Sam Kass and Karen Bryla knew each other too well to keep playing traditional games of rock, paper, scissors. As a result, the duo devised a geeky adaption to satisfy their needs for competition and amuse their inner sci-fi fanatic.
Unknowingly though, their game would be referenced on the CBS hit show The Big Bang Theory! After learning of the game, Maker Paul Swider put together his own visual representation of rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock using an Arduino-based schematic.
Swider’s device utilizes an Anarduino kit along with an Arduino Uno (ATmega328) to allow for various programmed win conditions to occur. The user inputs their choice for the game with a button press, and the computer AI counters with a graphically displayed decision. The various graphical representations are shown upon an 8 x 8 Matrix LED.
Now, let’s watch Sheldon explain the rules of the game for us…
Our friends over at Adafruit have alerted us to another spectacular collaboration between the fashion and technology communities.
Gerard Rubio (who you may recognize from his OpenKnit project) and his team have developed a live show entitled “The Wearable Fashion Orchestra,” which can best be described as a musical composition through contemporary dance choreography and fashion.
Each garment is outfitted with a Wi-Fi mesh that enables a computer to create synthesized sounds in real-time. While the stretch costumes come straight from the high fashion world, the tech realm is well-represented in this orchestra by an Arduino Fio (ATmega328P), which handles the Xbee communication thereby facilitating the wireless data transmission between the dancers and the corresponding computer systems.
“We wanted the expand the capabilities of this idea in a catwalk, so we thought instead of having one instrument, have an entire band that would play music with the movement of their body; the fashion collection would be the instruments. We didn’t win the call, but we just couldn’t keep that idea on a paper. We wanted cool moves, so we combined all this with a contemporary dance company,” Rubio explained.
While have featured a few other high-fashion wearable designs in the past, this entire production takes it to a whole new level. The coalescing of two extremely creative spheres has allowed this project to be demonstrated to countless individuals, who otherwise may not have ever encountered the materials.
Who needs joysticks when you can control a robot with a flick of your wrist? A Maker going by the name “electro18” has merged his passions for both electronics and robotics to create a gesture-controlled rover.
Using an AtmelATmega328P-based design, electro18 has developed a roving robot that can be maneuvered by simple hand movements. The Maker has appropriately dubbed this creation, Project Titan.
The robot itself is made of a 4mm acrylic platform and two motors. Additional acrylic strips are fixed to the edges of the design to add support. The rover also features a temperature sensor that can relay information back to an LCD information screen on the control glove.
In addition, the Maker installed an Android phone onto the rover to allow for a first person camera view to be transmitted back to the controller. He also included an ultrasonic sensor so that the unit can be aware of the objects around it.
The control glove’s main components are an accelerometer to read movement and an LCD screen to display information. Upon completion, hand movements can control the robot, relay data to an LCD screen, and even operate the vehicle on a 45-degree angle.
Michael Tedeschi originally created the ChainDuino after realizing that he wished it were simpler to connect multiple Arduino Uno (ATmega328p) boards with readily available Cat5 cable. To get the ChainDuino idea off the ground, he set a crowdfunding goal of $2,500, which has well exceeded by raising over $8,800 to date.
According to its site, the ChainDuino is a daisy-chainable, Arduino-compatible development board that enables Makers to easily connect multiple boards together with standard Cat5 cable. The boards communicate using built-in RS-485 circuitry, and share power using passive PoE+ over the same Cat5 cable. Tedeschi’s design operates on an open source platform and allow news boards to be added to the chain simply by programming them with the Arduino IDE and plugging them in.
Tedeschi was fascinated with the idea of using an Atmel-basedArduino to monitor data from multiple locations simultaneously. “I needed a simple way to connect microcontrollers together to focus on the functions of each node, instead of wasting time solving how to connect the nodes to each other.”
Some have questioned why Tedeschi did not adopt wireless technology for the ChainDuino project, but he explains, “While I do find wireless gadgets fascinating, I have always been more of a hardwired fan when it comes to permanent installations.” He reveals he is also a proponent of powering remote devices over Cat5, also known as Power over Ethernet, or PoE.
Tedeschi has found that up to 25 boards can be linked using his system and has successfully tested the unit at a mammoth length of over 1,600 feet!
Upon reaching his funding goal, the Maker will first and foremost be using the money to fill Kickstarter backer’s orders of the ChainDuino. He will then look to begin developing an enclosure and further prototypes. He also has thoughts of adapting his design to work with either an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) or an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega168).
The board layout is loosely based on the Arduino Uno (without the USB):
This project just quacks us up! Earlier this year at Maker Faire North Carolina, we had the chance to see Maker Raptor_Demon’s Arduino-compatible bathtub unit billed as the “Duckymeter.”
