Schlagwort: arduino

  • Tom Stanton’s trebuchet altitude measurement “golf ball”

    Tom Stanton’s trebuchet altitude measurement “golf ball”

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    Tom Stanton’s trebuchet altitude measurement “golf ball”

    Arduino TeamMay 22nd, 2019

    YouTuber Tom Stanton built a trebuchet about a year ago. Now, in order to figure out just how high it can toss something, he designed a custom altitude tracking device in the form of an oversize golf ball. 

    An Arduino Nano is squeezed inside this sphere, along with a battery, an altimeter, an accelerometer, and even a small servo. The altimeter is used for primary height measurement, while the accelerometer detects launches. A servo then deploys a parachute four seconds later to keep the electronics safe.

    As it turns out, the trebuchet is able to fling the ball in the air 60 meters. While impressive, per Stanton’s discussion, it may not be as efficient as you might suspect! Be sure to check out the project in the video below! 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEpN5_31go?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • The first-ever Arduino certification is now available

    The first-ever Arduino certification is now available

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    The first-ever Arduino certification is now available

    Arduino TeamMay 22nd, 2019

    The Arduino Certification Program (ACP) is an Arduino initiative to officially certify users at different levels and confirm their expertise in key areas. Certifications are offered at three tiers — enthusiasts, educators and professionals — which have been identified as the largest Arduino user groups through extensive feedback from the community.

    And today, we are excited to announce the availability of the initial Arduino certification: Arduino Fundamentals, which is the first release of the ACP. Access to the exam leading to the certification can be purchased either in combination with the Arduino Starter Kit or as a standalone exam.

    The Arduino Certification: Fundamentals Exam is a structured way to enhance and validate your Arduino skills, and receive official recognition as you progress. Anyone interested in engaging with Arduino through a process that involves study, practice, and project building is encouraged to pursue this official certificate.

    Developed in consultation with leading technology curriculum, interaction design, and electronic engineering professionals, the Arduino Certification: Fundamentals Exam assesses skills based on exercises comprised of practical tasks from the Arduino Starter Kit.

    The official assessment covers three main subjects: theory and introduction to Arduino, electronics, and coding. During the exam, you will be asked to answer 36 questions of varied format and difficulty in 75 minutes.

    Questions will test your knowledge on the following topics:

    • Electricity
    • Reading circuits and schematics
    • Arduino IDE
    • Arduino boards
    • Frequency and duty cycle
    • Electronic components
    • Programming syntax and semantics
    • Programming logic

    The certification is currently only available in the US, but will be opened in more countries during 2019. If you’d like to learn more about Arduino Fundamentals, download the user guide. Additional information can also be found here.

    Website: LINK

  • Single-sensor selfies with the Flying Pixel Portrait Camera

    Single-sensor selfies with the Flying Pixel Portrait Camera

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    Single-sensor selfies with the Flying Pixel Portrait Camera

    Arduino TeamMay 21st, 2019

    While most cameras use an array of sensors to quickly capture an image, Niklas Roy presents a different take on things with his Flying Pixel Portrait Camera.

    This installation invites participants to place their head under a shroud for nearly a minute and a half, while a computer-controlled projector scans one’s face pixel by pixel. Reflected light levels are recorded with a single light-dependent resistor (LDR) via an Arduino flashed with Firmata, allowing it to interface with the Processing sketch that runs the device without any extra software.

    The results are 50×50 black and white photos. It’s also possible to produce color images, which means triple the wait time—and a bit more noise.

    The Flying Pixel Portrait Camera uses a video beamer, a single photo resistor, an Arduino and a PC for taking photos of people’s faces. The beamer ‘scans’ the image by projecting a small white square onto a person’s face inside an otherwise completely dark chamber. While the projected square slowly moves over the entire face, the photo resistor captures the reflected luminosities. This generates a proportional analog electric signal which is digitized by an Arduino and transmitted to the PC. As the PC also controls the position of the projected square, it can now construct an image based on the different brightness values that it receives, one pixel at a time.

    Website: LINK

  • Arduino SIM, the new cellular connectivity service for the Arduino IoT Cloud

    Arduino SIM, the new cellular connectivity service for the Arduino IoT Cloud

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    Arduino SIM, the new cellular connectivity service for the Arduino IoT Cloud

    Arduino TeamMay 21st, 2019

    Arduino SIM: 10MB Free Data for Up to 90 Days!

