Tag Archives: ATmega32U4

Building an RFID cat tracker with Arduino and Zymbit


Keep tabs on those tabbies with this Arduino-based RFID monitoring system.


Getting a cat to use their litter box can sometimes be a daunting task, especially for pet owners like Maker T.J. Reed’s sister who owns more than one feline. In this case, vets typically suggest designating one litter box for each cat to “give them their own territory.” For many, this seems to be a suitable solution. For Reed’s sister, that wasn’t the case. Unfortunately, at least one of the cats continued to use various parts of the house as its bathroom.

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In an effort to curb this problem, the Maker devised an RFID cat tracker that would help monitor the activity of the three boxes and determine which of the cats was causing a territorial issue by using them all.

The so-called CatFlap devices also allowed Reed to see which cats are inside the house — all from 200 miles away at his desk. Being that the litter boxes are in the garage, there’s always a chance that a cat will run out when the garage door is open. Since they live in a coyote-heavy area, this can cause some concern. By using an indicator, like a Philips Hue lightbulb, the Maker will be able to use the cats’ location-based data to assign each one a color, so that his sister could see if it was safe to open the door.

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In order to make this project work, Reed used three Arduino Yún (ATmega32U4), a SparkFun RFID evaluation shield, an RFID module, and a phototransistor, along with a Philips Hue starter kit. The Arduino code was written using the Arduino IDE, while the Maker employed the Zymbit Pub/Sub code to enable the system to interact with the cloud.

“The evaluation board uses pins 7 and 8 on the Yun to communicate with the RFID chip serially. Serial RX wouldn’t work over pin 7, so I used jumpers to do my communication over pin 10 and 11. I tried using a Leonardo to see if it was a Yun-specific issue, then I found documentation suggesting to not use triggers on pin 7,” he writes.

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Zymbit was developed to serve as an end-to-end, open-source platform that would enable Makers, engineers and developers to transform their ideas into real-world, connected products in blistering speed. On the hardware side, the solution gives users the ability to transition their Arduino or Raspberry Pi proof-of-concept to a professional-grade item using its modular Atmel | SMART-basedATECC108-protected devices. What’s more, the team has designed remote management software that will let users easily connect and control their gadget from anywhere, both securely and transparently — as demonstrated with CatFlap.

While the initial prototype was a success, Reed hopes to build his own antennae to reduce the obstacles in the litter boxes’ pathways and to set up Twitter accounts for each pet that will detect and properly point out the culprit cat.

Intrigued? Head over to the project’s official page here.

PLEN2 is the world’s first printable, open-source robot


Say hello to your new robotic sidekick. 


R2-D2. GERTY 3000. Marvin. K-9. Jinx. These are just a few of the most well-known robotic sidekicks that super geeks like us have come to love over the years. Soon, PLEN2 may join the ranks of these memorable sci-fi characters, with the only difference being actual use in the real world. Whether you’ve ever wanted someone to go to class in your place, to break the ice with an attractive girl at the bar, or to fetch your morning cup ‘o joe, you’re in luck.

Launched on Kickstarter by Japan-based PLEN Project Committee, the 3D-printable, humanoid robotic kit consists of a control board, servo motors and other electronic accessories that allow Makers of all levels to put together themselves. What’s more, you don’t need any technical knowledge or special tools in order to bring your open-source PLEN2 to life.

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3D data for the main components of the robot are provided free of charge, and with the help of a 3D printer, users can customize the data as well as make their own original parts. Upon completion, the easy-to-manuever and highly-agile humanoid stands approximately 7.87” tall, weighs just over 21 ounces and boasts 18 degrees of freedom. Designed to mirror its human counterpart, PLEN2 aspires to revolutionize the relationship between homo and robo sapiens. To help spur this adoption, the project’s creators have made its kit super simple to assemble, personalize, and of course, use.

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The robot’s command center is built around an Arduino Micro (ATmega32U4), and by employing some open-source software, can be programmed to meet any Maker’s wants and needs. PLEN2 is equipped with 24 RC servo motors, 1Mb of on-board EEPROM and an RS-485 communication port in both its control and head board. The head unit also comes standard with a BLE113 Bluetooth Smart module and a six-axis motion sensor, while PWM will drive the LEDs that PLEN2 uses for eyes.

