Tag Archives: Arduino-Compatible

Tiny Arcade is the world’s smallest arcade cabinet


Tiny Arcade lets you relive the golden age of video games with an arcade cabinet that fits in the palm of your hand.  


The golden age of arcade video games spanned from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. During that time period, these machines became fixtures in ice cream shops, bowling alleys and bars throughout the world. However, it wasn’t before long that this form of entertainment suffered a decrease in popularity with the advent of home-based gaming consoles.

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Truth be told, there’s nothing quite like the experience of playing a game in an arcade. And so, Ken Burns and the Tiny Circuits team decided to relive those glory days by shrinking a cabinet down to just a few inches tall.

The aptly named Tiny Arcade lets you play a number of retro-inspired games, each of which can be downloaded completely free online. Its creators hope to have over 20 classics available when the unit begins to ship, and being open source, you’ll be able to develop and release your own as well. What’s more, the palm-sized device allows you to convert any MP4 movie using a free utility to the TinyScreen format, put them on a microSD card, plug it in and then watch your video at 30 FPS with sound.

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The gadget is based on the TinyScreen+ — an Arduino-compatible board that features an ATSAMD21G18A 32-bit MCU, built-in USB for charging and reprogramming, and an OLED screen all crammed into a package no larger than a quarter. Aside from that, there’s an analog joystick and two push buttons for playing the games, an integrated speaker for audio, a 140mAh lithium battery, and a microSD expansion slot.

“Even though the Tiny Arcade is built around the Arduino platform, don’t worry if you’re not a programmer. There is no need to download any special software or do any soldering with the Tiny Arcade, you can use it without any special knowledge,” Burns explains. “The Tiny Arcade can load games on the fly off a microSD card, a menu is provided at power up that shows a preview of all of the games available on the microSD card, choose one and it gets loaded in a second and you’re playing away. No need to reprogram the Tiny Arcade over USB.”

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Tiny Arcade comes in two forms: either fully-assembled or in a DIY kit. The latter can be easily built in a matter of 10 minutes — no soldering or special tools necessary. The circuit boards snap together, while its acrylic or 3D-printed enclosure can be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. There’s also a basswood case, which unlike the others, will need to be glued.

Those wishing to decorate their cabinets can do so with the two sheets of stickers included with each kit. Just peel them off and affix them to your Tiny Arcade, or print your own artwork for a more personal touch. You can even paint your own designs on the basswood model.

Ready for a retro arcade cabinet right in the palm of hand? Head over to Tiny Arcade’s Kickstarter campaign, where the Tiny Circuits crew is currently seeking $25,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in March 2016.

Design, build and race your own 3D-printed cars with Cannybots


The next generation of toys is here! Cannybots can be assembled like LEGO and programmed from your mobile device.


Since their inception back in the 1950s, Matchbox cars have become an iconic accessory that can be found atop any child’s holiday wish list and in just about every playroom. However, in this day and age, kids are overexposed to the latest and greatest smart devices, which have seemingly replaced those good ol’ toys of the past. This is an issue that the one London-based startup is looking to solve, realizing that the toys that we have today are not engaging enough compared to the media accessible through our mobile gadgets. And so, Cannybot was born.

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The creators of Cannybot are hoping to better bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds with their smartphone-controlled toy that enables kids to build and program their own race car sets. The DIY kit contains all of the parts necessary for someone to bring their car to life, such as a base, a top, a spoiler, motors and motor brackets, wheels, a switch, a rechargeable battery, a USB cable and a screwdriver. Aside from all that, Cannybot will come with stickers that let users personalize their vehicle along with a six-foot-long track to ride it on.

Geared towards the young Maker community, each Cannybot can be assembled in LEGO-like fashion and boasts several capabilities, which range from color detection and line following to autonomous navigation. Impressively, the kit’s default motors allow a vehicle to reach a straight line speed of up to 1.2m/sec (4ft/sec), and the robot has independently powered wheels that give it the agility to spin on the spot and quickly accelerate.

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And that’s just the beginning. Billed as the next generation of toys, Cannybot gives children the opportunity to design and 3D print their own plaything, and then engage with them in ways like never before. There are different ways to interact with the robot. Using its accompanying joypad mobile app, users can race against others, throw it into freestyle mode and drive it around the living room like an RC car, as well as do battle in sumo and jousting fights. It even features a Bluetooth interface that enables Cannybot to be controlled from almost any BLE device, including a Pebble watch. Plus, users can chat with Cannybot via its own CannyTalk app, which is based on a proprietary Natural Language Processing interface.

