Creating a dual-mode compass with Arduino and NeoPixels

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With the push of a button on this DIY compass, a user can select between north tracking and heading indicator modes.

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After coming across a video of fellow Maker David Ratliff’s NeoPixel compass project on YouTube, Philo Mech had wanted to create a dual-mode one of his own for quite some time.

The compass is comprised of a 12-LED NeoPixel ring (which will be swapped out for 16-LED in the next iteration) along with an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328) that drives an accelerometer/magnetometer breakout board, and a momentary pushbutton tasked with shifting between both modes. Meanwhile, the device supports 5V voltage regulation circuitry for managing the Pro Mini and NeoPixel ring.

This current version boasts two very useful modes: one to track the whereabouts of north, the other to determine the direction that the user is heading. When in the first mode, north is indicated by a red LED sandwiched between two yellow lights. As the Maker demonstrates in his video, it should match up fairly well to a standard compass arrow. While the range of degrees is not yet perfect, Philo Mech admits, it is still fairly close. The latter mode, which perhaps is a bit more helpful, reveals a different splash background with a red light denoting the cardinal direction that the user is going.

As the Maker reveals, future models will not only employ a 16-pixel ring but will also provide finer degrees of directional change and better compensate for tilting. In the meantime, you can see it in action below.

This fiber optic dress is amplified by a wearer’s thoughts

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This EEG-powered dress shines red when alert and green when relaxed.

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Rain Ashford has been tinkering around with EEG-enabled wearable devices for quite some time now. In fact, she is in the midst of wrapping up her doctoral thesis. As part the process, the Maker has created a rather slick, interactive dress as a fun way to display engagement and moods in crowded situations, particularly those so noisy that hearing someone speak is virtually impossible.

The aptly named ThinkerBelle EEG Amplifying Dress uses a NeuroSky Mindwave Mobile EEG headset to collect brain information and relay that data to her garment to non-verbally communicate with those nearby. Ultimately, this leaves it up to observers to make their own interpretations from the brilliant spectacle.

“I created this dress in response to a subsection of feedback data from my field trials and focus groups, which investigated the functionality, aesthetics and user experience of wearables and in particular wearer and observer feedback on experiences with my EEG Visualising Pendant,” Ashford writes.

The dress was constructed out of satin fabric and fiber optic filament woven into an organza. The EEG headset collects and amplifies data in the form of two separate streams — attention and meditation — which are sent over via Bluetooth and visualized on the top layer of the dress through a series of LEDs. The illumination is controlled by an Adafruit Pro Trinket (ATmega328): red light signifies attention while green denotes a state of relaxation.

“The dress is constructed so the two streams of data light overlap and interweave. The fiber optic filament is repositionable allowing the wearer to make their own lighting arrangements and dress design,” she adds.

What’s more, the wearable project features a variety of modes, one in which lets the user record and playback the data. This means someone can design a combination of color and lights on the dress, then replay it after taking off the EEG headpiece. This enables the wearer to come across as though he or she is concentrating or relaxed to those around.

“Why would someone want to do that? Think of this much like a lie detector test. Sometimes you want people to know how you feel, and other times you would rather keep your thoughts to yourself. So, in this case if you want to appear calm even though you are really agitated, you can just have the dress display a previous calm time period,” the Adafruit crew explains.

Pretty cool, right? Check the project out in its entirety on Ashford’s page here. Not for nothing, the blend of these two colors makes for one heck of Christmas attire!

This mood-altering wearable will make you feel more alert or relaxed

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Doppel is a wrist-adorned device that can naturally make you feel more alert or calm you down on demand.

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The latest entrant in the wearable space is not a smartwatch, it’s not an activity tracker nor is it a heart rate monitor. In fact, it doesn’t even have screen or button. This means no annoying alerts, phone calls or emails. Instead, what is being billed as “a new breed of technology,” Doppel is a performance-enhancing device that can naturally make a user feel more alert or relaxed on demand using nothing more than the innate human response to rhythm. So, whether it’s getting ready for an intense workout at the gym, preparing for an important presentation at work or cramming for a crucial final exam in the library, the wrist-adorned gadget can harness the body’s natural reaction to stress and positively change its wearer’s state of mind.

