RSS
Archive: Open source hardware
Smarty Request:
Total Pages: 4
Offset: 0
Category Home | Next >
February 21, 2008
New LilyPad Arduino programmer from Sparkfun
Sparkfun writes:
This is a USB to UART board that allows easy reprogramming of the LilyPad main board without the need for soldering. This board is based on the FT232RL IC from FTDI.
Features:
- Implements full v2.0 USB protocol
- Needs no external crystal
- Internal EEPROM for device ID and Product Description strings
- Royalty-Free Driver support for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
This is great for programming the LilyPad, as it requires no soldering or alterations to the Arduino Mini programmer (and has a flatter form factor), and it slots right onto the board! - Link.
Related:
LilyPad Arduino - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 21, 2008 07:00 PM
Arduino, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
February 19, 2008
Sensor squid relation game
My colleagues and I in the Arts, Media and Engineering program at Arizona State University are working on a wireless tangible interface object for collaboration, called the Sensor Squid. It's basically an Arduino-controlled, Bluetooth communicating 6-foot plush cephalopod used to control a Max/MSP game about community-generated media. You can download the code, parts list, and schematic. - Link & more.
Above photo used with permission by Ryan Spicer.
Related:
Adopt a Squid - Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 19, 2008 09:00 PM
Arduino, Arts, Crafts, Electronics, Gaming, Open source hardware, Wireless |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
“WiiChuck” Wii Nunchuck adapter available (for Arduino)
Todbot writes -
Want to hook up a Wii Nunchuck to an Arduino but don’t want to cut up the cord on your Nunchuck? Yeah me too. So I made some of these... It’s a small PCB that adapts the Wii Nunchuck connector to standard 4-pin header. I call it the “wiichuck adapter”. It plugs directly into the Arduino, no wiring necessary. You can get one too for $3.“WiiChuck” Wii Nunchuck adapter available (for Arduino) - Link.One of the coolest things about the Wii (to me) is that the expansion port on the bottom of the Wii remote is an I2C serial connection. This means that anything that plugs into that port can work with microcontrollers like the Arduino. Of the available peripherals, the Wii Nunchuck is one of the best. It contains a 3-axis accelerometer, a 2-axis joystick, and two buttons. Hooking up a Wii Nunchuck to Arduino is easy and I’ve have class notes describing how to do it. But cutting off the connector of the Nunchuck to get at the wires is a little drastic.
This “wiichuck adapter” let’s you play with the Wii Nunchuck and other Wii remote peripherals without needing you to cut cables. Just plug it into the Wii Nunchuck, then into the Arduino.
Related:
- Arduino guide @ MAKE - Link.
- Arduino archives @ MAKE - Link.
- "Making things talk" the best book on Arduino! - Link.
- Arduinos in the Maker store - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 19, 2008 06:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (3)
Chumby - store open for everyone
The open source, linux based squeezable bean-bag like computer, the Chumby - is now for sale to the entire public, $179, hack hack hack away...
Specs:
- 3.5" LCD color touchscreen
- Two external USB 2.0 full-speed ports
- 350 MHz ARM processor
- 64 MB SDRAM
- 64 MB NAND flash ROM
- Stereo 2W speakers
- Headphone output
- Squeeze sensor
- Accelerometer (motion sensor)
- Leather casing
- AC adapter included
- Wi-fi connectivity
- Access to the free Chumby Network
- Over-the-air software updates
Chumby - store open for everyone - Link.
Related:
Source, schematics and more - Link.
Chumby wiki - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 19, 2008 12:00 AM
Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (6)
February 12, 2008
High-tech tinkerers on the rise - open source hardware
The Boston Globe turns on and tunes in to open source hardware (with MAKE mention + our Brian J!) -
For years, hackers and garage hobbyists have pried the covers off their gadgets, cobbled together computers out of components, or built other electronics from scratch. But today, even people who can't tell a resistor from a capacitor are finding new opportunities to tinker as the do-it-yourself spirit of the Web branches into the physical world.High-tech tinkerers on the rise - Link.
Related:
Open source - what is it? - Link.
Open source hardware guide @ MAKE - Link.
Open source hardware archives @ MAKE - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 12, 2008 09:00 AM
Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 11, 2008
HOW TO - Make "Joy Slippers" - draw with your feet
Plusea shows you how to make slipper that you can "draw with" -
This Instructable will show you how to make a pair of cozy slippers that are designed with two analog inputs each that sense the pressure being weighted from the body on either the toe-ball or the heal of the foot.HOW TO - Make "Joy Slippers" - Link.Later steps in this Instructable will show you how to feed this analog input into your laptop via an Arduino physical computing platform. There are many things that you can do with this input, and I hope to bring out a few interesting applications in the next weeks. This Instructable features a simple drawing application that allows the wearer to control the direction of a line being drawn in real-time and thus draw, using the weight on their feet, in a very simple etch-a-sketch fashion.