“CannyTalk is really clever; it understands the commands irrespective of the way they are written. For example, if you want to instruct the robot to move forward, you can use any of the following commands: Move forward, step forward, go forward, etc. All these result in the same action of Cannybot moving forward,” the team explains.” It is even robust to typos – Mvoe Forwards, Mov Forward, Move fkrwad will also result in the same action. You can use CannyTalk to control all high level aspects of Cannybots and even use it to create the Logic to solve a complex maze.”

In terms of electronics, each Cannybot is driven by a small yet powerful Arduino-compatible ARM Cortex-M0+ core, and is packed with BLE, a dual channel motor controller, LEDs, IR and RGB sensors. The robot’s hardware supports a number of programming options from the more simple CannyTalk to more advanced languages like Python and Java using either a Raspberry Pi, a smartphone, a tablet or PC. Each Cannybot design can be customized through Autodesk’s browser-based TinkerCAD software, and employ a 3D printer to produce the chassis of the robot in various shapes and colors.

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If you think about it, Matchbox was invented in the UK and went on to revolutionize toy cars. Coincidence that Cannybot originates from there as well? The future of playtime has arrived! Interested? Race over to its Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $40,000. Delivery is slated for February 2016.

Read the time with this Arduino-compatible, full-color word clock


You pick the color, ClockFOUR Chronogram tells you the time.


You’re probably pretty familiar with clocks —chances are you’ve been reading the time since you were young. But what if you were to actually read the hours and minutes in words, not numbers?

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Introducing the ClockFOUR Chronogram, a stylish timepiece with 182 individually addressable, full color pixels that are arranged in a unique 14×13 word clock matrix. The device has two buttons — one for the color, the other for selecting the mode. There’s also a reset button on its back, should that be necessary. A light sensor adjusts the clock’s brightness, and the display is powered through a standard wall plug. However, a battery backup logs in the time when the clock is moved or if there’s ever an outage.

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The first thing you’ll notice about ClockFOUR is that it’s very bright. The gadget uses a new kind of individually addressable LED technology, allowing each pixel to be up to 10 times more lit-up than its predecessor, the ClockTHREE. The clock comes with a color match feature that gives you the freedom to set it to any hue. Simply hold down the color button, wait until the desired tone is displayed on the screen and let go — easy as that! There’s a few fun effects as well, which include a slow fade and a party mode that randomly cycles through the spectrum. And what’s more, the device is completely hackable thanks to its Arduino-compatible software and Python code that enables you to personalize the faceplate and backplate to your liking.

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The brainchild of WyoLum’s Justin Shaw, this isn’t his first rodeo with the clock. Back in 2014, he developed his first prototype using PGB pixel strips attached to a basic IKEA frame, an Arduino Mini (ATmega328), and an RTC module. The second iteration was achieved with a WyoLum TiM board built inside an A4 picture frame, while his third take employed a custom all-in-one board designed in partnership with Seeed Studio.

“If Arduino can do it, there is no easier way,” Shaw explains in his bio. After experimenting briefly with the Basic Stamp and PIC mircocontrollers, he came across the Arduino platform and has never looked back.

Want one of your own? The time is now! Measuring just 28cm x 28cm x 3cm in size, it’ll be a welcomed accessory to any nightstand. Hurry over to ClockFOUR Chronogram’s Kickstarter page, where Shaw and the WyoLum team have surpassed their $5,000 goal. Estimated delivery is January 2016.

DIPDuino is Arduino-compatible board in a DIP32 package


DIPDuino is an Arduino-compatible board that combines a number of useful interfaces in one DIP32 package.


While the idea of having an entire MCU platform in a DIP format isn’t all that new,  Alex Gornostayev just wasn’t satisfied with some of those on the market today, like the Teensy and Arduino Nano. And so, the Maker decided to create his own Arduino-compatible board that crams many useful interfaces all into one easy-to-use DIP32 package.

