Playing laser tag with an ATmega328P

Skirmos is an open source, versatile laser tag system that features an ATmega328P microcontroller (MCU), Arduino bootloader, color LCD screen (acts as a realtime HUD) and an infrared LED.

Additional key specs include:

• RF module
• SD card slot
• 
Sound card (accepts .mp3 and .wav)
• Speakers
• 
RGB LED grids (stretch goal)
• 
Internal LEDs
• Infrared receivers (38khz)
• 
16mhz clock
• Plastic transparent custom shell
• USB port (data from computer to system)

“The hardware will make Skirmos better than airsoft and lasertag combined. It maintains the realism, range and ruggedness to play outdoors like airsoft, while having the accuracy, feedback, and dynamic cheat-proof gametypes of lasertag,” Skirmos rep Allan Ivanov wrote in a recent Kickstarter post.

“This means the final design of the systems will include accurate iron sights and a rail system for attachments for ranges over 500 feet.”

According to Ivanov, Skirmos rifles communicate with one another via radio, with infrared optics facilitating “extreme ranges” for sniping.

On the software side, Skirmos allows players to easily alter fire modes (semi-automatic, three-round burst, automatic, etc), as well as the rate of fire. Plus, each player is assigned a specific ID to avoid friendly fire incidents.

In addition, Skirmos offers a trio of preset gametypes: basic, free-for-all and team slayer. However, the platform is ultimately expected to boast an almost unlimited number of gametypes.

“Because of the open source aspect, you will be able to create your own gametypes. This might be tweaking with the respawn time on Capture the Flag, to creating your own objectives and modes,”
 Ivanov explained.

“So imagine playing custom gametypes that other users have made like Search and Destroy. Rest assured, you won’t need to be a programming master to design your own games. If Skirmos is successful, we will create an auto-builder, a drag-and-drop program to quickly and easily create new gametypes (stretch goal).”

Interested in learning more about Skirmos? You can check out the project’s official Kickstarter page here.

ATmega328P mods this console controller

Marcel Smith has modded and tricked-out a PS3 dualshock controller using an ATmega328P microcontroller (MCU).

Additional key components and features include:

• Supports Arduino bootloader
• 
Programmable via USB
• Dual force feedback
• 2.4GHz 60mW Xbee pro module (optional)
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi module (optional)
• Low profile pinheader
• Wireless module configuration via USB port
• Open hardware/software
15 digital buttons
• Two analog triggers
, two analog joysticks
• 3.7V Lipo battery
• USB auto battery charge
• Borderline 0uA standby current

The modded device – which recently surfaced on Indiegogo – is aimed at DIY Makers and hobbyists interested in a versatile remote control platform.

“You can use and program the controller for robotics, RC cars, planes, helicopters, drones, boats, hovercrafts and FPV,” Smith explained.

“The controller uses an ATmega328P, the same as on the Arduino Uno. This makes it easy to adapt the Arduino platform on the controller. You can upload your sketches via the USB port. The hardware and software is open for everyone, this makes it possible to program your own functionality into the controller.”

Makers can also directly configure the Xbee/Wi-Fi module via USB using X-CTU by simply setting the UART software switch in the right direction.

“The controller sends serial messages to the USB port, so even without wireless module it is possible to control something like a game on your computer with the controller (force feedback),” Smith added.

Interested in learning more about the Atmel-powered modded controller? You can check out the project’s official Indiegogo page here.

Arduboy is an uber-mini game console

A Maker by the name of Kevin has created an uber-mini handheld game console using Atmel’s ATmega328p microcontroller (MCU).

As HackADay’s Brian Benchoff notes, the Arduboy build utilizes a number of unique design techniques.

“The inspiration for this project began when [Kevin] dropped an SMD resistor into a drill hole on a PCB. This resistor fell right through the hole, giving him the idea creating a PCB with milled cutouts made to fit SMD components,” Benchoff explained.

“With a little experimentation, [Kevin] found he could fit a TQFP32 ATmega328p MCU in the Arduino – in a custom square cutout. [Additional] components – including a CR2016 battery and OLED display- use the same trick. The rest of the design involved taking Adafruit and Sparkfun breakout boards, modifying the individual circuits until something broke.”

Kevin’s unconventional PCB design approach ultimately resulted in a handheld game console that measures only 1.6 millimeters thick – and boasts capacitive touch sensors for controls.

So what’s next for the Arduboy? Well, Kevin says he wants to release the design files and source code under a fully open source license and launch a crowd sourcing campaign.