    The new Arduino SIM offers the simplest path to cellular IoT device development in an environment familiar to millions. The cellular service, provided by Arm Pelion Connectivity Management, has a global roaming profile; meaning a single Arduino SIM can be used in over 100 countries worldwide with one simple data plan.

    The Plan

    • Arduino SIM comes with 10 MB of data free for the first days 90 days.
    • One simple subscription at 5 MB for $1.50 USD per month*.
    • Global roaming profile – enjoy the same amount of data traffic for the same price wherever you are operating the device around the world.
    • Cellular connectivity to the Arduino IoT Cloud – monitor and control your devices anytime, anywhere.
    • Ideal for connected devices on the go or in areas without reliable WiFi.

    *The monthly Arduino SIM plan is currently only available to U.S. residents.

    By partnering with Arm Pelion Connectivity Management, the cellular service has a solid foundation for users needing to scale form a single to large numbers of devices in the future.

    At launch, the Arduino SIM will allow users to send data into the Arduino IoT Cloud, while later in the year they will also be able to use the Arduino SIM to connect to the Internet via a combination of webhooks and APIs.

    Arduino SIM is initially rolling out with support for the Arduino MKR GSM 1400 (3G with 2G fallback) – a 32-bit Arduino board supporting TLS and X.509 certificate-based authentication through an on-board secure element and crypto-accelerator. Arduino IoT Cloud makes it possible for anyone to connect to these boards securely without any coding required, but they are still programmable using open-source libraries and the traditional Arduino IDE.  

    Now available to pre-order from the Arduino U.S. Store!

    Website: LINK

  • Geometric Nixie tube clock and environmental display

    Geometric Nixie tube clock and environmental display

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    Geometric Nixie tube clock and environmental display

    Arduino TeamMay 21st, 2019

    Creators keep coming up with new clock designs, and while you might think that every new possibility has been exhausted, Christine Thompson has proved this assumption wrong once again with her “VFD Trilateral Clock.

    This Arduino Uno-powered device employs a stepper motor to rotate a triangular prism shape with scales for hours and minutes on one side, temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit on the other, and humidity and pressure on the third surface.

    The geometric scale travels in 120-degree steps, causing each face to line up with a pair of IN-13 Nixie tubes on either side. These linear tubes are then used to indicate time and environmental conditions in a beautiful bell jar display, as seen at around 3:30 in the video below.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dlX5frGWoI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    While waiting for the delivery of parts for another project I decided to push ahead with this project. At its heart is two IN-13M Nixie tubes. These tubes are designed to provide a linear scale between maximum and minimum points using an illuminated column. The project uses two of these IN-13M, three wire Nixie tubes to show, time (Hours and Minutes), temperature (Celsius and Fahrenheit), Humidity (percentage), and Pressure (millibars).

    At this point I would like to thank Dr. Scott M. Baker for his great web site, which provided me with all the information I needed to get these Nixie tubes to work. In particular the Current Regulator as displayed and detailed on his web site.

    The project uses a BME280 sensor to determine the temperature, pressure and humidity and RTC clock to monitor time. As the system needs to display six different values it was necessary to construct a rotating central display which showed these values against six scales. In order to achieve this an equilateral triangle of wood was fashioned, each side showing two sets of values. A stepper motor was mounted under the top platform and this motor rotates through 120 degrees in time for the next set of values to be displayed on the two Nixie tubes.

    Website: LINK

  • Vari-Sound dynamically manipulates sound waves

    Vari-Sound dynamically manipulates sound waves

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    Vari-Sound dynamically manipulates sound waves

    Arduino TeamMay 21st, 2019

    Consider all the tools that modify how light is transmitted and received: lasers direct light in a tightly focused beam and telescopes let us focus on an area far away. While there are certainly ways to modify sound, these techniques are not nearly as developed as their light counterparts. 

    With hopes of changing that, researchers from the University of Sussex and the University of Bristol have been working with metamaterials—normal materials like plastic, paper, wood or rubber with an internal structure designed to manipulate sound waves—to build acoustic lenses. 

    The team demonstrated the first dynamic metamaterial device with the zoom objective of a varifocal for sound, as well as create a collimator capable of transmitting sound as a directional beam from a standard speaker.