Related:
Get an Arduino @ the Maker store - Link.
Visit our Arduino guide! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 11, 2008 12:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
February 4, 2008
openFrameworks workshop in London
Rock stars Theo Watson and Zach Lieberman will be running a Tinker.it workshop on their platform openFrameworks:
This is the first ever UK workshop on openFrameworks, a cross-platform C++ library for creative coding, and an opportunity to experiment with building new systems for interaction that move away from the screen and into physical space. This workshop is designed for artists, designers and hackers alike. On the first day, the workshop will offer a cohesive introduction to the library, as well as cover the fundamentals of computer vision, signal processing and interfacing with physical devices, via connection to Arduino. On the second day, participants will work to code creative and expressive prototypes based on these approaches.
If you're going to be in the UK on the 1st and 2nd of March, I'd highly recommend this. - [via] Link.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Feb 4, 2008 09:00 PM
Arts, Computers, Events, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
February 1, 2008
"Peggy," - A Light emitting pegboard display
Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories have released "Peggy" this is a great open source hardware project for LED art makers! -
With all the cool things that you can do with LEDs today, there is still one thing that's lacking: simplicity. If you want to run a bunch of LEDs at a time, you usually end up spending a fair bit of time worrying about series and parallel combinations, matching brightness, and picking load resistors. Or, if you're a beginner, maybe you only get one third of the way through the previous sentence-- wondering if you're already in over your head.Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories - "Peggy," - A Light emitting pegboard display Link.Suppose that you want to make a big LED display for your window or wall: maybe it's your logo, a symbol, your favorite 8-bit character, or maybe even a sign that spells out words like "OPEN" or "ON AIR." How do you go about it? The usual DIY solution involves drilling holes in a panel to fit your LEDs, then spending a heck of a lot of time wiring everything up-- ending up with one resistor per LED (and a three-dimensional mess if you happen to look at the back side of the panel). And, if you do everything in the most obvious ways, it can even end up consuming a surprising amount of power.
While I have certainly spent my share of time constructing things with the aforementioned technique, at some point it becomes clear that there has to be a better way. In this day and age, shouldn't LEDs be about as difficult to play with as, say, a Lite Bright? Today we are releasing a new open-source hardware and software design that takes some of the sting, complexity, and mess out of playing with LEDs. It's a versatile and powerful light-emitting pegboard that lets you efficiently drive hundreds of LEDs in whatever configuration you like, without so much as calculating a single load resistor.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 1, 2008 12:00 AM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
January 31, 2008
HTML as sound
Ever wondered how HTML and image data would sound as beat samples?
Bill writes:
I've written a Firefox addon that makes it possible for a monome or arduino to interact with your browser. The url below is a video of me "playing" the raw data in the NYTimes homepage using a monome 40h. The project is called Lily and its a Max/PD style patching language that hooks into the browser and allows you to build multi-media projects (including physical controllers) on top of Firefox.
Each link highlighted actually makes for a nice percussive sound. This makes sense given that many percussive voices are synthesized using noise generators - and web data sounds similarly random to our ears. Awesome project, thanks Bill!
Lily project - Link
Related:
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Jan 31, 2008 12:00 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Music, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (1)
January 27, 2008
Ybox 2 - Networked set-top box in an Altoids tin
Tarikh and Josh from Uncommon Projects write in about the new Ybox 2 (The ybox2 is the second-generation networked set-top box in an Altoids tin)
Hello friends and YBox enthusiasts! We have some exciting news to share. There is a new YBox on the block--the YBox 2!Ybox 2 - Networked set-top box in an Altoids tin - Link.The YBox made its debut as a quick and dirty prototype for Yahoo's first public Hackday. Then it reappeared as a kit, a series of workshops and a giveaway at last year's SF Maker's Faire. We had a great time sharing the project with folks, and so it's with real glee that we announce the YBox 2.
It was developed by Robert Quattlebaum a developer and classmate from the SF sessions. He's made a number of smart refinements to the project, including getting the cost down by replacing the Xport. Our secret (and admittedly improbable) goal was always to get this thing down to $10, and he managed to shave $50 off the cost with version 2! But there's more than just cost, including a speaker, a status light and countless tweaks. All in all a really exciting evolution. Congrats Robert.
