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:11:46",
"content": "Ha, what a coincidence. I ordered this exact chip on a breakout board a couple of weeks back but haven’t had the chance to play with it yet. Nice find, I’ll be sure to bookmark this one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417540",
"author": "rizsi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:22:12",
"content": "We have used magnetometers in our project. We have found that when we rotate the sensor the readings are in a circle (or sphere when rotated in 3D). But the middle of the circle is not 0,0! So it is important to calibrate the magnetormeters on the site where you use it.The process:* Attach your magnetometer to its final place (your vehicle may have a constant magnetic field)* Do some turns with your vehicle (we have done it in 2D, but 3D patterns may also work)* Draw the measured points. They should align with a circle.* Find the center of the circle. Save the coordinates.* When measuring the heading you have to count with that the heading is relative to the middle that you have previously measured! So substract the center coordinates from what you have measured before counting atan2 to find the heading angle.We have used magnetometers in out project:http://qgears.com/lukeSorry it is not well documented but the video may be interesting.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417830",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T04:42:26",
"content": "Me thinks that those sensors are great if a little pricey, but a LOT cheaper than the ones with integrated accelerometer.£21 isn’t bad when the whole board weighs so little, good luck trying to implement a triple axis sensor in hardware although I did kludge a single axis one together using metglas rolled up and wrapped in thin wire.They should make a “Vinculum” board, with all their sensors on a single PCB with integrated arduino to save a lot of wiring :-)(apologies to Paramount for ripping off the BORG)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "6424020",
"author": "marn1x",
"timestamp": "2022-02-10T20:32:03",
"content": "Original link broken, archived athttps://web.archive.org/web/20130624080828/http://www.loveelectronics.co.uk:80/Tutorials/8/hmc5883l-tutorial-and-arduino-library.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.851104
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/14/incredible-1000-mw-iron-man-repulsor-beam/
|
Incredible 1000 MW Iron Man Repulsor Beam
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Laser Hacks"
] |
[
"iron man",
"laser",
"super hero"
] |
German lab technician by day, hacker by night [Patrick Priebe] has done it again, this time
strapping a ridiculously high-powered laser
to the palm of his hand. Earlier this year, we showed you an awesome
Neodymium:YAG pulse laser pistol
he built, and it seems he never takes a rest from constructing crazy laser projects.
[Patrick] is a huge Iron Man fan, and his palm-mounted laser unit was built as an ode to his all-time favorite super hero. Crafted to invoke images of Iron Man’s repulsor beam, his laser uses a 1000 mw 445 nm laser diode to get the job done. if you happen to be keeping track, that makes his DIY laser just as powerful as the WickedLasers Spyder 3 Arctic –
THE
benchmark in portable handheld lasers.
Like his previous builds, we can’t seem to find a whole lot of information about the laser’s construction process. We do know however, that the unit was crafted from a 2mm thick sheet of brass, which fits nicely on his hand while simultaneously acting as a very large heat sink. This large surface area allows him to run the laser continuously for three minutes before requiring a cool down, which is no small feat.
We think it’s an awesome project, and as you can see by the videos of the three separate revisions it has undergone, [Patrick] is quite serious when it comes to perfecting his wares.
MKI
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCnDsR5kLOQ&w=470]
MKII
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AKRYOc3IZM&w=470]
MKIII
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h47bvVaYv5I&w=470]
| 55
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417447",
"author": "RooTer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:23:49",
"content": "Can help but think that if he solds it to some kid there will be only trouble (poor neighbours)…But still cool hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417448",
"author": "hboy007",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:30:15",
"content": "Congratulations Zero, you made it!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417451",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:49:31",
"content": "AAAH THE BEAM IT BURNZ ZE GOGGLEZ ZEY DO NOTHING!!!!Seriously guys, this is cool BUT everyone around needs approved OD6+ goggles for safety reasons.Even with a diffuse image the optical power alone is enough to do serious damage, this is like looking into 50 suns.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417452",
"author": "phas",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:51:25",
"content": "why should he sell an high power, costly, handheld laser to “some kids”, for the god’s sake?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417458",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:02:29",
"content": "!!!FOR GODS SAKE MANE..ARE YOU MAD???!!!!Every toddler should have one..why not MW?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417459",
"author": "Romulous_Prime",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:08:04",
"content": "High powered lasers and a Pantera tattoo. Respect to you, sir!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417464",
"author": "Alex Parting",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:16:30",
"content": "you mean 1W?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417465",
"author": "ferdie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:18:24",
"content": "is it me off is 1000mw te same as 1 watt powerbut this thing is cool but not a toy just 1nano sec and you never can whats porn on internet or take a look on hackaday",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417487",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:24:05",
"content": "@GuiltyPixel: You’re just a commenter, and only one. Good bye.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417490",
"author": "EFH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:27:28",
"content": "I’m sorry, but this is just stoopid dangerous. I can’t think of a good reason for creating something with which it’s so easy to cause such serious eye damage.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417493",
"author": "password",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:36:26",
"content": "ooooooh shinyyyyy",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417497",
"author": "1000100 1000001 1010110 1000101",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:44:30",
"content": "Cool project…and cool CFH tat…still miss Dime.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417498",
"author": "oodain",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:53:09",
"content": "now only the human genome stands between me and an army of super soldiers!!!(insert evil laugh)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417499",
"author": "Augur",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:00:50",
"content": "What would happen if you put two of the 1w laser diodes together and combined the beams? Would the net output be more powerful?Sorry… Just getting into lasers..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417501",
"author": "sariel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:06:24",
"content": "does it make me weird for wanting this to become a vigilante?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417504",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:14:08",
"content": "The laser is awesome of course, but I’m also really impressed by his “enclosure” or whatever you want to call it. Very very cool and it’s obvious this guy knows what he’s doing.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417508",
"author": "sneakypoo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:23:13",
"content": "I think it would look even better if he [word for the opposite of collimated] the beam a bit to make it fatter. Naturally it would make igniting matches and the like a bit of a hassle but I think the effect would look even better. Very polished project overall though.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417511",
"author": "seymourbutts",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:38:45",
"content": "lol @ 1000mW!I do suppose it has a bigger draw than 1W though…Awesome project regardless!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417513",
"author": "casd12",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:47:49",
"content": "Don’t look at it with your REMAINING EYE.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417515",
"author": "4ndreas",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:52:42",
"content": "I build something similar years ago with ledshttps://picasaweb.google.com/3xecutor/DiscoStuff#5471460232871952850five 3mm leds to flash and 8 smd leds blinking controlled by an atiny microcontroller..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417522",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:26:23",
