This obsolete typewriter plays some sweet music

Maker duo Lasse Munk and Søren Andreasen have created a musical typewriter that transforms ordinary sentences into sound. 

Known as D.O.R.T.H.E (short for Danish Orchestra of Radios Talking and Hacked Engines), the platform is constructed out of old, discarded electronics.

In essence, D.O.R.T.H.E. can be thought of as an electronic music box — with each word acting as a pin to create a sound or tone. Every letter on the typewriter is essentially a trigger, as these letters are connected to an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280). The data is then analyzed, where the software then processes and translates it into a musical sequence.

More specifically, D.O.R.T.H.E. transforms the number of letters in a word to a certain music pitch, although the platform is also capable of dealing with basic emotional states such as joy, discomfort, fear and happiness.

“She [D.O.R.T.H.E.] is amazingly well connected speaking several languages with which she controls a number of mechanical machines build almost entirely out of scrap electronics,” the team writes.

“For starters we matched simple words and sentences like the ‘dorthe gives us a fresh beat’ on the video and made a semantic map so that: ‘fresh + beat’ must mean uptempo combined with some kinky nice danceable melody work,” explained Munk, one of its co-creators. “The tonal material for melodies can be quite random at the moment.”

D.O.R.T.H.E. is all about recycling, recycling words into music, the team emphasizes. Recycle electronics and turn them into instruments.

Interested in learning more about D.O.R.T.H.E.? You can check out the project’s official page here. And, don’t forget to browse through our Bits & Pieces archive on musical creations from electronic waste!

 

ATmega1280 powers this Raleigh Chopper-inspired, self-balancing scooter

A Maker by the name of “XenonJohn” has devised a self-balancing scooter inspired by the famous Raleigh Chopper bike of the 1970s. After recently constructing a number of heavyweight (and a bit) dangerous one-wheeled machines, the Hackaday Prize semi-finalist sought out to build a more fun, lightweight model more along the lines of a bicycle.

To get the idea rolling, XenonJohn utilized an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) to serve the brain, along with 24V brushed motors to power the di-wheel. In addition, the Maker turned to a SparkFun digital IMU, a Sabertooth 2 x 25 amp motor power controller, and a LiFePO4 Headway battery pack to round out the mechanics.

The ATmega1280 based Arduino receives inputs via I2C from the SparkFun IMU which contains both accelerometers and gyroscopes. Turn switches are connected to the brake levers on the handlebars, which control the left and right steering (“throttle” on left handlebar controls acceleration and slowing down). The Mega then transmits commands to the 25 amp Sabertooth motor controllers to help the rider maintain balance.

Want to learn more? Scroll on over to the project’s official Instructables page here.

Maker builds a 3D-printed robotic parrot

While this may not be the first time both robotics and 3D printing came together to bring an idea to life, it is surely amongst the most incredible. Maker Brian Matthews — who runs the website Flapping Sprocket — recently created a 3D-printed, robotic parrot powered by an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280). Had the project been feathered, it could’ve surely passed for the real deal.

According to Matthews, the apparatus was built entirely from scratch. Aside from the ATmega1280 based ‘duino running animation code, the robotic parrot is comprised of seven servo motors, a skeleton printed from ABS plastic (except for the wings which are made from PLA), an IR distance sensor from Adafruit, as well as a 6-volt battery to power the featherless creature.

Matthews used the drawing program Sketchup to design all the parts. The Maker tells 3DPrint.com that he began with the shell by downloading a previously drawn version just to get an idea as to what a three-dimensional parrot would look like.

According to 3DPrint.com, once Matthews had a fairly good idea of its aesthetics and functionality, he discarded the original download and started from ground zero by tracing profile and front views of a parrot using online photos.

Interested in learning more about the build? You can check out its writeup here.

 

 

 

 

Piano hack adds a visual dimension to music

A Maker and modder by the name of Capricorn1 has added a rockin’ visual dimension to his already impressive musical skills by using a piano’s MIDI output to drive Edison bulbs.

Capricorn1 hung the bulbs from a rod of electrical conduit pipe, while threading the wires to a DB25 connector. The lights were controlled by an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280), along with a custom shield and optocoupler to handle zero cross detection.

“The easiest way to turn a light bulb on and off from a microcontroller is using a solid state relay (SSR),” Capricorn1 noted.

Fortunately, the Maker happened to have a board from a different project laying around with 12 SSRs on it, in addition to the necessary resistors.

All of the electronic components were situated in a repurposed switch box, which controlled four modes: classic, velocity, scrolling, and automatic.

The Maker also used a small sampling of the Arduino MIDI Library, namely the note on/off functions and the control change function to handle his sustain pedal.