    The lenses are attached to the collimator, and can be used to direct sound from a speaker or two can be employed together to construct an adjustable focus system. Focal length is regulated by the distance between the two lenses, which is controlled by an Arduino Nano and a single stepper motor mounted to an adjustable rail.

    You can learn more about Vari-Sound in this article or read the team’s entire paper here

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gHx8HZoGB8?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • What’s new at Maker Faire Bay Area 2019

    What’s new at Maker Faire Bay Area 2019

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    It wouldn’t be a Maker Faire Bay Area without some exciting announcements!

    A New Nano Family

    Designed with makers in mind, the new Nano represents a small, powerful and affordable solution for everyday projects. Retaining Arduino’s quality and reliability, they make it easier than ever to turn your project ideas into reality. They are compatible with classic Arduino boards, have low energy consumption, and are equipped with more powerful processors.

    The family is comprised of four different boards:

    Arduino Nano Every – perfect for everyday projects. (Pre-order here with headers or here without headers)

    Arduino Nano 33 IoT – small, secure, and Internet-connected. (Pre-order here with headers or here without headers)

    Arduino Nano 33 BLE – small, low-power, and Bluetooth-connected. (Pre-order here with headers or here without headers)

    Arduino Nano BLE Sense – small, low-power, and Bluetooth-connected with a wide range of on-board sensors. (Pre-order here with headers or here without headers)

    “The new Nanos are for those millions of makers who love using the Arduino IDE for its simplicity and open source aspect, but just want a great value, small and powerful board they can trust for their compact projects,” commented Massimo Banzi. “With prices from as low as $9.90 for the Nano Every, this family fills that gap in the Arduino range, providing makers with the Arduino quality they deserve for those everyday projects.”

    Arduino SIM

    Connect the Arduino IoT Cloud to the world around you! 10MB free data for up to 90 days (5MB per month for $1.50 USD thereafter).

    Arduino SIM is the new cellular connectivity service for the Arduino IoT Cloud. The SIM aims to offer the simplest path to cellular IoT device development in an environment familiar to millions. The cellular service, provided by Arm Pelion Connectivity Management, has a global roaming profile; meaning a single Arduino SIM can be used in over 100 countries worldwide with one simple data plan. Compatible with the MKR GSM 1400 board, it is ideal for connected devices on the go. Arduino SIM is currently only available in the U.S. — more information can be found here.

    If you’re coming along to the faire, remember to bring along your MKR GSM 1400 board and we’ll give you a free SIM to try out!

    Arduino Certification Program: Arduino Fundamentals

    The Arduino Certification Program (ACP) is an Arduino initiative to officially certify Arduino users at different levels and confirm their expertise in key areas. Arduino Fundamentals, representing the first level of the ACP, is now available in the U.S. — access to the exam can be purchased either in combination with the Arduino Starter Kit or as a standalone exam.  

    But Wait, There’s More!

    If you’ll be in San Mateo, don’t miss Massimo Banzi’s ‘State of Arduino’ talk on Saturday at 2pm PT on the Center Stage, where he will reveal more news and updates!

    Website: LINK

  • Arduino IoT Cloud: April’s New Features

    Arduino IoT Cloud: April’s New Features

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    Arduino IoT Cloud: April’s New Features

    Arduino TeamMay 17th, 2019

    In this short article, we are going to provide an overview of all the new and exciting features the team has been working on.

    Multi-Value Property Types: The first two types implemented are Location and Color. With Color, you can pick a color from the palette (clicking on it) or just show one in a small window. With Location, you can see a pin on a map and move it; furthermore, you can drag the box and make it bigger

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNa1MDZcsz4?feature=oembed&w=500&h=375]

    The number of property types is huge, allowing you to pick the one that best suits your needs. All the possible values are taken from the SenML standard.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2i7Gv-xgwk?feature=oembed&w=500&h=375]

    Shadow Thing: If a device happens to disconnect from the Cloud, as soon as it reconnects, the board will get back its previous property values. For example, if a property controls the status of a lamp, and the lamp property is set to on, the light will be kept on when the device comes back online.

    Simply Discover Your Thing ID and Device ID: The panel showing information about its associated board is opened by default, making it easier to read details about the board you are using.