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The aptly named DIPDuino goes a step further than most of today’s breakout boards. Based an ATmega1284RFR2 along with a 2.4GHz ZigBee transceiver, the unit is equipped with a 128×32-pixel OLED display, a microSD card reader, a serial FTDI port, 1MB of SRAM, a full JTAG debugger port, USB and pin power supply, LEDs, and a stabilized 3V and 3.6V power output.

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Looking ahead, Gornostayev is planning on using the board for a number of DIY projects, ranging from an OLED watch to a weather station and a home automation system. Aside from that, one of his friends even wants to build a DIPDuino-based RepRap controller. The possibilities are endless! However, first he would like to improve its software so that the firmware can be programmed and updated from an SD card.

“I want to be able to be able to program DIPDuino from SD card. Just save BIN file on SD card and boot the device. The bootloader must be able to flash the firmware and it does not look too complicated. (I call this project ‘DIPBoot’).”

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“I want to implement a simple BASIC translator for DIPDuino to be able to write programs in BASIC using simple text editor, save it on SD card and execute it form file on DIPDuino (which will be DIPBasic in this case),” Gornostayev adds. “This is really cool, because I will be to write programs on any devices, including smartphones or even DIPDuino itself, and execute them without any compilers and connections.”

Intrigued? Read more about the project on its Hackaday.io page here.

uStepper is an Arduino-compatible board with an integrated stepper driver


Tired of the messiness? uStepper combines an ATmega328P MCU, a stepper driver and an absolute encoder in one ultra-compact design.


The brainchild of Mogens Nicolaisen and Thomas Olsen, who together make up Danish startup ON Development IVS, uStepper is an ultra-compact, Arduino-compatible board with an integrated stepper driver and 12-bit rotary encoder.

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Since it can be mounted directly on the back of your NEMA 17, uStepper makes it possible to develop applications using a stepper motor, without the need for long and messy wiring to an external Arduino or stepper shield. Aside from that, the 12-bit rotary encoder ensures that the absolute position of the motor shaft can be tracked, enabling the uStepper to detect any loss of steps.

The uStepper can be programmed with the Arduino IDE, giving you access to a wide range of easy-to-use libraries. With an ATmega328P at its core, key specs of the board include:

  • Clock speed: 16MHz
  • Input voltage: 8V – 30V
  • I/O voltage: 5V
  • Digital I/O pins: 12 (6 of which provide PWM capability)
  • Analog I/O pins: 4
  • Up to 2A stepper drive current (adjustable)
  • Up to 16x microstepping (user selectable)
  • 12-bit encoder resolution

The position of the shaft is tracked using a neodymium magnet and a magnetic encoder chip. This chip is able to sense the position of the north and south pole of the magnet, and use this information to determine the angle of the motor shaft. The encoder has a 12-bit resolution, meaning that the shaft position can be tracked in steps of 1/4096, corresponding to a resolution of 0.088 degrees. What’s more, since the location of both the magnet and the encoder chip is fixed, the measured shaft angle will not be reset between power cycles.

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Communication between the MCU and the encoder is done through the I2C serial protocol. The uStepper is completely expandable, thanks to the vast number of I/O pins available, which include SPI, UART and I2C interfaces. The I2C bus is equipped with the required pull-up resistors, eliminating the need to mount these externally. Additionally, the encoder enables the uStepper to perform closed loop regulation of the stepper motor position, with a sample frequency as high as 6.6 kHz.

“On our first prototype a linear regulator, regulating supply voltage down to the 5V I/O voltage, was implemented. During normal operation the linear regulator, regulating 12V down to 5V, will have a temperature rise of approximately 50 C° — that is above ambient temperature! This is because of the low efficiency, which is only 42% — supplying the uStepper with more than 12V would not be a wise thing to do with this type of regulator,” the ON Development IVS crew writes.

To increase efficiency, reduce temperature and at the same time allow supply voltages of up to 30V, the final version of the uStepper will include a switch mode regulator. The team adds, “Besides the benefits of increased efficiency and thereby lower temperature, the possibility of increasing the supply voltage to the stepper, will also increase the possible operating speed and torque!”

The uStepper stepper driver chip has a selectable microstepping level from full-step to 1/16 microstepping (using jumper configuration), giving a resolution of up to 3,200 steps/revolution with a 1.8-degree stepper motor and up to 6,400 steps/revolution if choosing a 0.9-degree stepper motor. The output current is adjustable using the on-board potentiometer, making smooth adjustment up to a maximum of approximately 2A possible.