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Gadget-lovers can take pleasure in knowing that each PLEN2 can be customized not only in color and design, but in the way that it is controlled as well — this includes by iOS or Android smartphone, facial expression, gestures, myoelectrics and brainwaves, among countless other input methods.

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Not only for leisure activities, the humanoid can play an integral role in both educational and medical settings. A wide-range of uses cases include communicating with others in your place, carrying small items around, throwing a pickup game of humanoid soccer, as well as improving medical rehabilitation. What’s more, it can help entice children to pursue STEM disciplines and enable them to experience the joy of making things themselves.

As to whether this project takes off, or if you decide on programming a PLEN2 of your own, one thing is certain: Its theme song will get stuck in your head. Consider yourself warned…

…We told you so. Interested in learning more? Head over to its official Kickstarter page, where its team is currently seeking $40,000. If all goes to plan, you can have can have a PLEN2 alongside of you come November 2015.

25 dev boards to help you get started on your next IoT project


A closer look at some of today’s most popular development boards to help you get started on your next IoT design.


With billions of everyday objects expected to become Internet-enabled over the next couple of years, Makers are continually seeking new ways to add connectivity to their designs. As a result, hobbyists and engineers are turning to a wide range of IoT development boards and platforms to better accelerate and ease the process.

Being at the heart of the IoT and all, we’ve decided to compile a list of just some of today’s most popular, Atmel powered ones that will surely help as you embark on your next prototype or project. (Keep in mind, there are countless others, with new ones popping up on the daily!)

SAM R21 Xplained Pro

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The Atmel | SMART SAM R21 Xplained Pro is a hardware platform to evaluate the ATSAMR21G18A microcontroller. Supported by the Atmel Studio integrated development platform, the kit provides easy access to the features of the Atmel ATSAMR21G18A and explains how to integrate the device in a custom design. The Xplained Pro MCU series evaluation kits include an on-board Embedded Debugger, and no external tools are necessary to program or debug the ATSAMR21G18A. A great option for those developing an 802.15.4/ZigBee design.

Arduino Uno

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The Arduino Uno R3 is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328. It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which six can be used as PWM outputs), six analog inputs, a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. Simply connect it to a computer via a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started.

Arduino Yún

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The Arduino Yún is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega32U4 and the Atheros AR9331. The board comes with built-in Ethernet and Wi-Fi support, along with a USB-A port, microSD card slot, 20 digital input/output pins (of which seven can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a micro USB connection, an ICSP header, and three reset buttons. What’s more, Facebook’s Parse recently unveiled a new line of SDKs for connected devices with the first Arduino SDK targeted for the Yún.

Arduino Pro Mini

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Intended for semi-permanent installation in connected objects, the Arduino Pro Mini is based on the ATmega328. The board boasts 14 digital input/output pins (of which six can be used as PWM outputs), six analog inputs, an on-board resonator, a reset button, and holes for mounting pin headers. A six-pin header can be connected to an FTDI cable or Sparkfun breakout board to provide USB power and communications.

Arduino Nano

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The Arduino Nano is a small, breadboard-friendly board based on the ATmega328. The microcontroller has more or less the same functionality of the Arduino Duemilanove, but in a different package. It lacks a DC power jack, and works with a Mini-B USB cable instead of a standard one.

Pinoccio

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With an Atmel ATmega256RFR2 at its core, Pinoccio is a wireless, web-ready MCU packed with Wi-Fi, LiPo battery and a built-in radio. Each unit can communicate with one another using a mesh network, making them 14 times more efficient than standard Wi-Fi devices.

TinyDuino

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The TinyCircuits TinyDuino is an Arduino-compatible, ATmega328P based board in an ultra-compact package that provides Makers with the full power of an Uno in a size that’s less than a quarter.

UDOO

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UDOO is a multi-development platform solution for Android, Linux, Arduino and Google ADK 2012. The board, which is built upon an ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and Atmel | SMART SAM3X8E ARM Cortex-M3 CPU, is designed to provide a flexible environment that lets Makers explore the new frontiers of the Internet of Things and switch between Linux and Android in a matter of seconds, simply by replacing the MicroSD card and rebooting the system.

Libelium Waspmote

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Waspmote is an open-source, ATmega1281 based wireless sensor platform specially focused on the implementation of low consumption modes to enable the sensor nodes to be completely autonomous and battery powered, offering a variable lifetime between one and five years depending on the duty cycle and the radio used.