"content": "So…it’s a 1-Watt blue laser? I have two of those I take to the clubs at night.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417528",
"author": "M4CGYV3R",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:42:12",
"content": "You could also have gone with “1,000,000 uW Repulsor!”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417529",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:54:28",
"content": "As Sneakypoo said, I think this would be so much more interesting if he could keep the light collimated with a beam width of a couple inches. It’d be more like an Iron Man spotlight, but still cool.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417531",
"author": "password",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:57:00",
"content": "yes yes 1000mW = 1w.The thing is its a sort of convention to use mW for laser. Except when you talking multiple watt laser ie a 100w lasers.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417535",
"author": "Mike",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:14:02",
"content": "Yes, but when is going to make a pulse rifle in the 90W range?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417548",
"author": "Faelenor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:55:11",
"content": "1W looks so much more powerful than 1W!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417549",
"author": "Faelenor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T16:55:42",
"content": "Hmm, I meant 1000 mW looks so much more powerful than 1W!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417554",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:23:43",
"content": "With the remaining eye – please don’t look into the laser beam!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417579",
"author": "alan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T18:32:53",
"content": "Pft, 1,000,000,000,000 pico Watt laser sounds pretty weak,,,@ AugurAccording to Dr Egon Spenglar, it is not advisable to “cross the streams”.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417612",
"author": "maddhat",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T19:57:18",
"content": "A lot of haters here.. as password stated, it’s just normal for the rating to be listed in mW (example site: dragonlasers.com). Disappointing to see so little actual discussion on the project in these comments.I, for one, thought it was a very well refined project. I’d be interested to see construction details of this device.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417616",
"author": "that1guy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:12:28",
"content": "You guys are ALL wrong. This isn’t 1000mW laser. It’s a 1.21 JIGGAWATT (/1.21*10^9) laser.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417628",
"author": "matt",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T20:34:51",
"content": "– keep fingers clear –",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417647",
"author": "Maave",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:22:50",
"content": "1W isn’t too uncommon in the laser community but that is some GOOD cooling. Props to him on that.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417670",
"author": "Erik Johnson",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:30:28",
"content": "mW, W, whatever. The terminology will shift as things become common just as storage space did. 2048MB???? 10240mb? Now We’ve shifted to GB, next TB",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417728",
"author": "jordan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T00:32:50",
"content": "That is a REALLY well finished product! It looks fantastic, and I really like the way it clips on one side of the hand.Sure it’s dangerous and probably a bad idea in the first place, but I know from experience just how much fun wielding laser beams around is!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417766",
"author": "tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T02:45:02",
"content": "i will wait for MARK-iV,with a 5W diode",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417810",
"author": "jimbob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T03:48:45",
"content": "1000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 mega billion gazillillion quadrillion micro pic nano watts !!!!11!!1!!!!or the same as the keychain flashlight i own.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417866",
"author": "fazlee",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T06:37:16",
"content": "he should try 10 laser instead of 1. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417897",
"author": "Sam",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T08:25:58",
"content": "That reminds me of the Goa’uld Hand Device, except that it uses a red style beam, but it’s a great invention :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417904",
"author": "vic",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T09:01:35",
"content": "1000mW has 4 significant digits, 1W has only one, so it’s not exactly the same thing. Using standard rounding rules 1W could actually be 0.6W or 1.3W, 1000mW could not.Nothing to say about the actual build, though :D",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417962",
"author": "Patrick",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T12:46:45",
"content": "Would never sell anything like this to teens or kids. I doubt they could afford it :)Always cool to get such a great feedback :)I do have other hobbies btw…dont think I am a full time nerd :) ice hockey, cardio and fitnessRomulous_Prime:Pantera \\m/ :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418069",
"author": "d03x",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T18:38:09",
"content": "dangerous in foolish hands , you have to use eyes protection.Peligroso en manos necias, hay que usarlo con gafas protectoras especiales.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418218",
"author": "Stryker",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T01:47:30",
"content": "I actually lol’ed when I saw this. 1000mW? I’m taking college classes where we’re dealing with 80+W, or 80,000+mW. Lolz.And, of course, props to the builder: cooling the laser is no easy task. Blue is better, of course, for temperature purposes, and the brass fittings work nicely. :)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418306",
"author": "Nathan Zadoks",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T09:33:25",
"content": "…Arctic laser, *the* benchmark? Ilol’d.They are the worst lasers. Ever.They systematically fake their specs.They don’t always ship.They are the worst choice possible.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418313",
"author": "Robert",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T10:15:42",
"content": "Someone HAS to say this eventually:“You’ll poke your eye out, kid.”What is your source for the laser?Very nicely enclosure & switching system.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418461",
"author": "Whatnot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T19:54:39",
"content": "With the popularity of more and more powerful lasers and youtubes how to make them I wonder what the actual figures are in the US of people with eye damage, I mean it MUST be quite high right?(This is typically something that takes longer than I care to waste time on it to google and get the actual numbers rather than projections and fear articles.)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "667346",
"author": "DemonPostbox",
"timestamp": "2012-06-03T18:00:52",
"content": "Awesome! Barely a repulsor but still simply brilliant nonetheless! Nice work dude!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "914088",
"author": "Ace Arhum",
"timestamp": "2013-01-06T07:52:51",
"content": "Is it 1000 “mega” or “milli” watt??",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "996411",
"author": "m@x",
"timestamp": "2013-04-23T02:40:51",
"content": "mega",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "999026",
"author": "Andre Duran",
"timestamp": "2013-04-29T02:27:17",
"content": "I really want to buy a pair of them, please. Oh, and a helmet, chestplate, shoulder anti-personnel guns, jet-boots and an arc reactor !Do you accept Visa ?Come on, the guy knows how to build some laser !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,139.939268
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/13/nd-sticks-it-to-traditional-gaming-giants/
|
ND Sticks It To Traditional Gaming Giants
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"home hacks"
] |
[
"bob pelloni",
"gaming",
"nD"
] |
What do you do if you’re a developer that gets shut out of the approval process for closed-shop gaming systems? If you’re [Robert Pelloni] you protest first, then establish your own startup to
develop a gaming platform that is open and inexpensive
. The hardware seen above is a rendering of the nD, a cheap and open gaming handheld. They plan to sell it at cost ($20) and let anyone develop games.
Check out the video after the break to see the pitch. The hardware is sparse; a plastic case and some buttons, a 320×240 LCD screen, a PCB with a system-on-a-chip, and a rechargeable battery. But if you’re writing great games the spartan hardware doesn’t matter (we still love a good game of Metroid when we have the time). Developers will be able to license games for sale in the nD online market. They’ll keep 90% while nD takes it’s 10%. Not a bad deal.