The brainchild of London-based startup Team Turquoise, the wristband uses tactile rhythm, otherwise known as haptic feedback, to rhythmically tap a wearer’s wrist at the speed of their choosing: faster for a quick pick-me-up, slower for some calmness.

In order to get started, a user must connect their Doppel to its accompanying app, whether it’s via Bluetooth for a smartphone or USB for a PC, to measure their resting heart rate and calibrate the device to save their preferred settings. From there, everything is controlled through the wearable itself. A firm squeeze will increase the rhythm, stroking its face will slow the beat, while rotating the dial will amplify or soften the intensity. (Think of it like the volume knob on a stereo.)

Doppel is built around an ATmega328 MCU and features a microUSB charger. Impressively, its built-in battery lasts for over five hours at its maximum intensity, which is geared toward running. While at its lowest level, it will last for over 10 hours — plenty of juice for an entire workday and a gym session afterwards.

At the time of its crowdfunding debut, Doppel is available in three styles (black and white, original and classic) and with two different cuts for the strap (tapered and straight). Need a mood-alrtering wearable to help keep you calm in the day-to-day hustle and bustle? Head over to its official Kickstarter campaign, where Team Turquoise is currently seeking $155,412. Shipment is slated for April 2016.

Build your own activity monitor with Arduino

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RetroBand is an open source, ATmega328 powered activity tracker that pairs with your smartphone.

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Over the last couple of years, the wearable technology market has experienced tremendous growth, particularly when it comes to health and wellness. When thinking of the latest and greatest fitness bands, companies like Jawbone, Fitbit and Nike typically pop into mind. However, despite its surge in popularity, the cost of owning such a device has become as a major barrier in adoption. That’s exactly why an Instructables user “GodsTale” has decided to take it upon himself to create a DIY activity tracker using an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328), a Bluetooth module, an accelerometer, a LiPo battery and some custom software from his smartphone, all housed inside a 3D-printed case. Total cost: Less than $30.

The Maker, who recently designed the RetroWatch, says that the device he calls the RetroBand has only one feature: collecting data through its built-in accelerometer and relaying it to his smartphone. An accompanying mobile app (available on Google Play) then analyzes the accelerometer data and provides an output of calories burned as well as steps taken to the user. Subsequently, GodsTale urges that “this shouldn’t be called a ‘smart band’ since it has only simple features.”

The Android app is comprised of four parts: an Android UI, a Bluetooth manager, a background service and an algorithm section.

“The Android app check steps using collected data provided from RetroBand Arduino. The algorithm of the app is not that complicated. If you have much experience to this area, you can replace it with your own algorithm. The app saves the calorie data, so you can see the progress it in a monthly/daily/hourly graph form,” GodsTale explains.

The Maker has established a system where the accelerometer data is checked 20 times a second by the device. The gadget then transfers data to the smartphone application once a second. From there, the Android app receives the information in a matter of two seconds and determines an interval that the user’s movement increases dramatically — the number of movement increases is the step count. Beyond that, the app calculates calories burned based on user’s weight and steps, along with accumulated monthly, daily and hourly data.

At the brains of the operation lies an ATmega328. The Maker selected the Pro Mini board as “it works well with 3.7V lithium-polymer battery and its size.” He also employed a USB-to-UART converter to upload its source code.

One drawback of the RetroBand is that it cannot save data given its limited memory capacity, which is the reason for pairing it to a smartphone. GodsTale has made his code available on GitHub, while its Android app can be downloaded from the Play Store. Want to save some money on your next wearable? Head over to the project’s official page here to get started.

Lumioto is an easy-to-use, open source LED prototyping tool

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Lumioto makes it easy to add expressive, professional LED effects to prototypes, design models and videos.

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It seems like these days, just about every product on the market contains at least one LED. The same goes for DIY projects. Sure, LED designs are great. However, if you’ve ever tried to configure them, you know just how tricky it can get. Even the earliest steps like controlling brightness and choosing colors can present a few unexpected challenges, not to mention adding animation only seems to make matters worse. Cognizant of the limited number of tools available, SCALAR Electronics has developed Lumioto, a quick and simple way to go about the LED creation process.

