WORDY recites vocabulary, plays Pong and makes decisions

If you recall, MicroView is a chip-sized platform equipped with a built-in OLED (64×48) display allowing Makers to see what the board is “thinking” without having to link with a PC.

 The device, which was an immediate Kickstarter hit, is built around the ATmega328P MCU. And while we may not have seen too many projects come through just yet using the uber-tiny ‘duino display, Elecia White has made up for the lull by devising a rather nifty ring, aptly named WORDY. Spelling bee geeks, rejoice!

“The size and shape of the MicroView just cried out to be made into a ring, and for that, [Elicia] is using air-drying bendy polymer clay. To attach the clay to the MicroView, [Elecia] put some female headers in a breadboard, and molded the clay over them into a ring shape. It works, and although [Elecia] didn’t do anything too tricky with the headers and clay, there are some interesting things you could do running wires through the clay,” Hackaday’s Brian Benchoff notes.

Elecia sought out to create a ring that when tapped, would give her a word. If tapped again, it would display the definition. Aside from being a word-of-the-day-like device, the wearable can also serve as a personal Magic 8-Ball for those indecisive individuals.

Though we’ve seen the game of Tetris played on a Maker’s bracelet, we’ve never seen the insanely-popular game of Pong on a ring. Elecia controls the game paddles through finger movement using its embedded accelerometer.

One other key feature of the MicroView-based project is its distinct punch mode. Whenever a user makes an air-punch (or shake), WORDY shows a corresponding punch word (i.e. “BIFF, Pow!”) along with a few rectangles for added effect. However, for it to function properly, Elecia does warn that you need to mean it.

If you like it, then you should put a WORDY ring on it! You can find the Maker’s entire project here. Word up!

XPlorerBoard Student is a self-contained Arduino development environment

As we’ve recently explored on Bits & Pieces, it’s exciting to see a number of new products hitting the market in an effort to inspire the next generation of Makers to not only think outside the box, but to encourage them to pursue endeavors in electronics. One of the most recent projects to launch is seeking to combine both tablet accessibility and real-world experiments, in an effort to make the programming learning experience enjoyable for students and beginners alike.

The team at Rich Electronics — who debuted the Dual Arduino Micro XPlorerBoard earlier this year — has developed a self-contained Arduino development environment with all the sensors already on-board. Equipped with an ATmega328P MCU that is preloaded with the Arduino bootloader, the newly-revealed XPlorerBoard Student is fully-compatible with the Arduino IDE. Meanwhile, power is supplied using the included USB cable from the host computer or a USB power adapter.

“The XPlorerBoard Student is an ideal supplement to STEM Educational programs. It can be used as courseware for science and engineering classes, after school programs, home schooling, or for the DIY Makers,” a company rep writes.

The board allows Makers ages 8 to 80-plus to quickly learn programming and circuits using hardware and a set of iPad/Android applications. To accomplish this feat, the XPlorerBoard can easily plug into any Mac or PC, thus enabling users to run programs on its built-in Arduino-compatible processor.

The companion mobile InventIT application includes 50 inspiring experiments, each of which include a video of the completed project, hookup diagrams and an easy-to-follow graphical explanation of the build. Makers will find it increasingly easier to build interactive projects by simply following a series of graphical connection diagrams and then entering the Arduino code into their computer.

The XplorerBoard Student is stocked with photo, temperature, sound, infrared and motion sensors already on-board, providing Makers the ability to easily create sensory experiments. Its OLED display supports both text and graphics, and is visible in bright settings — something that will surely come in handy in well-lit environments like classrooms. In addition, the board features several built-in components as well as a breadboard area to hold external parts.

In what should make for an ideal supplement to STEM programs across the world, the XPlorerBoard is currently seeking $10,000 on Kickstarter. If all goes to plan, the team hopes to begin assembly and testing in early spring 2015, with shipping to backers slated for May 2015. Interested in learning more or backing the ATmega328P based project? Head over to its official page here.

Hacking a Nespresso machine with an ATmega328P

If there are a couple of things engineers love, tinkering and coffee rank high on that list. To our delight, a Maker by the name of Guido Burger brought to our attention one of his latest builds powered by an ATmega328P, of course.

