Hacking Pixmob Bands And Finding A Toolchain
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hacking-pixmob-bands-and-finding-a-toolchain/
The Pixmob band is an LED wrist strap, of the type often used at big concerts or other public events. Many have tinkered with the device, but as of yet, nobody was running custom code. It wouldn’t be easy, but [Adrian] got down to work.
A teardown of a 2016 …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hacking-pixmob-bands-and-finding-a-toolchain/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hacking-pixmob-bands-and-finding-a-toolchain/
The Pixmob band is an LED wrist strap, of the type often used at big concerts or other public events. Many have tinkered with the device, but as of yet, nobody was running custom code. It wouldn’t be easy, but [Adrian] got down to work.
A teardown of a 2016 …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hacking-pixmob-bands-and-finding-a-toolchain/)
The Final Days of the Fire Lookouts
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/the-final-days-of-the-fire-lookouts/
For more than a century, the United States Forest Service has employed men and women to monitor vast swaths of wilderness from isolated lookout towers. Armed with little more than a pair of binoculars and a map, these lookouts served as an early warning system for combating wildfires. Eventually the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/the-final-days-of-the-fire-lookouts/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/the-final-days-of-the-fire-lookouts/
For more than a century, the United States Forest Service has employed men and women to monitor vast swaths of wilderness from isolated lookout towers. Armed with little more than a pair of binoculars and a map, these lookouts served as an early warning system for combating wildfires. Eventually the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/the-final-days-of-the-fire-lookouts/)
A DIY Bench-Sized Milling Machine
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/a-diy-bench-sized-milling-machine/
Hanging around the machining community online, you’d be more than familiar with clapped out Bridgeport mills, which are practically a meme at this point. But mills come in all shapes and sizes, from the stout old iron from the days of yore, to smaller, compact builds. [Honus] decided to build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/a-diy-bench-sized-milling-machine/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/a-diy-bench-sized-milling-machine/
Hanging around the machining community online, you’d be more than familiar with clapped out Bridgeport mills, which are practically a meme at this point. But mills come in all shapes and sizes, from the stout old iron from the days of yore, to smaller, compact builds. [Honus] decided to build …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/a-diy-bench-sized-milling-machine/)
How to Build the Strongest Arches
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/how-to-build-the-strongest-arches/
When it comes to architectural features, there are probably not many as quintessentially memorable as arches. From the simplicity of the curved structure to the seemingly impossible task of a supposedly collapsable shape supporting so much weight in mid-air, they’ve naturally fascinated architects for generations.
For civil engineers, learning to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/how-to-build-the-strongest-arches/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/how-to-build-the-strongest-arches/
When it comes to architectural features, there are probably not many as quintessentially memorable as arches. From the simplicity of the curved structure to the seemingly impossible task of a supposedly collapsable shape supporting so much weight in mid-air, they’ve naturally fascinated architects for generations.
For civil engineers, learning to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/how-to-build-the-strongest-arches/)
Hackaday Prize China Finalists Announced
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hackaday-prize-china-finalists-announced/
In the time since the Hackaday Prize was first run it has nurtured an astonishing array of projects from around the world, and brought to the fore some truly exceptional winners that have demonstrated world-changing possibilities. This year it has been extended to a new frontier with the launch of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hackaday-prize-china-finalists-announced/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hackaday-prize-china-finalists-announced/
In the time since the Hackaday Prize was first run it has nurtured an astonishing array of projects from around the world, and brought to the fore some truly exceptional winners that have demonstrated world-changing possibilities. This year it has been extended to a new frontier with the launch of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/hackaday-prize-china-finalists-announced/)
Reverse Engineering Liberates Dash Cam Video
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/reverse-engineering-liberates-dash-cam-video/
If you’ve purchased a piece of consumer electronics in the last few years, there’s an excellent chance that you were forced to use some proprietary application (likely on a mobile device) to unlock its full functionality. It’s a depressing reality of modern technology, and unless you’re willing to roll your …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/reverse-engineering-liberates-dash-cam-video/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/reverse-engineering-liberates-dash-cam-video/
If you’ve purchased a piece of consumer electronics in the last few years, there’s an excellent chance that you were forced to use some proprietary application (likely on a mobile device) to unlock its full functionality. It’s a depressing reality of modern technology, and unless you’re willing to roll your …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/reverse-engineering-liberates-dash-cam-video/)
Solar Powered Weeding Tractor Uses Manual Labour
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/solar-powered-weeding-tractor-uses-manual-labour/
You might not have realised this, but there’s a group of hackers out there without whom you wouldn’t be able to put food on the table. They hack under the blazing sun and pouring rain, and have been doing it for thousands of years. Known more commonly as farmers, their …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/solar-powered-weeding-tractor-uses-manual-labour/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/solar-powered-weeding-tractor-uses-manual-labour/