In what appears to be just your average rubber ducky, this contraption actually eases a parent’s stress when it comes to temperature, overflow or bubbles when drawing a bath for a child. The automated Duckymeter handles each of these tasks in a much more fun, safer manner while providing a happy bath for your little one!
The main controller box — which is built around an ATmega328P MCU — monitors incoming water temperature, tub temperature and the amount of time the faucet has been running. As long as pressure on the faucet is constant, the device automatically shuts off when it has been activated for selected period of time.
Also powered by ATmega328P MCU and Arduino bootloader, the charming Duckymeter serves as a remote sensor for inside the bathtub by transmitting the temperature each second back to the main unit, which is then displayed on an easy-to-read LCD. Essentially, the little duck patrols the bathtub to assure the bath experience is as relaxing (or enjoyable) as can be!
Included in this build is a hacked soap dispenser, which releases bubble bath into the water. Using an IR sensor and a photoresistor, the Maker created a system that when a beam is broken by a hand wave, bubble bath is poured directly into the water.
HackADay’s Brian Benchoff was lucky enough to catch up with Josh and asked him to break down how the nifty device works.
“If you need to add security to your project or you want to learn more about embedded security the CryptoCape adds encryption and authentication options,” the Maker added.
As its webpage notes, the CryptoCape functions as the BeagleBone’s first dedicated security daughterboard. Known as a BeagleBone Cape, the device attaches to the expansion headers of the BeagleBone and “adds specialized ICs that perform various cryptographic operations which will allow you to add a hardware security layer to your BeagleBone project.”
Previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the CyrptoCape is packed with hardware, including 256k EEPROM with a defaulted I2C address (plus write protection), a real-time clock (RTC) module, a trusted platform module (TPM) for RSA encryption/decryption, an AES-128 encrypted EEPROM, an Atmel ATSHA204 authentication chip that performs SHA-256 and HMAC-25 and an Atmel ATECC108 that performs the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA).
The reasoning behind the developer’s choice to use the SHA-256 Authenticator? “It creates 256-bit keys that can be used in keyed Message Authentication Codes (MACs), or HMAC, to prove the authenticity of the device.” In addition, the authenticator allows the device to “implement an anti-counterfeiting system with the exchange of nonces and MACs between other embedded devices.”
If you are interested in boosting the security of your Maker project or learning more about the CryptoCape, you can head to the product’s official SparkFun page here.
According to Paul Huang, Display Product Line Manager at FTDI Chip, the VM800 family offers engineers a comprehensive platform to implement more effective human machine interfaces (HMIs) with display, audio and touch elements, as well as data processing aspects.
“These units can be programmed via the Arduino IDE (using a pre-programmed Arduino-compatible bootloader), thereby taking advantage of the popularity that this open source development ecosystem now has amongst the global electronic engineering community,” Huang explained.
“With comprehensive support for various Arduino libraries provided, every VM800P incorporates an FTDI Chip FT800 EVE graphic controller IC and its FT232R USB interface IC, as well as an ATmega328P 8-bit RISC-based microcontroller (running at 16MHz).”
Additional key specs include:
Touch-enabled display LCD panel
Backlight LED driver
Audio power amplifier + micro speaker
3.5-inch, 4.3-inch or 5.0-inch display form factor
USB serial port for firmware upload and app comms
Battery-backed real time clock (RTC)
Micro-SD socket + 4GByte SD card with pre-loaded sample apps
Runs off a standard 5V via micro-USB cable or direct external supply
“[The] PLUS boards are complete stand-alone display sub- systems based on Arduino with all the attributes necessary to create game- changing HMIs – from the initial conception phase right through to final deployment,” Huang added.
“They can be utilized solely for development purposes or alternatively they will be easy for engineering teams to integrate into end product designs if this is preferred.”
“I’ve always loved watches; not only are they aesthetic and beautiful, but they are functional, precise and useful. An elegant fusion between engineering and art; two normally opposed perspectives, now joined in harmonic unison,” N.fletch explained in a recent Instructables post.
“However, all technologies like the dial-up internet, the CVT monitor and the abacus, inevitably will become relics of our past with the advent of advancing technology and have since become less pragmatic for the typical person to own. Unlike these archaic technologies, the wrist watch still thrives on the wrists of many, standing forever as a testament to one of mankind’s greatest inventions: the measurement of time.”
Aside from Atmel’s ATmega328P, key ChronosMEGA specs include binary time encoding (via 10 Blue 1206 LEDs), a slew of buttons to control time, sleep mode and display, a 32.768kHz external crystal and an 8MHz internal clock source.
Additional key features?