Some of you have written to ask about new kits or to wonder why the wiki has been terrorized with spam. The kits are gone and we don't have time to make more. The good news is that the project continues and you can contact Robert if you'd like to purchase a new board or to download the board files and create your own Ybox 2. We'll work on getting the wiki cleaned up and we send a special thanks to all the folks who have put in countless hours scouring it.
OK that's it for now, happy hacking!
Related:
![Ybox[1]](http://blog.makezine.com/_ybox%5B1%5D.jpg)
YBox in 60 Seconds - Link.
YBOX - turns a TV into a simple, web configurable ... - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 27, 2008 01:00 AM
Altoids and tin cases, DIY Projects, Electronics, Gadgets, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
January 25, 2008
Low cost open source VGA compatible video card
Mikes writes in -
Since Make is all about great hardware projects, I figured I'd let you know about a project that aims to develop a fully VGA compliant video card in true open source fashion. Kerneltrap now has an interview online about the motivations behind the project, when the card will be available and what it's performance will be. With the first prototype already working after just a few months of development, it's a matter of time before developers can get their hands on one of these.Low cost open source VGA compatible video card - Link & interview with Michael Meeuwisse.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 25, 2008 05:00 AM
Computers, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Arduino contest
The folks from Libelium sent in their Arduino contest, looks interesting -
It is a contest for everyone who believes in Open Hardware and enjoys hacking with Arduino. It is the time to show what you have done and share it with the Community! There are 3 different categories:Arduino contest @ Libelium Comunicaciones Distribuidas - Link.Common life hacks. Have you designed a remote-pets-feeder? A gadget for watering your plants? A GPS navigator for your bike? Or anything that makes your life easier?
Art hacks. Artistical installations, interactive objects... just show the limits of your imagination.
Robotics.The winner of each category will get one GPRS/GPS Module for Arduino. One of the exclusive and limited edition for Arduino whe are going to release.
It will let Arduino to connect to the mobile networks, make and receive phone calls, send and receive sms's!, give the GPS coordenates... A new level of modules for Arduino.
Related:
Arduino guide @ MAKE - Link.
Making Things Talk by Tom Igoe - the best book on Arduino! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 24, 2008 12:00 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Graffiti Reseach Lab Live From Sundance
I am visiting Sundance Film Festival with Graffiti Research Lab where GRL premiered Graffiti Research Lab: the Complete First Season. Besides spending a lot of time freezing outside with Laser Tag, GRL also debuted the Beat Case.
The Beat Case is a portable audio system built to help the Palestinian rappers Dam and PR, here for the movie Slingshot Hip Hop, perform around Park CIty. The Beat Case includes a microphone and line level inputs, is battery powered, and all fits inside a Pelican case. An Instructable for the Beat Case will be coming soon. You can see more photos and hijinks at the Graffiti Research Lab web site. - Link
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Jan 24, 2008 09:30 AM
Culture jamming, DIY Projects, Music, Open source hardware, Portable Audio and Video |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
January 22, 2008
Bug Labs Store open for open source hardware biz
The Bug Labs Store is now open for open source hardware biz - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 22, 2008 01:00 AM
Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
January 21, 2008
Arduino theremin-like musical instrument
Alberto made a really nice Arduino based theremin-like musical instrument, schematics and source on the site - photos & more.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 21, 2008 09:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (5)
Motor Party! Arduino motor shield preview
I'm very excited about this forthcoming Arduino motor shield, it can drive 2 hobby servos as well as up to 2 steppers or 4 bidirectional DC motors. Zooooom, zeeerk, zoooom, zeeerk! - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 21, 2008 06:00 AM
Arduino, Kits, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
January 18, 2008
uDuino: A very low cost Arduino compatible development board
Tymm writes -
Arduino boards are great for prototyping. However they get rather expensive when you have multiple concurrent projects or need lots of controller boards for a larger project. There are some great, cheaper alternatives (Boarduino, Freeduino) but the costs still add up when you need many of them.uDuino: A very low cost Arduino compatible development board - Link.This is a way, after about $25-$30 initial investment, to build sub-$10 Arduino-compatible boards with very little extra time investment on each.
Note that the basic idea here (Arduino on a breadboard) has been done for quite some time (e.g ITP Arduino Breadboard instructions); however the cable adapter build & usage instructions here help absolutely minimize the parts count for each core.
This project requires knowledge of soldering and basic electronics, and you should have at least some experience already with Arduino development. I don't suggest this as a first electronics project.
note: I pronounce uDuino "moo DWEE noh"
This Instructable is still a little under development; if you notice anything missing or have suggestions for things that should be added please let me know. I've left off some notes about potential uses/tweaks to keep the build relatively simple (I might put together another Instructable at some point based on some of the programming & testing tools I've been working on with this setup).