“I also would like to sell [Arduboy] kits on my site and on Tindie,” Kevin wrote on the project’s page.

“[Plus], I would like to design the board with four layers and place the circuit traces entirely on the board interior. This would allow for test points to be placed in standard ISCP and FTDI configuration, eliminating the need for an otherwise custom bed-of-nails programming interface.”

Interested in learning more about the Arduboy? You can check out the project’s official site here.

ATmega32U4 drives open source LEO ‘bot

The Creative Robotics crew has debuted LEO, an open source robotic kit powered by Atmel’s versatile ATMega32U4 microcontroller (MCU).

Additional key specs include an Arduino bootloader, 12 digital I/O pins via an I2C port expander, configurable pull up/down and interrupt capable, 6 digital I/O directly connected to the ATMega32U4 MCU, two PWM capable pins, four external interrupt capable pins, USART and I2C Serial ports, 12 analog inputs, user programmable button, as well as a ‘COMM Hood’ and ‘IO Hood’ comms expansion system.

Leo also features (dual) four wheel and tracked configurations, front and rear tactile bumpers, dual HUB-ee motor plus slave motor connections, dual wheel quadrature encoder reading (128 counts per revolution), dual motor current feedback, automatic motor disable when powered by USB, Arduino robot compatible connector/mounting holes, as well as comprehensive firmware supporting encoders, external IO, PID Speed control and a serial command set.

“LEO is the product of over a decade of design experience in building autonomous robots, experience that also inspired the creation of our HUB-ee wheels,” a Creative Robots rep explained in a recent Kickstarter post.

“Unlike most small robotic platforms on the market LEO can be reconfigured from simple symmetrical two wheel drive to four wheel drive in a matter of minutes – and [is packaged] with a pair of modular tactile bumpers at each end for basic obstacle detection.”

LEO is also quite moddable, as Makers can easily add expansion boards using a dual ‘Hood’ stacking system.

“Hoods are a bit like shields, you can use them to add functionality like extra processors, manual controls, sensors and wireless radios. We call them hoods because LEO is a vehicle (and cars have hoods) and also to differentiate them from the shield system,” said the rep.

“LEO can have two different types of hood at the same time, one for general analog and digital I/O and a second just for serial and I2C communications. This allows you to fit LEO with a Bluetooth, ZigBee or Wifi module without interfering with the general purpose I/O.”

As noted above, Leo is an open source robot project, with all the PCB schematic design files, CAD files for the bumper and caster wheel available for download under the creative commons attribution sharealike license. Software libraries will also be accessible on GitHub.

Interested in learning more? You can check out LEO’s official Kickstarter page here.

Atmel bids Auf Wiedersehen to EW 2014

Atmel is bidding auf wiedersehen to Embedded World 2014 in Nuremberg, Germany.

During the show, Atmel announced and showcased a number of new products to drive smart, connected devices in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) including:

• Newark’s latest ARM-based Atmel SAMA5D3 Xplained evaluation kit
• Fresh lineup of AVR devices
• Studio 6.2
• Upgraded Xplained Mini dev kit
• Smart Connect series (SmartConnect Wi-Fi, SmartConnect ZigBee SAM R21

)

Other notable demos included Ivee Sleek Wi-Fi, a voice-activated assistance for the home that helps manage and control connected devices without hands; a finger print, voice-search, secure Bluetooth / USB drive that displays passwords; a tiny automatic camera and app that boasts a searchable and shareable photographic memory, as well as a 5mm x 5mm Cortex-A5 System on Module card.

A polyphase smart e-metering board based on a dual ARM Cortex-M4 core system-on-chip with an integrated metrology AFE was also on display in the booth, along with Atmel’s advanced AvantCar demo, a next-gen automotive center console concept with curved touchscreens that illustrated the combined use of Atmel’s XSense, maXTouch, QTouch and 8-bit AVR MCU technologies.

In addition, Atmel’s low-power MCU Expert Bob Martin presented “Differentiating and Optimizing for Static and Active Microcontroller Modes” during the hands-on workshop: “Applying Optimizing Techniques for Ultra-low Power Microcontrollers” (Class 07) and talked Hexbug hacking in the Atmel booth.

Last, but certainly not least, Atmel announced the winners of its AVR Hero Design contest at the show.

We’ll see you next year in 2015!

Atmel Studio 6.2 goes live in Nuremberg (EW 2014)

Atmel has rolled out Studio 6.2 for its ARM-based and AVR-powered MCUs. The latest version of the popular integrated development environment (IDE) boasts a number of new features, including support for the Atmel-ICE probe, which provides advanced programming and debug connectivity, as well as the ability to capture data trace information.

