Schlagwort: upcycling

  • The PlatypusBot is a TurtleBot3-inspired robot built from vacuum cleaner parts

    The PlatypusBot is a TurtleBot3-inspired robot built from vacuum cleaner parts

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    We all love the immense convenience provided by robot vacuum cleaners, but what happens when they get too old to function? Rather than throwing it away, Milos Rasic from element14 Presents wanted to extract the often-expensive components and repurpose them into an entirely new robot, inspired by the TurtleBot3: the PlatypusBot.

    Rasic quickly got to work by disassembling the bot into its drive motors, pump, and several other small parts. Luckily, the main drive motors already had integrated encoders which made it very easy to connect them to an Arduino UNO R4 WiFi and an L298N motor driver for precise positional data/control. Further improving the granularity, Rasic added a 360-degree lidar module and enough space for a Raspberry Pi in order to run SLAM algorithms in the future.

    For now, this 3D-printed robot assembled from reclaimed robot parts is controlled via a joystick over UDP and Wi-Fi. The host PC converts the joystick’s locations into a vector for the motors to follow, after which the values are sent to the UNO R4 WiFi for processing.

    For more details on this project, you can read Rasic’s element14 blog post. 

    The post The PlatypusBot is a TurtleBot3-inspired robot built from vacuum cleaner parts appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • This robot turns old bottles into a musical instrument

    This robot turns old bottles into a musical instrument

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Percussion instruments are likely the first kind that humanity invented, because they’re quite simple: hit a thing and a noise happens. Different things produce different frequencies with different timbres, and glass bottles have a nice xylophonic sound to them. Because glass bottles are easy to find among discarded garbage, Jens of the Jens Maker Adventures YouTube channel took advantage of them to build this awesome robotic instrument.

    Jens started by collecting a bunch of different bottles. He tapped each to while searching to get a sense of the notes they produced, which he could then lower by adding some water to fine tune the pitch. Once he had enough bottles to cover a range of notes, he set out to construct a robot to play them.

    Solenoid actuators tap each bottle and an Arduino UNO Rev3 board controls that tapping. It does so according to MIDI files created in the popular Ableton software. Jens matched the available notes in Ableton to those produced by the glass bottles, so he could simply compose melodies using those notes knowing that the robot could play them. The Arduino reads the MIDI files output by Ableton and strikes the corresponding bottles.

    Finally, Jens laser-cut a plywood frame and enclosure that holds the bottles, the Arduino, and the solenoids. It works with seven bottles, which is the number of notes this machine can play.

    Jens demonstrated that by playing a guitar along with the robotic instrument and the result sounds very pleasant — especially for something made with garbage.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHQRLnc6e8Y?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The post This robot turns old bottles into a musical instrument appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • 1960s stereo console modernized with an Arduino

    1960s stereo console modernized with an Arduino

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Arduino Team — February 23rd, 2022

    The aphorism that “they don’t build them like they used to” is especially true of the consumer electronics industry. Most manufacturers today design their product to last only a few years — or with outright planned obsolescence. But mid-century stereo consoles were a different story and resembled high-end furniture that would last. Sherman Banks has a Penncrest stereo console from that era, but its electronics were failing. So he used an Arduino to modernize the unit while retaining the vintage appearance.

    This particular console had an AM/stereo FM radio receiver and a built-in phonograph turntable. Unfortunately, the aging electronic components were unreliable and lacked good sound quality. The console itself, however, was in fantastic shape. So Banks wanted to keep it looking as original as possible, but with modern electronics and all of the features they offer. He replaced the radio with a Denon DRA-800H stereo receiver that offered inputs for a turntable and SiriusXM receiver, as well as Bluetooth streaming and Ethernet connections. He also replaced the turntable with a new Denon DP-29F.

    Those would have worked just fine, but he wanted the original controls to work. For that, Banks used an Arduino Mega 2560 board. It reads the inputs from potentiometer knobs for volume, radio tuning, input selection, and so on. It then passes that information over to the stereo receiver through an Ethernet Shield. The stereo accepts network commands to change the radio station, inputs, and other important functions. It also outputs that information, which let Banks set the dial to the appropriate position. The Arduino receives the station number and then uses a stepper motor with a leadscrew and block to move the dial indicator back and forth to the correct position.

    Now Banks has a stereo console that looks completely vintage, but which offers all of the modern quality and convenience that he could want.

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    Website: LINK

  • This overengineered robotic clock will not be underappreciated

    This overengineered robotic clock will not be underappreciated

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Arduino Team — August 17th, 2021

    Normally when an inexpensive wall clock stops ticking, you simply buy a new one. However, ‘Developer Hendrik’ decided to bring his broken clock back to life, or some semblance thereof, using a 3D-printed four-axis robot arm dubbed “Serworm Michael.”

    Under the control of a MKR 1010 WiFi and DYNAMIXEL MKR Shield, along with a Raspberry Pi, Serworm Michael is set up to push the minute hand into the next position. Five DYNAMIXEL XL330-M288-T servos drive the robot, which are programmed by physically moving the arm and using a command line interface.

    You can see it in action in the video below, while more details on Serworm Michael are available on GitHub.

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    Website: LINK

  • Retrofit a vintage camera flash with a Raspberry Pi Camera Module

    Retrofit a vintage camera flash with a Raspberry Pi Camera Module

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    Wanting to break from the standard practice of updating old analogue cameras with digital technology, Alan Wang decided to retrofit a broken vintage camera flash with a Raspberry Pi Zero W to produce a video-capturing action cam.

