Hackaday Podcast 031: Holonomic Drives, Badges of DEF CON, We Don’t Do On-Chip Debugging, and Small Run Manufacturing Snafus
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hackaday-podcast-031-holonomic-drives-badges-of-def-con-we-dont-do-on-chip-debugging-and-small-run-manufacturing-snafus/
Mike Szczys and Kerry Scharfglass recorded this week’s podcast live from DEF CON. Among the many topics of discussion, we explore some of the more interesting ways to move a robot. From BB-8 to Holonomic Drives, Kerry’s hoping to have a proof of concept in time for Supercon. Are you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hackaday-podcast-031-holonomic-drives-badges-of-def-con-we-dont-do-on-chip-debugging-and-small-run-manufacturing-snafus/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hackaday-podcast-031-holonomic-drives-badges-of-def-con-we-dont-do-on-chip-debugging-and-small-run-manufacturing-snafus/
Mike Szczys and Kerry Scharfglass recorded this week’s podcast live from DEF CON. Among the many topics of discussion, we explore some of the more interesting ways to move a robot. From BB-8 to Holonomic Drives, Kerry’s hoping to have a proof of concept in time for Supercon. Are you …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hackaday-podcast-031-holonomic-drives-badges-of-def-con-we-dont-do-on-chip-debugging-and-small-run-manufacturing-snafus/)
Hands-On: Queercon 16 Hardware Badge Shows Off Custom Membrane Keyboard
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hands-on-queercon-16-hardware-badge-shows-off-custom-membrane-keyboard/
Year over year, the Queercon badge is consistently impressive. I think what’s most impressive about these badges is that they seemingly throw out all design ideas from the previous year and start anew, yet manage to discover a unique and addictive aesthetic every single time.
This year, there are two …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hands-on-queercon-16-hardware-badge-shows-off-custom-membrane-keyboard/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hands-on-queercon-16-hardware-badge-shows-off-custom-membrane-keyboard/
Year over year, the Queercon badge is consistently impressive. I think what’s most impressive about these badges is that they seemingly throw out all design ideas from the previous year and start anew, yet manage to discover a unique and addictive aesthetic every single time.
This year, there are two …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/hands-on-queercon-16-hardware-badge-shows-off-custom-membrane-keyboard/)
You Need a Cyberdeck, this Board Will Help
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/you-need-a-cyberdeck-this-board-will-help/
In 1984, William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer helped kick off the cyberpunk genre that many hackers have been delighting in ever since. Years before Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, Gibson was imagining worldwide computer networks and omnipresent artificial intelligence. One of his most famous fictional creations is the cyberdeck, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/you-need-a-cyberdeck-this-board-will-help/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/you-need-a-cyberdeck-this-board-will-help/
In 1984, William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer helped kick off the cyberpunk genre that many hackers have been delighting in ever since. Years before Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web, Gibson was imagining worldwide computer networks and omnipresent artificial intelligence. One of his most famous fictional creations is the cyberdeck, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/you-need-a-cyberdeck-this-board-will-help/)
Cramming Dual SIMs & A Micro SD Card Into Your Phone
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cramming-dual-sims-a-micro-sd-card-into-your-phone/
There are plenty of dual SIM phones on the market these days, but most of them are a hamstrung by packaging issues. Despite their dual SIM capability, this usually comes at the expense of the microSD card slot. Of course, hackers don’t accept such nonsense, and [Tweepy] went about crafting …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cramming-dual-sims-a-micro-sd-card-into-your-phone/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cramming-dual-sims-a-micro-sd-card-into-your-phone/
There are plenty of dual SIM phones on the market these days, but most of them are a hamstrung by packaging issues. Despite their dual SIM capability, this usually comes at the expense of the microSD card slot. Of course, hackers don’t accept such nonsense, and [Tweepy] went about crafting …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cramming-dual-sims-a-micro-sd-card-into-your-phone/)
A Real All-In-One Printer Should Have a Computer In It, Too
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/a-real-all-in-one-printer-should-have-a-computer-in-it-too/
With printers generally being cheaper to replace than re-ink, there are plenty of cast-offs around to play with. They’re a great source for parts, but they’re also tempting targets for repurposing for entirely new uses. Sure, you could make a printer into a planter, but slightly more useful is this …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/a-real-all-in-one-printer-should-have-a-computer-in-it-too/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/a-real-all-in-one-printer-should-have-a-computer-in-it-too/
