OpenCV: Open source Computer Vision

Open source Computer Vision (OpenCV) is a library of programming functions for real time computer vision. It is released under a BSD license and is free for both academic and commercial use on the Linux, Mac and Windows platforms. The OpenCV library has 500+ optimized algorithms. Example applications of the OpenCV library are Human-Computer Interaction (HCI); Object Identification, Segmentation and Recognition; Face Recognition; Gesture Recognition; Motion Tracking, Ego Motion, Motion Understanding; Structure From Motion (SFM); Stereo and Multi-Camera Calibration and Depth Computation; Mobile Robotics.

It is used around the world, with over 3M downloads, for purposes ranging from interactive art to mine inspection, stitching maps on the web through advanced robotics.

The upside is the open source nature of this project; the downside, is that the real substantive explanations are found in the book Learning OpenCV: Computer Vision with the OpenCV Library which is only available for purchase.

For more details see the install guide or wiki page.

Implementation of UART transmitter in Verilog HDL for Spartan3 FPGA

If you’re experimenting with FPGAs its helpful to know how various common tasks are coded. Here is an article by M. Yasir explaining how to code a UART transmitter in a Spartan 3 FPGA. The tutorial uses the Verilog hardware definition language.

Logic Sniffer: Updated VHDL code and continous sampling mode

While we all followed dogsbody’s work on the new Verilog Demon Core for the Logic Sniffer, kinsa cleaned up the old VHDL core:
  • New SPI code, works with the latest PIC firmware (v3.0)
  • Working Metadata command
  • New RLE code; n bit counters for n bit data width (except for 24 bits). Additional compression for cases with zero run lengths. RLE stop command is also implemented
  • Fixed the spurious triggers due to floating external trigger pin
  • Resolved timing issues
kinsa also wrote a new continous sampling mode bitstream that captures continuously at a blazing 10KHz:

On my netbook with version 3.0 of the PIC firmware, the system can only achieve a maximum sample rate of 10kHz for 8 bit samples. Currently, the bottleneck is the PIC USB transfer rate.

Included is a test SUMP client to demonstrate this new capability. Select Test Mode and memory depth of 256K. Test mode outputs the contents of a 32 bit counter incremented by the sample rate clock.

Note that triggering is ignored and RLE is not supported.

Amazing work, and all thanks to open source.

Serial port only Bus Pirate v3b

Here’s an update on the serial port only Bus Pirate. It’s been constructed and tested:

Here it is, all populated.  It’s quite crowded, but with some careful planning for doing things in the right order, it was not difficult at all.  Thank goodness for solder wick.  I found SparkFun’s SMD soldering tutorials very helpful.  It looks like there’s kind of a claw sticking up out of the leftmost LED, which needs to be fixed.

Thanks schazamp! Via the forum.

Hacked Sprint/Nextel is a secure walkie talkie


Looking for a unique way of communicating at your hackerspace? Why not hack used Sprint/Nextel phones into free “off the grid”, relatively secure walkie talkies? Here’s a cool keyboard trick which reportedly works on Sprint/Nextel Motorola i315, i325 models and some other Motorola phones, which puts the phone into “Direct Talk” (a/k/a MOTOTalk) mode. This allows it to function as a walkie talkie without going through the cellular or Nextel “Direct Connect” networks.

A chart containing these little known keyboard sequences is available on the Sprint/Nextel site. There are ten user selectable channels and 15 sub-channel codes per channel. Users on the same channel/sub pair can monitor and communicate with other users on the same pair.

Direct Talk mode allows the phone to transmit directly to other (similarly enabled) phones within a short distance. It uses the 900 MHz ISM band and spread spectrum modulation, which is unable to be monitored by scanner radios. Nextel states the range as up to 6 miles, but given the low transmit power used by these devices it could be considerably less. It should work on any previously activated Sprint/Nextel handset which recognizes the Direct Talk feature, and since it’s marketed as working even where network service is not available it should work with phones not currently on a paid subscription. The phone must have a SIM card installed. Inexpensive used handsets are often available on Ebay and other sites, so give it a try!

NOTE: This is not a hack to get free cellular service or free “Direct Connect” network usage.

Free PCB Sunday: Bus Blaster v1

We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service.

This week we’re giving away two PCBs for the new Bus Blaster v1, an experimental high-speed JTAG debugger. Read about the design on the wiki.

Get the Bus Blaster v1 for $35, including worldwide shipping.
Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Bus Blaster v1”

Arduino Cyclocomputer

Here’s a project which unifies art and tech: a LilyPad Cyclocomputer. Mark Fickett designed this bicycle computer which uses a magnet and reed switch as a cyclocomputer wheel sensor. This sensor is read by the Arduino/LilyPad (Atmega328) which processes the data and stores two trip meters and a speed histogram; the trip meters are reported in Morse code via a speaker, and the histogram can be saved to EEPROM and later printed over the serial connection.

The circuit is based on the LilyPad version of the Arduino popular in art oriented projects. Schematic, source code and details are available on Mark’s github page.

Week in (p)review: February 27, 2011

Don’t forget to share your current project in the comments or the forum. This week our favorite project gets a free SOIC protoboard.

Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week:

This week we’re getting creative and working on new projects:

  • CPLD breakout boards are on the way, we’ll continue to work on the tutorials and example projects already in progress
  • A new wiki page catalogs the tools we use, we’ll discuss one of these tools in detail every week
  • More abandoned projects. Why not? Maybe someone will give them the love they need
  • Ongoing development in the project log forum

What are you hacking this week?