If you haven’t heard about [Bob] protesting Nintendo,
give this article a gander
.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDOoAw_YajU&w=470]
[Thanks Wouter via
OMG! Ubuntu!
]
| 61
| 50
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417241",
"author": "Adam Outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:06:40",
"content": "WTH? Sell you products for more then your true value, because you will believe they do more then they actually do…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417242",
"author": "Bob D",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:15:48",
"content": "Show me something other than a rendering and remove the words “plan to sell it at cost” and I might (might!) pay attention. Only companies the size of Sony get to sell consoles at or below cost, guys with copies of Blender have to sell things at a profit.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417244",
"author": "Acedio",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:21:28",
"content": "Note that this is the same Bob behind the crazy hype-machine that was Bob’s Game. I’d love to believe that this will actually come to fruition, but I’m not going to hold my breath.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417246",
"author": "ColdRush",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:25:25",
"content": "If they can actually produce these and sell them at a pricepoint of $20 I’ll be very surprised. Check out the GP2X Wiz and Caanoo, aswell as the Dingoo. Both have the same concept, and for the Caanoo gamepark tried the appstore idea, but it failed pretty badly.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417247",
"author": "Jimbo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:25:48",
"content": "Gonna start calling BS on this one now…When I first heard about it, it was $10 for the unit. Then the last time I heard about it, $15… now it’s $20 and it’s been several years since I first heard about it with nothing to show but WORSE renderings since the first ones I saw.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417248",
"author": "dontpanic",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:25:50",
"content": "@Bob D,Why do they have to sell it at a profit? The idea is that they’ll be raking in the dough though game sales on their marketplace. Making the platform as cheap as possible is only going to increase market share and game sales (free $$$ in their eyes, minus cost of the web store). Also, it seems like they’re using existing hardware, so R&D costs are low.I totally agree though, that they need an actual product and not a 3D rendering before anybody should pay attention. I do love the idea, and would immediately jump on-board the development ship once it gets going. Very cool",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417252",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:30:45",
"content": "Holy crap, it’s a brand-new Derek Smart!…because one just wasn’t enough.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417253",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:34:28",
"content": "dontpanic: Barnum woulda loved you to little bitty pieces.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417259",
"author": "charliex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:51:15",
"content": "I’m sure nintendo are terrified and are working on his application immediately.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417260",
"author": "octel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:53:18",
"content": "I normally don’t read YouTube comments, but the following comment on a “bob’s game” intro trailer was just pure gold:“Wow… a game about an emo teen examining boxes… good luck with that.”Bob wonders why no one sees his genius, meanwhile everyone laughs. It’s kind of sad once you think about it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417265",
"author": "Slanderer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:09:45",
"content": "Oh, him…For those who are knew to this, this guy is actually mentally unstable. The internet has been making fun of him for a few years now.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob's_Game",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417268",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:13:39",
"content": "Also, I love how his little “protest” was two and a half years ago and he has apparently done jack shit since then.What the hell is this nonsense even doing here? I’m starting to suspect that I have been trolled.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417275",
"author": "Aaron",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:26:44",
"content": "Slanderer, where does it say he’s not well? Throwing a temper tantrum kind of doesn’t count, and neither do headaches and paranoia, not immediately after you’ve been locked in a room for a month with no human contact and likely not enough daylight to maintain your circadian rhythm. David Blaine’s stunts are similar, if more hardcore, and he frequently finishes them up with a fast trip to the nearest hospital — does this make Blaine mentally ill?I’ll grant Pelloni appears to have no sense of his own capabilities and a vastly outsized degree of self-importance, but neither of those in itself is particularly strong evidence of mental illness; granted they are listed as potential symptoms of a variety of disorders, but they’re also perfectly reasonable traits to find in someone who is a self-deluded, egotistical jackass.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417277",
"author": "Mattster",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:35:11",
"content": "Reminds me of a product a while back called a Mattell Juicebox. I have a bunch of them and the r fun to hack",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417278",
"author": "Sideshow",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:35:39",
"content": "It’s nice to see so much support here for Bob – someone who has actually tried, and put a lot of work in, instead of sitting there like the rest of the knuckle-dragging critics.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417280",
"author": "Hackerspacer",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T00:48:15",
"content": "“But if you’re writing great games the spartan hardware doesn’t matter (we still love a good game of Metroid when we have the time).”Disagree. I still play Metroid. But I don’t buy hardware that can only play Metroid level complexity type games. We have emulators these days.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417285",
"author": "strider_mt2k",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:01:45",
"content": "Speaking from a strictly hardware perspective, this might not be that hard to do with a System On Chip (SOC)setup.There are enough crappy Chinese Android and Windows CE netbooks and tablets floating around to choke the large animal of your choosing and THAT is largely SOC stuff with some add-ons.I think simply making it open would attract folks, but it’s going to have to be at least as powerful as a Dingoo A350 or you may as well just get a Dingoo A350 or something along those lines and develop for THAT.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417289",
"author": "daniel",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:15:08",
"content": "Check out this thing that you can buy right now, guaranteed not to be vapor-ware!http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKNN2(and it’s on sale!)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417292",
"author": "kak",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:23:55",
"content": "remember that 199$ vaporware laptop from back when?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "417321",
"author": "velociostrich",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T03:40:23",
"content": "There is now actually a $99 laptop–it’s the offical laptop of North Korea, btw.http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/north-korea-apparently-pumping-out-state-sponsored-pcs/&category=classic&postPage=1",
"parent_id": "417292",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "417293",
"author": "andar_b",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:27:21",
"content": "That whole Bob’s Game wiki post was hilarious.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417294",
"author": "emusan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:33:41",
"content": "I’m a member of the nD community, and I have been for awhile now… To me it seems as though Bob really doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He has no real spec’s, sdk, or any idea where to get the parts fabricated, yet he wants developers to sign on, claiming they will sell “millions”. He also claims to not have enough resources to publish his game on the PC, yet somehow he does have enough to make a console? I’m still hoping its real and happens, though up to this point he hasn’t done much to dispel anyones fears.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417299",
"author": "Limey",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T01:45:52",
"content": "The wiki made me laugh, although im not sure if I should feel sorry for him after basically wasting 5 years of his life after getting so worked up over them not giving him the SDK when he doesnt realise it would probably have been better for him to just release it for free on the PC like cavestory and THEN get it released for the DS (again, like cave story on wiiware).",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417305",
