Challenge: Hacking the Atmel-based Arduino Robot

RobotChallenge – in conjunction with Arduino and RS Components – has kicked off a new open source competition.

Dubbed “Hack the Arduino Robot,” the contest challenges participants to answer the following questions:

• What would you do with an Atmel-based Arduino Robot?
• What makes your idea special?
• What real life problem does your robot solve?

An international jury is slated to select the 10 best project ideas based on feasibility, creativity and innovation. The teams will receive a free 
Arduino Robot to implement their respective project ideas and showcase the modded ‘bots at RobotChallenge 2014. 
Each team will also be required to document their project online and submit a short video (3 – 5 minutes) by the 23rd of February.

Interested in applying? You have until the 26th of January to submit a short project idea (up to 120 words) that answers the questions listed above (detailed rules are available here). 

Prizes donated by RS Components will be awarded in two categories: Best Project & Documentation and Community.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the Arduino Robot – the first official Arduino on wheels – boasts two processors, one on each board. The Motor Board controls the motors, while the Control Board interacts with the sensors and decides how to operate. Both Arduino microcontroller boards are powered by Atmel’s ATmega32u4 and can be programmed using Arduino IDE.

The Robot has many of its pins mapped to on-board sensors and actuators, so programming the ‘bot is similar to the process with the Arduino Leonardo. Both processors are equipped with integrated USB communication, eliminating the need for a secondary processor. This allows the Robot to appear to a connected computer as a virtual (CDC) serial / COM port.

As expected, every element of the Robot platform – hardware, software and documentation – is freely available and open-source. Meaning, users can learn exactly how the device is put together, while exploiting its design as a starting point to create and mod various configurations.

Additional key specs? The ATmega32u4 has 32 KB (with 4 KB used for the bootloader), along with 2.5 KB of SRAM and 1 KB of EEPROM (which can be read and written with the EEPROM library). Meanwhile, the Control Board is fitted with an extra 512 Kbit EEPROM that can be accessed via I2C. There is also an external SD card reader attached to the GTFT screen accessible by the Control Board’s processor for additional storage.

 The Robot can be powered via a USB connection or with 4 AA batteries and features an on-board battery charger that requires 9V external power generated by an AC-to-DC adapter (wall-wart).

The adapter can be connected by plugging a 2.1mm center-positive plug into the Motor Board’s power jack, although the charger will not operate if powered by USB (the Control Board is powered by the power supply on the Motor Board).

As noted above, the Robot is programmable with Arduino software, while the ATmega32u4 processors on the Arduino Robot arrive pre-burned with a bootloader that allows users to upload new code without an external hardware programmer via the AVR109 protocol. Of course, users can also bypass the bootloader and program the microcontroller through the ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) header.

Interested in learning more about the Atmel-powered Arduino Robot? Additional details and specs can be found here on the official Arduino Robot page here.

maXTouch T is a 2013 Golden Mousetrap Award finalist

Design News recently published a detailed list of finalists for the electronics and test category of the publication’s 2013 Golden Mousetrap Awards. Atmel’s maxTouch T Series of touchscreen controllers, which officially debuted in April 2013, was named as a finalist.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the maXTouch T Series heralds a new generation of Atmel capacitive touchscreen controllers for mobile devices. Indeed, the MaxTouch T lineup supports multiple user interface technologies, ranging from active stylus to sensor hub.

“The maXTouch T Series creates a cutting-edge performance powering smartphones, tablets, PCs ultrabooks and more. The maXTouch T’s unique architecture combines the best of mutual and self-capacitance to ensure optimal touch performance by recognizing an unlimited number of touches, offering faster response times, [while providing] an excellent signal-to-noise ratio,” reads an official Design News description of the product.

“[Plus], the maXTouch T Series delivers optimized touch performance, including active and passive stylus, enhanced moisture immunity, glove support and advanced noise immunity. Additional features such as sensor hub management, smaller package size and native fine-line metal mesh support enable OEMs to develop sleeker form factors.”

Design News also highlighted Atmel’s mXT2952T, the first device in the T Series, which the publication described as the world’s inaugural ultra-low power, single-chip capacitive touchscreen controller for Windows 8 notebooks up to 15.6-inches.

Winners of the Golden Moustrap awards will be announced during a live ceremony held during the Pacific Design & Manufacturing Show in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, February 11, and on Designnews.com following the ceremony.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s maXTouch T series? You can check out the product’s official website here.