9046xN random access write-only memory

MichaelZ tipped us to the 9046 x N Random Access, Write Only Memory:

About 1974, Signetics bought a two-page, full-color spread in the April issue of ELECTRONICS Magazine, and published the WOM data sheet, as a (rather expensive) April Fool’s Joke. This version of the WOM data sheet shows the various features of Signetics’ Model 25120 “fully-encoded, 9046 x N Random Access, Write Only Memory”. This advertisement has been saved, and greatly prized by engineers, for many years. We recently found a copy of this data sheet, in very good shape except for where it had been punched for a 3-ring binder.

Direct PDF download.

Thanks McZ!

Modkit beta released

The first public beta of Modkit, an in-browser graphical programming environment for microcontrollers, has been released. Modkit allows you to program Arduino and Arduino compatible hardware using simple graphical blocks and/or traditional text code. Modkit’s graphical blocks are heavily inspired by the Scratch programming environment developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab.

Modkit can be either launched from your browser, or downloaded for offline use (Mac OSX and Windows versions only at the present.)

Pentest-bookmark collection

The Open Penetration Testing Bookmarks Collections is a collection of handy bookmarks to aid in your day to day work or in the course of research. Founder J.Haddi writes,

They are not all inclusive and some sections need to be parsed but they are all good reference materials. I find having this Hackery folder in Firefox an easy way to reference syntax, tricks, methods, and generally facilitate and organize research. Opening it up to everyone will facilitate a knowledge transfer. Hopefully the initial set will grow and expand.

The bookmarks can be be found in this downloadable file.

Droid owner beats radar

Sahas Kata had a minor run in with the law, an officer claimed he was speeding, 40 in a 25. fortunately he was running tracking software on his new droid phone. once in court he asked the officer when he was last trained on use of the radar gun, when it was last calibrated, etc. he was found not guilty, basically because the officer was unprepared.

The judge took a moment and declared that I was not guilty, but he had an unusual statement that followed. To avoid any misinterpretations about his ruling, he chose to clarify his decision by citing the lack of evidence on the officer’s part. He mentioned that he was not familiar enough with GPS technology to make a decision based on my evidence, but I can’t help but imagine that it was an important factor.

Blind reliance on technology can lead to injustice, and in other cases may have serious consequences.

Via Slashdot

Display custom characters on 16×2 LCDs

Chris from PyroElectro informs us of his tutorial on designing custom characters for display on a 16×2 HD44780 compatible LCD. This tutorial shows how to use the advanced functionality of HD44780 16×2 LCD’s where you can create your own characters instead of using the built-in character set, and includes a simple demonstration of animation on the LCD module.

His tutorial uses the PIC 18F452 in 8-bit interface mode, but once you grasp the concept of generating the character image code, these concepts could be used with HD44780 LCDs interfaced with Arduino or any other microcontroller.

USB Infrared Toy firmware v11

USB Infrared Toy firmware v11 is now available for download. Thanks to everyone who reported bugs and helped troubleshoot

Major updates:

  • Fixed IR Sample mode transmit frequency adjustment
  • Fixed version detect problem with IR Toy v2
  • Minor bug fixes and cleanup
  • Includes Windows update utility and .inf driver file.

Get the USB IR Toy for $20.00, including worldwide shipping.

A new batch is being manufactured now, backorders should ship soon. This batch has a different LED that should work better with the current supplied by the IR Toy transmitter.

PROTOTYPE: Bus Blaster v1 JTAG debugger

The Bus Blaster is a  high-speed JTAG debugger/programmer that works with many ARM processors, CPLDs, FPGAs, and flash chips. It’s compatible with the most popular open source JTAG utilities such as OpenOCD and urJTAG.

After almost a year of on-and-off development the first Bus Blaster v1 prototype is available. This initial batch is offered to early adopters at a discount, the final price will increase by a few dollars.

  • Fully buffered interface works with 3.3volt to 1.2volt targets
  • Based on FT2232H with high-speed USB 2.0
  • Compatible with ‘jtagkey’ programmer type in OpenOCD, urJTAG, and more
  • Open source (CC-BY-SA)

Each Bus Blaster is tested with a real JTAG target before it ships.

Bus Blaster v1 is now available for $35, including worldwide shipping.

Testing the Seeeduino Stalker in extreme conditions

Seeed Studio is torture testing the Seeeduino Stalker, all-weather data-logging device:

To survive in the weather like “2012″ or “the day after tomorrow”, this is not enough. We want to find the limitation of Seeeduino Stalker.

Interesting project. What’s the most extreme conditions your projects have faced?

RULAV treehouse with microcontrollers, PCBs, and more

The RULAV isn’t just an ordinary treehouse:

Rarely does building a treehouse require welding, grinding, painting, riveting, bending, crimping, plumbing, brazing, laser cutting, sound design, printed circuit board fabrication, thousands of lines of C code, distributed network protocols, sewing and embroidery.

Thanks Jeremy! Via the contact form.

Continue reading “RULAV treehouse with microcontrollers, PCBs, and more”

Sensor + microcontroller = smart sensor

Sensors are commonly used in conjunction with microcontrollers which read the sensor’s output and make decisions based on it. Now a new class of smart sensors is being introduced which will integrate the sensor and microcontroller in one unit.

One example is the Freescale MMA9550L, the industry’s first intelligent high precision motion sensing platform that manages multiple sensor inputs and makes system-level decisions. It extends 3-axis accelerometer functionality with a programmable core and on-chip memory to enable advanced motion sensing capability. The MMA9550L may be programmed to provide freefall detection, tilt and 3D orientation detection, tap and double tap detection, dead reckoning, shock, vibration and sudden motion detection, and power management.

While the MMA9550L is in “product introduction pending” status, it serves as an example of the type of multifunction parts we can expect to see from many manufacturers in the near future.