"author": "The Steven",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T02:16:34",
"content": "$20.00?? I’ll take two… Three if it runs Linux!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417306",
"author": "lolwut",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T02:30:07",
"content": "whats wrong with the pandora (besides the cost)? open hardware, actually released, runs games, has a decent following",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417307",
"author": "marcus",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T02:44:06",
"content": "Question: why not play the simple game on my smart phone?The cpu/RAM/screen configure is even worst than a cheap android phone!Only 1 reason: the control buttons.In this case, why not build this device as a USB controller for android?** any way, I like Open hardware!!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417316",
"author": "ScottinNH",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T03:31:36",
"content": "Um… no. Pipe dream.There are a couple of open hardware platforms you can develop for, and they are TOTALLY old-school.Gameduino and Uzebox are 2 that come to mind. Plus when you get tired of the games, the platforms are very much hackable.At this point, phantom platforms are not interesting. However, if you extend an EXISTING open platform… that is nice.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417322",
"author": "scotch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T03:48:19",
"content": "Man I feel sorry for that kid, he wasted a massive amount of time, and managed to strip himself of all credibility by his whole ‘protest’. Seriously mentally unsable.I wonder what his parents think, given that he lives at home?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417323",
"author": "scotch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T03:48:58",
"content": "Additionally, given his level of web design, I bet the game sucks to all hell anyway.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417329",
"author": "Hirudinea",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T04:22:56",
"content": "@ velociostrich – The offical laptop of North Korea!? Thats like saying the offical condom of the Vatican, the offical Ham of Israel, the offical beer of Saudia Arabia, the offical… well you get the idea. Anyway I will buy an nD when I see it in the store for $19.99.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417332",
"author": "Devon",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T04:29:44",
"content": "I love how well the pads on the right side of the circuit board line up with the D-pad on the left.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417333",
"author": "Anonymous",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T04:35:21",
"content": "Well, for $20, I’d sure as hell buy one.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417346",
"author": "McNoob",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T05:29:57",
"content": "I got as far as the description of ‘Bob’s Game’ and couldn’t stop laughing…Not because itself was funny, but because it reminded me so much of Kramer’s ‘Coffee Table Book.’",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417352",
"author": "zacdee16",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T05:46:29",
"content": "It would be great if this actually happen, but I have my doubts like everyone.I’m still kicking my sac from when I bought the dingoo. It’s fun and all, but there is only so much that can be done with it. No internet connection, no clock, hard to find chip expansion (minisd), and a relatively dead community.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417355",
"author": "Dan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T06:01:41",
"content": "I think I would get one just to check it out.If it sucks horribly I can use it as a door stop or paper weight.Could even use the parts to build something else.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417357",
"author": "BobSmith",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T06:09:34",
"content": "This is from a crazy man who locked himself in a room and vandalized a Nintendo store because Nintendo doesn’t give out SDKs to crazy people. I’d love if this sort of idea came to fruition, but in this instance, it isn’t going to happen, namely because the person who’s talking about this is mentally unstable, and this is all a fantasy in his head.No hack here, hackaday. You’re just indulging someone’s delusions.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417369",
"author": "ruben",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T06:51:11",
"content": "@BobSmith“This is from a crazy man who locked himself in a room and vandalized a Nintendo store because Nintendo doesn’t give out SDKs to crazy people.”absolutely agree@SideshowOh, come on…There’s millions of indie developers we’re not laughing at.This guy has simply lost his marbles…vandalized a Nintendo Store saying: “This is Level 50”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417395",
"author": "nah!",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T07:35:20",
"content": "already have such a device (thouh its a nes on a chip)i want something like the wii u controller, for pc so its usable as screen and joypadi would play all games in my bed ^^",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417400",
"author": "Fili",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T07:42:32",
"content": "Yeah, sure, I’ll develop my games for this gorgeous console and totally ignore that crap appstore and android market.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417406",
"author": "KillerBug",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T08:12:55",
"content": "This looks really cool…I wouldn’t want to use it for gaming, but $20 puts it into dev board territory.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417414",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T08:28:24",
"content": "super easy to do with a ARM POP. The plastic manufacturing and PCB(because of BGA mostly) is just pricey.An ARM 3530 or better(whatever TI is selling to us poor people these days) would be best for this. If you put one of the new TI quad cores in it, it’d actually be competitive..",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417415",
"author": "Pup",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T08:29:19",
"content": "Why don’t the buttons match up to the board? :p",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417426",
"author": "Daid",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T09:23:23",
"content": "Anyone who get’s excited by this should follow the past development of the OpenPandora. Which was an exciting project. But from early prototype to shipping took them 2 years!It’s also saying that it’s faster then the Nintendo DS. But the NDS speed comes from the GFX chip, no word about the GFX chip, so my guess would be, software rendering.I have a GP2X, it’s a nice machine, and it has about the same specs as this mystery machine. And the biggest flaw of the GP2X is it’s weak GFX chip. (It can do some accelerated 2D blitting, but that’s it)People can do amazing things in ASM, but it’s time consuming.It’s second flaw is the lack of touchscreen, DPad controls don’t work for all types of games. So it’s limiting itself to certain games.It’s biggest plus over the GP2X will be the Wifi. When we can order this device I might get one, just for the WiFi and to tinker around with it. An average ARM development board with LCD costs more.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417429",
"author": "t&p",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T09:59:07",
"content": "Loads of assburgers detected.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417444",
"author": "Dataflashsabot",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:13:03",
"content": "Ahaha the SDK is just “make an SDL game at 320×240”. How the fuck is this “16-bit” system-on-a-chip $20 shitthing going to use a software 2D library the sole purpose of which is to sacrifice performance for portability? Even the DS and its brethren require optimised, platform-specific C to get sensible performance. This is a joke, right?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417463",
"author": "Olivier",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:16:09",
"content": "Even if this thing could exists, I would never buy something from Robert Pelloni. This guy is crazy.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417469",
"author": "scotch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:23:08",
"content": "The more I read about that kid, the more unstable he seems. t&p is right, he shows almost every attribute of asburgers. The fact that he supposeably worked on a game for 5 years, without ever checking that the thing was even viable, or that he would get approval. If nothing else, that’s utterly fucking stupid.I doubt that there is any hardware design, or any real software design. Dataflashsabot is right, there is no way that any sort of game is going to be running on this hardware without some serious optimisation.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417480",