    Getting Started Procedure: The procedure is now faster and more reliable, thanks to bug-fixing and a new connection template used in the Cloud_blink sketch.

    Website: LINK

  • Join us at Maker Faire Bay Area 2019!

    Join us at Maker Faire Bay Area 2019!

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    Join us at Maker Faire Bay Area 2019!

    Arduino TeamMay 16th, 2019

    We are just few hours away from Maker Faire Bay Area 2019, where we will be partnering with Microchip in the Expo Hall (Zone 2).

    Those heading to San Mateo over the weekend will want to swing by our booth to meet the Arduino team, check out some demos, and explore all our latest hardware. Plus, we’ve got plenty of exciting news in store!

    • Bring your MKR GSM 1400 for an exCELLent surprise. It’s that SIMple! We’ll be running a giveaway for every attendee that shows up to our booth with their board.
    • Magic IoT Sphere: Something small but special is coming! Lift it, question it, shake it — then be amazed. Shake it again and you’re in for a nice Arduino treat. Are you ready to discover the little yet powerful secret behind this magic?

    Moreover, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Arduino Education‘s recent developments, including CTC Go! and the Science Kit Physics Lab.

    Finally, a Maker Faire Bay Area tradition, Massimo will once again take Center Stage (Zone 6) and deliver his “The State of Arduino” talk on Saturday at 2pm PT.

    We can’t wait to see you all this weekend! For more information on the program and venue, be sure to visit the Maker Faire Bay Area website

    Website: LINK

  • GymSoles ensure correct form and posture during your workout

    GymSoles ensure correct form and posture during your workout

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    GymSoles ensure correct form and posture during your workout

    Arduino TeamMay 16th, 2019

    While you can get a very good workout on your own, it’s ideal if you have someone else watching over your form. This, of course, isn’t always practical, so researchers at the University of Auckland’s Augmented Human Lab have prototyped a wearable system called GymSoles to help. 

    GymSoles consists of a pressure-sensitive insole that is used to determine a foot’s center of pressure, and thus infer whether or not the participant is keeping the weights in the proper position relative to his or her body—perfect for exercises like squats and deadlifts. 

    Feedback is provided visually as well as through tactile feedback via eight vibrating motors, allowing participants to modify technique without having to focus on a screen. A computer is used to control the device using an Arduino Uno with motor drivers and an I2C multiplexer.

    The correct execution of exercises, such as squats and dead-lifts, is essential to prevent various bodily injuries. Existing solutions either rely on expensive motion tracking or multiple Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) systems require an extensive set-up and individual calibration. This paper introduces a proof of concept, GymSoles, an insole prototype that provides feedback on the Centre of Pressure (CoP) at the feet to assist users with maintaining the correct body posture, while performing squats and dead-lifts. GymSoles was evaluated with 13 users in three conditions: 1) no feedback, 2) vibrotactile feedback, and 3) visual feedback. It has shown that solely providing feedback on the current CoP, results in a significantly improved body posture.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UHuFJm2nb4?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • VR boxing robot actually punches back

    VR boxing robot actually punches back

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    VR boxing robot actually punches back

    Arduino TeamMay 15th, 2019

    VR environments are meant to be immersive, but if you’ve ever thought what was missing is being actually pummeled by robotic fists, then James Bruton’s newest project could be just the thing. 

    Bruton recently teamed up with students from Portsmouth University to build a robot that works in the real world, and coordinates its movements with a virtual setting displayed on the human’s headset.

    The robot itself is controlled by an Arduino Mega, and features a differential (tank) drive with encoders for feedback. Shoulders can tilt from left to right, and the actual punching motion is handled by pneumatic actuators built from modified bicycle pumps. Robo-fists are covered by boxing gloves to keep humans relatively safe, and flesh-based competitors are given a small shield and sword-bat with which to fight back!

    I worked on this project with final year degree students in Computer Games Technology at Portsmouth University CCI faculty. The robot hardware is controlled over a serial interface, the team built an VR game which controls the robot, so when you get hit in VR you get hit in real life! The robot is tracked back into VR with Vive trackers so it stays in sync.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYfzaAWIBpc?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • Program smart devices with a ‘magic wand’

    Program smart devices with a ‘magic wand’

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    Program smart devices with a ‘magic wand’

    Arduino TeamMay 15th, 2019

    Consider how interactive devices have come to dominate our lives. Once the purview of a select few in large laboratories, powerful gadgets—supercomputers even—are carried with us everywhere we go in the form of smartphones. And as everything around us becomes increasingly more connected, those that have no interest in the technical aspects of computing will still need to know how to configure the networked things throughout their homes.