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For ideal operating conditions, a large ground plane is connected to the thermal pad of the stepper driver chip. This makes certain that the large amount of heat is spread out and away from the stepper driver. For applications requiring high current (above 1.5A), its creators recommend a heatsink, and note that under very intense use (currents approaching 2A and/or high ambient temperatures), active cooling may be necessary.

On the bottom of the uStepper, a NTC resistor is embedded as close to the stepper driver thermal pad as possible. This lets you monitor the stepper driver temperature and take action if the temperature drastically rises. The stepper driver chip has an internal safety circuit shutting down operation should the temperature reach too high of a level, preventing damage to the board.

For its crowdfunding debut, the uStepper comes in two forms: a base and premium kit. The base set includes the board, four standoffs, along with a a magnet and bracket for the encoder. Meanwhile, the premium kit features all of that plus a NEMA 17 stepper motor. The open source kits are super simple to assemble, requiring nothing more than a Philips screwdriver, a wrench and five minutes of your time.

Sound like something you’d like to have? Head over to the uStepper’s Kickstarter page, where ON Development IVS is currently seeing $8,882. Delivery is expected to get underway in March 2016.

Create your own cardboard armor with programmable lights


Crafteeo combines art with the magic of technology to create a fun learning experience for children. 


One look around any Maker Faire would reveal that DIYers love cosplay. With this in mind, one San Diego startup has developed an innovative way to inspire future generations to build things with their hands while exploring the technological world around them. How, you ask? By transforming themselves into heroes with their own armor and then programming its LED lighting.

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“Kids love playing with cardboard boxes. This is well know fact that seem to be universal across different cultures and generations. If there’s any cardboard in the house, kids will inevitably grab it and start crafting something,” entreprenuer and Maker dad How-Lun Chen explains.

The idea behind Crafteeo was first conceived after Chen and his wife decided to do all of their holiday shopping online back in 2011, which of course, left them with mountain of boxes on Christmas morning. Upon opening his gifts, rather than play with his shiny new toys and RC cars, they watched their son exercise his imagination using nothing more than the pieces of cardboard spread across the floor. Then it hit him: What if there was a way to recycle these materials into something cool, like a helmet, shield and sword, all while teaching children to learn electronics?

And so, Crafteeo was launched. Currently live on Kickstarter, each kit comes with some pre-cut cardboard, D-rings, faux leather cords, pieces of plastic, water-based paint in metallic colors, and a series of solder-free, Arduino-compatible hardware. The Pulsar Helmet and Armor are built around an ATmega32U4, powered by three AAA batteries and ships with jumper wires, header pins, a proto board and a photoresistor module.

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“To increase the versatility of the kit, we selected a powerful Arduino-compatible microcontroller that can be adapted to a variety of projects beyond glowing a LED light. Additionally none of the components are permanently connected together. We envision that down the road we will add additional capabilities to the helmet and armor either as upgrade kits or as free online tutorials. More importantly we want your kids to reuse or repurpose the electronics,” Chen adds.

What’s nice about the project is that it can grow with the Makers themselves. Meaning, as the child gains confidence and hones their programming skills, the Pulsar kit includes different lesson modules for each step of the way. For instance, the earliest stage — geared towards ages eight and up — doesn’t require any programming and provides users with an overview of basic electronics, as well as an introduction to microcontrollers and LEDs. Once completed, a second level walks them through the process of changing pre-set variables to customize LED lights. And finally, a young DIYer will ultimately be able to discover how to program from scratch using the Arduino IDE.

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The armor, helmet and shield are comprised of double-layered cardboard which makes them quite durable. The sword, in particular, is stiff and much like those made of soft woods like pine. Digital patterns for both the helmet and shield are emailed in PDF format to those just starting out, along with a set of step-by-step video instructions. And to keep in line with its mystique and to help spark the child’s imagination, Crafteeo has created its own magical storyline around the “World of the Guardians,” the fantasy world’s equivalent of the Coast Guard.

“When kids put this on, their persona completely changes. You see their former self just kind of melt away, and they become this heroic self,” Chen explains.