"author": "scotch",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T12:39:24",
"content": "I especially liked this post by the kid. No wonder nintendo wants nothing to do with him. Quote follows.THAT IS NOT ME!! IT’S NOT ME!!!SOMEONE CAME INTO MY HOUSETHEY CAME INTO MY HOUSE!!!THEY WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING, WENT THROUGH MY PC, FILE TIMESTAMPS CHANGED, FOOTPRINTS, EVERYTHING MOVED, DOOR UNLOCKEDTHEY TRIED TO OPEN THE SAFEMY PC IS KEYLOGGED12 HOURS OF CAMERA FOOTAGE WAS DELETEDCAMERA WAS UNPLUGGED WHEN I WOKE UPI WAS SLEEPING!!THEY DID IT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING!!THIS IS NOT PART OF THE PLANTHIS IS NOT A JOKETHEY MADE HANAFUDA CARDS FOR 50 YEARSTHAT IS A YAKUZA GAMETHEY ARE THE JAPANESE MAFIATHEY ARE THE JAPANESE MAFIATHEY ARE THE JAPANESE MAFIATHEY ARE THE JAPANESE MAFIATHEY ARE THE JAPANESE MAFIATHINK ABOUT IT!!THEY WANT TO SILENCE MEFOR A REASON!IT’S EITHER THEM OR ALIENSI’M PRETTY SURE IT’S NOT ALIENSI’D RATHER IT BE ALIENS !",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417495",
"author": "Steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T13:43:35",
"content": "Anyone with any hardware background _knows_ there is no way this could ever be made for $20… I’m surprised Hack A Day fell for it. I bet Bob _believes_ he can, but I think he’s falling victim to the “All you have to do is…” trap. As I was watching the video of Bob’s Game, all I kept thinking was “How sad…” I sort of wish I could write games, but heck, my attention span isn’t long enough to even _play_ video games, so my dreams of a software artist are dashed…",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417500",
"author": "blue carbuncle",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:05:16",
"content": "Bought my PSP knock off for a PENNY plus $20.00 shipping on lastminuteauction. It is under media players as an MP5 player. Can run any Nintendo based game system emulator up to n64. Also has an FM radio and plays 264 xvid. Good luck.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417503",
"author": "Flavor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T14:09:27",
"content": "At best, this is the next Pandora.At worst, this is the next Bob’s Game.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,140.023758
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/13/ioio-upgrades-get-a-bit-easier/
|
IOIO Upgrades Get A Bit Easier
|
Mike Szczys
|
[
"Android Hacks"
] |
[
"24f",
"accessory",
"adk",
"ioio",
"pic"
] |
The IOIO, a breakout board for Android phones that predates the Android Developer Kit hardware, is a now a little bit easier to upgrade. That’s because [Ytai’s]
IOIO manager app just his the Android market
. The PIC24F that sits proudly on top of the board has always been running a bootloader, but for security reasons it is programmed to only talk to apps that have been officially signed. Now that there’s an app that meets this qualification, you can upgrade the firmware from your phone without the need for an external programmer.
What about the bootloader itself? Surely that will need upgrades over time, right? Well, yes. [Ytai’s] announcement today also came with an option for upgrading the bootloader but with one caveat. You’ll need two IOIO boards to complete the upgrade. One connects to the phone and becomes a programmer, while the other lays back and waits for a refreshing code flash.
| 2
| 2
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417229",
"author": "xorpunk",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:26:29",
"content": "uses aes and hashing, use clock to glitch loader until you can get a read for your code, then dump stuff. Uses partitioning bit just like ARM and others..*I don’t own any of this stuff *",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417261",
"author": "Audin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:54:16",
"content": "“security reasons”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,140.071885
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/13/omniwheel-robot/
|
Omniwheel Robot
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"Robots Hacks"
] |
[
"Holonomic drive",
"omnidirectional",
"omniwheel",
"robot",
"wiimote"
] |
Like all of us, [Jonathan Guberman] has a list of projects and builds that ‘will get done when I have time.’ His
Kiwi drive
robot is no exception. It’s intended to be one piece of a much larger project, but he decided to document it anyway (we think in the hope of getting is rear in gear).
The robot uses a
holonomic drive
to get around. A holonomic drive uses three fixed wheels placed 120 degrees apart. The wheels can be independently controlled and with some vector addition the robot can move in any direction and rotate 360º inside its own wheelbase. Of course the wheels will have to be able to roll in two dimensions, so an
omniwheel
is used. Everything is controlled with a Wiimote nunchuck, and the movement is very smooth.
[Jonathan] has had a few projects featured on Hack A Day before, like his
Mechanical Pac-Man
and his
adorable
Portal turret plushie
. [Jonathan] really demonstrates his artistry and skill in his project, so we’re really wondering what his ‘larger project’ actually is. Take a guess in the comments section, that might get [Jonathan]’s rear in gear.
Check out the video of the omnidirectional robot after the break.
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/26250459]
| 8
| 8
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417213",
"author": "elduderino",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:50:31",
"content": "very cool and interesting. But seems like a very inefficient way to move forward.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417235",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:44:52",
"content": "It creates a lot of drag when you use 3 wheels in those angles even with omni wheels trya 3 wheels in a row crossing through the center and have “rollers” for support in the needed areas but good work keep the project going!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417445",
"author": "wardy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:15:38",
"content": "I made one of these a couple of months back, I’d recommend using powerful servos because weak ones tend to stick solid when moving slowly.I used miniature ones (converted to standard geared motor configuration) and they performed pretty badly. But if you get the mechanics of it right they can be a really fun way to move your project around.And they only work on flattish surfaces like linoleum or thin carpet. Plus you need to add a rubber paint finish to the omniwheels otherwise they get zero traction.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417449",
"author": "agmlego",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T11:45:35",
"content": "Not to be a pedant, but…a holonomic drive is *any* drive system that offers at least as many axes of control as the platform has degrees of freedom. So, while a kiwi drive *is* a holonomic drive, it is by no means the only such system. Others in the category include the venerable four or six-wheel omniwheel drive, the newer mecanum drive, various forms of ball drives, and even (arguably) a swerve/crab drive.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holonomic#Robotics",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417555",
"author": "FredP",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:24:16",
"content": "“(we think in the hope of getting is rear in gear).”Should be…“(we think in the hope of getting his rear in gear).”",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417560",
"author": "SuperNuRd",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T17:39:51",
"content": "Mechanum wheels would be a better replacement omni wheels and have a 4 wheel drop center with that (you need 4 mechanum wheels) and have them faced opposilty than the ones on their left and righ but mark directions and include a lot center falling idlers for a structural rotation point the process may take a little longer but it worth it for its manuverability and lack of drag!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417715",
"author": "ENKI-][",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T23:53:46",
"content": "What about threaded tri-star wheels? I’ve always had a soft spot for those, and they aren’t as difficult to fabricate as omniwheels.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "539593",
"author": "Rob Wentworth",
"timestamp": "2011-12-19T18:38:32",
"content": "You can drop the 12v encoder signals down to TTL levels with a resistor and an LED (used as a zener diode voltage regulator). Depending on LED color, you get different voltage out. Common red LEDs are fine for 3.3v or 5v TTL logic.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,140.11747
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/13/replacing-non-standard-usb-charging-ports/
|
Replacing Non-standard USB Charging Ports
|
Mike Nathan
|
[
"Cellphone Hacks",
"Repair Hacks"
] |
[
"extusb",
"htc",
"repair"
] |
While many mobile phone manufacturers are moving towards the micro-USB interface as a standard, others such as Apple and HTC are still bucking the trend. Part of [arto’s] job includes repairing mobile phones, and last month he found himself faced with a pair of broken HTC handsets
that needed their charging ports replaced
.