As Steve Pancoast, Atmel’s VP of Software & Tools notes, Atmel-ICE allows engineers and designers to more easily develop and debug applications in a single, integrated environment.

Atmel’s Studio 6.2 also seamlessly integrates Percepio Trace, providing optimized insight into the run-time of embedded software with advanced trace visualization.

More specifically, Percepio Trace for Atmel Studio features control-flow trace (tasks and interrupts), custom data plots, application debug output, statistical code profiling, support for viewing MCU event counters and real-time operating system (RTOS) awareness. In addition to Percepio Trace, Atmel Studio 6.2 adds data breakpoints and live watch.

“With time-to-market pressures constantly increasing in today’s competitive market, advanced visualization support is a necessity,” explained Dr. Johan Kraft, CEO, Percepio AB.

“The integration of our Percepio Trace allows Atmel MCU designers to produce higher quality software in a shorter time and at a lower price point.”

Atmel’s Steve Pancoast expressed similar sentiments.

“With the increased complexity in today’s embedded designs, developers are differentiating their products through software and advanced peripherals. With Atmel’s latest Studio 6.2 version, we combine all the tools in a seamless, simple-to-use platform,” he said.

“As a leading provider of MCUs, we are committed to bringing an extensive and sophisticated eco-system to our software developers to ensure they have all the right tools to differentiate their products in this highly competitive market.”

Atmel 

Studio 6.2 can be downloaded here, free of charge.

Atmel upgrades Xplained Mini dev kit

Atmel has introduced an upgraded Xplained Mini development kit at Embedded World 2014 in Nuremberg, Germany. 

The versatile board offers both devs and Makers extensive examples and a flexible approach to help accelerate the design process.

“The Xplained Mini board supports low pin-count devices, includes an on-board debugger, along with example software projects,” an Atmel engineering rep told Bits & Pieces.

 “The new board is automatically detected by Atmel Studio and is extremely flexible with a large prototyping area for access to all MCU signals and an optional Arduino connector for extensibility.”

The board – which is based on Atmel’s 8-bit Mega168 device – will be available at the end of April via the official Atmel Store.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s comprehensive lineup of Xplained Kits? You can check out our detailed device breakdown here, which includes the SAMA5D3 Xplained, XMEGA-E5 Xplained, SAM4S Xplained and Sensors Xplained.

Day 1: Atmel @ Embedded World (Part 1)

Atmel kicked off Day 1 of Embedded World with a media event on the train between Munich and Nuremberg.

It wasn’t long before Atmel’s booth, located in Hall 4A/4A-220, was also jam-packed with industry insiders, analysts and journalists who came to check out our recently launched products and extensive lineup of interactive demos.

To be sure, Atmel announced a slew of new products at the show including a SAMA5D3 Xplained board with Newwark element14, 6 new 4k-16k Flash devices for its flagship AVR Mega MCU family, an expanded SAM D Cortex M0+ portfolio, SmartConnect for the IoT, a low-power LIN System Basis Chip (SBC) and two new maXTouch touchscreen controllers.

In addition, Atmel announced the winners of its AVR Hero Design Contest: Sumit Grover, Juan Luis Gonzalez, Rahul Karr and Pamungkas Sumasta, who received the grand prize for his AVR-Arduino Inertial Mobile Phone Unit.

Tomorrow, Atmel’s low-power MCU Expert Bob Martin is scheduled to present “Differentiating and Optimizing for Static and Active Microcontroller Modes” during the hands-on workshop: “Applying Optimizing Techniques for Ultra-low Power Microcontrollers” (Class 07, Wednesday, February 26). In this 9:00 am – 5:00 pm CET day-long session, Martin will be presenting at 9:15 am CET. So be sure to stay tuned for more updates from Bits & Pieces! Note: Part two of this series can be viewed here.

New AVR devices bolster Atmel’s MCU lineup

Atmel has confirmed that it will be launching 6 new 4k-16k Flash devices in its flagship AVR Mega MCU family during the second quarter of 2014.

“With over two decades of MCU experience and leadership, Atmel is investing in innovative technologies and ideas to enable product differentiation for 8- and 32-bit embedded MCU designers,” said Reza Kazerounian, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Microcontroller Business Unit, Atmel Corporation

.

“[We] deliver highly sophisticated, yet easy-to-use 8-bit AVR MCUs allowing everyone from professionals, hobbyists, students and makers to develop embedded designs that could lead to the next ‘killer app’ in the dawn of the Internet of Things (IoT).”