Along with fellow members of his Fab-Lab team, Burger has created the first open sensor platform for the Internet of Things, which uses a combination of Arduino IDE and Bluetooth Low Energy driven by just a single coin cell battery. Aptly named blueIOT, the platform is equipped with a certified BLE module and an ATmega328P MCU at its core.

A closer look at the hacked Nespresso Inissia coffee maker. Here, you can see the black box that hosts the blueIOT module, along with an optocoupler and a relay that physically decouple the machine from the control unit.

Most recently, the Maker successfully hacked a Nespresso machine using the blueIOT to control his new makeshift device. Among the various tasks the ‘smarter’ coffee maker can carry out include awaking the device from power safe mode, beginning to brew a morning cup ‘o joe, changing the coffee/water mix, as well as starting the cleaning process — all made possible through a simple Arduino code running on the ATmega328P and the blueIOT’s ultra-low power design.

A peek inside the coffee maker.

Furthermore, the gadget serves as an iBeacon, sharing the proximity of a user to the coffee maker via its companion smartphone app.

“This will be the cheapest BLE-enabled coffee maker based on a Nespresso mass market coffee maker… and simple to rebuild in less than two hours… It might be the first coffee maker actually being an iBeacon too,” Burger adds.

blueIOT and a Darlington driver running the relay (black on bottom), along with an optocoupler (red) running Arduino code on the ATmega328P.

Did this project perk your interest? If so, head on over to Fab Labs official page here to learn more about blueIOT and other related hacks.

Build your own micro word clock with an ATmega328P

Sure, analog and digital clocks are all the rage, but this nifty DIY device may reshape the way you check the time from now on. Maker Daniel Rojas recently created his own (cheaper) iteration of Biegert & Funk’s contemporary QLOCKTWO word timepieces.

In order to bring his project to life, Rojas used eight discrete components including an 8×8 LED matrix, a DS1307 real-time clock, as well as an ATmega328P MCU to power the device.

The Maker printed each of the necessary letters (in both English and German) onto a transparent sheet that easily fit over the LED matrix, then programmed the LED patterns to display the time with words.

How does it work? A user pushes its button to setting the time — long push to set the hour, short push to advance minutes. The time then changes every five minutes.

IcosaLEDron is a 20-sided LED ball of fun

While it may initially appear to be a shrunken-down replica of the New Year’s Eve ball, the IcosaLEDron is, in fact, an open-source glowing contraption roughly the size of an apple.

This ball, which was first introduced on Instructables and later highlighted on MAKE: Magazine, features 20 tessellated triangled sides each boasting tri-colored LEDs. Created by Maker “Afritlabs,” the Arduino-compatible gizmo is equipped with an ATmega328P, which serves as the brains for the spherical light display, along with 20 RGB NeoPixels that light up each of its faces — all of which are encased inside a custom PCB. This PCB also has a built-in charger for a LiPo battery and six pins for programming via any AVR type connection.

In addition, a three-axis accelerometer allows for the device to illuminate various effects based on accelerations applied to the sphere. In its default mode, the top section continuously stays on, while emitting vibrant rainbow patterns when freefalling. Meanwhile, if no motion is detected, the IcosaLEDron will go to sleep, eradicating any need for a power switch.

Its open-source, Arduino-compatible disposition enables fellow Makers to simply replicate, mod and enhance the design, as well as create new code if more functionality is desired. As Afritlabs notes, the IcosaLEDron can be used in a wide-range of applications ranging from a die that lights a random number of faces when rolled, or a Simon Says-like memory game where you rotate the ball to match a pattern set by the device.

In true Maker fashion, both the frame and translucent sections were 3D-printed, which allowed its creators to easily devise and prototype several iterations of the ball. Interested in creating your own? Head over to its official Instructables page here.

Build your own GPS pet tracker with TinyDuino

If you’re a pet owner, then you know that there is no worse feeling than losing your beloved animal. If you’re a pet owner, then you also may find yourself wondering from time to time as to what they do all day. Fortunately, this DIY GPS collar will not only allow you track the whereabouts of your cat remotely, but can log its GPS coordinates as well. Meaning, you can download its location whenever you feel like doing a some pet-snooping.

Recently published on MAKE Magazine, Ken Burns shared his GPS cat-tracking collar, built around the ATmega328P based TinyDuino platform. The system is powered by a small, lightweight battery and equipped with a fairly “power-hungry” GPS and microSD card, each of which are enclosed inside an old Tic Tac container.