Replacements for HTC’s proprietary connectors are apparently quite hard to find, and [arto] says he had to source them from an HTC repair center. With the proper parts in hand, he could finally get down to work.
The HTC Hermes handset he repaired was a breeze, as it had plenty of space available around the charging port. He said that this allowed him to replace the jack pretty easily, but the HTC Touch Dual was a mess in comparison. He started by removing the old adapter, which was done by cutting it out bit by bit. He says that he did it this way rather than desoldering, due to its proximity to other heat-sensitive components. After some careful soldering under a microscope, everything was back in working order.
While his repairs are not necessarily the things that hacks are made of, the information is still quite helpful. Broken charging ports are extremely common among smart phones, and with plenty of these older models still floating around, his pointers just might help someone save a few bucks on a replacement phone.
| 20
| 19
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417172",
"author": "AndrewNeo",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:09:00",
"content": "HTC’s been putting microUSB ports on their phones for a while. The two phones in the article are 4-5 years old.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417174",
"author": "Mike Nathan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:11:46",
"content": "Andrew, it appears you are right. I knew the phones were not brand new models, but did not realize the age until now. It’s still decent info for anyone looking to salvage old equipment from the trash heap.To be honest, I haven’t taken a close look at an HTC handset any time recently – thanks for the heads up.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417176",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:22:20",
"content": "How exactly is a Mini-USB a non standard connector?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417178",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:28:35",
"content": "http://amazingdiy.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/x0x-enclosure/Why didn’t you feature this?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417180",
"author": "Matt N",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:31:14",
"content": "@raidscsi: The Mini-USB used by HTC in the past was something called “ExtUSB”, a miniUSB connector with 4 extra pins what were used for the headset/headphone connection.HTC no longer use this, though, as mentioned above.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417181",
"author": "oldisold",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:32:36",
"content": "Old tech is old!If you are in the business of reworking these things it could be helpful…but then again you likely know this info already if you do.raidscsi its nonstandard as in proprietary.thishttp://c230.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/extusb_pin_config.thumbnail.png?w=480does not equal thishttp://www.zytrax.com/images/usb-mini.gifthough it is backwards compatable",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "417202",
"author": "raidscsi",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:30:03",
"content": "My HTC Incredible has a similar modified usb-micro connector with audio and composite video… I wouldn’t consider it non standard unless a normal micro cable didn’t work.I didn’t read too much back detail and assumed he replaced the connectors because he couldn’t find a usb-mini cable.",
"parent_id": "417181",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "417185",
"author": "chango",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:42:55",
"content": "@raidscsi:Older HTC phones had a port called ExtUSB which was an 11-pin mini-USB compatible connector. Video and audio could be brought out of the phone with a special adapter that fit the extra pins.Also cutting and bending some sheet metal isn’t a notable hack.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417197",
"author": "Bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:11:40",
"content": "I really hate the fact that USB connectors are now used for charging. I liked the circular connectors on nokias, if i were to just pick a call and leave while the phone was charging the connector would just snap out easily. It happened lots of times with zero connector breakage.The USB variety is more sensible, easier to break and i’ve seen devices where a little more force on the connector would make it just detach from the board completely.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417201",
"author": "Jax184",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:25:29",
"content": "On the other hand, now all you need is a standard USB cable and you can change any phone that isn’t made by Apple. At the computer recycling center I work at we get truckloads of cell phone power adapters that get scrapped. Much prefer a standard USB port for charging.HTC’s ExtUSB was clever. My g1 has one of those connectors. A normal USB mini cable plugs into it for charging and syncing, but you can also use the above mentioned odd A/V dongles with it.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417211",
"author": "bogdan",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:41:50",
"content": "@jax, you are indeed right, but i do prefer the dual approach. Both usb and dedicated. Fortunetely, those days are gone",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417227",
"author": "ZeUs",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:26:17",
"content": "So basically hack a day is now admitting things are not hacks and only useful for repairs?Okay, not that I mind.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417228",
"author": "Cathal",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:26:22",
"content": "Surely leaving the ExtUSB in and using it for something non standard would be more of a hack than replacing it with a connection with less features. If thats the case im going to replace the screen on my LCD tv with cardboard and call it a hack because its more energy efficient.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417326",
"author": "password",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T04:13:21",
"content": "@cathal no one said this is a hack",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417339",
"author": "uzerzero",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T04:59:03",
"content": "Ah the HTC Hermes, my first smart phone. I still have it and it still works great, just not as a phone since I upgraded to an iPhone. This makes me wonder if it’s possible to add a headphone jack in there, since HTC wanted you to buy those clunky miniUSB->audio adapters.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417360",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T06:22:14",
"content": "Having paid the £50 for a replacement motherboard on my Touch Dual, I feel your pain :-)I did toy with the idea of doing an inductive charging mod on the beast using the coil and pcb from one of those Wii Orb wireless chargers but it turned out that there was nowhere near enough space to put the board.What I do have however in ye olde box o’junk is an HTC with a rotating monster screen dating from about 2003 which would be ideal as a “smart” phone if it wasnt for the destroyed charging port and board damage.USB doesen’t work but at least the charging pins do thanks to modwire, so this would be an ideal candidate.Sadly most of my broken ‘phones are not in such good condition, usually they have broken screens or water damage.Now if someone did a “put a pair of cheap nokia knockoff screens in your samsung” hack… :-) :-)",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417605",
"author": "fred",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T19:40:47",
"content": "@Jax184The chargers that Apple ships have USB connectors on them and would work with any phone that has a USB cable.Also, you can charge any Apple phone via USB if you have the included cable.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417811",
"author": "Kevin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T03:49:03",
"content": "When I first read the headline, I thought the ports would be replaced with standard USB charging ports. Now that would be cool!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417941",
"author": "KanchoBlindside",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T11:32:54",
"content": "How is this NOT a hack? Dumb comment",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418257",
"author": "janomeister",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T05:10:51",
"content": "This is something like I did with a GSmart phone:http://luispalma.blogspot.com/2010/11/reparacion-de-smartphone-gsmart-mw700.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,140.468092
|
||
https://hackaday.com/2011/07/13/color-changing-el-wire/
|
Color Changing EL Wire
|
Brian Benchoff
|
[
"hardware",
"Parts"
] |
[
"el wire",
"electroluminescent",
"Teensy"
] |
All EL wire drivers use a resonator circuit to supply power to the EL wire. It’s an efficient system, but [Paul] noticed that there was some color change when powering different lengths of wire off of the same driver. He realized that this is because of the changing frequency of the resonator circuit, so the only reasonable thing for [Paul] to do was to build a
color fading EL wire driver
.