The AirBoard

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The AirBoard is a thumb-sized, all-in-one MCU designed for ultra-fast prototyping on IoT projects. The open-source board is equipped with an ATmega328P and pre-loaded with the standard Arduino Fio bootloader. The wireless-friendly computer supports automatic over-the-air programming via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or XBee, and can be controlled by smartphone or the web.

Tessel 2

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Tessel 2 is an affordable, accessible and robust development platform that lets Makers build connected hardware devices. The board packs built-in Wi-Fi, an Ethernet jack, a pair of USB ports, and a system that runs real Node.js/io.js. Meanwhile, it employs a processor/coprocessor architecture, combining an Atmel | SMART SAM D21 Cortex M0+ MCU to control I/O and a Mediatek MT7260n Wi-Fi router SoC to run user code, host USB devices and handle the network connections.

panStamps

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panStamps are small wireless modules programmable within the Arduino IDE. Each module contains an Atmega328P MCU and an RF interface, providing the necessary connectivity and processing power to create autonomous low-power wireless motes.

Flutter

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Flutter is a $36 wireless Arduino with a half-mile range that lets users develop mesh networking protocols and connected devices in an efficient yet inexpensive manner. It’s perfect for robotics, consumer electronics, wireless sensor networks, and educational platforms. Flutter is packed with a powerful Atmel | SMART SAM3S Cortex-M3 processor, while an ATSHA204 crypto engine keeps it protected from digital intruders.

SODAQ

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SODAQ is a LEGO-like rapid prototyping board driven by an ATmega328P that gives Makers and engineers the ability to easily connect a wide variety of sensors and devices to the Internet efficiently. With its solar powered data acquisition technology, data can be collected virtually anywhere and seamlessly transferred to the web.

IMUduino BTLE

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Billed as the smallest Arduino Leonardo compatible clone, the IMUduino includes an ATmega32U4 at its core, as well as USB keyboard/mouse emulation, on-board Bluetooth LE, real-time orientation and motion sensing IMU, as well as a 10V max voltage regulator.

SparkFun RedBoard

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The SparkFun RedBoard combines the simplicity of the Arduino Uno’s Optiboot bootloader, the stability of the FTDI and the R3 shield compatibility of the latest Arduino Uno. The ATmega328 based board can be programmed over a USB Mini-B cable using the Arduino IDE.

XinoRF

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The XinoRF is an Arduino-compatible electronics development board with an onboard 2-way Ciseco SRF data radio, which supports over-the-air programming, features built-in wireless capabilities and is powered by an ATmega328P.

The Rascal

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The Rascal is a small, AT91SAM9G20 powered computer that Makers can use to monitor and control their connected world remotely. In addition, it features its own web-based editor on-board, is compatible with most Arduino shields, and can be programmed in Python.

Microduino

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Microduino is a quarter-sized Arduino-like board with an ATmega328P at its heart. With a unique UPin-27 pinout, Microduino’s plug-and-play modules can be easily stacked together to add functionalities.

Nanode

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Nanode is an open-source, Arduino-like board that is equipped with built-in Internet connectivity and based on an ATmega328P. The low-cost, upgradeable board is ideal for those looking to bring their IoT ideas to life.

OpenKontrol Gateway

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The OpenKontrol Gateway is an ATmega328 driven kit that enables communication between many common mediums and protocols. It is totally compatable with the Arduino IDE and supports Wi-Fi, low-power RF, Ethernet and Bluetooth. Beyond that, it can be configured with on-board SRAM, an SD card, a real-time clock, and a coin-cell battery and sports an FTDI programming port.

Arietta G25

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Arietta G25 is an uber-mini system-on-module powered by a SAM9G25 ARM9 processor. The 20mm x 50mm board, which was developed with the Maker community in mind, is ideal for low-power, embedded gadgets and other DIY IoT devices.

WIOT

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WIOT is an open-source, rechargeable development board for the Internet of Things built around the ATmega32U4. WIOT also boasts integrated Wi-Fi capabilities through an on-board ESP8266 module.