Interested in a Pulsar helmet and armor for your child? Head over to its Kickstarter page, where Crafteeo is currently seeking $10,000. Delivery of units is expected to get underway in November 2015.

IRduino is an Arduino-compatible USB IR receiver


IRduino is an open source and programmable USB infrared receiver that gives new life to old remote controls.


For decades, consumer electronics have relied upon infrared remote controls for operation. However, recent advancements in technology, like Bluetooth connectivity, motion sensors and voice recognition, have led to piles of obsolete remotes collecting dust in closets and storage bins throughout the world. But what if you were able to bring these antiquated gadgets back to life and put them to work in creative, more productive ways? Enter the IRduino.

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The brainchild of Longan Lab, IRduino is a peripheral device that enables just about any IR signal to be translated into commands. Based on an ATmega32U4, the board is equipped with an SMD IR receiver and on-board USB interface. It operates by default at 5V with a clock speed of 16MHz, not to mention packs 32KB of Flash, 2.5KB of SRAM, 1KB of EEPROM and a remote distance of over 16 feet.

And unlike many products on the market, the pocket-sized IRduino (just 0.7” x 1.3”) is thick enough to sit snugly inside a USB port. To keep the device humanized, its creators have even screen printed a little robot on its reverse side with a pair of programmable LEDs for eyes.

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Beyond that, IRduino comes with the Arduino Leonardo bootloader pre-installed, which makes it fully compatible with the incredibly popular Arduino IDE for programming. According to the Longan Lab team, the board features an open source library that will work with nearly 95% of infrared remotes on the market, such as air conditioner units, TVs, DVD players and household appliances, among a number of other machines.

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As for its applications, Makers will find IRduino to be both practical and entertaining. Since it’s compatible with many platforms, ranging from Raspberry Pi to Mac, the possibilities are truly endless. For instance, it can serve as an interface for a single-board media center, a controller for simple games, a remote for PowerPoint presentations, as well as a quick way to reboot a laptop with the push of a button.

Are you ready to give your old remote controls a new lease on life? Then head over to IRduino’s crowdfunding campaign on CrowdSupply, where the team is currently seeking $2,000. Delivery is expected to get underway in September 2015.

Meet Buddy, your family’s future companion robot


Buddy is a social robot that connects, protects and interacts with each member of your family.


According to a recent study from Business Insider, the consumer robot market is projected to grow seven times faster than the market for manufacturing robots at a CAGR of 17% between 2014 and 2019. And apparently the report is right, as several companies have embarked on the journey of bringing Jetsons-like companion bots into homes — such as Jibo, Pepper and Musio, to name just a few.

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Most recently, French startup Blue Frog Robotics has joined the growing list of startups that want you to have an artificially intelligent friend inside your humble abode in the near future. Their adorable prototype, named Buddy, is being billed as social robot for every member of the family with the ability to structure your day as a personal assistant, monitor your home as a security guard, entertain the kids as a nanny and help stay connected as a Wi-Fi network.

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With a number of impressive built-in functions, the Arduino-compatible machine is packed with everything that a robot could possibly need to immerse itself into your daily life.

Aside from being fully mobile with three wheels and an assortment of sensors that allow it to travel, learn and interact with its surroundings, Buddy features an ATmega2560 MCU, a camera, a touchscreen face, a microphone, two speakers, a pair of driving motors, a series of RGB LEDs, along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Beyond that, the bot is equipped with audio, HDMI and USB outputs, as well as a rechargeable battery with a life of approximately eight to 10 hours.

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Boasting many human-like traits, Buddy is capable of hearing, speaking, seeing and addressing someone with familiar facial expressions and movements. What’s also nice is that the bot can sync to practically any in-home smart device, enabling it to do everything from adjust the lights to the thermostat via voice commands or its accompanying mobile app. Among the gadgets currently supported include Parrot Flower Power, Withings blood pressure monitor, Nest thermostat, MyFox home alarm and LIFX lights.

Additionally, the charismatic robot can serve as a security system by watching over your home using its camera. This way, if danger or something out of the ordinary is detected, Buddy will instantaneously send an alert to its owner.

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Not only is it open source, but Buddy is entirely modular and can be expanded upon with a range of plug-and-play accessories, like a docking station, arms and a pico-projector. Those with prior knowledge of Unity3D, C++, C# and JavaScript can even customize their robotic pal using its SDK. As for beginners, however, they can still develop basic apps and behaviors by simply dragging and dropping actions from its library.

