While the latest batch of Arduino and Arduino-compatible boards either have a chip capable of USB or rely on a V-USB implementation, did you know earlier Uno and Mega boards actually have two microcontrollers?
Writing for Hackaday, Brian Benchoff notes that “an ATmega16U2 takes care of the USB connection, while the standard ‘328 or ‘2560 takes care of all ‘duino tasks. Wouldn’t it be great is you could also use the ’16U2 on the Uno or Mega for some additional functionality to your Arduino sketch?”
That’s now a reality thanks to a Maker by the name of NicoHood. Both the [Atmel based] Uno and Mega boards possess a pair of MCUs, of which the ’16U2 is generally used for USB-Serial translation. Meanwhile, it can serve as standalone AVR MCU with (or without) USB functions as well.
Using what NicoHood calls “HoodLoader2,” Makers now have the option of reprogramming the ‘16U2 of an Arduino Uno/Mega R3 with custom sketches, and using its seven (sometimes overlooked) I/O pins.
“This means you can use the ’16U2 as a normal USB AVR like a Leonardo,” NicoHood adds.
With a fully-compatible USB-HID core and CDC serial, HootLoader2 is a real bootloader for the ’16U2 — not a firmware. It can replace the DFU bootloader with a CDC bootloader and USB serial function. This enables new USB functions like an HID keyboard, mouse, media keys and a gamepad, the addition of extra sensors or LEDs, or pretty much anything else you can do with a normal Arduino, Benchoff explains.
“The great thing about this is that you actually have two fully Arduino-compatible microcontrollers in one Arduino Uno/Mega board – the board most of you already own. Your main MCU (328/2560) is still reprogrammable if you enter bootloader mode. All you need for this is a normal Arduino Uno/Mega R3 and some cables to install the new HoodLoader2.”
Back in March, Atmel launched the second stage of its Simply AVR Design Contest, which encouraged Makers, designers and engineers to develop clever, ground-breaking 8-bit microcontroller-based designs using its highly-popular AVR family. After several months of ideation and submissions, we’re excited to announce that the grand prize winner of the contest is Juan Gonzalez for his IoT ATmega2560-powered robot.
Programmed with Atmel Studio 6.2, the winning IoT project — which garnered nearly 116,000 votes — runs in three modes including Wi-Fi via an Android application, object-tracking mode and MIMIC mode via TCP/IP.
“Atmel AVR MCUs are simple to use, have a robust ecosystem and are extremely flexible, allowing beginner developers to create innovative, out-of-the-box embedded designs beyond traditional applications,” explained Gonzalez.
“The ATmega-powered IoT robot only took me a couple days to put together and I was thrilled when I was notified. Thank you to the Atmel team for enabling me to showcase my design. I will continue to design with AVR MCUs.”
In total, five winners were selected through public voting on the contest site and Facebook; meanwhile, a separate Simply AVR Design Contest was conducted in parallel in China. Runner-ups included:
Sumit Grover, Remote and GSM-based home automation system
Savvas-George Kokkinidis-Loungos, Wireless remote car device using hand movements
Shreyas Gite, Arduino-powered medical scanner to measure body temperature and other vitals
Rahul Kar, Digital Soduku solver
“I’d like to congratulate our winners for the Simply AVR Design Contest,” said Sander Arts, Atmel Vice President of Marketing. “With over 300,000 votes for all five winners, there was clearly a lot of enthusiasm for the second phase of the Simply AVR Contest. All these projects showcased creative, impressive designs that demonstrate the simplicity of Atmel’s AVR MCUs which extend beyond the traditional boundaries. With a community of AVR enthusiasts, we are looking forward to the continuation of this program.”
With another successful challenge in the books, we’re eager to see what the future holds for these Makers’ prototypes. Perhaps, they will follow in the footsteps of previous design contest champion Pamungkas Prawisuda Sumasta, who recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for his team’s Phoenard all-in-one prototyping device.
A Maker by the name of Johnathan Keep has unveiled a new Ceramic Delta 3D Printer powered by an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560). The build, which only cost about $700, is capable of printing a clay medium opposed to the more traditional plastic filament.
According to Keep, “The aim of the design was to keep it simple, using basic DIY skills and parts available on the Internet.” And, while the design is specifically created to print clay, it could be adapted to work with other materials, the Maker adds.