    Raspberry Pi Zero Flash Cam Video Test

    Full story of this project: https://www.hackster.io/alankrantas/raspberry-pi-zero-flash-cam-359875

    By hacking a somewhat gnarly hole into the body of the broken flash unit, Alan fit in the Raspberry Pi Zero W and Camera Module, along with a few other components. He powers the whole unit via a USB power bank.

    At every touch of the onboard touchpad, the retrofit camera films 12 seconds of footage and saves it as an MP4 file on the onboard SD card or an optional USB flash drive.

    While the project didn’t technically bring the flash unit back to life — as the flash function is still broken — it’s a nice example of upcycling old tech, and it looks pretty sweet. Plus, you can attach it to your existing film camera to produce some cool side-by-side comparison imagery, as seen in the setup above.

    For a full breakdown of the build, including the code needed to run the camera, check out the project’s Hackster.io page.

    Website: LINK

  • Upcycle an old coffee pot into an IoT ramen maker

    Upcycle an old coffee pot into an IoT ramen maker

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    Upcycle an old coffee pot into an IoT ramen maker

    Arduino Team — July 22nd, 2019

    Ramen noodles can be a quick snack or meal, but per this IoT ramen maker by Clem Mayer, you don’t even have to run to the microwave to prepare them. 

    His project used a vintage electric filter coffee machine to heat and dribble water into the waiting brick-o-food, then a stepper-driven pusher adds flavor powder. More seasoning can be dispensed via a servo-actuated syringe, and another stepper is used to stir everything.

    The setup is controlled by a MKR WiFi 1010 board, giving Mayer the ability to start meals/mix in hot sauce from the convenience of his phone via a simple web app. Results are… edible-ish, but if you want to build your own, files and more info can be found here.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8f3jSmpM2w?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

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    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 Team — May 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]

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    Website: LINK

  • MagPi 70: Home automation with Raspberry Pi

    MagPi 70: Home automation with Raspberry Pi

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Hey folks, Rob here! It’s the last Thursday of the month, and that means it’s time for a brand-new The MagPi. Issue 70 is all about home automation using your favourite microcomputer, the Raspberry Pi.

    Cover of The MagPi 70 — Raspberry Pi home automation and tech upcycling

    Home automation in this month’s The MagPi!

    Raspberry Pi home automation

    We think home automation is an excellent use of the Raspberry Pi, hiding it around your house and letting it power your lights and doorbells and…fish tanks? We show you how to do all of that, and give you some excellent tips on how to add even more automation to your home in our ten-page cover feature.

    Upcycle your life

    Our other big feature this issue covers upcycling, the hot trend of taking old electronics and making them better than new with some custom code and a tactically placed Raspberry Pi. For this feature, we had a chat with Martin Mander, upcycler extraordinaire, to find out his top tips for hacking your old hardware.

    Article on upcycling in The MagPi 70 — Raspberry Pi home automation and tech upcycling

    Upcycling is a lot of fun

    But wait, there’s more!

    If for some reason you want even more content, you’re in luck! We have some fun tutorials for you to try, like creating a theremin and turning a Babbage into an IoT nanny cam. We also continue our quest to make a video game in C++. Our project showcase is headlined by the Teslonda on page 28, a Honda/Tesla car hybrid that is just wonderful.

    Diddyborg V2 review in The MagPi 70 — Raspberry Pi home automation and tech upcycling

    We review PiBorg’s latest robot

    All this comes with our definitive reviews and the community section where we celebrate you, our amazing community! You’re all good beans

    Teslonda article in The MagPi 70 — Raspberry Pi home automation and tech upcycling

    An amazing, and practical, Raspberry Pi project

    Get The MagPi 70

    Issue 70 is available today from WHSmith, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda. If you live in the US, head over to your local Barnes & Noble or Micro Center in the next few days for a print copy. You can also get the new issue online from our store, or digitally via our Android and iOS apps. And don’t forget, there’s always the free PDF as well.

    New subscription offer!

    Want to support the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the magazine? We’ve launched a new way to subscribe to the print version of The MagPi: you can now take out a monthly £4 subscription to the magazine, effectively creating a rolling pre-order system that saves you money on each issue.

    The MagPi subscription offer — Raspberry Pi home automation and tech upcycling

    You can also take out a twelve-month print subscription and get a Pi Zero W plus case and adapter cables absolutely free! This offer does not currently have an end date.

    That’s it for today! See you next month.

    Animated GIF: a door slides open and Captain Picard emerges hesitantly

    Website: LINK

  • I Upcycle Old Louis Vuitton Bags Into Star Wars Sculptures

    I Upcycle Old Louis Vuitton Bags Into Star Wars Sculptures

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    My name is Gabriel Dishaw, my passion for working with metal and mechanical objects has been essential in the evolution of my art. It provides me an avenue to express myself in a way that brings new life to materials such as typewriters, adding machines and old computers – technology that would normally end up in a landfill. My mission is to create dialogue and help find creative, environmentally sound ways of re-purposing e-waste.

    This project was all about upcycling old Louis Vuitton bags into Star Wars sculptures. I used different pieces for some of them – mainly Louis Vuitton luggage and other upcycled materials, such as cables, computer chips, wire, gears, wire, and adding machine parts.

    More info: gabrieldishaw.com

    Website: LINK