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Impressively, its creators have also designed Buddy to adapt to children with autism thanks to specialized software that will assist them in learning, communicating, interacting and becoming more independent. Caregivers and family members will be able to personalize the content within the robot’s application, whether that’s offering reminders and visual aids or congratulating them for tasks well done through fun animations.

So, are you ready for an A.I. pal of your own? Then head over to Buddy’s Indegogo page here, where Blue Frog Robotics is currently seeking $100,000. Delivery is slated for May 2016.

Plug ’N’ IoT lets you create a smart device in just four clicks


Just plug any sensor into the board, download the necessary libraries and you have yourself an IoT device.


Created by Dutch startup Avionics Control Systems, Plug ‘N’ IoT is an extremely easy way for Makers of all levels to design connected gizmos and gadgets. Whether it’s a securing a home with motion sensors or tracking a cat through GPS, anything is possible with four clicks of the mouse on a PC.

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Plug ’N’ IoT comes in two versions: basic and premium. Both models are comprised of an Atmel | SMART SAM3X8E processor, a GSM module and connectors, with the latter also including a shield. The Cortex-M3-based MCU boasts 512 KB of memory, operates at 84Mhz and features a maximum of 103 I/O pins. What’s more, the unit is compatible with just about every sensor and Arduino shield available today.

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How it works is pretty straightforward: A user plugs a sensor into the unit, drags and drops the suitable libraries, and uploads the code to the board. That’s it. What’s nice is that Plug ’N’ IoT is designed for everyone — no programing experience required. However, well-seasoned Makers have the option of devising and adding their own sketches. This opens the door to a countless applications, which range from monitoring air quality inside a home to keeping tabs on the temperature of an aquarium, maintaining optimal soil moisture or protecting an entryway. In any case, the sensor can detect a change in the environment and send a real-time reminder by way of text message to its user.

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Have an idea for an IoT project that you’d like to bring to life? Head over to Plug ’N’ IoT’s official Kickstarter page, where the Avionics Control Systems crew is currently seeking $39,733. Delivery is set for March 2016.

Wino is an $11 Arduino-like board with Wi-Fi


Wino is like an Arduino in a much smaller form factor with built-in Wi-Fi.


Recently launched on Kickstarter, the Wino is an Arduino-compatible board with built-in Wi-Fi that is designed to help bring IoT ideas to life in a cost-effective manner — $11 to be exact.

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Boasting a much smaller form factor and lower price tag than other Arduinos on the market today, the Wino is built around the Atmel | SMART SAM D21 — the same chip at the heart of the Zero. This gives users more speed, space and several new features, all while consuming minimal power. The unit runs at an operating voltage of 3.3V, includes 15 digital I/O and seven analog I/O pins (six 12-bit ADC, one 10-bit DAC), 16KB of RAM and 128KB of Flash memory. Meanwhile, its on-board Wi-Fi module comes with a simple web-based setup that makes the device accessible from just about anywhere.

The layout combines an uber small size (26.6mm x 18.6mm) with a 27-pin stackable header, enabling Makers to easily upgrade the Wino with functions like relay and power measurement, battery supply, temperature monitoring, DC and servo motor control, motion sensing, as well as USB which allows a user to program their board by opening a web browser and selecting a Wi-Fi network. Once connected, a Maker can communicate with the module from any TCP/IP device, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop PC.

Upgrade

Those Makers just starting out will appreciate that Wino comes with pre-installed, open source software, thereby eliminating any prerequisite programming skills. What’s more, the board supports the highly-popular Arduino IDE, giving users the ability to upload existing Arduino codes or employ one of the countless libraries available.

“Since over a year the design of the board was constantly improved and optimized. The goal was to create a hardware which combines als necessary features which makes it a perfect basis for connected devices. And this a a very small size,” its team writes.”The main task was provide the board at a minimum price which makes it easy to use the board even in low cost applications (like wireless switches). We are very confident that we found a good solution that combines functionality, small size, performance and costs.”

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Interested in devising a home automation, multimedia or fitness IoT project? You may want to head over to Wino’s official Kickstarter page, where German startup IAN is currently seeking $28,019. Delivery is slated for November 2015.