Interested in learning more? You can click on over to project’s Instructables page here. Meanwhile, be sure to check out the impressive MIDI piano lighting in action below.

LED matrix flashes real-time commuter info

Don’t you hate rushing around like a lunatic just to find out that your train is running late? Well, the iStrategyLabs crew recently debuted a solution to that very problem: a slick LED matrix sign that displays data about the next four trains arriving at the nearest metro station.

Dubbed Transit, the sign also lists how many bikes are available at the closest bikeshare station, along with the current local temperature. The data is pulled from various APIs via an Electric Imp platform, while an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) is tasked with processing the information and powering the six LED matrices.

“The focal point for building this unit was displaying information. So, once the LEDs were sourced, everything was built around that,” explained Taylor Guidon, a creative technologist at iStrategyLabs.

Guidon also noted that he first prototyped all the components on a breadboard to ensure the code was being properly executed.

“The biggest issue was learning how to handle the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority API. They have a great API, but their trains do not run 24/7, so there needed to be logic in place to handle blank data being pushed over night,” he told Gizmag.

The final unit is mounted on the wall between the office’s two elevators, making it easy for people to see the information they need before they head out of the office. The sign refreshes every 30 seconds with data from each of the APIs.

Total time of assembly? One day. Total cost? Approximately $250.

Want to check out some of iStrategyLabs’ other innovative creations? We’d recommend the Atmel based selfie-taking mirror or its Uber-calling shoe clip — both of which can be found here.

 

OCHO TONOS is an audible textile interface powered by Arduino

Developed by Esteban de la Torre and Judit Eszter Karpati, who together make up the EJTech duo, OCHO TONOS is an audible textile interface for multi-sensorial interaction, involving both touch and sound.

According to the pair of Makers, the objective of the project was to create a soundscape through sensor technology inviting audiophiles to perform and explore with reactive textile elements. In order to accomplish this feat, EJTech employed an Arduino Mega ADK (ATmega2560).

With the textile itself acting as the interface, the inputs coming from a user’s “tactile interaction” are translated into a digital platform, and filtered through Max/MSP. (Max/MSP allows for the manipulation of digital audio signals in real-time, enables users to create their own synthesizers and effects processors.)

Watch as OCHO TONOS “re-contextualizes our tactile interaction with textile acting as an interface, where each element triggers, affects and modifies each sounds properties.”

If you recall, Karpati also incorporated various senses in her nifty color-changing Chromosonic design.

 

A DIY Soap Box Derby cart controlled via Wi-Fi

Remember the days of Soap Box Derbies? Dating back to the 1930s, these carts have always relied on gravity; however, thanks to the team at Currah, that may all change. The group of Makers have designed a Wi-Fi controlled vehicle for a future generation of derby racers using an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) and Wi-Fi Shield.

According to the Makers, the project provided an opportunity to explore the interface between hardware and software, as well as compare the differences between programming personal computing systems and embedded microprocessors.

“These experiments were conducted in the context of a very flexible steering system and the virtually unlimited control range afforded by Wi-Fi and Internet Protocol,” the team explained.

While the original plan was to devise one of the two-wheeled bots that have become quite popular throughout the DIY community and Maker Faires, the team eventually decided that a soap box car was much better suited for their experiment.

“Note that the current design can be viewed as the drive of a two-wheeled robot coupled with a trailer by means of a 360 degree pivot. A slip ring capsule within the pivot enables the heavy battery and bulky control system to be separated from the drive and located on the trailer thereby distributing weight evenly between the four wheels.”

For those interested in developing a “Wood Lizzie” of their own, the team of Makers has shared a detailed breakdown of the necessary steps in the tutorial below.

Making an ATmega1280 powered vodka shot dispenser

A simple glass of ice isn’t enough for someone as creative as Ben Armstrong. For a product design project at Brunel University, the Maker developed this slick coin-operated vodka shot dispenser that would fit perfectly in any man cave or college frat house.

The drink-delivering unit accepts coins and after the required amount of change is deposited, the device will begin pouring ice-cold shots of the desired alcoholic beverage. An IR sensor seeks out the glass, while two solenoid valves dispense the correct volume of liquid. An LCD screen, which displays the price of the booze, also will command the user to consume their liquid once it is poured. Instead of peer pressure, could we call that CPU pressure?

An Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) handles all of the bartending duties for Armstrong’s design. The dispenser can pour up to four shots at a time, so don’t forget to invite some friends over if you build your own model. Ben and his team believe there may be a commercial market for a device like this and are considering possible commercializing of the beverage ‘bot. Perhaps, we will be seeing this innovative gadget on Kickstarter in due time?