Based on an Arduino Uno (ATmega328), Lumioto gives users the ability to make fine modifications on up to three independent RGB LEDs, including toggling their brightness, color and pattern. The open source tool is equipped with an intuitive hue-saturation-lightness (HSL) on-board color picker, along with 14 different built-in animations with adjustable speed, intensity and relative timing. This way, designers and Makers alike can easily add LED effects to prototypes, models and a wide range of other projects.

What’s more, users can experiment with 24-bit digital color and brightness by plugging into any USB port. If that port happens to be on a computer, they can configure more advanced settings using Lumioto Terminal, ranging from turning LEDs on/off and getting readouts to adjusting settings and accessing flexible LED animations. Whether for professional or amateur use, the possibilities are truly endless. Given that it’s Arduino-compatible, Makers can even hack its code and add their own new features and functions.

Other notable specs include:

• Full set of three 36″ Lumioto LED cables included (2X inline, 1X angled)
• High brightness: Up to 3000mcd per LED (1200mcd with white-balancing enabled)
• Hex color reference and digital brightness readouts
• Detachable LED cables for easy modification, permanent LED integration, or multiple simultaneous projects
• All settings saved automatically for convenience and mobility
• Identical Mac and Windows support; no drivers required
• USB-powered
• Open source firmware
• Completely free firmware development toolchain (Atmel Studio + AVRdude, Windows-only)
• Entire Arduino port D0-D7 accessible for hardware expansion
• ~50% CPU, RAM, FLASH utilization

“Don’t know Arduino? That’s okay. With the Designer Kit, you don’t need to be into electronics to use Lumioto. It’s the same as the Maker kit, except it comes with an Arduino preprogrammed with the freshest Lumioto firmware. It’s ready for action right out of the box, down to the included USB cable,” its team writes.

Interested in adding professional LED effects to your next design? Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, Lumioto is now selling both on Tindie and its official site for $89.00.

Disney uses store-bought conductive thread to build robot muscles

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Researchers have developed an inexpensive way to make artificial muscles using off-the-shelf supplies.

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They say Disney World is the most magical place on Earth, but we’d argue that it may come second to their research lab. From 3D-printed plush toys to autonomous sand drawing robots to bipedal droids that walk like animated characters, the Disney Research team continues to dream up some impressive innovations that blend fantasy with the real world.

In an effort to make robotic arm automation more lifelike, a group of Disney engineers have found a way to develop strong, artificial muscles using inexpensive, store-bought conductive sewing thread coiled into a shape that resembles somewhat of a DNA helix.

“Natural muscles exhibit high power-to-weight ratios, inherent compliance and damping, fast actuation and high dynamic ranges. Unfortunately, traditional robotic actuators have been unable to attain similar properties, especially in a slender muscle-like form factor. Recently, super-coiled polymer (SCP) actuators have rejuvenated the promise of an artificial muscle,” the researchers write.

Movement is facilitated through the heating and cooling of the off-the-shelf strings. As the strands fluctuate in temperature, the cables contract and expand like a human muscle, which in turn, pulls the fingers causing the artificial hand to close. While the researchers initially set out to find a low-cost way to create artificial muscles, their project yielded controlled forces in less than 30 milliseconds — actually outperforming the capabilities of a human muscle.

“The average human skeletal muscle has a twitch cycle of over 100 ms, and reaches a steady-state force in hundreds of milliseconds. Furthermore, the peak power- to-weight ratio of mammalian skeletal muscle is 0.32kW/kg, whereas these actuators have been shown to generate up to 5.3kW/kg,” the team adds.

For their demonstration, Disney Research employed a 3D-printed robotic hand — which had been crafted using an AVR powered Makerbot Replicator 2 machine — comprised of four fingers and a thumb with actuators on each tendon enabling a full range of motion. The muscles were strewn along the forearm of the robot to mimic the physical locations of a human arm, while four small computer fans were used to cool the actuators during relaxation. As for its electronics, the arm was driven by an Arduino Nano (ATmega328) along with some simple MOSFET PWM-switching supplies.