    As an experiment in interactive design, Austrian researchers Florian Güldenpfennig, Daniel Dudo, and Peter Purgathofer have come up with a ‘Magic Paradigm’ for programming.

    Their project uses a wand with a built-in RFID reader, allowing it to sense which RFID tagged object it’s pointing to and register various sequences. This enables devices to be customized as needed, many of which contain an Arduino Nano as ‘active’ units and an nRF24L01+ module for communication. A central desktop/Arduino setup is also implemented to coordinate system elements.

    We are surrounded by an increasing number of smart and networked devices. Today much of this technology is enjoyed by gadget enthusiasts and early adaptors, but in the foreseeable future many people will become dependent on smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, desired or not. To support people with various levels of computer skills in mastering smart appliances as found, e.g., in smart homes, we propose the ‘magic paradigm’ for programming networked devices. Our work can be regarded as a playful ‘experiment’ towards democratizing IoT technology. It explores how we can program interactive behavior by simple pointing gestures using a tangible ‘magic wand’. While the ‘magic paradigm’ removes barriers in programming by waiving conventional coding, it simultaneously raises questions about complexity: what kind of tasks can be addressed by this kind of ‘tangible programming’, and can people handle it as tasks become complex? We report the design rationale of a prototypical instantiation of the ‘magic paradigm’ including preliminary findings of a first user trial.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOp6prUiEZo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • This compass reads the correct heading even when tilted

    This compass reads the correct heading even when tilted

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    This compass reads the correct heading even when tilted

    Arduino TeamMay 15th, 2019

    Consider an analog or even digital compass. While you can reasonably expect either to point towards magnetic north when held flat, when you add tilt and/or roll to the equation, things get a bit wonky. That is unless you’re maker “lingib,” who was able to construct a magical compass using an Arduino Uno and an MPU-9250 IMU unit, with an accelerometer/gyro in the same package.

    As seen in the video below, when the compass unit is set at an angle, the heading output varies significantly—as much as 100 degrees according to the project write-up. When stabilization is turned on, however, the gyro/accelerometer is used to compensate for magnetometer heading variations—reducing output errors to just a few degrees.

    This Instructable explains how to make a tilt compensated compass using an Arduino Uno R3, an LCD display, and an IvenSense MPU-9250 multi-chip-module that contains an MPU-6050 accelerometer / gyro and an AK8963 magnetometer within the same package.

    The LCD simultaneously displays the heading, (P)itch, and (R)oll.

    The heading accuracy is within 2 degrees depending on how well the compass has been calibrated.

    Without tilt compensation the compass headings vary significantly … sometimes by as much as 100 degrees.

    When stabilised, the tilted compass headings only vary by one or two degrees … the improvement is amazing.

    The tilt stabilization may be disabled by placing a jumper wire between Arduino pins A0 and GND.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY_17f5RByI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=375]

    Website: LINK

  • Modular CNC machine made with Arduino

    Modular CNC machine made with Arduino

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    Modular CNC machine made with Arduino

    Arduino TeamMay 15th, 2019

    Arduino boards running GRBL software have long been used for CNC machine control, but usually you need to choose between having a router or laser cutter. This project, however, is specifically designed to accommodate both with a modular carriage system.

    Build-wise, it’s a fairly standard XYZ gantry CNC — with a frame made out of V-slot aluminum extrusions from OpenBuilds cut to length by a circular saw. The X and Y axes are controlled via NEMA 17 stepper motor and belt drive assemblies, while height adjustment is accomplished with a NEMA 23 motor and screw drive.

    The electronics are all hidden away in a separate enclosure, including the Arduino Uno/CNC shield that serves as the brains of the operation and a cooling fan to keep the temperature inside in check. 