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 18, 2008 04:20 PM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Instructables, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (0)
Bug Labs - "Hiro P" BUGbase
Mehrshad sent in an update about the first round of BUGBase units, he writes -
We've just uploaded a few photos of the "Hiro P" BUGbase to the web. We had originally planned to issue an announcement on Monday morning before we opened the Bug Labs store (which opens at noon EST on Monday), but we've decided to announce early. The photos in question can be found here.Bug Labs - "Hiro P" BUGbase - Link.This is the BUGbase "Hiro P" model. It's what the first batch of BUGbase units will look like, and is much like the BUGbase we've been promoting, only with a minor aesthetic change to the front panel and no onboard 802.11 wi-fi.
Why no wi-fi? The issue extends from developing a set of open source wi-fi drivers, and we had to make a decision on our first production run - either ship early with no wi-fi, or delay the ship date until the driver issue was resolved.
However, to compensate the Hiro P customers, we will be offering them a BUGwifi module *at cost*, and we will also be giving them a *free* BUGvonhippel module. Additionally, we will be extending the early adopter program to the new batch of wireless-enabled BUGbases.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 18, 2008 03:09 PM
Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (4)
January 17, 2008
RoboChumby
Over the holiday Bunnie made a robo-Chumby, he writes -
The final control paths for the system thus looked like this:RoboChumby - Link.sensors -> chumby server app -> UDP packet -> 802.11 wifi transmitted over 10's of meters -> client client app -> phidget driver -> USB -> phidget board -> solid state relay -> RC controller switches -> modulated to 27 MHz -> transmitted over a distance of 1″ -> demodulated -> motor driver -> motors
Sony DSC-T10 camera -> PAL -> DVB-T encoder -> MPEG-2 format -> DVB-T wireless transmission over 10's of meters -> DVB-T receiver
Plus, of course, the normal widget stream coming from the chumby servers in the US via the Wifi interface as well. After all, what Wifi controlled toy car isn't complete without streaming internet radio, Flash movies of Chuck Norris facts and "interesting" Flickr streams playing on it.
Related:
Chumby round up - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 17, 2008 01:00 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
January 15, 2008
Arducopter: Arduino helicopter control
Jason @ Hackzine write -
A recent Arduino -vs- Basic Stamp discussion over on the DIY Drones site really caught my eye. Jordi makes a nice argument for the Arduino, showing off the current state of his Arducopter, which you can see in the video above. Built using a low cost electric heli, an Arduino board, and the guts from a Wii Nunchuck, his system can currently auto stabilize roll and pitch. More detail and source code are posted at the link below. It's a really great start.I've also been working on an autonomous helicopter project. While I've been able to build a general game-plan and test a few things with my BS2 controller, I know it's going to be insufficient for the device's needs.
I can say this with a bit of certainty, because I've built a GPS-guided RC car in the past using the BS2. Even with heavy optimization, I used just about all the available memory on the Basic Stamp. There's not much room to read additional accelerometer data and manage the control outputs of even a little 4 channel heli. Long story short, I've got a Boarduino in the mail.
Can a Basic Stamp manage reading and processing accelerometer, compass, and GPS data at the same time? If so, I'd love to hear it, but I'm thinking it'd be difficult to impossible. Don't get me wrong—I love my BS2. It's great for prototyping and quickly building smaller projects. Objectively, though, the Arduino is a little faster, has more ram, and costs much less.
More:
Arducopter - Link
DIY Drones discussion on Arduino versus Basic Stamp for UAVs - Link
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 15, 2008 05:00 AM
Arduino, DIY Projects, Electronics, Open source hardware |
Permalink
| Comments (2)
Features and more @ MAKE!
Make store - Stirling Engine kit
Make store - More Gakken kits!
Make store - Peggy v1.0 kit - FTW!
Make store - Magnet Sculpture kit - Floats!
MADE in Japan - Part I.
MADE in Japan - Part II.
MADE in Japan - Part III.
MADE in Japan - Part IV.
MADE in Japan - Part V.
MADE in Japan - Part VI.
Makers - MAKE Flickr pool contest winners!.
Makers - Join the MAKE Facebook page - Meet other makers.
MAKE on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet!
Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!
Click here to advertise on MAKE!
Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311
Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker
Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Researcher
Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT
Becky Stern
Culture jammer
Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker
Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker
Current Podcast
Hack Your Brain - Best of Weekend Projects
ipod|mp4|mov|hd-appletv|3gp|3g2|pdf|itunes This weekend on Best of Weekend Projects with Bre Pettis, learn how to hack your brain by making Mitch Altman's Brain Machine! It flashes LEDs into your eyes and beeps sounds into your ears to make your brain...
More...
