Image Sensor from Discrete Parts Delivers Glorious 1-Kilopixel Images
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/image-sensor-from-discrete-parts-delivers-glorious-1-kilopixel-images/
Chances are pretty good that you have at least one digital image sensor somewhere close to you at this moment, likely within arm’s reach. The ubiquity of digital cameras is due to how cheap these sensors have become, and how easy they are to integrate into all sorts of devices. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/image-sensor-from-discrete-parts-delivers-glorious-1-kilopixel-images/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/image-sensor-from-discrete-parts-delivers-glorious-1-kilopixel-images/
Chances are pretty good that you have at least one digital image sensor somewhere close to you at this moment, likely within arm’s reach. The ubiquity of digital cameras is due to how cheap these sensors have become, and how easy they are to integrate into all sorts of devices. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/image-sensor-from-discrete-parts-delivers-glorious-1-kilopixel-images/)
Parallel Pis for Production Programming; Cutting Minutes and Dollars Off of Assembly
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/parallel-pis-for-production-programming-cutting-minutes-and-dollars-off-of-assembly/
Assembly lines for electronics products are complicated beasts, often composed of many custom tools and fixtures. Typically a microcontroller must be programmed with firmware, and the circuit board tested before assembly into the enclosure, followed by functional testing afterwards before putting it in a box. These test platforms can be …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/parallel-pis-for-production-programming-cutting-minutes-and-dollars-off-of-assembly/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/parallel-pis-for-production-programming-cutting-minutes-and-dollars-off-of-assembly/
Assembly lines for electronics products are complicated beasts, often composed of many custom tools and fixtures. Typically a microcontroller must be programmed with firmware, and the circuit board tested before assembly into the enclosure, followed by functional testing afterwards before putting it in a box. These test platforms can be …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/parallel-pis-for-production-programming-cutting-minutes-and-dollars-off-of-assembly/)
36C3: All Wireless Stacks Are Broken
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-all-wireless-stacks-are-broken/
Your cellphone is the least secure computer that you own, and worse than that, it’s got a radio. [Jiska Classen] and her lab have been hacking on cellphones’ wireless systems for a while now, and in this talk gives an overview of the wireless vulnerabilities and attack surfaces that they …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-all-wireless-stacks-are-broken/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-all-wireless-stacks-are-broken/
Your cellphone is the least secure computer that you own, and worse than that, it’s got a radio. [Jiska Classen] and her lab have been hacking on cellphones’ wireless systems for a while now, and in this talk gives an overview of the wireless vulnerabilities and attack surfaces that they …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-all-wireless-stacks-are-broken/)
Linux Fu: Leaning Down with exec
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/linux-fu-leaning-down-with-exec/
Shell scripting is handy and with a shell like bash it is very capable, too. However, shell scripting isn’t always very efficient. Think about it. If you run grep or tr or sort to do some operation in a shell script, you are spawning a whole new process. That takes …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/linux-fu-leaning-down-with-exec/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/linux-fu-leaning-down-with-exec/
Shell scripting is handy and with a shell like bash it is very capable, too. However, shell scripting isn’t always very efficient. Think about it. If you run grep or tr or sort to do some operation in a shell script, you are spawning a whole new process. That takes …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/linux-fu-leaning-down-with-exec/)
Jeremy Cook is Living His Strandbeest Dream
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/jeremy-cook-is-living-his-strandbeest-dream/
The first thing Jeremy Cook thought when he saw a video of Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest walking across the beach was how incredible the machine looked. His second thought was that there was no way he’d ever be able to build something like that himself. It’s a feeling that most of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/jeremy-cook-is-living-his-strandbeest-dream/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/jeremy-cook-is-living-his-strandbeest-dream/
The first thing Jeremy Cook thought when he saw a video of Theo Jansen’s Strandbeest walking across the beach was how incredible the machine looked. His second thought was that there was no way he’d ever be able to build something like that himself. It’s a feeling that most of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/jeremy-cook-is-living-his-strandbeest-dream/)
Focus Stacking For Tiny Subjects
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/focus-stacking-for-tiny-subjects/
Focus stacking is a photographic technique in which multiple exposures are taken of a subject, with the focus distance set to different lengths. These images are then composited together to create a final image with a greater depth of field than is possible with a single exposure. [Peter Lin] built …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/focus-stacking-for-tiny-subjects/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/focus-stacking-for-tiny-subjects/
Focus stacking is a photographic technique in which multiple exposures are taken of a subject, with the focus distance set to different lengths. These images are then composited together to create a final image with a greater depth of field than is possible with a single exposure. [Peter Lin] built …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/focus-stacking-for-tiny-subjects/)
36C3: SIM Card Technology From A to Z
