Author Archives: the machinegeek

Build a physical CPU load meter

Keegan from KSplice built this project which measures CPU load using an ammeter, Arduino and a resistor and some code. Basically, he runs a Python script on the Linux box which communicates load info via USB to the Arduino, which in turn displays the relative load on the analog ammeter. You can get the Arduino […]

Free webinar: Intro to operational amplifiers

If you’re new to op amps or just need a refresher on the theory this conf might interest you. Analog Devices is offering a free webinar titled Intro to Operational Amplifiers scheduled for July 26, 2011 at 12 PM CDT. The presentation will last 45 minutes followed by a 15 minute Q&A. John Ardizzoni, Senior […]

mikroProg PIC programmer/ICD

mikroProg is a fast USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD hardware In-Circuit Debugger. Smart engineering allows mikroProg to support PIC10, PIC12, PIC16, PIC18, dsPIC30/33, PIC24 and PIC32 devices in a single programmer! It supports 570 microcontrollers from Microchip. Outstanding performance, easy operation and elegant design will blow your mind. mikroProg lists for $99 plus shipping and […]

ProCoCo cart: Propeller-based Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 cartridge

If you’re into retro computing, this project may be for you. Plainsteve developed this custom cartridge for the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 (CoCo 2) last Fall and released the details recently on his blog. The project is based on the Parallax Propeller and unlike other CoCo cartridges which simply play a program from ROM, […]

The US wants YOU to help verify chip integrity

The US government’s intelligence community research arm, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency or IARPA, is responsible for verifying the integrity of chips procured by the government and destined for mission critical national security applications. They are well aware that foreign suppliers can adulterate the supply of mission critical chips in various ways, including designing […]

Microchip announces new 16-bit PIC® MCUs & dsPIC® DSCs

Microchip Technology Inc. today announced a new series of 16-bit PIC® microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) that bring advanced control to cost-sensitive general-purpose and motor-control designs. The general-purpose dsPIC33FJ16 “GP” devices include a Real-Time Clock/Calendar and up to 21 general-purpose output pins, making them ideal for driving intelligent sensors. The dsPIC33FJ16 and […]

Japanese PossessedHand uses Arduino to move your fingers

Researchers at Tokyo University in cooperation with Sony have developed the prototype for a device capable of moving the fingers via electro-muscular control. Known as the PossessedHand, the device uses an Arduino to control 28 wrist-attached electrode pads which painlessly stimulate hand muscles to accomplish regular movements. This initiative holds potential not just for musical […]

Hacking the PIC 18F1320

Andrew “Bunnie” Huang is well known for his Xbox hacks. He wanted to try out some reversing techniques on programmed PIC 18F1320 chips he acquired in order to read the secured FLASH memory. After having the PICs commercially decapped, he analyzed the silicon under an electron microscope revealing the location of security bits relative to […]

Driving a pinball DMD with an Arduino

Pinball machines are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Whether resurrecting a vintage machine or building your own, issues with control of a visual display can arise. One form of display used in some modern machines is the plasma dot matrix display (DMD). Adam Preble presents this video and article on his experiences driving a DMD […]

Free O’Reilly webcast: Open Android

O’Reilly is presenting a free webcast on Open Android: What it means to be open and why you would care, on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 10 AM PT. The presentation by Marko Gargenta will last approximately 60 minutes. Open is another buzz word that means many things to many people. In Open Android talk, […]

PropForth IDE for the Parallax Propeller

PropForth is a fully interactive development environment which runs on the Parallax Propeller allowing you to program the chip interactively in Forth using a PC serial terminal program. Their latest code release is Version 4.5. According to their project description: Propforth 4.5 introduces standardized interfaces (cog, serial, ethernet, etc), SD support (thanks caskaz), completed EEPROM […]

Get ready to drive your robo car in Nevada!

As a result of recent legislation, Nevada has become the first US state to allow driverless, autonomous vehicles on public roadways. The Nevada legislature passed Assembly Bill 511 which allows the operation of “autonomous vehicles”, defined as: a motor vehicle that uses artificial intelligence, sensors and global positioning system coordinates to drive itself without the […]

Breaking copy protection in MCUs: then and now

When you decide to copy protect the firmware on your MCU, how effective are efforts such as setting a lock bit or enabling chip erase modes? Sergei P. Skorobogatov’s article provides an overview of the methods he’s tried against MCUs from various manufacturers. He outlines both invasive and non-invasive techniques such as chip depackaging, microprobing […]

LIN: Local Interconnect Network comms

The Local Interconnect Network (LIN) is a single-wire, low cost, serial communications system which is a subbus of CAN used primarily in automotive systems. In this video Microchip provides an overview of LIN and some of their related products and tools. For more info on the specifics of the LIN protocol, see this tutorial from […]

The Verbalizer: open source dev board for Google’s voice search

BreakfastNY has posted details on how to build The Verbalizer: your own open source Arduino based microphone dev board for use with Google’s Voice Search for Desktop. They write: With Google announcing the launch of Voice Search for desktop, we couldn’t help thinking that there was even more fun to be had with talking to […]

Wireless networked AT keyboard

Creative technology student Pieter Pelt and Hybrid Worlds present this project detailing how to connect an old AT style computer keyboard to a PC via Arduino and Xbee modules and using the Teensy PS2Keyboard library. Using Xbee allows for keyboards which are not only wireless, but also networked so that several keyboards can be meshed […]

STM8S-Discovery hardware module provides DALI interface

The Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) standard is a communication protocol widely used in intelligent lighting applications. Its use is not limited to fluorescent tube lamp dimmable ballasts, for which it was initially designed, but also for future LED applications. This STEVAL-ILM001V1 hardware module by STMicroelectronics plugs into the STM8S Discovery board allowing you to […]

Arduino realtime audio processing

Lab3, the Laboratory for Experimental Computer Science at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, posted this tutorial on how to perform realtime audio processing with an Arduino. They explain: This is an experiment to show how some realtime audio processing can be done with the Arduino. The first set of examples alter an incoming audio […]