As Reza notes, Atmel has a long tradition of investing in the Maker community, with the vast majority of Arduino boards on the market powered by Atmel’s versatile AVR MCUs.

“As a leader in microcontrollers, we are committed to providing differentiated MCUs that are easily accessible and easy-to-use for all communities,” Reza explained.

“With over 200,000 loyalists in our AVR Freaks community and 1.2 million Arduino development boards in the Maker community, our AVRs have definitely made a significant impact in today’s Maker and hobbyist circles. With over 65,000 active users in our Studio 6 integrated development environment, we are making it easier for all designers to access our tools.”

The new AVR MCUs – manufactured using advanced 130-nm CMOS technology – will be fully supported by Atmel Studio 6.2, the integrated development platform for developing and debugging Atmel ARM Cortex-M and AVR MCU-based applications.

“The new devices will deliver a unique combination of performance, power efficiency and design flexibility. Optimized to expedite time-to-market, they are based on the industry’s most code-efficient architecture for C and assembly programming,” Reza added.

“[Our] extensive AVR portfolio, combined with the seamlessly integrated Atmel Studio development platform, makes it easy to reuse knowledge when improving designers’ products and expanding to new markets.”

Interested in learning more about AVR? You can check out our comprehensive device breakdown here.

Video: Atmel @ Embedded World (Day 0)

Atmel is at Embedded World 2014 in Nuremberg Germany, where the company has launched a number of new products to drive smart, connected devices in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Some of the new products, along with interactive demos, will be showcased on Days 1-3 of the show at the official Atmel booth located in Hall 4A / #4A-220. Exhibits and demos include:

• Capacitive touch capability with Atmel’s QTouch technologies – Highlights various home appliances to demonstrate conductive immunity and moisture tolerance, along with an Xplained Pro board and capacitive touch extension board.
• New ARM MCU solutions – A SAM4E data logger with signal processing based on Atmel’s ARM Cortex-M4 MCUs and a SAM D20 global positioning system tracker based on Atmel’s ARM Cortex-M0+ MCUs.
• SAM A5 MPU applications – A new SAMA5D3 Xplained board, a low-cost ARM Cortex A5 processor kit, a smart thermostat, a home automation and smart fridge demo with a 7” capacitive touch panel.
• 

Atmel’s Wi-Fi connectivity solutions – A Turtle Beach i60 headset and Roku 3 box used on a Vizio M-Series flat panel on display.
• Atmel SmartConnect – Integrates the company’s Wi-Fi technology with a Cortex M0+ core.
• 
The new SAMR21 family of wireless MCUs (supported by the new SAMR21 Xplained PRO evaluation kits).
• ZigBee and open-source 6LoWPAN solutions with cloud services.

Other notable demos include Ivee Sleek Wi-Fi, a voice-activated assistance for the home that helps manage and control connected devices without hands; a finger print, voice-search, secure Bluetooth / USB drive that displays passwords; a tiny automatic camera and app that boasts a searchable and shareable photographic memory and a 5mm x 5mm Cortex-A5 System on Module card. 

A polyphase smart e-metering board based on a dual ARM Cortex-M4 core system-on-chip with an integrated metrology AFE will also be on display in the booth.

Along with the new Atmel Studio 6.2 and Atmel-ICE, we will be demoing our latest integrated development platform and advanced debug probe. We will also be highlighting a new SAMA5D3 Xplained cost-effective kit based on the ARM Cortex-A5 processor MPU, as well as the new Xplained Mini ultra-low cost evaluation kit with an Atmel 8-bit AVR, low pin-count MCU for less than USD $10. 

In addition, we plan on hosting several Arduino board demonstrations based onAtmel MCUs for our Maker community.

And, by popular demand, Atmel will also be showcasing its advanced AvantCar demo, a next-generation automotive center console concept with curved touchscreens that illustrates the combined use of Atmel’s XSense, maXTouch, QTouch and 8-bit AVR MCU technologies.

Meanwhile, Atmel’s low-power MCU Expert Bob Martin is scheduled to present “Differentiating and Optimizing for Static and Active Microcontroller Modes” during the hands-on workshop: “Applying Optimizing Techniques for Ultra-low Power Microcontrollers” (Class 07) on Wednesday, February 26. In this 9:00 am – 5:00 pm CET day-long session, Martin will be presenting at 9:15 am CET. Last, but certainly not least, Atmel will be announcing winners from its AVR Hero Design contest at the show.