Hasta La Gadget!

Driving RC cars never gets old, but driving them over the internet is truly something magical. Welcome to the RixRover, the creation of Quebecer Pierric Gimmig. It’s a cheap RC truck fitted with big knobby tires that’s had its ABS body removed, replaced by an Arduino board and a netbook. The car itself cost about $45, the Arduino about $30, and Eee PC 1005-series netbook about $200. But the result, being able to drive the car over remotely via streaming video, why that’s quite simply priceless. Video after the break and, if you want to try your hand at this, there’s some source code on the other end of the source link.

Continue reading RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video)

RixRover is the cheap RC car controlled by a rather more expensive Arduino and netbook combo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you spend your days desperately awaiting credit card bills, coupons to Pizza Hut, and reminders from your dentist’s office that it’s time for another cleaning? We’ve pared down our dependence on USPS, but for those who still get physical communications of note, Make has developed an Arduino-based mailbox mod that sends push notifications when the post is in. Back in 2005, we saw a clunky device called POSTIN that did much the same thing. Thankfully, this system doesn’t require an extra gadget, instead it sends messages straight to your iPhone. The postal alert system uses a snap-action switch, connected to an Arduino sensor, to signal when your mailbox is opened. A piece of code waits for the signal and then requests a URL from a PHP-enabled server, pushing an alert to your cellphone using the Prowl iPhone app. Die-hard USPS fans can check out the instructional video after the jump.

Continue reading Real-life mailbox mod tells your iPhone when you’ve got snail mail (video)

Real-life mailbox mod tells your iPhone when you’ve got snail mail (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This reverse geocache box reminds us of something out of Mission: Impossible — the second-run of the TV series, not that dreadful Tom Cruise franchise — only it won’t self-destruct in five minutes. It will, however, unlock when it reaches a pre-programmed location. Like the Deluxe Reverse Geocache, this box gives its holder a mission should they choose to accept: use the display to find the box’s final resting spot. Unlike its predecessor, this one uses three nixie tubes, not an LCD screen, to track the box’s distance from its destination. A built-in Arduino GPS sensor does all the tracking, and a servo motor pops the top when triggered. The refashioned French army medical box operates off of three D-cells, and can do about 600 GPS fixes before powering down. We’re definitely fond of this throw-back treasure chest, we just wish it had a built-in audio player for bumping the MI theme. Yeah, we said it.

Nixie tube reverse geocache box makes us long for the 80s, our very own spy card originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over the years we’ve seen loads of Arduino hacks and mods — a DIY kit that lets plants tweet, a robotic iPhone, and even touchscreen GBA SP. All of these impressive, heartwarming and otherwise inspiring projects were made possible by the Arduino platform. Just in case you’re unfamiliar with what Arduino actually is, let us remind you that it’s an open source project geared toward students and other humans who wish to delve into the wild, wacky world of do-it-yourself electronics hardware and software coding. We’d encourage you to check out the documentary in full — you know, to get the skinny on the company’s inception and watch as the Arduino folks talk about their movement and its future — but we doubt you need our elbowing. Check out all 28 minutes of footage after the break.

Continue reading ‘Arduino The Documentary’ now available for your streaming pleasure

‘Arduino The Documentary’ now available for your streaming pleasure originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that we haven’t been inundated with circuit-related fashion accessories in the past, but if you’ve already started thinking about what to get that lovely lad (or lady) in your life come February, look no further. SenseBridge, a research group with loads of passion, has just revealed the Heart Spark ($69, on sale now) — a wearable pendant with an integrated wireless receiver, a smattering of LEDs and a wow factor that’s downright heartwarming. The fortunate wearer must also strap a belt around their chest in order to monitor their heart rate, which is then transmitted wirelessly to the Heart Spark; upon receiving the information, the onboard lights will flash at the same rate as your heart, making it easy for the love of your life to see when your heart is aflutter. Video demonstration is just past the break, and yes, it’s about as precious as you’d imagine.

Continue reading Heart Spark pendant blinks with your heart, automatically gets you into B.E.D. (video)

Heart Spark pendant blinks with your heart, automatically gets you into B.E.D. (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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