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-sim-card-technology-from-a-to-z/
SIM cards are all around us, and with the continuing growth of the Internet of Things, spawning technologies like NB-IoT, this might as well be very literal soon. But what do we really know about them, their internal structure, and their communication protocols? And by extension, their security? To shine …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-sim-card-technology-from-a-to-z/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-sim-card-technology-from-a-to-z/
SIM cards are all around us, and with the continuing growth of the Internet of Things, spawning technologies like NB-IoT, this might as well be very literal soon. But what do we really know about them, their internal structure, and their communication protocols? And by extension, their security? To shine …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-sim-card-technology-from-a-to-z/)
Cat Diner Now Under New Management
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/cat-diner-now-under-new-management/
Most of these stories start with a cat standing on someone’s chest, begging for food at some obscene hour of the morning. But not this one. Chaz the cat is diabetic, and he needs to get his insulin with breakfast. The problem is that Chaz likes to eat overnight, which …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/cat-diner-now-under-new-management/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/cat-diner-now-under-new-management/
Most of these stories start with a cat standing on someone’s chest, begging for food at some obscene hour of the morning. But not this one. Chaz the cat is diabetic, and he needs to get his insulin with breakfast. The problem is that Chaz likes to eat overnight, which …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/cat-diner-now-under-new-management/)
36C3: Build Your Own Quantum Computer At Home
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-build-your-own-quantum-computer-at-home/
In any normal situation, if you’d read an article that about building your own quantum computer, a fully understandable and natural reaction would be to call it clickbaity poppycock. But an event like the Chaos Communication Congress is anything but a normal situation, and you never know who will show …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-build-your-own-quantum-computer-at-home/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-build-your-own-quantum-computer-at-home/
In any normal situation, if you’d read an article that about building your own quantum computer, a fully understandable and natural reaction would be to call it clickbaity poppycock. But an event like the Chaos Communication Congress is anything but a normal situation, and you never know who will show …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/30/36c3-build-your-own-quantum-computer-at-home/)
Your TS80 – Music Player
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/your-ts80-music-player/
By now most readers will be familiar with the Miniware TS100 and TS80 soldering irons, compact and lightweight temperature controlled soldering tools that have set a new standard at the lower-priced end of the decent soldering iron market. We know they have an STM32 processor, a USB interface, and an …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/your-ts80-music-player/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/your-ts80-music-player/
By now most readers will be familiar with the Miniware TS100 and TS80 soldering irons, compact and lightweight temperature controlled soldering tools that have set a new standard at the lower-priced end of the decent soldering iron market. We know they have an STM32 processor, a USB interface, and an …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/your-ts80-music-player/)
Reverse Engineer PCBs with SprintLayout
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/reverse-engineer-pcbs-with-sprintlayout/
[Bwack] had some scanned pictures of an old Commodore card and wanted to recreate PC boards from it. It’s true that he could have just manually redrawn everything in a CAD package, but that’s tedious. Instead, he used SprintLayout 6.0 which allows you to import pictures and use them as …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/reverse-engineer-pcbs-with-sprintlayout/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/reverse-engineer-pcbs-with-sprintlayout/
[Bwack] had some scanned pictures of an old Commodore card and wanted to recreate PC boards from it. It’s true that he could have just manually redrawn everything in a CAD package, but that’s tedious. Instead, he used SprintLayout 6.0 which allows you to import pictures and use them as …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/reverse-engineer-pcbs-with-sprintlayout/)
Fail of the Week: Ambitious Vector Network Analyzer Fails To Deliver
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/fail-of-the-week-ambitious-vector-network-analyzer-fails-to-deliver/
If you’re going to fail, you might as well fail ambitiously. A complex project with a lot of subsystems has a greater chance of at least partial success, as well as providing valuable lessons in what not to do next time. At least that’s the lemonade [Josh Johnson] made from …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/fail-of-the-week-ambitious-vector-network-analyzer-fails-to-deliver/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/fail-of-the-week-ambitious-vector-network-analyzer-fails-to-deliver/
If you’re going to fail, you might as well fail ambitiously. A complex project with a lot of subsystems has a greater chance of at least partial success, as well as providing valuable lessons in what not to do next time. At least that’s the lemonade [Josh Johnson] made from …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/fail-of-the-week-ambitious-vector-network-analyzer-fails-to-deliver/)
A Soft Robotic Insect That Survives the Fly Swatter
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/a-soft-robotic-insect-that-survives-the-fly-swatter/
Swarms of robotic insects incapable of being swatted away may no longer be the product of science fiction and Black Mirror episodes. A team from EPFL’s School of Engineering has developed an insect propelled at 3 cm/s, dubbed the DEAnsect.