According to Burns, a small slot was cut into the case in order to allow the cat collar to slide through and the GPS module to sit on the back of a cat’s neck, optimizing antenna reception.

In terms of software, the Maker notes that he used an Arduino sketch running on the TinyDuino, which captured the raw data from the device and writes it to a text file on the microSD card.

 

“Pop out the microSD, put it in your computer, and you can open up the file in a program like Google Earth and see exactly where your cat was during the day, complete with timestamps.”

Do you have a furry friend at home who could benefit from this DIY collar? You can find the Maker’s step-by-step tutorial on MAKE here.

IoTuino is an Arduino-compatible Wi-Fi module for the Internet of Things

Developed by Authometion, IoTtuino is an Arduino-compatible tiny core module for the Internet of Things. Recently launched on Indiegogo, the Italian-based startup aspires to help Makers create smart homes through a number of DIY automation applications.

“The goal of the product is to offer all makers and developers the opportunity to work with a powerful yet miniaturized microcontroller for rapid prototyping and to leverage the Arduino open-source electronics platform to build plenty of IoT devices,” explained Authometion CEO Pietro Moscetta. “It can be embedded into any object to immediately embrace the IoT revolution.”

IoTuino is based on an ATmega328P MCU and features a built-in low-power Wi-Fi module (IEEE802.11 b/g/n), a 512Kb SPI Flash, a 2.4 GHz radio transceiver, and an integrated mini-USB programming port.

According to its creators, the module is the first and only development board that smoothly incorporates a native control over smart LED bulbs. “For the first time developers will have the possibility, using the popular Arduino environment, to control our LYT as a wireless sensor.”

Powered by an Atmel AT83EB5114 MCU, LYT is a 9W Wi-Fi smart RGB+W LED bulb with an E27 Edison screw base. The smart bulb works in coordination with IoTuino, which serves as a gateway and can be automated by sensors and actuators for things like heat, light, force, motion and sound. Essentially, Makers can use the IoTuino and LYT bundle to manage lighting by using the smart bulbs as if they were wireless sensors, customizing the devices’ functions.

“IoTuino and LYT can already be used with IFTTT, Zapier, and any other automation services through our free WebApp available for Windows, OSX and Linux,” the team notes.

Through such automation services, users can set triggers and develop multiple scenarios for the lights, ranging from blinking effects when a social media message is received and changing colors to notify of an incoming mobile call to syncing lights with streaming music on a connected device and setting the mood.

“Our end goal is to improve user experience, convenience, comfort, energy efficiency, and security in the most important place: your home,” said Moscetta.

Those interested in learning more or helping fund Authomntion’s latest Atmel based devices can head on over the company’s official Indiegogo page here.

Microduino-Joypad is an open-source 8-bit game console

The crew over at Microduino Studio has just released a new gamepad in honor of the Nintendo Gameboy’s 25th anniversary.

If you recall, the company had launched the popular Microduino platform back in September 2013, where the small, stackable boards — powered by ATmega328P and ATmega644PA — had garnered over $134,000 in its initial Kickstarter campaign.

“We achieved success with the unique Upin27 interface, compact size, rich expansion boards as well as many applications. Over the past year, [the] Microduino community has been growing rapidly. Now, we have nearly 10,000 players worldwide,” a company rep writes.

Paying homage to the iconic device’s 25th birthday, the team has now debuted the Microduino-Joypad, an 8-bit multi-functional game console capable of playing all-time classics ranging from Tetris to Snake. The open source gadget will allow Makers to relive some of their greatest childhood memories of clicking away at those giant buttons on a vintage Nintendo handheld.

To capitalize on this growing group of creative individuals, Microduino introduced this open-source gaming platform to hopefully cultivate another community that will innovate and share their product and ideas.

“The best part is that players can develop their own games according to their preferences. In addition, we also specially establish a community web page for you, making it easy for you to communicate,” the team emphasizes.

Not only is the Microduino-Joypad a game console, the integrated UPin27 interface allows for 30 different Microduino modules to be attached to add to the device’s functionality. As the Joypad’s Kickstarter campaign describes, the machine is “a flexible, interesting device capable of DIY as well as unlimited expansion possibilities.”

