Raj has posted this tutorial at Embedded-Lab on building wireless sensor applications using Dorji’s DRF4432S and DRF5150S RF modules. “The interesting part of these RF modules is they have an additional preprogrammed microcontroller on board that allows direct connection of selected analog and digital sensors to the modules.” Raj’s article describes these two modules briefly, […]
Category Archives: sensors
Reverse engineering a home security system
Ken from OverEngineered writes us about his recent efforts in reverse engineering, I recently reverse-engineered the security system installed in my house and re-implemented the control board for it using a JeeNode (arduino-compatible with on-board RFM12 radio). I created a post about the reverse-engineering here. And another post about a demo of the wireless Security […]
Prop EKG: simple heart rhythm monitor using Parallax Propeller
RaysLogic has posted his plans for a Parallax Propeller based heart rate monitor. Dubbed the PropEKG, Ray’s design uses an AD627 instrument amplifier and TC1029 dual op amp. Data is processed by the Propeller and relayed to a Windows PC using a Parallax PropPlug (normally used for programming a Propeller chip.) The circuit is isolated […]
AS3935 Franklin lightning sensor
Joe Desbonnet writes, “This looks like an interesting lightning sensor the AS3935 by Franklin. Available at Digi-Key for about $8 in single quantities. Unfortunately the eval kit is $300.”
Simple DIY EMG sensors
Eric Schmiedl writes, “See the signals that make your muscles move… all it takes is an audio recorder and $10 worth of foil, coax, and duct tape. Oh, and some sugar syrup.” Eric constructed these DIY EMG sensors which he interfaced with an audio recorder to record his muscle activity.
Low-tech Arduino based cell phone trigger
William Finucane of revoltlab.com posted this article describing a simple low-cost means of activating devices remotely via telephone. I wanted to be able to call my house and turn on the lights and television during nights when I was away on vacation. What’s more, I didn’t want to spend any money on cell phone bills […]
DIY Arduino 6-channel temperature monitor
Johnathan Hottell wanted a way to monitor and display the temperature readings at various points around the engine on his LB7 Duramax diesel truck. He developed this project for a six channel temperature monitor employing a bank of thermistors to monitor various engine locations. They are read each second by the Arduino’s analog pins, with […]
Simple Arduino motion sensor – SMS messaging project
Here’s an easy open source motion sensing project by Matt Williamson which sends you an SMS message when motion is detected. The hardware consists of an Arduino and Parallax PIR sensor (Part No. 555-28027). This arrangement communicates via serial with a Python server on an attached computer, which then uses the TelAPI service to accomplish […]
AS3935 lightning sensor chip
Manuel Garbe and Drone both wrote in to draw our attention to this new “Lightning Detector” chip from Austriamicrosystems. According to the manufacturer’s press release, “[t]he AS3935 is a programmable Lightning Sensor IC that detects the presence and approach of potentially hazardous lightning activity in the vicinity. It detects intra-cloud activity as well as cloud […]
Receiving Oregon Scientific sensors with RTL-SDR
Kevin Mehall got his RTL-SDR dongle and wasted no time in developing a decoder using GNU Radio for the 433MHz transmissions of Oregon Scientific remote temperature sensors (v1 protocol). These devices transmit on 433.9 MHz sending data packets containing the temperature data every 30 seconds. The transmitter uses On-off keying and the 32 data bits […]
O’Reilly video: Intro to Gestural Interfaces with the Microsoft Kinect
This webcast by Greg Borenstein presented by O’Reilly offers a solid introduction to building your own applications with the Microsoft Kinect. Beginners will find a wealth of information about the Kinect’s theory of operation and how to use the data it generates to work with Arduino, Processing and other frameworks. The importance of the calibration […]
Chaotic Moon Labs’ Board of Imagination
At CES 2012 Chaotic Moon Labs debuted the Board of Awesomeness, a motorized skateboard which was controlled based upon readings from a Kinect. Now the CML crew has taken the concept one step further with their Board of Imagination. The BOI is similar to the Board of Awesomeness except that control is based upon brain […]
Maker Shed pulse sensor
The folks over at MAKE have a pulse sensor which attaches to your fingertip or earlobe and measures minute changes in light from expansion of the capillary blood vessels to sense your heartbeat. Technical information is available here, including design files, sample code and schmetic. The device is licensed under the TAPR Open Hardware License. […]
The “MOTHER” of all hackerspace automation systems
Jonathan of LVL1 Hackerspace informs us of their latest project. “MOTHER is LVL1’s attempt to create the ultimate hackerspace A.I. and automation system. The MOTHER project is still in it’s early stages yet MOTHER has already gained the ability to monitor and control a MASSIVE numbers of sensors as well as become a central integration […]
Deconstructing a retail anti theft sensor device
In this short video, Jeri and company answer the age old question: what’s inside one of those anti-theft sensor alarm devices used by the big box stores? You could call this destructive reverse engineering, or literal brute forcing. It looks like the alarm is triggered by the cutting of the attached bands surrounding the package. […]
Tutorial: using Ping ultrasonic sensor with Arduino
Tronixstuff has posted a tutorial explaining how to use the Parallax Ping sensor with Arduino. The Ping is an ultrasonic distance sensor from Parallax which retails or about $30. This segment is the latest in a series of Arduino tutorials posted by Tronixstuff.
How to read several infrared sensors using one MCU pin
Oscar has written an article describing a technique he’s used for reading multiple analog sensors with one MCU ADC pin. He was designing a line-following robot and wanted to read several infrared sensors without having to dedicate an analog read pin for each. His solution uses “a Schmitt trigger inverter whose output has resistors connected […]
Nimbits 3.3 is live
Nimbits 3.3 is live! With Nimbits, you can record data into “Data Points” hosted on a public or private cloud that can be connected to sensors, social networks, devices, software or anything else. The Nimbits team reports: This version of Nimbits provides full machine to machine (M2M) communication capabilities using the same protocols as Google […]
Parallax laser range finder / Game Boy printer hack
Joe Grand, developer of the Parallax Laser Range Finder (LRF) presents this hack interfacing the LRF with a vintage Game Boy printer. The project uses the LRF’s onboard camera, along with a few circuit and firmware mods, to allow the user to take snapshots and have them printed by the Game Boy. Complete source files […]
Hakko tip temperature readings
Arhi continues his quest for soldering iron driver perfection. In the latest development, he attached a temperature sensor to the tip of his Hakko soldering iron, and compared the temperature between the tip and the sensor inside the heater. The readings on the graph he posted are almost identical below 50C, but there is a […]