The circuit used to drive the wire is very simple. [Paul] used a Teensy board to switch two transistors and produce AC current. This is sent through a step-up transformer which powers the EL wire. It was necessary to use aqua or ‘Tron blue’ EL wire for this build because of the clear wire jacket. Many colors of EL wire have a fluorescent jacket – much like a fluorescent light bulb – that changes the color produced inside the wire to something different. [Paul] says the color change is subtle, but unique.
Of course the build is nothing without a video of the color changing EL wire. Check it out after the break.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gROEIlym6Dw&w=470]
| 34
| 33
|
[
{
"comment_id": "417132",
"author": "adam outler",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T19:11:38",
"content": "My el gauges in my car switch from blue to green. The controller is 6 years old.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417155",
"author": "Alex",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T19:33:09",
"content": "cool story adam",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": [
{
"comment_id": "1077306",
"author": "rik",
"timestamp": "2013-10-16T21:40:40",
"content": "another way to do it:http://www.instructables.com/id/Dimming-EL-wire/",
"parent_id": "417155",
"depth": 2,
"replies": []
}
]
},
{
"comment_id": "417168",
"author": "dcroy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:03:24",
"content": "i built an adjustable frequency el driver for the 555 timer contesthttp://dcroy.blogspot.com/2011/02/555-timer-contest-entry-el-inverter.htmlthe shift appears to occur around the 2000 hertz mark",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417179",
"author": "tim",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:30:46",
"content": "I wonder how this will look with EL-Wire of other colors",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417184",
"author": "steve",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T20:42:52",
"content": "old effect. Thought about making one too about a year ago, but decided against it because the change is just too subtle to be useful",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417196",
"author": "Headshot-Zombie",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:08:32",
"content": "Don’t see much of a difference in color.But if the sole purpose on an AVR is to generate frequency modulated AC to drive MOSFETs ==> Big fail in analog engineering",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417198",
"author": "b1r6m4n",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:20:01",
"content": "Whats the problem guys? The color change is clearly noticeable, and very neat. Great idea!",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417204",
"author": "Tweeks",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:32:19",
"content": "Very cool Brian.. But have you played much with driving it with a analog source (or analog-looking source).. and played with MIXING the frequencies? Doing so could get you more variance and color combinations (one would think).Tweeks",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417209",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T21:37:11",
"content": "Hi, Paul here… the guy who built this.@dcroy – Opps, I didn’t know about your project. You definitely built this first!! I’ve updated my page with a link to your blog. You clearly deserve the credit.@Headshot-Zombie – Is using a $16 board that’s extremely easy to change in almost any way, rather than cheaper analog circuitry that requires soldering to change in substantial ways, considered a “big fail”? I can see that for production of thousands, or hundreds, or even a dozen units. But the very first prototype, even before the frequency ranges and other parameters are known? I built and tested this whole thing in about half a day, and being able to quickly download different programs (I tried a LOT of different ways) and tweak the delays saved a lot of time.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417223",
"author": "Pete",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:02:35",
"content": "awesome that you took the time to figure this out. though i am sure you can achieve a greater number of steps. i have el gauges installed in my car that do this with about 6 steps of green-blue. though i am not sure of the differences between el paper and el wire.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417225",
"author": "dcroy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:12:27",
"content": "@Headshot-Zombie standard high frequency ac drivers (for el wire, ccfl tubes, neon) typically use a plain square wave to pulse drive a step up transformer to generate ac, using a digital signal source adds the flexibility of being programmableill be working on an a pic driven version of my own driver to play with some mixed frequency driving to try and solve the problem with driving electroluminescent at higher frequencies (brighter, with the bonus color shift but considerably lower lifespan)something along the lines of modulating between two frequencies to increase brightness while mitigating the reduction in lifespan",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417230",
"author": "cgimark",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T22:28:08",
"content": "I ran into the problem of driving an EL display a few months ago when I bought some EL backlight LCD displays. The problem is getting the frequency and voltage correct. My displays want 111VAC @ 120Khz which is a pain to generate cheaply. Now I know why the guy sold them to me so cheap :)I did find these chips from supertex , but I have yet to order any. Been using a pic with 8ohm to 2k audio transformers driven from a single fet.http://www.supertex.com/feature_elfamily.html",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417251",
"author": "Leumis",
"timestamp": "2011-07-13T23:29:14",
"content": "@Headshot-Zombie and SteveI don’t see much in the way of colour change either. It’s there, but very subtle. I’m also somewhat colour-blind. A great many people, especially men, are somewhat colour-blind and don’t even know it. Maybe that is the issue in your case?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417344",
"author": "Victor",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T05:14:11",
"content": "I saw this a while back actually, by glowlabs I think.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417345",
"author": "patman2700",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T05:23:06",
"content": "Despite what all the naysayers of digital tech say, having an AVR for prototyping purposes is extremely useful. I doubt any of the analog purists would enjoy building a custom-designed circuit just to find out that it wouldn’t work with the particular strand of EL wire. Digital tech allows prototypes to be made very rapidly, and once [Paul] figured out what the frequency(ies) were, I’m sure it would be loads easier to wire up a circuit using discreet components.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417364",
"author": "bothersaidpooh",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T06:28:57",
"content": "@cgimark I have used the Supertex chips and they work very well indeed.One caveat, its worth adding a series 150 ohm in each lead because they *really* hate phase-phase shorts.Effect on brightness is minimal and the chip will last forever this way even if the EL goes S/C.Did I mention that these chips also have frequency shifting “out of the box” by altering the timing resistor?About the most innovative use I have come up with is hacking the HV809 to drive a resonant flapper setup for the purpose of driving a model ornithopter. The problem was that I ran out of time not that anything broke, the hardware was perfect.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417518",
"author": "Paul Potter",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T15:06:28",
"content": "So subtle it makes bugger all difference.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417645",
"author": "Chris",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T21:19:25",
"content": "There is absolutely no difference in Color I don’t know what you guys are talking about.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417677",