Micro-USB and charge management controller (for 400mAh Li-ion battery)
Draws 4uA in its Deep Sleep mode to last up to 11 years on a single charge
Battery indicator 0603 LED
Boost TI switching regulator for power regulation
Low loss PowerPath controller IC for power source selection
Total form factor of 10mm x 40mm x 53mm
Custom 3D designed case cast in pure polished silver
Genuine crocodile leather watch band
As you can see in the videos above, the layout of the watch configured in a circular array of 10 LEDs. Four of the LEDs account for hours, while six of the LEDs account for minutes.
“The LEDs count in binary to display the time on the watch face. By utilizing a combination of the 10 LEDs, the watch can display any possible time accurate to the minute,” N.fletch continued.
“This is a very clean and elegant way to display time. I also really like this technique because of its esoteric and mysterious nature.”
In terms of the MCU, the ATmega328P is wired in a straight-forward manner, connected to power and ground, with a pull up resistor on the RESET pin. Essentially, the AVR is tasked with driving all the LEDs from its GPIO, although one of the MCU’s AVR’s ADC pin is connected to the battery to detect the voltage level. As such, the watch is equipped with a small red status LED to indicate when battery power is low.
“The AVR has a 32.768 kHz crystal wired to its XTAL pins. It uses the 32.768 kHz crystal to drive its Timer2 module asynchronously for counting the seconds, [while] its internal 1MHz RC clock drives the SW,” N.fletch added.
“32.768 kHz is a very common frequency to drive Real Time Clock (RTC) systems because 32,768 in decimal is equal to 8000 in hex. Therefore, 32,768 can be evenly divided by multiple powers of 2 including 1024. Dividing 32,768 by 1024 yields 32, so configuring the timer to count to 32 with a 1024 pre-scaler will equal an exact second.”
“[The] workout shirt utilizes the MP3 player and an accelerometer to detect whether or not the wearer is moving. If so, it plays his or her music. The goal of the system is to promote an active lifestyle for wearers,” BBrodsky wrote in a recent Instructables post.
“The price of our system ranges between $60 and $100 based on parts used, the cost of the shirt, etc. It is affordable, easy to understand and create and will help promote healthiness and physical activity in society.”
Aside from the LilyPad MP3 player, key project components include:
LilyPad accelerometer
RGB rotary encoder
3.7V Lipo (lithium ion) battery
Micro SD card
Headphones or speakers
Conductive thread and a sewing needle
Soldering iron
Solder coil
Alligator clips (for testing the circuitry before sewing)
Rainbow LEDs (optional)
Vibration board (optional)
Button (optional)
On/off switch (optional)
Extra fabric and card stock (optional)
BBrodsky kicks off his Instructables by providing a brief overview of the MP3-equipped workout shirt.
“[The] system uses the accelerometer to sense motion, communicating the detected motion (or lack thereof) to the MP3 player. The MP3 player then runs the corresponding functions based on the values it receives from the accelerometer. The RGB rotary encoder is used as a visual that displays different colors (blue or green) based on what function is being executed,” he explained.
“Once the system is completed and integrated with the shirt, the device should be ready to use. Keeping the device plugged in using via USB to a laptop is useful, as the serial monitor can be used to visualize the processes that the system is running. The headphone jack can also be used to plug in speakers so that the music can be played out loud.”
Developed by Simon Que, DuinoCube is described as a portable platform that allows Makers and gamers to develop their own retro titles using the popular open-source Arduino environment.
Essentially, DuinoCube comprises two shields: GFX (audio and graphics) and the Atmel-based UI (file system, extra memory, on-board controller chip). Currently, DuinoCube is compatible with the Arduino Uno, Mega and Esplora.
“When you combine a GFX shield and UI shield with an Arduino board, you get a DuinoCube. The UI Shield goes on top of the Arduino and the GFX Shield goes on top of the UI Shield,” Que explained in a recent Kickstarter post.
“With DuinoCube, your Arduino becomes a retro gaming system with the capabilities of classic game systems like the SNES and Gameboy Advance. DuinoCube is highly portable so you can show your friends the games you’ve made.”
18-bit color in four palettes, each with 256 colors.
Hardware scrolling.
Hardware collision detection.
Stereo audio output.
MicroSD card file system.
USB gamepad support.
Powered by Atmel’s ATmega328P microcontroller, the UI shield for the Uno/Mega is equipped with an SD card, extra RAM, USB host and controller chip.
Similarly, the UI shield for the Esplora features Atmel’s ATmega328P, SD card, extra RAM, controller chip and Uno-style headers.
“The UI Shields can [also] be used as a generic file system, or as a USB host controller for the Arduino Uno/Mega version,” Que confirmed. “[Plus], the GFX Shield can be used as a generic FPGA shield [by] reprogramming the FPGA with an Altera USB Blaster cable.”