SmartEverything

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SmartEverything is a dev board equipped with sensor options, communication interfaces and connection to the cloud for IoT designs. An Atmel | SMART ARM Cortex-M0+ based CPU USB host orchestrator chip manages traffic between peripherals, while an Atmel CryptoAuthentication device (ATSHA204) enables the implementation of a full security SHA-256 hash algorithm with message authentication code. The board utilizes the SIGFOX global network cellular connectivity solution to enable access to the IoT.

Apio

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Apio is an open-source IoT platform, which lets Makers and designers create their own smart systems and connected objects in a matter of minutes. It is comprised of two USB devices, the General and Dongle, both of which are based on an ATmega256RFR2 and ATmega16U2, along with a custom operating system and SDK.

LightBlue Bean

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The LightBlue Bean is a Bluetooth Low Energy, Arduino-compatible microcontroller. Using Bluetooth 4.0, it is wirelessly programmed, runs on a coin cell battery and is perfect for smartphone-controlled projects. Powered by an ATmega328P, the board features a three-axis accelerometer, a temperature sensor, an RGB LED, and includes iOS, OS X and Windows 8 support.

These Arduino-based outfits flash to the beat of music


Created by a team of Cornell students, these smart garments have the front page of Adafruit written all over them.


Smart garments are one of the wearables that Gartner has billed as having the greatest potential for growth. A testament to the limitless possibilities of that space is a recent project by a group of undergrads from Cornell University. The students have created a set of embedded outfits with vivid, luminescent panels that can pulse to the beat of music.

(Source: Cornell Chronicle)

(Source: Cornell Chronicle)

“This collection is inspired by the future – and present – of wearable technology being more and more integrated into fashion and daily life,” explains co-creator Eric Beaudette. “These garments depict our vision of fashion of the future, having increased function and compatibility with devices, such as smartphones.”

Surely, anyone wearing these fabricated pieces would turn some heads with its optical fiber cloth illuminated by controllable RGB LEDs and strips of electroluminescent tape. An Arduino (which we assume would be an ATmega32U4 based LilyPad) sewn into each garment enables the lights to accurately brighten to the tunes.

(Source: Cornell Chronicle)

(Source: Cornell Chronicle)

The team noted that maintaining harmony between the materials, technologies and construction can be difficult task. “Garments with circuitry and other technologies add layers of complexity, especially since these technologies were not originally designed for use with clothing.”

Trade Pokémon over the Internet


Game Boy-to-Game Boy trading is so 1998.


If you had a Game Boy and you grew up in the ‘90s, there’s a very good chance you’ve played either Pokémon Red or Blue at some point. And, you weren’t alone. Shortly after its release in Japan back in 1996, the games made their debut in North America. By 1998, the total combined sales of Red and Blue versions in the United States alone had been 9.85 million. So, whether you’re still an avid player or simply have that occasional urge to drum up some nostalgia, one Maker has developed a clever mechanism that will bring the pop culture classic into the web-enabled era.

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Back in the day, players could only trade their characters like Gastly, Abra, Geodude, Arbok, Machop and Sandshrew one of two ways: either Game Boy-to-Game Boy via a link cable, or later on, cartridge-to-Pokémon Stadium via a Transfer Pak. Now, Pepijn de Vos (yes, the same guy who built an Arduino-based project that lets you catch ‘em all by yourself) has introduced a new way for users to exchange their Pokémon right over the Internet, allowing Haunter, Machoke, Graveler and Kadabra to evolve.

Based on the Maker’s previous storage system, this device brings a Game Boy (including Pocket, Color and Advance) online via a Teensy shield. The gaming console is connected to a pair of Teensy boards (ATmega32U4) that link up to two computer networks, both running TCPoke software that allows for users to trade Pokemon over a WebRTC connection.

Ready to catch and trade ‘em all? You can find project details and necessary codes on the project’s Wiki here. Meanwhile, be sure to watch it in action below.

Arachnio is an open-source Arduino variant with Wi-Fi


Arachnio takes a breadboarded mess and turns it into an Arduino Micro-sized board.


Designed by Logos Electromechanical, Arachnio is an affordable, open-source Arduino variant with integrated Wi-Fi capabilities.

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Based on an ATmega32U4, the board features an ESP8266EX Wi-Fi module with an integrated antenna. Both Arachnio’s hardware and software are entirely Arduino-compatible, thereby making it easy to get a connected device up and running. The Arachnio uses the same pinout as the Arduino Micro and has more than twice as many GPIO pins available on any ESP8266 module. Beyond that, its accompanying libraries enable the board to join an existing Wi-Fi access point or allow Makers to create their own local access point super quickly.