The January 2014 eFlea breakfast

My friends and I still get together for breakfast even when the Silicon Valley electronic flea market is shut down for the winter. The first one of the new year was Jan 11, 2014. We go to Bobbies in Cupertino, and feel free to stop by the second Saturday of the month. We eat outside so dress warm. When the eFlea is running in the summer, we get to Bobbies about 9:30 AM. In the winter, with no Electronic Flea Market we show up at 7:00 and hang out until noon.

The big news this eFlea was that Phil Sittner and Dave Mathis are designing an antenna analyzer using Atmel chips. Phil, who I wrote about before is doing the hardware and Dave is doing the software. They plan on going to Ham shows to sell the product once they perfect it.

Dave Mathis (L) and Phil Sittner are working on an antenna analyzer.

Phil has already hacked up some prototypes to help develop the analog part of the product.

Here is Phil after I prompted him to show off all the cool Atmel hardware he is using.

That’s an XMEGA-A3BU Xplained eval board on the left and an AVR Dragon debugger on the right. I am mad because he paid for the stuff rather than hitting me up for some samples.

Next show-and-tell was from a pal that wants to go un-named despite the statute of limitations being invoked. He found a box in a culvert 20 years ago and assumes it was someone disposing of stolen goods. I assume it was more like the PCBs I found years ago that probably just fell off a truck.

These ceramic Motorola 68030 microprocessors sure are pretty. They make a neat noise when you clank them together.

Google’s Eric Schlaepfer and mechanical engineer Dave Ruigh admire one of the gold-plated beauties.

These mixers work from 1200MHz to 1600MHz. There are two layers of them in the box.

Eric Schlaepfer looks at one of the boards from the mystery culvert box of goodies. The PCB is not Mulitbus or VME, it was some custom job.

John Haggis and his son Xander showed up later in the morning but did not disappoint with an Omron wearable blood pressure health monitor. John is the pal that went all the way through med school and decided he preferred engineering.

Xander and John Haggis made the January 2014 eFlea breakfast and brought a whole batch of goodies.

This Omron wearable blood pressure monitor is just the thing to monitor your health.

John Haggis also brought this waterproof Bluetooth speaker to show us.

John Haggis also has hacked a fone wireless charger into his Samsung Galaxy S4

John also had a neat ANKER battery setup to run the hacked wireless charger.

Here is a link to that ANKER battery setup.

After seeing all the smudges on that ANKER battery, I was quite the hero when I whipped out these Atmel screen cleaners. You peel off the little pad, which is a cleaner on the visible side, and then you can stick it down to the back of your phone. I convinced John to take 4 of them to form little “feet” for his gizmo.

Atmel has this swag giveaway pad. It’s the little one-inch square at the bottom right. You peel if off this card, use the top side to clean the smudges off your screen, and then the bottom side will stick to the underside of your phone or gizmo until you need it the next time.

Here is another screen cleaner pad Atmel gives away at events.

Atmel’s Director of Events Donna Castillo assures me if you come to her Tech on Tour events she will have some of these for you take home.

Lastly, my pal Martin DeLateur, the International Man of Mystery brought an older Sirius radio and dock. He snagged it at an estate sale. Problem is it got hooked up to 12V battery, and has some issues. We scratched our heads and offered some advice. We will see if he got it charged and powered up at the next eFlea breakfast, Feb 8, 2014, which is the day before the 2014 Analog Aficionados party here in Silicon Valley.

This old Sirius radio has some power problems we will try to fix by the next eFlea Breakfast.

Video: Libre Wireless and Atmel’s SAMA5D3 MPU

Previously a division of BridgeCo, India-based Libre Wireless technologies used to be the only licensed partner for Airplay.

The company now supports all platforms for media streaming using Atmel’s versatile SAMA5D3 MPU to power its hardware. In this video, Libre rep Kiran Suri demonstrates the company’s wireless streaming tech at CES 2014.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the SAMA5 lineup is Atmel’s next generation of embedded microprocessors for industrial designs. Built around ARM’s Cortex-A processor, the SAMA5 family offers significant enhancements in the performance vs. power equation compared to its predecessor and competing products.

Operating at 850DMIPS at under 200mW, the SAMA5D3 embedded MPU is ideal for any high-performance, low-power and cost-sensitive industrial applications. These include control panels, smart grid devices and bar code scanners – anything that requires high levels of connectivity, enhanced user interfaces, robust security, or is battery powered.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s SAMA5D3 embedded MPU series? You can check out the full MPU lineup here.