Want to see the dispenser in action? Watch the video below, and scroll to 1:27.

Attachment is a modern-day message in a bottle

Balloon messages could perhaps be likened to a new form of the classic message in a bottle. Created by ECAL graduate David Colombini, Attachment is an ATmega1280 powered, poetic machine that enables you to send text, images or videos into the air using a biodegradable balloon with the intention of “rediscovering expectation, the random, and the unexpected,” uncommonly found in current means of communication.

Upon entering your name and e-mail, the site allows you to send a message and attach a picture, sound, or video. Once your content is validated, the machine prints the message and a code on an A6 sheet of paper, slips it into a biopolymer cylinder attached to a balloon, which is released into the air. The balloon then travels haphazardly to a potential recipient.

At some point, someone somewhere will find it. When they do, that individual can connect to the website and enter the secret password on the message to discover the text, the image or video in its entirety.

As Colombini notes, the [megaAVR based] project originally began as a stand against today’s “smart” technologies. “I have always been attracted by what is in the air and remember having won a balloon release contest when I was about ten years old. My balloon flew from Switzerland to Austria, this definitely left an impression on me and perhaps influenced the idea of this project.”

The poetic machine is driven by an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280), a PRismino (a mini shield specially developed for the machine to control the IR sensors), four 12V motors, a 450w power supply, a number of IR captors and a specifically-built Veroboard for the machine to control the electronics.

Colombini also selected a mini A4 printer (Canon PIXMA iP100), which he hacked for A6 files, along with several clips to close the ballon, a bunch of 90 cm diameter biodegradable balloons, a series of tubes and covers, and a Mac Mini to run the processing script.

In addition, Creative Applications reveals the modern-day message in a bottle includes five pneumatic valves to control the five pneumatic cylinders, an air compressor, a 5L helium bottle, digital air and helium pressure sensors, two valves to control the in/out of the air or helium, one Manometer, and a DHEB.

As the machine will be installed outside, Colombini is looking to work with the Association for the Development of Renewable Energies in Lausanne to power the machine with solar energy.

So, be sure to keep an eye out because a secret message may be on its way! If interested in learning more or sending a poetic passage of your own, you can fly on over to Attachment’s official page here.

http://vimeo.com/92816450

Explore any environment with the ATmega1280 powered DR1 Rover

An Italian Maker going by the name “Fxxxx” recently set out to create a compact, yet highly functional rover robot based upon an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) core. His design is incredibly sophisticated and a true triumph of innovation!

According to the Maker, the key objective behind the project entitled “DR1” was to design a robot that featured localization, light following and obstacle detection, all while remaining in a relatively small body. Unlike other RC vehicles, the DR1 can be controlled by a PC or Mac thanks to its intricate XBee-based wireless connection. “This proprietary connection protocol ensures real-time information and commands. The robot sends to the home base the data (a string formed by all informations like: motors speed, real power from each motor, revolutions for second, direction, light intensity and more). The home base answers with a string containing the commands like decreasing motor speed, turn right or so.”

Our Maker notes some of the initial challenges included the ability to design a body and a component’s disposition which could reduce wire connections and at the same time respect the right and logical place for each component. He details that, “The real challenge was to reduce power consumption of each component choosing a battery which could give the robot a considerable autonomy.” Elaborating further Fxxxx adds, “At the same time not exceed the maximum weight limit based on engineering calculations about torque force of the small engines.”

To overcome this feat, Fxxxx selected the ATmega1280 powered Arduino board as the brains of the project, given its high-performance and low-power capabilities. “Beaglebone or Raspberry PI would allow more calculations onboard but they are more energy dependent,” the Maker notes.

The DR1 sports a plethora of features that are seriously impressive for a DIY project. The wireless PC/Mac connectivity goes hand in hand with a camera capable of live-streaming. The implemented distance sensor system collaborates with an indoor localization unit that enables the DR1 to have precise movement capabilities within space.

While all of that would be perfectly acceptable in any home robot design, the DR1 also boasts four separate drive modes. The traditional manual control exists with inputs read from the PC/Mac. Also, the DR1 can autonomously navigate and attempt to cover the largest area possible.

With two light sensors installed on the front of the unit, the DR can follow light. Fxxxx breaks down the process by saying, “When a light is detected the robot starts following it. If the amount of light starts growing on the left sensor then the robot changes direction to follow the light.” Though, the Maker admits his favorite drive mode is semi-autonomous. In this mode, the user inputs an X and Y coordinate, and the DR1 does its best to reach the destination.

Interested in devising your own rover? Head over to Fxxxx’s Instructables page, where you will find a detailed step-by-step breakdown.