    If you’ve been considering doing this type of build, this looks like a great place to start, and you can see a demos of it in laser and spindle modes in the videos below.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSoUpNtTAU?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAEb2l668XI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • Current limiting Hacky Racer throttle

    Current limiting Hacky Racer throttle

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    Current limiting Hacky Racer throttle

    Arduino TeamMay 15th, 2019

    Hacky Racers, an electric vehicle racing series that’s part of the Power Racing Series, encourages drivers to put together their own hacky vehicle. While it looks like a lot of fun, in order to keep things relatively safe, current powering the car is regulated by an inline fuse from the battery, effectively limiting the top power output to the motor—thus keeping speed in check.

    This means that while drivers need some control over how fast their motor is running, traditional PWM control where as much power is thrown to the motor as needed to keep it at a certain speed doesn’t really work. Instead, you need a system that controls how much current is provided. It’s a subtle problem, solved here with the addition of an Arduino Nano, which regulates output based on feedback from a current clamp sensor. While it won’t let a racer exceed the current limit, it does allow for maximum output when needed without tripping the fuse!

    Those wishing to learn more can read the full write-up here and check out Hackaday’s recent article.

    Website: LINK

  • Washing machine becomes ‘universal’ rotary tool

    Washing machine becomes ‘universal’ rotary tool

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    Washing machine becomes ‘universal’ rotary tool

    Arduino TeamMay 14th, 2019

    If you have a broken washing machine, you may want to think twice before disposing of it. As Stephen John Saville shows in this multi-use rotary table project, they can provide a wealth of parts, from the actual physical structure/table of the build, to a motor that’s able to run via AC or DC, and various other mechanical components. There’s even an electronic timer salvaged from an old microwave.

    To keep the turntable running at the desired speed, he used an Arduino Nano connected to a triad circuit, along with an LM393 chip and optocoupler to implement closed-loop control. User feedback is shown on a 16×2 LCD screen, updated every two seconds to avoid interfering with speed control functions. 

    More info on this clever hack can be found in its well-detailed write-up, and be sure to check out the very entertaining video of what’s involved in such a repurposing feat below! 

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZobI7CkqRRA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • Clean your whiteboard automatically with Wipy

    Clean your whiteboard automatically with Wipy

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    Clean your whiteboard automatically with Wipy

    Arduino TeamMay 8th, 2019

    If you have to do a lot of drawing on a whiteboard, you also have to clean it. Why not have a robot do this instead? That’s the idea behind Wipy, an Arduino Uno-based robot that uses magnets to stick to the board, along with grippy wheels and motors to power across your scribbles.

    Wipy employs an array of IR sensors that enable it to act as a line follower, plus a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor to detect your hand on the board. While one might assume this sensing arrangement would prevent it from erasing your work-in-progress, it annoyingly allows it to start erasing immediately when you start drawing. At least it has a cute LED face!

    Did you ever get tired of cleaning the whiteboard? Have you ever wondered how much your life would improve if a robot could do this for you? You now have the chance to make this a reality with Wipy: the overly motivated whiteboard cleaner. Wipy will properly clean your embarrassingly bad drawings, and it will even do it with a cute smile. You don’t even need to activate it! It will just clean the board when you least expect it… Uhhh…*cough cough*…we, of course, mean: when you need it most!

    – Our future friend will be able to stick to the board using magnets and is able to move through space using grippy wheels.

    – It will be able to follow a line and erase it using a line-following sensor and a sponge.

    – Wipy has the ability to measure the distance to your hand using a time-of-flight sensor.

    – We will give Wipy a cute personality using a small OLED screen.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uObXbdwi4w?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • Automated plant tending with Arduino

    Automated plant tending with Arduino

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    Automated plant tending with Arduino

    Arduino TeamMay 8th, 2019

    Do you like plants, but not so much tending to and watering them? If that sounds like you, then you might be interested in your own CNC growing machine. The system—created by 15-year-old maker “daily3dprinting”—is controlled by an Arduino Uno, and uses a single stepper motor to pull a watering head into position based on hygrometer readings.

    A relay is used to turn the grow light on at 6am and off at 8pm, and another to activate the unit’s water pump. A third relay is employed to power off the L298N stepper driver when not needed. 

    The project took home second place in the math and engineering category at daily3dprinting’s high school science fair, and more info on the build is available in its write-up here.

