Tinkering with a cool robotics project? Then polish off your creation and submit it to the MAKE Robot Contest! In preparation for Volume 27 (the Robot issue) MAKE is holding a contest for robot enthusiasts to see who can build the “most entertaining” robot. The rules are: 1. Come up with an entertaining, original robot […]
Author Archives: the machinegeek
Altera BeMicro SDK FPGA USB dev stick
Kati writes to inform us that Altera and Arrow Electronics have teamed up to introduce the BeMicro SDK (Software Development Kit), a prototyping board for embedded software developers to learn about FPGAs. The board runs a soft embedded processor on a 22K logic element FPGA, and utilizes the popular USB stick format. It’s available on […]
VirtualBreadboard 4.3.3
VirtualBreadboard 4.3.3 is a Windows GUI program that lets you simulate and develop embedded applications that use microcontrollers. It essentially lets you assemble virtual components on screen and auto generate code. Currently some Microchip PIC16 and 18 devices are supported, as well as Arduino. In addition a wide variety of simulated components such as LCD’s, […]
Philliebot throws out first pitch
At this afternoon’s game, amid the growing wave of digital enhancements transforming how fans interact with sports through real-time analytics and engagement features, the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team will have the opening pitch thrown out by none other than Philliebot, part of science day at the ballpark. This robotic marvel, drawing parallels to the seamless […]
Arduino controlled light bulb PCR machine
Here’s an example of the Arduino being put into practical service. Russell Durrett is a Research Specialist in Bioinformatics and Genetic Engineering and is a cofounder of GenSpace NYC, the world’s first community biology lab. He was looking for a way to develop an inexpensive PCR machine, a costly thermal cycler used in DNA lab […]
Capacitive touchpad shield for MSP430 Launchpad
NsN writes to inform us that the TI eStore is running a promotion on the 430BOOST-SENSE1 – MSP430 Capacitive Touch BoosterPack. The Capacitive Touch BoosterPack (430BOOST-CAPTOUCH1) is a plug in board for the $4.30 MSP430 Value Line LaunchPad development kit (MSP-EXP430G2 – sold separately). This BoosterPack features several capacitive touch elements including a scroll wheel, […]
Converting an Arduino to 3.3V
When Arduino debuted, most sensors and other interfacing devices ran on 5 volts. Nowadays Xbee radios, accelerometers and other new devices run on 3.3 volts. Here’s a short tutorial from Adafruit showing how to hack your 5 volt Arduino board to run on 3.3 volts. It’s a simple procedure involving replacing the voltage regulator and […]
Help NIST identify these mysterious scientific objects
The National Institute of Standards and Technology accumulates hundreds of odd scientific and technical items each year, often without knowing their exact name or purpose. They have posted photos of various vintage items, and their tentative title in an effort to identify them. In coming months, NIST will add hundreds more mystery tools to those […]
‘Robot Journalist’ out-writes human sports reporter
Here’s an article from NPR noting the progress that’s been made in the little known area of robotic writing. In this account a software program by the Narrative Science company was able to write a sports story combining facts and highlighting topics appropriately, producing an article judged superior to the work of a human writer […]
Simple CPLD binary counter project
FlipThatBit released this video of a simple CPLD binary counter project. This is a good beginner’s Verilog project, requiring a minimum number of external components, and providing an immediate visual result of your efforts. This was written for the XC9536XL CPLD on a homemade project board. It should work just fine on our XC9572XL Development […]
Altera breaks industry record for most transistors on an IC
Altera today issued a press release announcing that it set an industry milestone in semiconductor technology by delivering the most transistors ever packed onto an integrated circuit. Altera’s 28-nm Stratix® V FPGAs are the semiconductor industry’s first devices to feature 3.9 billion transistors. “Altera surpassed the known record for transistors when it taped out Stratix […]
Replacing discrete 7400 logic devices with CPLDs
Whether you are working on a retro computing device, or experimenting with digital logic, you’ll find that in most instances CPLDs can perform the same operations as a cluster of 7400 series discrete logic chips. Discrete logic devices, long considered the workhorses of the semiconductor industry, held a unit cost advantage over programmable logic devices […]
TurtleBot: a Kinect on wheels
Willow Garage has announced plans for the release of their TurtleBot robot kit. The kit is a combination of their iRobot Create, a Kinect, netbook, and gyro integrated together. Picture an Asus netbook riding on a Roomba with top-mounted Kinect for cyber vision all controlled by open source software and capable of running your own […]
App Note: Versatility of CTMU
This Microchip application note explores the many uses for the Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU). CTMU is a flexible analog module that provides accurate differential time measurement between pulse sources, as well as asynchronous pulse generation. Together with other on-chip analog modules, the CTMU can be used to precisely measure time, measure capacitance, measure relative […]
Waterwall device spooks cats
We found this Waterwall project on the Sump.org site, and while its an oldie it’s just too funny to pass up. This project is the logical result from combining my wish to keep them out of my room with their natural fear of water. So far they had proven very hard to teach about my […]
NimbleSig III RF analyzer using Renesas RX62N
Va7sa designed this RF analyzer as his entry in the Renesas RX design contest. He writes: The NimbleSig III RF Analyzer is a compact, relatively inexpensive instrumentation cluster intended for analyzing the transmission characteristics of RF circuits designed to operate within the frequency range of 200 KHz to 200 MHz. The analyzer is capable of […]
Mini robot design using CoolRunner-II CPLD
It’s National Robotics Week, and what would National Robotics Week be without a CPLD based mini robot design? Here’s a mini robot design project outline (PDF!) found in the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology journal. While it’s not a “how to” style article (no schematic/code provided), it describes the advantages of using CPLDs […]
FCC adopts spread spectrum rules changes
According to the ARRL, the FCC has adopted changes to the rules governing the use of spread spectrum radio transmissions by US Amateur Radio operators. The rule changes, which take effect April 29, 2011, eliminate the requirement that amateur stations transmitting Spread Spectrum use Automatic Power Control (APC) to reduce transmitter power. This requirement proved […]
Pyro propeller clock POV
Chris from PyroElectro writes:After having seen so many propeller clock POV videos on Youtube, but no real description of how they work or how to build your own, I set out to make one and document how it was built. The Pyro Propeller Clock POV design criteria was short and sweet: be as simple as […]
Reversible motor control for Arduino and other MCUs
Nothinglabs has posted their circuit for a simple reversible motor control for use with the Arduino and other MCUs. The circuit uses two TIP120 Darlington Transistors, two 220 ohm resistors and a 12 volt DPDT relay, parts easily obtainable at any Radio Shack. This design supports PWM for variable speed control, handles loads up to […]