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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TshirtOS showed us one take on wearable gadgetry earlier this month, and now it’s Woven’s turn. This particular e-garment packs quite the selection of hardware, as you can see above — a trio of LilyPad Arduino boards (and some custom ones), a Bluetooth module, 12 x 12 RGB LED “screen”, speakers, bend sensors, a heart rate monitor, shake motors and a power pack. You’ll need to accessorize, of course, with a smartphone for hardware harmony and to run companion apps. So what’s it for, you ask? Well, the creators are touting it primarily as a “pervasive” gaming platform, and even seem to have a working first title in the form of SPOOKY (think gesture-based ghost-fighting). Other uses (which appear a little more conceptual) see Woven as a workout companion, TV remote, Wii controller, social network alerter or simply a fashion accessory. Check out the videos below to see it in action and imagine all the fun you could have in the five minutes before you’re ushered into that padded room.

Continue reading Woven’s wearable platform for gaming, cool points and a whole lot more (video)

Filed under: Wearables

Woven’s wearable platform for gaming, cool points and a whole lot more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 05:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spending too much time indoors? You need a Personal Energy Orb, a glowing Arduino powered ball that allows you to trade physical exertion for a tolerable mouse speed. Developed by two students at the University of Munich for a physical computing course, the PEO connects to a bike-mounted revolution counter to note how far a user rides, counting the total distance toward usable time on a computer. A fully “charged” green orb will allow a user to use their PC unhindered — but a spent red orb will drag Windows’ cursor sensitivity settings to its lowest. The idea, the project’s creators say, is to annoy the user off of the computer and back on to their bike. It sure sounds aggravating to us. Check out the full homework assignment at the source link below, complete with goals, follies and Python scripts.

Filed under: Misc

Personal Energy Orb Arduino project knows you haven’t been exercising, cripples your computer originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 02:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drones seem to be everywhere these days, but in most cases they can get expensive and most remote spy planes are used overseas. Aerospace engineer algorhythmic decided to see what sort of vehicle he could cobble together on a limited budget.

The Xaver Mk.2., his remote-controlled, roving surveillance vehicle, doesn’t look very imposing, but its compact frame is packing a night vision camera and a Raspberry Pi. The drone was hacked together from bits and pieces, including a PlayStation 3 Eye camera as well as a Wi-Fi module. An Arduino controller directs a motor that allows the camera to move. It’s been configured to stream video from the camera via the Internet, and the whole rig is operated remotely by a PS3 controller.

Algorhythmic promises to create a series of videos on how to construct it and how he will tailor his prototype on his website.

[via Ubergizmo]

Laser tripwire security systems can be expensive propositions that don’t always work as planned — just ask Raytheon, which saw its $100 million Perimeter Intrusion Detection System for JFK International Airport undermined by one wayward jet skier. Taking that as a form of dare, Justin Huynh and teammates at Liquidware have devised a much cheaper (if also much smaller) tripwire of their own. Any interruption of a laser pointer’s beam is caught by an Arduino light sensor that promptly sends the alert to an Android-running BeagleBoard xM; if a toy like Bruce the shark dares cross the line, the BeagleBoard sends a Twitter message to let the authorities, or at least Huynh, clamp down on the trespasser. The invention won’t replace Raytheon’s handiwork anytime soon, although Huynh notes that additional or more powerful sensors could theoretically catch real, muscle-bound sharks and not just their plastic counterparts. The supply checklist and source code are waiting on the company’s project page below, so those who’d like to ward off miniature invasions can get started today.

Continue reading Liquidware team crafts laser tripwire that tweets intruder alerts, keeps fake sharks at bay (video)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Liquidware team crafts laser tripwire that tweets intruder alerts, keeps fake sharks at bay (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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