Based on ‘delta’ style 3D printers, the DIY design is comprised of modified parts from a Techcon Systems dispensing gun for the extruder — including the gun’s cartridges and retainer body. Compressed air is used to extrude the material from the cartridge and is capable of providing around one hour’s worth of printing before it needs to be replaced.
The Maker elected to equip the printer with an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) in order to drive the three high torque stepper motors to position the guide rods. The rods are held in place using MDF and plastic pieces as a platform and open-frame top to allow for movement while being stable. The project also is controlled by a RAMPS 1.4 set.
“Annoyed and frustrated by 3D Systems buying out and then stopping the production of the RapMan 3D printer. This was the first kit printer Belgian design duo Unfold adapted to print with clay and has subsequently been copied and widely used by others, I decided to develop my own replacement 3D printer,” the Maker elaborates on his blog. “By 3D printer standards this is a rather primitive tool set, but it does offer an accessible way into a very exciting new way of working with clay.”
MEG (Micro Experimental Growing) is the world’s first social, open-source and automated greenhouse that allows users to manage plant cultivation through an online platform. Growers can monitor all necessary details for a living plant, controlling everything from internal climate to lighting cycles straight from a smartphone or tablet.
This innovation is the brainchild of Italian lighting design agency Yradia, in an effort to demonstrate that just about anything can be grown in any location — whether natural or artificial. The greenhouse is just about the size of a vending machine and is driven by an Arduino Mega 25600 (ATmega2560) based control board.
A user can easily control all key aspects required to create an ideal environment of their plants to prosper, such as light cycles, ventilation, temperature, irrigation, soil acidity and alkalinity, each of which can be managed through the companion app.
“We believe in micro-growing and want to build since now an open system of information and hardware to meet the big change that, in a span of 5 years, will affect the micro-growing market,” Yradia says.
There is a social element to the initiative, too. Thanks to its dedicated online platform, information around cultivation can be acquired and shared with others through a constantly growing knowledge database, which is accessible by any MEG user. Since all the construction details are open-source, a worldwide community can also contribute to improve MEG’s design, providing the driving-force for acquiring knowledge and refining the necessary hardware.
MEG also records the growth and health of the plants, meaning that if a user finds a successful recipe for a particular plant, they can repeat the process. This can then be shared with its blossoming online community. Conversely, if one finds their plants on the verge of death, they can reach out to their fellow MEG users some gardening tips.
Fresh off their Wired’s Hack the Expo contest victory, the team is hoping to install five custom MEGs in five metro stations during the 2015 Universal Exposition in Milan, Italy.
While this may be the first social, open-source greenhouse, it’s certainly not the first time an innovative agricultural ideas has been brought to life with Atmel powered boards. In fact, you can browse our archive on the topic here, where you will find everything from vertical farming to smiling plants.
As seen at the Atmel Maker Faire, Embedded World and most recently, Electronica booths, former AVR Hero Pamungkas Prawisuda Sumasta, Ralf Smit and their team have successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign for their all-in-one Arduino-compatible prototyping gadget, Phoenard.
While its form-factor is rather convenient, its hackability and wide-range of applications is where the Phoenard truly sets itself apart. The gadget, which is powered by an ATmega2560, not only sits perfectly in your hand but can slide quite easily into your pocket. The 11.8 x 6.1 x 1.1 cm device boasts a full-color touchscreen display and an on-board battery, and is even equipped with its own operating environment. Given its incredible versatility, the self-programmed Phoenard is bound to make every true Maker’s dream a reality.
As its creators note, the prototyping platform can be used as the ‘brain’ of any DIY Project. Unlike an Arduino, Phoenard encompasses several features built entirely into a single unit, which can also serve as your daily mobile device. Sure, you can buy a smartphone, but wouldn’t it be even more awesome to devise your own?
Aside from being 100% Arduino-compatible, the megaAVR powered device’s on-board course is a perfect choice for Makers looking to start their first creations. As the team shares, “[There’s] no need to have programming skills or have a computer with you, as the Phoenard itself can guide you.” This curriculum is a compilation of tutorials that provide step-by-step breakdowns on how to prototype and tinker around with electronics.
With Phoenard, Makers will no longer need to abandon their prototyping tools either; instead, the gadget can become your day-to-day device to carry out tasks such as calling, texting and storing contacts, serving as an MP3 player, and controlling wearable devices. Whether you want to play multi-player games with friends via Bluetooth or make a mini drum kit using Bare Conductive’s Electric Paint, countless ideas that can now be brought to life with Phoenard.
