Boris presents this project just in time for Halloween. It’s a simple Halloween skull which employs an Arduino to read the level from sound sensors and controls a servo connected to the skull’s mandible. You can see more project details and get the source code from the Open-Electronics website. Via the contact form.
Category Archives: sensors
TI Deals: eZ430-Chronos RF watch
TI Deals is again offering the eZ430-Chronos at half price. This deal lasts for two weeks or until the supply is exhausted. Check out the TI eZ430 Chronos page or their wiki for more tech details.
Arduino powered jacket detects alcohol
This jacket just might save you from a DUI. Matt Leggett of New Zealand has designed a jacket that incorporates an Arduino-based alcohol sensor. A series of LEDs, stitched into the forearm, glow with an intensity varying with the amount of alcohol present in the wearer’s blood. The idea behind this innovative piece of clothing […]
HC-SR04 ultrasonic Arduino library
Carl Nobile has developed and released an Arduino library covering the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor. He writes: “It features timing, metric conversion, and standard deviation methods, plus a few support methods. It is written in C++ to conserve the namespace. The conversion formula can be easily modified to optimize the accuracy of conversion at different distances […]
Arduino based talking breathalyzer
The Hoz sent in a link to this Instructables by alinke detailing the build of a talking breathalyzer. The main components are a Seeeduino and the Seeed Music Shield, Twig Alcohol Sensor, and Twig Serial LCD all available from Seeedstudio. The open source code and other details can be downloaded from The Talking Breathalyzer site. […]
Parallax introduces laser range finder
Parallax has introduced the Laser Range Finder. “Designed in conjunction with Grand Idea Studio, the Parallax Laser Range Finder (LRF) Module is a distance-measuring instrument that uses laser technology to calculate the distance to a targeted object. The design uses a Propeller processor, CMOS camera, and laser diode to create a low-cost laser range finder. […]
Key less entry system using Ping))) and the Arduino
Mouser built a key-less entry system using Ping))) and the Arduino. The Ping))) ultrasonic sensor is used to gauge user’s hand positions. By moving the hand at different positions, a code is entered that opens the door. He used the moving average filter to keep the system from taking measurements while the hand was in motion. Source code, schematic diagram, as […]
HH10D humidity sensor Bus Pirate interface
Anthony posted a tutorial on interfacing HH10D humidity sensor with the Bus Pirate. He did the hard work of finding the calibration data, follow his tutorial and you’ll save time. HH10D uses a change in capacitance due to humidity to alter the output pin frequency. The calibration data is stored on a I2C EEPROM. Two modes of the Bus […]
Review: VPN1513 GPS receiver module
The VPN1513 GPS Receiver Module is a newly released combination GPS receiver and Parallax Propeller mini dev board. It uses a SiRF Star III chipset capable of tracking up to 20 satellites. The module supports both “raw” output mode for raw NMEA 0183 strings and the default “smart” mode for specific user-selected data through a […]
Arduino & iPhone = GSR lie detector
Anna Dumitriu, Tom Keene and Alex May recently gave a presentation at 17th International Symposium on Electronic Art in Istanbul demonstrating how to build an Arduino to iPhone/Android interface with GSR sensor. A GSR sensor connects to an Arduino board. The Arduino generates an audio tone mapped to value of electrical resistance in the skin. […]
STM32 F4 series of high-performance MCUs with DSP and FPU instructions
Matty informs us of a new STM32 dev board he learned about: There’s a new STM32: the F4 series. They can go up to 168 MHz, and have a bunch of new integrated peripherals, like 54 Mbps camera interface and DSP+FPU. There’s also the STM32F4DISCOVERY board on sale for $20, with an STM32F407 (Cortex-M4F), 3-axis […]
TI Deals offers solar experimenter board
TI Deals has the eZ430-RF2500-SEH solar energy harvesting wireless development tool on sale for $74.50 (including free International shipping) while supplies last. According to TI, the board includes 1x eZ430-RF2500-SEH kit, two eZ430-RF2500T wireless target boards, one eZ430-RF USB debugging interface, one AAA battery pack with expansion board (batteries included), one SEH-01 Solar Energy Harvester […]
Netduino vs Arduino
Greg Crawford at Citizen Scientists League has written a three-part series on the Netduino. In Part 1 he describes the Netduino’s features and compares this board to the more familiar Arduino. In Part 2, Greg details how to interface the Netduino with the SPI bus, and provides some C# code for this purpose. Part 3 […]
Arduino hack imitates Pixar’s living lamp, disses IKEA
This video shows “The Annoying IKEA LAMP” or SM-1, ArduinoArts’ finalist entry for SeeedStudio’s Grove Toy Kit contest: Headed by industrial engineer Javier Lander, the project weds two servos (one in the base and one in the lamp), sensors for motion and sound, a three axis accelerometer, LED light and audio board to an Arduino […]
Serenading with Arduino
If you want to add a geek angle to a romantic dinner, what better way than Arduino generated music? Michele Spagnuolo has coded this project for a simple, minimalistic piano-theremin generated by Arduino and Processing. The hardware consists of a SRF05 ultrasonic sensor with Echo connected to digital pin 2 and Trigger/Init connected to pin […]
Arduino-based Tacit Project assists visually impaired
The Tacit Project from Grathio Labs is developing a wrist mounted sonar assistive device for the visually impaired. The hardware includes Parallax Ping ultrasonic sensors mounted in the glove which send distance measurements to an Arduino. The Arduino then activates small hobby servos to vibrate in the glove to communicate the relative distance to objects. […]
Electronic circuit in a tattoo
UPI is reporting that researchers at Northwestern University have developed skin mounted electronic circuits. These devices which can either be attached with adhesive or temporarily tattooed could have applications in biomedical monitoring. Of course, we imagine “big brother” types of applications for this tech will be just around the corner… Thanks Chuckt! Via the Comments.
Arduino mindreading library
Chris from LVL1 Louisville’s Hackerspace has been working on hacking brainwave sensors using the Arduino. Both the Force Trainer and Mattel MindFlex use a daughterboard from NeuroSky that outputs serial data for values of ‘Wireless link’, ‘Attention’ and Meditation. Both of these devices have the same NeuroSky board, so the *easy* hacking instructions work for […]
Arduino vitamin/pill reminder
Having to remember to take a vitamin or medication periodically can easily result in missed doses. If it’s a vitamin, probably no big deal. But if its a medical maintenance drug a missed dose can have serious consequences. Ryan Blace from ibuildthings informs us of his latest project, a vitamin/pill reminder. He designed this Arduino […]
App note: BodyCom
The BodyCom system is a new short-range wireless connectivity technology that uses the capability of the human body to transport a few signals that provide intuitive, simple, and safe communication between two electronically compatible devices. Communication between BodyCom system devices occurs when they are within a few centimeters of the human body: a simple proximity […]