With printers generally being cheaper to replace than re-ink, there are plenty of cast-offs around to play with. They’re a great source for parts, but they’re also tempting targets for repurposing for entirely new uses. Sure, you could make a printer into a planter, but slightly more useful is this …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/a-real-all-in-one-printer-should-have-a-computer-in-it-too/)
An (Almost) Free Apollo-Era Rocket
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/an-almost-free-apollo-era-rocket/
According to recent news reports, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama wants to give away a piece of history — an engineering test article of a Saturn I Block I booster. The catch? You’ll need to pay to haul it off, which will cost about $250,000. According to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/an-almost-free-apollo-era-rocket/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/an-almost-free-apollo-era-rocket/
According to recent news reports, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Alabama wants to give away a piece of history — an engineering test article of a Saturn I Block I booster. The catch? You’ll need to pay to haul it off, which will cost about $250,000. According to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/an-almost-free-apollo-era-rocket/)
Cruising GitHub For Slack Webhook Tokens
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cruising-github-for-slack-webhook-tokens/
GitHub is an incredibly powerful tool for sharing source code, and its value to the modern hacker can’t be overstated. But there’s at least one downside to effortlessly sharing your source: it’s now much easier for the whole world to find out when you screw up. Back in the day, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cruising-github-for-slack-webhook-tokens/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cruising-github-for-slack-webhook-tokens/
GitHub is an incredibly powerful tool for sharing source code, and its value to the modern hacker can’t be overstated. But there’s at least one downside to effortlessly sharing your source: it’s now much easier for the whole world to find out when you screw up. Back in the day, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/16/cruising-github-for-slack-webhook-tokens/)
Perfecting a Bluetooth N64 Controller
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/perfecting-a-bluetooth-n64-controller/
Love it or hate it, the Nintendo 64 controller doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Dedicated fans are still looking for ways to use the unique trilobed controller with modern systems, and they won’t be satisfied until they perfectly replicate the original experience. [Shyri Villar] has been working on perfecting …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/perfecting-a-bluetooth-n64-controller/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/perfecting-a-bluetooth-n64-controller/
Love it or hate it, the Nintendo 64 controller doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Dedicated fans are still looking for ways to use the unique trilobed controller with modern systems, and they won’t be satisfied until they perfectly replicate the original experience. [Shyri Villar] has been working on perfecting …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/perfecting-a-bluetooth-n64-controller/)
A Custom Milled Jig for Smart Bulb Programming
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/a-custom-milled-jig-for-smart-bulb-programming/
Who would have thought that some day we’d need programming jigs for our light bulbs? But progress marches on, and as there’s currently a number of affordable Internet-controlled bulbs powered by the ESP8266 on the market, we’re at the point where a tool to help update the firmware on the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/a-custom-milled-jig-for-smart-bulb-programming/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/a-custom-milled-jig-for-smart-bulb-programming/
Who would have thought that some day we’d need programming jigs for our light bulbs? But progress marches on, and as there’s currently a number of affordable Internet-controlled bulbs powered by the ESP8266 on the market, we’re at the point where a tool to help update the firmware on the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/a-custom-milled-jig-for-smart-bulb-programming/)
MIDI Harp Looks Pretty Sharp
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/midi-harp-looks-pretty-sharp/
[Julien] is one of those cool dads who shows his love with time invested rather than money spent. His daughter plays the harp, and you would not believe the price of concert harps. Even the cheap ones are several thousand USD. So naturally, he decided he would build her a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/midi-harp-looks-pretty-sharp/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/midi-harp-looks-pretty-sharp/
[Julien] is one of those cool dads who shows his love with time invested rather than money spent. His daughter plays the harp, and you would not believe the price of concert harps. Even the cheap ones are several thousand USD. So naturally, he decided he would build her a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/midi-harp-looks-pretty-sharp/)
NFC Business Cards to FPGA Cubes, Skull Badges to Bandoliers, Here’s the Hardware from Breakfast at DEF CON
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/nfc-business-cards-to-fpga-cubes-skull-badges-to-bandoliers-heres-the-hardware-from-breakfast-at-def-con/
We had our biggest Breakfast at DEF CON ever on Sunday. So big, in fact, that the carefully laid plans went awry immediately.