The Joypad’s abilities range from being able to to control a quadcopter or play a few levels of the latest Angry Birds installment; as a result, the versatile device could truly carry out nearly any task you could dream up.

According to the team, Microduino now maps all types of single-chip computers to UPin27 — including those AVR powered — covering almost all the existing popular applications.

Microduino Studio is currently seeking further funding to secure their supply chain and certify that they will be able to manufacture a full run of devices in the coming months. For more information about the Microduino-Joypad or to back this technostalgic device, make your way over to their official Kickstarter page here.

Ardubracelet lets you play Tetris on your wrist

Earlier this year, Kevin Bates developed an uber-mini handheld game console using an Atmel ATmega328 microcontroller (MCU). Having already graced the Maker community with his business card-sized Arduboy, he has now has taken that innovation to the next level with a wearable version of his Tetris-playing gadget. Meet the Ardubracelet!

Equipped with the same chip as his previous creation, the Ardubracelet is powered by the high-performance ATmega328P. The tiny wrist-mounted unit features three bright OLED screens affixed to a flexible circuit board, as well as capacitive strips and a rechargeable battery.

… and you thought that calculator watch was cool!

In terms of battery life, the device can last up to 10 hours and can be easily recharged for those marathon gaming sessions. While you may not think the 0.66” screen makes manipulating shapes all that easy, the responsive touchscreen interface makes matching blocks a simple task.

Though the bracelet itself is only a prototype and may not be as aesthetically pleasing as other wearable devices, Bates aspires to enhance his original design and form factor with a 3D-printed model in the near future.

Those interested in learning more about the Ardubracelet can head over to the project’s official blog here.

TinyScreen is a thumb-sized color display

With much of the tech community is abuzz about larger screen sizes, the TinyScreen is here to show customers just how adaptable a miniscule display can be in a world overrun by massive screens.

Led by Maker Ken Burns, TinyCircuits has successfully launched and funded its TinyScreen on Kickstarter. To say the immediate response was a positive one would surely be an understatement, as the device well exceeded its original $15,000 goal. (Garnered over $128,000!)

Generally speaking, form factor will dictate just the overall size of your project, and for those looking small, the thumb-size TinyScreen is certainly a go-to choice. In fact, there are a wide-range of uses for TinyScreen, ranging from DIY wearables like smart watches and glasses to gaming screens and joystick RC controls.

The screen itself is only 1.02″ x 0.98″, with a 0.96” viewable area that features 96×64 OLED display and 16-bit color depth. The device is built to be customized and programmed by the clever user base, both novice and expert. The team champions its one-click ability to download new programs and run them with little interuption. Even better, the TinyScreen comes with some incredibly useful programs, such as a clock display, already loaded onto the unit out of the box.

Customization is made possible thanks to the Atmel ATmega328P powered TinyDuino platform — also developed by the TinyCircuits team. According to its creators, TinyDuino is essentially a full-blown Arduino shrunk down to the size of a quarter, which not only is equipped with the same processor as the incredibly popular Arduino Uno but now includes an onboard Lithium battery charger and battery connector. “All of the shield signals are supported, so all of your existing Arduino sketches will work as is,” a company rep writes.

The TinyShields allow for unprecedented adaptability for these microscopic machines. “The platform is comprised of a TinyDuino processor board and multiple TinyShields which add special functions, like sensors, communications and display options,” the TinyCircuits team notes.

At the moment, there are over 25 TinyShields with more coming out every month — these are sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, 9-Axis IMU, ambient light sensor), output boards (motor drivers, audio output, displays), storage (SRAM, EEPROM, microSD card), communication (USB, Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, WiFi, 433MHz,802.15.4, Ethernet) and breakout boards to connect to external sensors and circuitry.

Recent shields released by the company comprise of a USB connector, a joystick as well as a Bluetooth LE transmitter. Good news Makers! TinyCircuits has also included 3D-printed watch enclosures which are readily available for those looking to download and print themselves.

TinyCircuits is currently seeking funding to expand production of the TinyScreen and have recognized that there may be an issue procuring enough OLED screens to meet customer demand. For more information about the TinyScreen or the TinyDuino platform, head over to the TinyCircuits home page or its recently-funded Kickstarter page here.