Despite its compact size (which measures only 50mm x 18mm and weighs less than 10 grams), Arachnio still packs quite a punch and is rugged enough to be installed just about anywhere. The board also draws minimal power. According to its creators, current consumption is below 50 microamps on a single Li-Po cell in deep sleep with the power LED removed.

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Ideal for building sensor networks, Arachnio works extremely well with solar power and is designed to support nearly every Wi-Fi device, including your home network. To help bring your wildest Internet of Things ideas to life, the team has unveiled a pair of expansion boards: the Arachnode and the ArachnoProto.

First, the Arachnode integrates a solar Li-Po battery charger, a real-time clock, a microSD card, and an optional Atmel CryptoAuthentication module in order to provide a platform for building these inexpensive webs of Arachnios for remote sensing, among countless other applications.

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Secondly, as its name would suggest, the ArachnoProto is prototyping expansion board for the Arachnio packed with a reset button, a general purpose button, two LEDs, and an ICSP header for programming the ATmega32U4.

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All together, Arachnio is an incredibly versatile solution, suitable for an assortment of IoT uses — ranging from distributed LED lighting and home automation systems to deployable sensors and remote-controlled robots. Moving forward, the team is looking to improve its libraries and documentation, add new expansion boards and even develop APIs that will give users new ways to devise remote controls on their smartphones or tablets.

Interested? Hurry over to its official Kickstarter page, where the Logos Electromechanical team is currently seeking $20,000. If all goes to plan, shipment to backers is expected to begin in August 2015.

Arduino powers this DIY pet feeder


This automated system helps take care of your pet while you’re away.


For those of you with pets, you’ve all been there: Your bags are packed, you’re all set to head out on a weekend getaway, and then suddenly, your petsitter bails. Or, much more likely, your vacation is planned yet there’s no one around to care for Fido while away. Whichever the case, you’re in luck thanks to a new DIY project designed by Maker and cat lover “prnet:” the Croccolino Feeder

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As its name would suggest, the device is an automated system that is capable of feeding a pet when an owner is outside of the house for an extended period of time. The contraption can be programmed to facilitate eight scheduled feedings (enough for a long weekend), choose a serving size for each meal, as well as maintain a constant water level.

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The project is based on an Arduino Yún (ATmega32U4), which with some coding, enables the device to be connected to Wi-Fi and controlled via the Internet. The feeder features an audio/recording module that lets users record their voice and call a pet when it’s time to eat. This sound, of course, is emitted through an amplified speaker. What’s more, a series of micro-buttons allow a user to adjust the time and select scheduling, while a functional display reveals current food and water levels.

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In order to bring this idea to life, the Maker employed several other components including an internal clock, a microSD card to store the information, a pair of recycled scales, a weight sensor module, a 5V relay module, a 9V stepper motor and driver, a mini water pump, an amplifier module, and some spare cables.

In the future, prnet hopes to include a webcam and a soft ball launcher as well, which would make the Crocolino Feeder an all-on-one petsitting system. Have a furry friend at home? You can get started on one of your own by checking out its official Instructables page here.

ErgoDox EZ is a pre-assembled, open-source mechanical keyboard


Finally, everyone can have a beautiful split keyboard with mechanical keys.


Are you looking for the ultimate ergonomic keyboard without the hassle of building or customizing it yourself? You’re in luck. That’s because a trio of Rockville, Maryland-based keyboard enthusiasts have teamed up to launch what they’re calling the ErgoDox EZ project.

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The device — which recently made its Indiegogo debut — is based on the official ErgoDox design. However, instead of having to piece together 160 different components, these keyboards will ship as a mass-produced, pre-assembled product that anyone can buy. What’s more, it’ll also come with a factory warranty. For those unfamiliar with the office accessory, the ErgoDox is an ergonomic keyboard that is divided into two halves with a columnar layout. This style of keypad has risen in popularity over the last couple of months, particularly throughout the online gaming scene.

Based on a Teensy 2.0 microcontroller (ATmega32U4), ErgoDox is 100% open-source, meaning users can customize it to their liking. Massdrop, the innovative startup behind the original ErgoDox kits, has an online graphical configuration utility that enables users to easily create their own layout and share with the DIY community. Crafted with portability in mind, the device comes with both a standard cable and a USB jack, too.