Video Diary 2: Atmel @ CES 2014

Atmel-powered products took center stage at CES this year, as conference attendees checked out the latest devices and platforms for MakerSpaces, garages and living rooms.

Atmel also unveiled and showcased a number of new products at CES 2014, including the AvantCar console concept, ARM-based SAM G lineup, the second-gen maXStylus and a low-cost ZigBee Gateway.

As you can see, Atmel’s various technology zones attracted quite a bit of attention, especially the company’s MakerSpace which was well-stocked with Arduino boards, 3D printers and other Atmel-powered devices.



Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi even stopped by for a chat to talk about the Atmel-based boards, while a MakerBot rep discussed the advantages of using Atmel microcontrollers and microprocessors in the company’s 3D printers. 

Watch the videos above and make sure to check out part one of our video diary here, as well as our CES 2014 pictures here and here.

3D printing at CES 2014

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the DIY Maker Movement has been using Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for some time now. However, 3D printing has clearly entered a new and important stage in a number of spaces including the medical sphere, architectural arena and science lab.

RepRap Mendel. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

To be sure, the meteoric rise of 3D printing has paved the way for a new generation of Internet entrepreneurs, Makers and do-it-yourself (DIY) manufacturers. As such, the lucrative 3D printing industry is on track to be worth a staggering $3 billion by 2016.

Unsurprisingly, the 3D printing revolution took center stage at CES 2014, where a total of 28 3D printing exhibits wowed conference attendees. Gyorgy Simo, chief executive of Leonar3Do, was interviewed by LA Times journalist Salvador Rodriguez at the show. According to Simo, the potential of 3D printers can be compared to the vast possibility of the Internet.

“While the Internet gave users the ability to have instant access to information, 3D printers will give users the ability to instantly create objects,” wrote Rodriguez. “In the future, users may be able to print shoes that are tailored to the exact size of their feet, among many possibilities. They may also be able to buy products directly from online retailers and print them out immediately, rather than wait for the item to ship.”

Meanwhile, MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis, who was interviewed by HLN, said 3D printing offers people as a way to express their creativity in three dimensions.

“If you think about the way a 2D printer works, you take a virtual document on your screen and you turn it into a physical document – 3D printing takes a virtual 3D model and turns it into a physical 3D model,” he explained.

“It does that by building layer by layer. The printer draws a picture and on top of that it draws another one. And up and up until it’s done, you take your model out and you’re good to go.”

Pettis also addressed skeptics who question the overall value of 3D printing and insist the market is a niche one limited to little more than toys and trinkets.

“My response is to tell them about the Robohand project, where two guys collaborated and shared their work with the Internet to make a prosthetic hand for one of them,” he said. “So when people say, ‘Oh, this is just for trinkets, I go, ‘Oh? Well we’re giving kids without hands, hands. So there.’”

Pettis concluded the interview by noting that MakerBot remained dedicated to creating tools for positive use-cases.

“On our community website Thingiverse, we specifically say that you should only upload designs that you created and we do not allow deadly weapons to be uploaded,” he added.

AutomoBlog features Atmel’s AvantCar concept

Earlier this week, Atmel showcased its AvantCar curved touch screen console concept at CES 2014 in Las Vegas. As Atmel Marketing Director Stephan Thaler notes, the exhibit demonstrates the future of human machine interface (HMI) in upcoming vehicles. 

Indeed, the fully functional console features two large curved touchscreen displays – without mechanical buttons. Instead, the touchscreens integrate capacitive touch buttons and sliders, allowing users to navigate general applications typically found within an automotive center console.

Atmel’s CES 2014 AvantCar demo was covered by a number of publications and journalists during the show, including Chris Nagy of AutomoBlog.

“No longer accepting that a touch interface or screens must be flat, convex and concave shapes could be commonplace. The majority of devices [at CES 2014] showing off curved displays are smartphones and televisions. However, one company at CES is marketing the potential of curved touch controls in future automotive interiors,” writes Nagy.

“Atmel has brought an array of ideas purposing to change the way driver’s interact with their cars. Exhibited on their AvantCar concept, Atmel’s high-tech interior features reveal several advancements meant to make the interaction with vehicle controls more natural and attractive. While Atmel’s local interconnect networking systems will probably appeal fascinating to automotive engineers, a large touchscreen with an ultra sensitive, high response rate exhibited within the AvantCar’s center console can easily entice the broad audience of gadget-loving motorists.”