This is the fifth year we’ve hosted the event, which kicks off the final day of DEF CON with some hardware show-and-tell. We really thought we had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/nfc-business-cards-to-fpga-cubes-skull-badges-to-bandoliers-heres-the-hardware-from-breakfast-at-def-con/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/nfc-business-cards-to-fpga-cubes-skull-badges-to-bandoliers-heres-the-hardware-from-breakfast-at-def-con/
We had our biggest Breakfast at DEF CON ever on Sunday. So big, in fact, that the carefully laid plans went awry immediately.
This is the fifth year we’ve hosted the event, which kicks off the final day of DEF CON with some hardware show-and-tell. We really thought we had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/nfc-business-cards-to-fpga-cubes-skull-badges-to-bandoliers-heres-the-hardware-from-breakfast-at-def-con/)
Sensor lets Gestures and an Arduino Control the Tunes
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/sensor-lets-gestures-and-an-arduino-control-the-tunes/
Every time we watch Minority Report we want to make wild hand gestures at our computer — most of them polite. [Rootsaid] wanted to do the same and discovered that the PAJ7620 is an easy way to read hand gestures. The little sensor has a serial interface and can recognize …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/sensor-lets-gestures-and-an-arduino-control-the-tunes/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/sensor-lets-gestures-and-an-arduino-control-the-tunes/
Every time we watch Minority Report we want to make wild hand gestures at our computer — most of them polite. [Rootsaid] wanted to do the same and discovered that the PAJ7620 is an easy way to read hand gestures. The little sensor has a serial interface and can recognize …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/sensor-lets-gestures-and-an-arduino-control-the-tunes/)
Square Laser Harp is Hip
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/square-laser-harp-is-hip/
You know, we hadn’t realized how tired we were of vertical laser harps until we saw [Jonathan Bumstead]’s entry into the 2019 Hackaday Prize. It’s all well and good to imitate the design of the inspiring instrument. But the neat thing about synths is that they aren’t confined to the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/square-laser-harp-is-hip/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/square-laser-harp-is-hip/
You know, we hadn’t realized how tired we were of vertical laser harps until we saw [Jonathan Bumstead]’s entry into the 2019 Hackaday Prize. It’s all well and good to imitate the design of the inspiring instrument. But the neat thing about synths is that they aren’t confined to the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/square-laser-harp-is-hip/)
Enjoy A Refreshing Beverage With The Chilled Drink Calculator
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/enjoy-a-refreshing-beverage-with-the-chilled-drink-calculator/
Hackers are quite often the price conscious type, unwilling to pay jacked up prices for cold beverages when they can be purchased warm and in bulk for much lower cost. However, when guests are on the way and time is running out, it’s crucial to chill the drinks down to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/enjoy-a-refreshing-beverage-with-the-chilled-drink-calculator/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/enjoy-a-refreshing-beverage-with-the-chilled-drink-calculator/
Hackers are quite often the price conscious type, unwilling to pay jacked up prices for cold beverages when they can be purchased warm and in bulk for much lower cost. However, when guests are on the way and time is running out, it’s crucial to chill the drinks down to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/enjoy-a-refreshing-beverage-with-the-chilled-drink-calculator/)
Great Artificial Daylight Via Broken TVs
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/great-artificial-daylight-via-broken-tvs/
[DIY Perks] has long been a fan of lights that accurately mimic real daylight. Often choosing high-quality LEDs for his projects, lately he’s taken a different tack – using broken televisions to produce attractive home lighting solutions.
The hack involves removing the backlight from the damaged television or monitor. These …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/great-artificial-daylight-via-broken-tvs/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/great-artificial-daylight-via-broken-tvs/
[DIY Perks] has long been a fan of lights that accurately mimic real daylight. Often choosing high-quality LEDs for his projects, lately he’s taken a different tack – using broken televisions to produce attractive home lighting solutions.