What makes this robot unique is its exceptional robustness. Two …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/a-soft-robotic-insect-that-survives-the-fly-swatter/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/a-soft-robotic-insect-that-survives-the-fly-swatter/
Swarms of robotic insects incapable of being swatted away may no longer be the product of science fiction and Black Mirror episodes. A team from EPFL’s School of Engineering has developed an insect propelled at 3 cm/s, dubbed the DEAnsect.
What makes this robot unique is its exceptional robustness. Two …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/a-soft-robotic-insect-that-survives-the-fly-swatter/)
Foam Board, Old Electronics, and Imagination Make Movie Magic
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/foam-board-old-electronics-and-imagination-make-movie-magic/
When it comes to building sets and props for movies and TV, it’s so easy to get science fiction wrong – particularly with low-budget productions. It must be tempting for the set department to fall back on the “get a bunch of stuff and paint it silver” model, which can …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/foam-board-old-electronics-and-imagination-make-movie-magic/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/foam-board-old-electronics-and-imagination-make-movie-magic/
When it comes to building sets and props for movies and TV, it’s so easy to get science fiction wrong – particularly with low-budget productions. It must be tempting for the set department to fall back on the “get a bunch of stuff and paint it silver” model, which can …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/foam-board-old-electronics-and-imagination-make-movie-magic/)
Macro Photography With Industrial Lenses
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/macro-photography-with-industrial-lenses/
Line scan cameras are advanced devices used for process inspection tasks in industrial applications. Used to monitor the quality of silicon wafers and other high-accuracy tasks, they’re often outfitted with top-quality optics that are highly specialised. [Peter] was able to get his hands on a lens for a line-scan camera, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/macro-photography-with-industrial-lenses/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/macro-photography-with-industrial-lenses/
Line scan cameras are advanced devices used for process inspection tasks in industrial applications. Used to monitor the quality of silicon wafers and other high-accuracy tasks, they’re often outfitted with top-quality optics that are highly specialised. [Peter] was able to get his hands on a lens for a line-scan camera, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/macro-photography-with-industrial-lenses/)
Flip Phones Are Making a Comeback
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/flip-phones-are-making-a-comeback/
If you’re the kind of person who hates this new generation of smartphone users and longs for a nostalgic past, you’re not far from the new target demographic for many commercial phone manufacturers. Major phone companies like Motorola and Huawei have been developing foldable versions of conventional smartphone designs, intended …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/flip-phones-are-making-a-comeback/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/flip-phones-are-making-a-comeback/
If you’re the kind of person who hates this new generation of smartphone users and longs for a nostalgic past, you’re not far from the new target demographic for many commercial phone manufacturers. Major phone companies like Motorola and Huawei have been developing foldable versions of conventional smartphone designs, intended …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/flip-phones-are-making-a-comeback/)
PoE Powers Christmas Lights, But Opens Up So Much More
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/poe-powers-christmas-lights-but-opens-up-so-much-more/
Addressable LEDs are a staple of homemade Christmas decorations in our community, as is microprocessor control of those LEDs. So at first sight [Glen Akins]’ LED decorated Christmas tree looks pretty enough, but isn’t particularly unusual. But after reading his write-up you’ll discover there’s far more to the project than …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/poe-powers-christmas-lights-but-opens-up-so-much-more/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/poe-powers-christmas-lights-but-opens-up-so-much-more/