    Website: LINK

  • Maker Faire Bay Area 2019: Call for volunteers

    Maker Faire Bay Area 2019: Call for volunteers

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    Maker Faire Bay Area 2019: Call for volunteers

    Arduino TeamMay 7th, 2019

    Planning to attend Maker Faire Bay Area this month? Arduino will be joining the festivities with a booth in partnership with Microchip — Expo Hall, Area 2 — and Massimo Banzi’s State of Arduino talk on Saturday at 2 pm on the Center Stage. We’re also looking for volunteers to welcome visitors, staff tables and displays, assist with one-on-one demos, and offer technical assistance when necessary.

    Those who help us out will receive a one-day pass, so they can explore and enjoy everything happening around the faire grounds. Water, snacks, and an Arduino t-shirt will be provided, and we’ve even prepared a small gift to show our appreciation at the end of your shift.

    If interested, please fill out this questionnaire and we’ll get back to you soon!

    Website: LINK

  • Build a fully functional binary clock with your Uno

    Build a fully functional binary clock with your Uno

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    Build a fully functional binary clock with your Uno

    Arduino TeamMay 3rd, 2019

    If you want to show everyone your computer prowess—or perhaps get a little practice—binary clocks are a great way to do so. These clocks express time in 1s and 0s instead of 0 through 9, and while the concept is pretty simple, actually creating one is less than straightforward… or used to be.

    The Binary Clock Shield, now on Crowd Supply, aims to make this type of clock build extremely easy. This board plugs into an Arduino Uno and features 17 RGB LEDs to act as binary digits, along with an RTC module and backup battery socket. 

    The device also includes a piezo speaker for sound output, plus three user buttons, great for setting the time or whatever other unique application you have in mind!

    Website: LINK

  • Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

    Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

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    Bitty is a tiny Arduino-compatible drum machine/synth

    Arduino TeamMay 2nd, 2019

    There are a wide variety of ways to create electronic music. For a capable machine that fits in the palm of your hand and is loud enough to use outdoors, however, it’s hard to imagine a battery-powered device cooler than Bitty from Curious Sound Objects. 

    The pocket-sized drum machine and synthesizer, currently on Kickstarter, was prototyped using an Arduino Nano and will be fully Arduino-compatible when released. This means that in addition to changing the sound and interface around with readily-available sound packs—which include Theremin Bitty, Techno Bitty, Basement Bitty, Trap Bitty, Lofi Bitty, and Beach Bitty—it can be programmed with the Arduino IDE. The device can even run sound software written for other Arduino boards.

    Bitty features four sample trigger buttons, a pair of knobs, and a speaker. Designed for entry-level EDM enthusiasts and studio musicians alike, you can play the drums and melodies manually, as well as trigger patterns to produce dance music or hip hop beats. These can be chosen via the left knob, while the right knob handles pitch, note selection, and arpeggiation.

    Check it out in action below!

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8OdetwIe0E?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK

  • Use an LED matrix as a scanner

    Use an LED matrix as a scanner

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Use an LED matrix as a scanner

    Arduino TeamMay 1st, 2019

    Consider that a digital camera uses an array of sensors to capture light from an object. Maker Marcio T, however, decided to turn this idea on its head and instead utilize an array of lights that are detected by a single sensor.

    The way it works is that as each LED in a 32×32 matrix illuminates, a phototransistor picks up light if the path is clear or sees no change if the path is blocked. So when you put an object on the matrix, the sensor is able to get an accurate picture of it, enabling its Arduino Uno controller to then generate its silhouette. 

    It’s a simple yet very clever hack, and if you pay close attention in the video below, you can see the lights scanning from the bottom to top before the image is produced.

    Ordinary digital cameras work by using a large array of light sensors to capture light as it is reflected from an object. In this experiment, I wanted to see whether I could build a backwards camera: instead of having an array of light sensors, I have just a single sensor; but I control each of 1,024 individual light sources in a 32 x 32 LED matrix.

    The way it works is that the Arduino illuminates one LED at a time, while using the analog input to monitor changes in the light sensor. This allows the Arduino to test whether the sensor can “see” a particular LED. This process is repeated for each of the 1,024 individual LEDs rapidly to generate a map of visible pixels.

    If an object is placed between the LED matrix and the sensor, the Arduino is able to capture the silhouette of that object, which is lit up as a “shadow” once the capture is complete.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9EUaXhj5M?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Website: LINK