Hasta La Gadget!

It’s great to see Ben Heck focus his efforts of do-gooder projects like that foot-controlled wheelchair, but we’ll always have a soft spot for the modfather’s more nostalgic undertakings, like this BASIC pocket computer. Heck created the device for the latest episode of his web show, and if you’re following along at home, you’ll need the Chatpad from an Xbox 360 controller, an Arduino Uno and a LCD display — a Hitachi HD 44780, in this case. The modder-turned-host is quick to point out that the project’s purpose isn’t solely nostalgic — you can also use it to control real world objects, which in the Heck’s case means a ghost on a pinball playfield. Check out a video of the invention in action after the break.

Continue reading Ben Heck fashions a pocket computer with an Xbox Chatpad and Arduino Uno

Filed under: Misc

Ben Heck fashions a pocket computer with an Xbox Chatpad and Arduino Uno originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who knew Lego characters had to be somewhere in a hurry? Adafruit did, as it just whipped up a minifig-sized train schedule. The invention mates one of Adafruit’s own 1-inch OLED boards with an Arduino Uno controlling the schedule behind the scenes. It looks to be a straightforward project for the DIY types, although the display is currently all show: the schedule doesn’t (yet) pair up with the train tracks to automatically let your minifigs know if their trip to the pirate spaceship castle has been delayed by ghosts. You can check the source link for the full instructions. Duplo builders, alas, are kept out of the loop.

OLED Lego train station emerges from Adafruit and Arduino gear, minifigs to get home on time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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