Addressable LEDs are a staple of homemade Christmas decorations in our community, as is microprocessor control of those LEDs. So at first sight [Glen Akins]’ LED decorated Christmas tree looks pretty enough, but isn’t particularly unusual. But after reading his write-up you’ll discover there’s far more to the project than …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/12/31/poe-powers-christmas-lights-but-opens-up-so-much-more/)
Building a Giant Meta-Clock Made of Smaller Clocks
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/building-a-giant-meta-clock-made-of-smaller-clocks/
Have any last-minute projects you finished just before the end of the decade? To help pass the time, [Erich Styger] decided to build a meta digital clock made up of 24 individual analog clocks, the perfect item to help welcome in the new year. The stepper clock is controlled by …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/building-a-giant-meta-clock-made-of-smaller-clocks/)
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/building-a-giant-meta-clock-made-of-smaller-clocks/
Have any last-minute projects you finished just before the end of the decade? To help pass the time, [Erich Styger] decided to build a meta digital clock made up of 24 individual analog clocks, the perfect item to help welcome in the new year. The stepper clock is controlled by …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/building-a-giant-meta-clock-made-of-smaller-clocks/)
Magnetic Circuits Are More Attractive Than Breadboarding
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/magnetic-circuits-are-more-attractive-than-breadboarding/
Let’s face it, breadboarding can be frustrating, even for advanced electronics wizards. If you have an older board, you could be dealing with loose tie points left from large component legs, and power rails of questionable continuity. Conversely, it can be hard to jam just-made jumper wires into new boards …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/magnetic-circuits-are-more-attractive-than-breadboarding/)
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/magnetic-circuits-are-more-attractive-than-breadboarding/
Let’s face it, breadboarding can be frustrating, even for advanced electronics wizards. If you have an older board, you could be dealing with loose tie points left from large component legs, and power rails of questionable continuity. Conversely, it can be hard to jam just-made jumper wires into new boards …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/magnetic-circuits-are-more-attractive-than-breadboarding/)
Happy 50th Birthday to All You Epoch Birthers
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/happy-50th-birthday-to-all-you-epoch-birthers/
Good morning everyone, and what a lovely start to the new year it is, because it’s your birthday! Happy birthday, it’s your 50th! What’s that you say, you aren’t 50 today? (Looks…) That’s what all these internet databases say, because you’ve spent the last decade or so putting 1970-01-01 as …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/happy-50th-birthday-to-all-you-epoch-birthers/)
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/happy-50th-birthday-to-all-you-epoch-birthers/
Good morning everyone, and what a lovely start to the new year it is, because it’s your birthday! Happy birthday, it’s your 50th! What’s that you say, you aren’t 50 today? (Looks…) That’s what all these internet databases say, because you’ve spent the last decade or so putting 1970-01-01 as …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/happy-50th-birthday-to-all-you-epoch-birthers/)
Reducing the Risk of Flying with Hydrogen Fuels
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/reducing-the-risk-of-flying-with-hydrogen-fuels/
Flight shaming is the hot new thing where people who take more than a handful of trips on an airplane per year are ridiculed for the environmental impact of their travels. It’s one strategy for making flying more sustainable, but it’s simply not viable for ultimately reducing the carbon impact …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/reducing-the-risk-of-flying-with-hydrogen-fuels/)
https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/reducing-the-risk-of-flying-with-hydrogen-fuels/
Flight shaming is the hot new thing where people who take more than a handful of trips on an airplane per year are ridiculed for the environmental impact of their travels. It’s one strategy for making flying more sustainable, but it’s simply not viable for ultimately reducing the carbon impact …read more (https://hackaday.com/2020/01/01/reducing-the-risk-of-flying-with-hydrogen-fuels/)