“The robot arm was able to perform various grasping maneuvers. The grasps were performed in under a second without the benefit of any feedback sensor, using a lead compensator to improve the speed of finger motions. Each finger can be manipulated individually, and there was no noticeable crosstalk between actuators.”

Does this mean that in the future we’ll see more realistic movements by Disney automations at its parks worldwide? As we wait to find out, you can read its entire paper here.

This IoT device will help detect heatstroke during road races

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Telefonica and GFI Informatique have developed a wearable device that will be able to stop heatstroke before it occurs.

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Recent studies have shown that long distance running involves a slightly increased risk of death but it’s heatstroke, not heart-related issues, that are the culprit. Luckily, when racers take their mark this weekend at the Proniño six-mile race in Madrid, they will only have to focus on battling each other, not so much high temperatures. That’s because Telefonica and French IT services group GFI Informatique have announced a new device that will be able to prevent heatstroke before it occurs.

The battery-powered gadget, which measures just 58mm x 30mm x 27mm, can be comfortably clipped onto a wrist and head band, or any part of a runner’s clothing for that matter. Still in its prototype stage, the wearable is based on an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328), and features a GPS module, a Lilypad temperature sensor and an M2M SIM card with global coverage. Additionally, it packs a LiPo battery with a life of about eight hours, which should be plenty for the duration of the event.

During the race, staff will use a special web-based app to monitor a runner’s position and body temperature, ensuring that the latter doesn’t exceed 104°F — one of the first signs of heatstroke. Meanwhile, the unit’s built-in GPS will provide accurate positioning of the wearer’s whereabouts throughout the course. The prototype will be connected to S.A.M.U.R. (Servicio de Asistencia Municipal de Urgencia y Rescate) should any emergencies arise.

Beyond spotting potential risks in marathons and other strenuous sporting activities, its creators say that the device can be used in outdoor work environments that entail high exposure to heat, as well as by the elderly and children — two segments of the population most likely to suffer from heatstroke.

Retrofitting an old air conditioner with Arduino

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Maker automates his old-school, window-mounted AC unit with the help of an Arduino.

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With summer just about here, for those of us without central air, it’s time to break out those air conditioners. While most of today’s appliances are remotely controlled, there are still those difficult-to-install window-mounted units like the ones found in any grandparents’ house or college dorm room. And why shouldn’t they have a chance to become smart before being thrown in the waste pile? That’s exactly what Maker Phil Rowe decided to do with the help of Arduino, of course.

The Maker has managed to retrofit his several-year-old AC device, converting it into an automatic system that can be activated and monitored from MegunoLink Pro at his desk. To make this happen, Rowe employed an Arduino Uno (ATmega328), a servo driven mechanism to activate the AC, a DS18B20 temperature sensor and the MegunoLink Pro to plot the data and control the set point.

Being a good ol’ air conditioner and all, there wasn’t a clear way of commanding the system digitally. Subsequently, Rowe designed a mechanical actuator to easily fit over the rotary switch, while a simple servo was tasked with handling the switch’s position — turning it off, putting it into fan mode or lowering/increasing the power cooling. Because the servo draws a significant amount of current, a 4700uF capacitor was placed on the power bus to help reduce the voltage drop and to keep the microcontroller running smoothly. In addition, the Maker modeled a 3D bracket to hold the servo to the AC control panel.

In order to work properly, the Arduino measures the temperature of the room via the DS18B20 sensor. This activates the servo to turn the AC unit’s dial. The Arduino then sends the temperature data back to a PC via MegunoLink Pro, which maps the older data and displays the current information. Using MegunoLink Pro, the minimum and maximum temperature points can also be set without uploading a new sketch to the Arduino.

“The temperature sensor is read and if the current temperature is above the target set-point (plus a hysteresis value) then the servo is adjusted to the on (low) position. Once the temperature falls below the set-point (minus a hysteresis value) then the servo is adjusted to the off position. The hysteresis values are used to prevent noise in the temperature value from falsely changing the controllers state and repeatedly adjusting the servo,” the Maker explains.