The hack involves removing the backlight from the damaged television or monitor. These …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/17/great-artificial-daylight-via-broken-tvs/)
Adding A Co-Processor To Help SNES Games With Slowdown
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/adding-a-co-processor-to-help-snes-games-with-slowdown/
The Super Nintendo port of Gradius III is notable for being close to the arcade original, with its large, bright and colorful graphics. However, due to the limitation of the console’s hardware, the port is also well known for having constant slowdowns during gameplay, particularly during later sections. [Vitor] hacked …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/adding-a-co-processor-to-help-snes-games-with-slowdown/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/adding-a-co-processor-to-help-snes-games-with-slowdown/
The Super Nintendo port of Gradius III is notable for being close to the arcade original, with its large, bright and colorful graphics. However, due to the limitation of the console’s hardware, the port is also well known for having constant slowdowns during gameplay, particularly during later sections. [Vitor] hacked …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/adding-a-co-processor-to-help-snes-games-with-slowdown/)
ArduRover Boat Uses Tupperware To Float
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/ardurover-boat-uses-tupperware-to-float/
There’s nothing quite like the sight of a plastic box merrily sailing its way around a lake to symbolise how easy it is to get started in autonomous robotics. This isn’t a project we’re writing about because of technical excellence, but purely because watching an autonomous tupperware box navigate a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/ardurover-boat-uses-tupperware-to-float/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/ardurover-boat-uses-tupperware-to-float/
There’s nothing quite like the sight of a plastic box merrily sailing its way around a lake to symbolise how easy it is to get started in autonomous robotics. This isn’t a project we’re writing about because of technical excellence, but purely because watching an autonomous tupperware box navigate a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/ardurover-boat-uses-tupperware-to-float/)
Turning Scrap Metal Into Something To Work With
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/turning-scrap-metal-into-something-to-work-with/
Blacksmiths will frequently work to a customer’s commission, and sometimes those commissions can be somewhat unusual. [Copperrein] had just such a piece of work come his way, a ceremonial sword to be made from a supplied collection of iron and steel items. To render them into something useful he had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/turning-scrap-metal-into-something-to-work-with/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/turning-scrap-metal-into-something-to-work-with/
Blacksmiths will frequently work to a customer’s commission, and sometimes those commissions can be somewhat unusual. [Copperrein] had just such a piece of work come his way, a ceremonial sword to be made from a supplied collection of iron and steel items. To render them into something useful he had …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/turning-scrap-metal-into-something-to-work-with/)
An All-In-One Conference Video Streaming Box
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/an-all-in-one-conference-video-streaming-box/
When running a hacker camp or other event, one of the many challenges faced by the organisers concerns the production and distribution of event videos. As the talks are recorded they must be put online, and with a load of talks to be processed it quickly becomes impractical to upload …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/an-all-in-one-conference-video-streaming-box/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/an-all-in-one-conference-video-streaming-box/
When running a hacker camp or other event, one of the many challenges faced by the organisers concerns the production and distribution of event videos. As the talks are recorded they must be put online, and with a load of talks to be processed it quickly becomes impractical to upload …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/an-all-in-one-conference-video-streaming-box/)
Suntracker Optimizes Solar Panels While Visualizing Sun’s Path
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/suntracker-optimizes-solar-panels-while-visualizing-suns-path/
If you have solar panels, you want soak up as much sunshine as you can to get your money’s worth. If you don’t have space for a lot of panels, the next best thing is repositioning the panels to catch the most rays. For his entry into the Hackaday Prize, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/suntracker-optimizes-solar-panels-while-visualizing-suns-path/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/suntracker-optimizes-solar-panels-while-visualizing-suns-path/
If you have solar panels, you want soak up as much sunshine as you can to get your money’s worth. If you don’t have space for a lot of panels, the next best thing is repositioning the panels to catch the most rays. For his entry into the Hackaday Prize, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/suntracker-optimizes-solar-panels-while-visualizing-suns-path/)
Hackaday Links: August 18, 2019
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/hackaday-links-august-18-2019/
To the surprise of nobody with the slightest bit of technical intuition or just plain common sense, the world’s first solar roadway has proven to be a complete failure. The road, covering one lane and stretching all of 1,000 meters across the Normandy countryside, was installed in 2016 to great …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/hackaday-links-august-18-2019/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/hackaday-links-august-18-2019/
To the surprise of nobody with the slightest bit of technical intuition or just plain common sense, the world’s first solar roadway has proven to be a complete failure. The road, covering one lane and stretching all of 1,000 meters across the Normandy countryside, was installed in 2016 to great …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/08/18/hackaday-links-august-18-2019/)