“Well, asking what can you do with Phoenard is more [or] less the same as asking what can you do with computer or smartphone. The functionality of the devices are defined by the software running on top of it.
Designed for Makers of all levels, ranging from students and educators, Phoenard is essentially for “everyone who is passionate about making and/or for those who is looking for a great tools to get started in electronics and programming.”
To complement Phoenard’s mobility, portability and self-sufficiency, the team has also introduced the Phoenard Operating Environment, which will enable a user to store thousands upon thousands of Arduino sketches right on-board. “Similar to developing apps for your smartphone, but instead for your Arduino,” the team writes.
Recently, we had chance to experience the latest rendition of Phoenard first-hand inside of our Electronica booth. Not only does the bootloader sit on the AVR, each of the applications – ranging from a GSM phone to an MP3 player – live on a microSD card. As we learned, Makers can now mod, add and draw icons right on the handed gadget, while the SD card remains in the socket. This allows a user to share his or her sketches without the need for any additional cables or computers, as they can now be transferred wirelessly between two Bluetooth-enabled Phoenards.
The team notes that they are also in the process of developing a way to wireless programming a Phoenard from a computer. Pretty sweet, right?
Currently, the gadget is equipped with both external (‘Phoenex’) and on-board (‘Phoenon’) extensions. The Phoenex — which comes in three variations — can easily be connected to a project. Meanwhile, the Phoenon is capable of being affixed to the Phoenard and connected to the main board through the 12-pin FPC connector, thereby allowing Makers to add innovative features to the everyday gadget ranging from an IR thermometer and capacitive touch to Wi-Fi and NFC.
Plugging one of these modules into the back of the device can add those functionalities, while switching between projects is as easy as docking it onto one of the extensions and selecting the appropriate sketch. “Each extension board can be dedicated for a specific project, so there is no need to struggle around the next time you want to run that project.”
So, what if you wanted to recreate the same functionality as Phoenard using Arduino? Sure, it’s possible. However, it will consist of an Arduino Mega, five Arduino shields, three modules, and will likely be five times the size and double the cost of the handheld gadget.
The team has already been the recipient of numerous honors, ranging from our recent AVR Hero Design Contest to Maker Faire Merit Awards in San Mateo and Rome. Add crowdfunding success to the list, too! Fresh off its Kickstarter debut, Phoenard well exceeded its original goal of €20,000, having garnered over €35,000. After being released during the Hackaday Prize Party in Munich, the team had attained its funding goal in just a matter of days.
Interested in learning more or ordering an all-in-one device? Head on over to its official Kickstarter page here. If all goes to plan, the initial batch of devices are expected to be shipped in March 2015.
In today’s 3D printing world, it seems a vast majority of Makers are seeking larger and faster devices. The greater the printer size, the greater the ability to fabricate larger objects. Now, throw a quick turnaround into the mix, and you will have the DIY community salivating to get their hands on such machine. Cognizant of each of these traits is German startup F&B Rapid Production, who has just launched an Indiegogo campaign for its gargantuan 3D printer, aptly named MetalBro BIG.
According to its creators, whereas most everyday 3D printers are limited by build volume, the F&B team has sought out to devise a printing bed of approximately 27.5-inches (700mm) x 12-inches (300mm), with 27.5-inches (700mm) in the z direction as well. In addition to going to great lengths to produce a massive build area, the Makers designed a hotend capable of speeds up to 600 mm/s.
“Are you an architect or product designer? You have big products or models in mind to print? To get it in plastic you have to pay a lot of money to specialised companies? This has an end now! With this printer you can easily print architecture models like a bridge, a skyscraper or even a house with a big tree in the yard (or printing it all together) is no problem anymore,” a company rep writes.
Like many devices currently on the market, the MetalBro BIG is powered by an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4. Some additional key specifications include:
Print Technology: FFF
Layer Resolution: 50 microns
Positioning Precision: XY – 11 microns, Z – 0.05 microns
In addition to its MetalBro BIG, the team has also announced that they will be making a smaller model available as well. Dubbed MetalBro300, the printer features a bit smaller build volume, nozzle dimater and print speed, and is also powered by an ATmega2560.
“After over a year of prototyping, listening to customer feedback, and refining the gMax 1.0, we are eager to put into effect all of the exciting changes we’ve made towards this latest and greatest version. Designing and manufacturing in-house is allowing us to execute changes quickly while still maintaining excellent standards of quality,” explained gCreate Founder Gordon LaPlante.