"author": "dcroy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:45:15",
"content": "[youtubehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOYPxNBTS0g&w=425&h=349%5Dthe transition is more apparent in my video",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417678",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-07-14T22:46:56",
"content": "yeah – my video skills and gear aren’t so great :-(",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "417724",
"author": "dcroy",
"timestamp": "2011-07-15T00:08:16",
"content": "took a few times to get my own camera to capture it properlyhad to take it in the dark because it barely showed any change with the room lit up",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418239",
"author": "Frogz",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T03:13:13",
"content": "i have a el inverter i bought at a surplus storei noticed the effect that when i have it stuck to a stack of magnets(roughly 20 microwave oven magnets)the frequency changed(you could clearly hear it going atleast 500 hz higher) and so did the colorbecame whiter and less blue",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "418303",
"author": "space",
"timestamp": "2011-07-16T09:03:15",
"content": "Color change is observable in standard red and standard green LEDs. They require rather high current to change the color, so they don’t last very long.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419390",
"author": "Missy McGavin",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T02:24:42",
"content": "That would be awesome to have it really change colors. If it could do that, you would have a killer product.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "419909",
"author": "thouton",
"timestamp": "2011-07-19T23:23:37",
"content": "@Missy McGavin – Sparkfun carry a flexible light guide a bit like a fibre optic pipe, it has its own problems, but it still looks mighty cool.@Paul – I had heard about this colour changing property but like you I struggled to find any details. Having seen the effect I must say I really like the subtle shift; I may incorporate this in a night light I’m working on.Another way of subtly shifting the colour is to introduce UV light to EL wire without the colour filter layer. The pigment fluoresces in a white/green colour when off, and pulls the colour slightly towards the green end when the EL wire is powered.Thanks,Drew",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447326",
"author": "Stumo",
"timestamp": "2011-09-03T21:59:23",
"content": "I like this; I’m trying to get something similar together using an Arduino, but I’m finding it hard to work out what parts to get (specifically the transformer – I’m hoping I can find one suitable at uk.farnell.com )Also, it looks from the 555 version that it ought to be possible to do this using only one pin on the arduino – is that right?",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447732",
"author": "Paul",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T16:45:45",
"content": "Yeah, that Mouser 42TU003-RC looks like a part Mouser has made. Will Mouser ship to Europe?If you use only 1 transistor, you’ll probably end up driving the transformer with a DC bias. Well, unless you put a large DC blocking capacitor in series with the winding. Putting an DC on a coil causes a lot of extra magnetic field in the core which doesn’t help, so you’ll need a bigger transformer.That’s why I used 2 transistors with a center tap winding. As long as you alternately switch each transistor on for the same length of time, you’ll avoid any DC bias.Also, you might trying Arduino 1.0 instead of 0022. 1.0-beta3 was released yesterday. Apparently 1.0 is scheduled for Sept 15. Here’s the beta.http://code.google.com/p/arduino/wiki/Arduino1One of the improvements is optimization of digitalWrite if you use constants for both inputs. Teensyduino has had this for almost 2 years (and I’ve tried to contribute it into the official Arduino since November 2009) and finally it’s in 1.0. If you’re reading this after Sept 15, hopefully 1.0 will be officially released. The betas seem to be working ok, and for this project the optimized digitalWrite is definitely worth using the beta test version.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "447761",
"author": "Stuart Moore",
"timestamp": "2011-09-04T18:29:49",
"content": "They will ship to Europe, for a price, but I’d prefer to avoid that cost if I can; everything else I can source locally!So I’m basically looking for a transformer with the same number of turns on each side, but on one side there’s a central tap? And presumably I might need to alter the values of the capacitor/resistor network if I can’t get equivalent coil resistance? How did you determine those values?If I did want to go down the single pin route, when you say a “large” blocking capacitor, how large is this? And does it need to be OK for reverse voltages? I think from what I’ve read that the reason the single transistor version works is because you get an instantaneous high negative voltage on the transistor’s collector?(Sorry if these are silly questions, still relatively new to this)Thanks for the tip on the new arduino software – I’m actually using a slightly different board from jeelabs.net but it’s easier to say “arduino” than to go into details; I need the various support libraries he provides, so I’ll wait until he’s confirmed they all work before switching over.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3171088",
"author": "Jackson Ward",
"timestamp": "2016-08-30T01:29:47",
"content": "Hi, great simple project! I am also having trouble finding information on the capabilities of EL wire. I have a theory question I would really appreciate your thoughts on: I’m imagining driving one wire with two out of phase sources in the hopes of creating a standing wave pattern evident in gaps in the wires brightness. All goes well and the next step is to shift the signals around to move the nodes of higher intensity up and down the wire. The purpose is to mimic the bioluminescence patterns of certain jelly fish. Think the idea could hold any water?Thanks.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3181271",
"author": "BotherSaidPooh",
"timestamp": "2016-09-04T08:55:58",
"content": "Oh heh heh, hold water. LMAO! :-) Yeah, it should work. although you might be better off using the phasing wire (already available, have some here). Protip, it actually has 6 or more “wires” inside so the effect can be very well tuned if you have the right technical skills and patience to solder 0.1mm diameter wires correctly (I have!)You can contact me via: Reddit (conundrum20xx), also am on 4HV and twitter darnstadium",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "3269788",
"author": "Rob Rowland",
"timestamp": "2016-11-14T01:17:02",
"content": "this is almost what I am looking for. I purchased an el inverter and wire as a set a while back and recently the inverter stopped working. I thought no big deal, I’ll just purchase another inverter and be done. While the new inverter works, it lights up the el more blue rather than the aqua color of the old inverter. I’m assuming the old inverter ran at a different hz possibly? Would it be possible to use a resistor or something to get the correct color with this new inverter? I do not need the color to change, just to get back to aqua and stay there. Thanks for any help.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4303222",
"author": "BotherSaidPooh",
"timestamp": "2018-01-14T08:26:59",
"content": "The trick is to design your inverter so that it drives different sections of the wire with phase shifting. IIRC with the sample I have it needs more voltage at lower current than conventional EL wire due to the smaller cores.The cheap resonant inverters generally use a parallel capacitor to get the correct frequency so changing that might work.Rescuing the drive coil from a “shocking pen” available at joke shops also works and its already got a drive circuit optimized for low power use.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
},
{
"comment_id": "4834284",
"author": "BotherSaidPooh",
"timestamp": "2018-08-08T09:06:31",
"content": "Changing the UV illumination wavelength also encourages interesting colour shifts.",
"parent_id": null,
"depth": 1,
"replies": []
}
] | 1,760,377,140.411987
|
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