“Right now, you can choose between two main kinds of assembled mechanical keyboards: You have the compact “retro” ones like the Happy Hacking keyboard, or the large ergonomic ones like the Kinesis Advantage. The ErgoDox is a mechanical keyboard design that is both compact and ergonomic,” its creators explain.

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Undoubtedly, one of the most important aspects of any mechanical keyboard is the key switches. While the ErgoDox EZ is equipped with Cherry MX Brown switches by default, users can choose between six different types, each with varying noise levels, type experiences and actuation forces.

“Each key on a mechanical keyboard hides an actual physical switch under it, rather than a squishy rubber membrane like on most keyboards. Typing on a mechanical keyboard is a very different experience from typing on a regular one. The keys have more travel, and everything is more tactile. Mechanical keyboards have their own unique sound, and you don’t have to press the keys all the way down to get a reaction, which makes typing easier on the fingers.”

Prior to the EZ, those seeking an ErgoDox would have to obtain a kit and then hand-solder its components together before having a fully-functional keyboard. Fortunately, those wishing to forgo the daunting task, or those simply looking for a much more expedited experience, can now purchase one out-of-the-box ready. ErgoDox EZ is currently live on Indiegogo, where its team is seeking $50,000. If all goes well, shipment is expected to begin December 2015 — just in time for the holidays!

Keep tabs on your coinage with this littleBits connected bank


Just a ‘littleBit’ of saving can go a long way!


As part of a future lab course at Parsons The New School for Design, a group of Makers have created an Internet-connected container — which they have ‘coined’ Smart Bank — that uses an Arduino and cloudBit module to remotely keep tabs on the total amount of money deposited.

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How it works is pretty simple. When a quarter is inserted into the bank, a flex sensor will bend, sending an input signal into the Arduino (ATmega32U4). On the output side of the Arduino, the Number module (ATmega168) instantly increments, the speaker begins to emit a “big bong” tune, and the cloudBit is activated. Through an IFTTT.com recipe, a line is added to a spreadsheet in Google Drive, wile a few formulas within the sheet tally how many line items have been added and multiply that number by 0.25 to derive at a total.

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Much cooler than that old-school piggy bank, don’t you think? Want to make one of your own? Get started by heading to littleBits’ official project page here, and seeing it in action below.

Twitter Mood Lamp visualizes the mood of Denver


This 3D-printed, Arduino-powered lamp changes colors to match the mood of Denver. 


Many people consider New York to be a busy metropolis filled with irritable and angry people. On the other hard, others find Los Angeles to be more laid-back. New Orleans, well several folks would say it’s rather festive and jovial. However, the mood of a place like Denver, Colorado is a bit harder to classify. That’s why Maker Chadwick Friedman has created a 3D-printed Twitter Mood Lamp that, as its name would imply, changes colors to match the attitude of the city.

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Inspired by those mood rings from the ’70, Friedman decided to build a lamp that would actively respond to Twitter trends. The project itself is controlled by an Arduino Yún (ATmega32U4), which causes the device to emit either red, green, or blue based on whether the mood of the city is perceived to be angry, happy, or sad, respectively. The Maker employed the help of Temboo to capture and analyze the sentiment of Denver by searching for specific keywords that might indicate the emotional state of users via the Twitter API.

In order to limit this project to Denver, the Maker used the city’s latitude and longitude to restrict retrieved tweets to within a 12-mile radius. Friedman adds, “As they’re retrieved, these tweets are outputted onto the Arduino Yun’s serial monitor as well as classified under an emotional state. A running tally is kept of the mood and the lamp glows the color associated with the predominant mood. If its intended use is for an extended period of time, the tally can be enabled to forget tweets retrieved longer than an hour ago. Alternatively, it can scrape twitter at specified intervals and glow the mood associated with tweets only made it in that duration.”

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Keep in mind, this isn’t the first time a Maker has creatively displayed the emotions of his or her area based on its social media users. In fact, one Maker recently illuminated the snow on his frontyard to reflect his town’s current mood, while a group of design students devised an interactive installation that literally painted the mood of their city. Intrigued by this IKEA-like, interactive lamp? You’ll want to watch it in action below!