While the build volume of gMax 1.5 measures roughly the same as its precursor (16″ x 16″ x 10″), a tighter design allows for a smaller printer footprint. Meanwhile, its bigger brother gMax 1.5 XT comes in 16″ x 16″ x 18″.
Like the original, each of the printers are powered by an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) along with a RAMPS 1.4 shield.
While last year’s gMax only came in partially-assembled kit form, the new 1.5 has the option to ship fully-tested and assembled. Furthermore, 1.5 XT is partially assembled – extruder and wires all pre-installed.
The fused filament fabrication (FFF) uses an extruder whose nozzle has a diameter of 0.5 mm, while the print resolution ranges between 50 microns to 450 microns, depending on speed preference. Both printers are equipped with a dual extruder add-on feature, an LCD screen and built-in SD card reader, providing users the option to print without a computer. Each one is also compatible with Octoprint.
In order to create a stronger, superior printer, the team has implemented design upgrades such as new end-tapped corners, a vertical aluminum frame system, a redesigned extruder and wiring layout for easier assembly and improved cooling, replacing key plastic parts with carbon fiber.
Led by Maker Ryan Manley, the crew at Zion3D has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new 3-in-1 Stingray Printer. Not only is the device a fully-functional 3D printer, but the massive machine can also serve as both a laser cutter/engraver and food extruder.
The Stingray lineup is available in a pair of build volumes, either 8- or 16-cubic inches, and crafted to suit the needs of any Maker. Each device comes standard with an all-metal hotend — which is capable of printing with exotic filaments based on E3D v5 design — that can heat up to temperatures compatible with just about any FFF-based filament.
At the heart of the system lies an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4. With its unique clear acrylic exterior, young Makers have the ability see the entirety of the printer including these electronic components, as well as the process itself from all angles.
“Not only did we pay painstaking attention to the technical design of the Stingray line, there were several factors we wanted incorporated into the exterior design as well. The Stingrays are designed and built using clear acrylic for its durability and ease to work with. What really appealed to us with using clear acrylic was designing a 3D printer that would be great not only in offices and workshops but in classrooms and for kids,” Manley writes.
In addition to its robust plastic printing functionality, the team notes that optional modules are available to expand upon its capabilities. The Stingray is equipped with 2.8W laser diode module, which based on its speed, is capable of cutting through or engraving materials nearly 1/8” thick.
For those Makers thinking about using the Stingray to whip up a late night snack after a project, you’re in luck! The device’s paste extrusion allows for the creation of mushy substances, ranging from mashed potatoes and icing to Nutella and peanut butter.
Days into its crowdfunding campaign, Zion3D is already well on its way of attaining its targeted $50,000. Interested in learning more or backing this multi-faceted machine? Head over to its official Kickstarter page here.
With All Hallows’ Eve just a few days away, what better time to take a closer look at the Atmel powered Hauntbox?
In essence, the Hauntbox is a prop controller that is both browser-configured and open-source, thereby allowing Makers to easily automate inputs and outputs without the need for complex programming.
“It is a system of parts. Sensors and outputs plug into your Hauntbox and it plugs into your network. You tell it what do by using your browser on your computer, iPad or smartphone on your home network with our simple visual interface,” the Hauntbox crew explained during its Kickstarter campaign last year. “The Hauntbox supports up to 6 inputs and 6 outputs. You can name them, set what voltage they run on and their minimum retrigger time.”
Aside from its onboard ATmega2560 MCU, key Hauntbox specs include:
256 KB of flash
8 KB SRAM (~4.8 KB free with firmware)
4 KB EEPROM
7-12V input voltage
5/12/24V output options depending on power supply
Supplies up to 300mA per output (open collector)
W5100 Ethernet controller (works seamlessly with official Arduino libraries)
microSD card slot
FTDI header pins for firmware hacking/updating
Easy to use screw terminals accepting up to 18 gauge wire
Unused header pins for easy expansion via Arduino shields or proto-boards
LEDs indicating I/O status
Motion sensor (additional/optional)
Audio module (additional/optional)
Other than helping create some of the best Halloween props in town, the versatile Hauntbox can be used to power a number of different projects including:
Any 120V AC device up to 15A via a PowerTail
Relays (allowing much higher power items such as pumps, wiper motors, etc)
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.”