Aside from its basic temperature controlling functionality, a command handler is used to receive commands from MegunoLink. This enables Rowe to configure various settings like the set points, hysteresis, servo locations and servo delay. As the Maker notes, these settings are saved in the EEPROM of the Arduino so it knows its state should the power be disrupted.

Do you have an old AC unit that you’d like to make intelligent? Check out the Maker’s project page here, and access all of its necessary files on Github to get started.

IoBot is a 3D-printable, Internet-controlled robot for Makers

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This DIY robot can be controlled by mobile and computer application via LAN or USB.

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Today, young Makers looking to start tinkering have more options than ever before when it comes to DIY robotics kits. Among those available is Zygmunt Wojcik’s open source project, IoBot.

The IoBot is an Arduino Uno (ATmega328) based, Rockem Sockem-like bot that can be controlled by both a mobile device and PC via LAN or USB cable. A companion application is capable of running on Android, Windows and Mac OS while the Arduino is written in Python/Kivy. Wojcik notes that while knowledge of programming languages isn’t necessarily required, any prior experience will certainly help in further developing the code should a Maker want to update an Arduino sketch or customize a particular robot command.

Beyond its Arduino brain, IoBot consists of about $70 of electronic components (an Ethernet shield, servos, LEDs and resistors) that can be reused in other projects, while the rest of the parts are 3D-printed. These include a right and left arm, a head, an upper and lower back, a front body, a base for the bot and another for the Arduino. For those without access to a 3D printer, these pieces can be created using 3D Hubs.

Once its parts have been sourced, the project — like many other Arduino-powered gizmos — is pretty straightforward from there. With the accompanying app, Makers can use the IoBoT to do everything from move its arms, head and body to control other DIY gadgets,  on/off LEDs, and a plethora of other programmable tricks.

“When you control the robot over a LAN, you can view LAPP messages on Arduino serial monitor, just connect the robot with your computer using USB cable. Check out what messages are sent to the robot by pressing each application button, and by moving each slider. You can use these data to control your own project with IoBot application. These messages, as well as ranges of sliders, can be changed in the source code of the application,” Wojcik writes.

Know a young one who may be interested in building their own robot? Head over to IoBot’s Instructables page here. Meanwhile, check it out in action below!

Creating a mesmerizing DNA lamp for under $30

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You can’t help but stare this project. 

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Year after year, the Dark Room at Maker Faire Bay Area showcases some of the most engaging and stimulating visual presentations we’ve ever come across. Between the glorious glowing of lamps, the dancing of robotic lights and the brilliantly embedded garments strutting the runway, the room is a sight to be seen. And, well, this recent project from Portuguese Maker João Duarte would certainly fit right in.

With the help of 3D printing, Duarte was able to bring the mesmerizing DNA Lamp to life for less than $30 in supplies. A vast majority of the device’s parts were 3D-printed in black PLA filament with the exception of its acrylic tube and the electronics housed inside its base. He also used white glow in the filament for the helix in order to make it stand out more under UV light, and of course, to give it a nice green glow in the dark.

Merely a beginner when it comes to 3D design, the Maker turned to Autodesk’s Tinkercad software to help devise the project. Duarte employed two 3D printers for the job, his Prusa i3 that he had built himself and a LulzBot TAZ 4 from his local Makerspace. In total, the helix lamp took roughly 14 hours from start to finish.

As for the electronics, the Maker implemented an electric motor to provide the slow rotation of the DNA helix inside of the acrylic tubing. UV LEDs are embedded at the top and bottom of the tube, creating a fading effect when the lamp is turned on. Meanwhile,, a barebones Arduino Uno (ATmega328) handles the motor and the LEDs.

Beyond that, the Maker wanted to be able to manage the LEDs, power and the rotation of the helix. To accomplish this, he added a push button that selects the operation mode of the lamp, which of course is powered by the ATmega328.

In the end, Duarte wrote some code that enabled the UV LEDs to produce its slick visual effects, as the helix fluctuated between fluorescent hues to “give it the weird feeling of a mysterious evil experience or that it is alive somehow.” As you can see in the video below, the LEDs offer a pretty hypnotizing blue and purple glow.

Want one of your own? Head over to the project’s Instructables page here.