In his AvantCar article, Nagy also highlights the importantl role Atmel’s XSense technology plays in the demo and beyond.

“Employing a surface utilizing metal mesh technology, the XSense touch sensor residing inside an automobile could greatly contribute to sound ergonomics and interior style,” says Nagy.

“Perhaps the first spot coming to mind for the use of Atmel’s XSense technology would be creating curved vehicle infotainment displays operating on MyFord Touch or the systems related to newly-announced Android-based consoles.”

As the journalist points out, XSense offers a stylish, viable alternative to mechanical switches, knobs and buttons found in almost every modern vehicle interior.

“On future vehicles, windows, door locks and climate controls could potentially be operated through touch with XSense. Who knows, maybe the steering wheel could also be replaced with a wheel-like touch sensor on a future car,” he adds.

“Atmel champions the longevity and weatherproof of the XSense touch sensor as being beneficial for applications within future vehicle interiors. The wide-scale possibilities of curved touch sensors will also serve as a blessing to the interior stylists for major auto companies as a full-range of shapes can be presented in a cutting-edge fashion.”

Atmel @ CES 2014: Days 2 & 3 in pictures

Atmel unveiled and showcased a number of new products at CES 2014, including the AvantCar console concept, ARM-based SAM G lineup, the second-gen maXStylus and a low-cost ZigBee Gateway.

As you can see in the pictures below, Atmel’s various technology zones attracted quite a bit of attention from conference attendees, especially the company’s MakerSpace which was well-stocked with Arduino boards, 3D printers and other Atmel-powered devices.

 As MakeZine’s Mike Senese notes, Atmel’s tricked-out CES 2014 MakerSpace illustrates just how mainstream the Maker Movement has become.

“Atmel has typically focused on the microcontrollers and components inside many consumer devices, a role that puts them squarely in CES territory. They also provide the processor inside most Arduino boards, connecting them closely with the world of making,” writes Senese.

 “Promising new low-cost Arduino-based development boards, as well as a nation-wide education tour for 2014, Atmel is staying firmly connected to Makers.”

Video: Making goes mainstream at CES 2014

Writing for Makezine, Mike Senese says Atmel’s tricked-out CES 2014 MakerSpace illustrates just how mainstream the Maker Movement has become.

“Atmel has typically focused on the microcontrollers and components inside many consumer devices, a role that puts them squarely in CES territory,” Senese explains.

“They also provide the processor inside most Arduino boards, connecting them closely with the world of making.”

As Senese notes, Atmel MCU Applications Manager Bob Martin is one of the architects of the company’s CES 2014 MakerSpace, which is tastefully decorated with brown pegboard and well-stocked with a plethora of hand tools.

“With a variety of various Arduino-compatible boards, including the environmental sensing Smart Citizen, as well as various build projects like Martin’s obstacle-avoiding Hexbug hack, the area highlights how attractive making has become as a consumer endeavor,” Senese adds.

“Promising new low-cost Arduino-based development boards, as well as a nation-wide education tour for 2014, Atmel is staying firmly connected to Makers.”

Video Diary: Atmel @ CES 2014

It’s day two of CES 2014! Atmel is showcasing a number of devices, technologies and platforms for MakerSpaces, garages and living rooms. Check out the videos below to see what we’ve been up to!

Atmel tech reps at CES 2014 talk microcontrollers (MCUs), autotmotive technology, Arduino, Makers, biometric security, encryption, key fobs, tablets, 3D printers and medical devices.

Atmel is at the heart of the DIY Maker community – powering nearly every desktop 3D printer and Arduino board on the market today, along with a number of wearable platforms and devices. In this video, we interview a wide range of personalities about the rapidly growing movement, including Atmel’s Reza Kazerounian, Matt Richardson of Make Magazine and Michael Shiloh of Arduino.

Atmel’s latest touch solutions explained at CES 2014.

Atmel’s Bob Martin, Manager, MCU Central Applications Group, talks about the evolution of CES over the years, with a specific emphasis on the DIY Maker community.

Atmel Community Manager, Sylvie Barak, welcomes you to 3D print your ideas at CES 2014. Tweet #AtmelCES and come on by MP25958.

An inside look at 3D printing with the Atmel-powered MakerBot Replicator 2 at CES 2014. Tweet #AtmelCES.

After a long day at CES 2014 this on/off (0/1?) demo was pretty addictive – providing hours of endless entertainment for our tired crew.