You might not have realised this, but there’s a group of hackers out there without whom you wouldn’t be able to put food on the table. They hack under the blazing sun and pouring rain, and have been doing it for thousands of years. Known more commonly as farmers, their …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/solar-powered-weeding-tractor-uses-manual-labour/)
Endless Electronic Problems For Solving
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/endless-electronic-problems-for-solving/
We know not everyone who likes to build circuitry wants to dive headfirst into the underlying electrical engineering that makes everything work. However, if you want to, now is a great time. Many universities have most or all of their material online and you can even take many courses for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/endless-electronic-problems-for-solving/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/endless-electronic-problems-for-solving/
We know not everyone who likes to build circuitry wants to dive headfirst into the underlying electrical engineering that makes everything work. However, if you want to, now is a great time. Many universities have most or all of their material online and you can even take many courses for …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/endless-electronic-problems-for-solving/)
Recreating Lord Nikon’s Laptop From Hackers
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/recreating-lord-nikons-laptop-from-hackers/
The outlandish computers from 1995’s Hackers are easily one of the most memorable elements of the iconic cult classic. In the film, each machine is customized to reflect the individual hacker that operates it, and feature everything from spray painted camouflage paint schemes to themed boot animations based on the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/recreating-lord-nikons-laptop-from-hackers/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/recreating-lord-nikons-laptop-from-hackers/
The outlandish computers from 1995’s Hackers are easily one of the most memorable elements of the iconic cult classic. In the film, each machine is customized to reflect the individual hacker that operates it, and feature everything from spray painted camouflage paint schemes to themed boot animations based on the …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/15/recreating-lord-nikons-laptop-from-hackers/)
Cordless Drill Sprouts Wings And Takes Flight
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/cordless-drill-sprouts-wings-and-takes-flight/
Brushless motors and lithium batteries were a revolution for remote control aircraft. No longer would nitro engines rule the roost, as flying became far cheaper and more accessible almost overnight. The same technology has also found its way into power tools, leading to [Peter Sripol] deciding to build a powerdrill …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/cordless-drill-sprouts-wings-and-takes-flight/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/cordless-drill-sprouts-wings-and-takes-flight/
Brushless motors and lithium batteries were a revolution for remote control aircraft. No longer would nitro engines rule the roost, as flying became far cheaper and more accessible almost overnight. The same technology has also found its way into power tools, leading to [Peter Sripol] deciding to build a powerdrill …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/cordless-drill-sprouts-wings-and-takes-flight/)
A Tamagotchi for WiFi Cracking
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/a-tamagotchi-for-wifi-cracking/
OK, let’s start this one by saying that it’s useful to know how to break security measures in order to understand how to better defend yourself, and that you shouldn’t break into any network you don’t have access to. That being said, if you want to learn about security and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/a-tamagotchi-for-wifi-cracking/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/a-tamagotchi-for-wifi-cracking/
OK, let’s start this one by saying that it’s useful to know how to break security measures in order to understand how to better defend yourself, and that you shouldn’t break into any network you don’t have access to. That being said, if you want to learn about security and …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/a-tamagotchi-for-wifi-cracking/)
Pack Your Bags – Systemd Is Taking You To A New Home
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/pack-your-bags-systemd-is-taking-you-to-a-new-home/
Home directories have been a fundamental part on any Unixy system since day one. They’re such a basic element, we usually don’t give them much thought. And why would we? From a low level point of view, whatever location $HOME is pointing to, is a directory just like any other …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/pack-your-bags-systemd-is-taking-you-to-a-new-home/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/pack-your-bags-systemd-is-taking-you-to-a-new-home/
Home directories have been a fundamental part on any Unixy system since day one. They’re such a basic element, we usually don’t give them much thought. And why would we? From a low level point of view, whatever location $HOME is pointing to, is a directory just like any other …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/pack-your-bags-systemd-is-taking-you-to-a-new-home/)
DIY Video Microscopy
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/diy-video-microscopy/
Owning a Microscope is great fun as a hobby in general, but for hackers, it is a particularly useful instrument for assembly and inspection, now that we are building hardware with “grain of sand” sized components in our basements and garages. [voidnill] was given an Eduval 4 microscope by a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/diy-video-microscopy/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/diy-video-microscopy/
Owning a Microscope is great fun as a hobby in general, but for hackers, it is a particularly useful instrument for assembly and inspection, now that we are building hardware with “grain of sand” sized components in our basements and garages. [voidnill] was given an Eduval 4 microscope by a …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/diy-video-microscopy/)
RTFM: ADCs and DACs
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/rtfm-adcs-and-dacs/
It’s tough to find a project these days that doesn’t use an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for something. Whether these converters come as built-in peripherals on a microcontroller, or as separate devices connected over SPI, I2C, or parallel buses, all these converters share some common attributes, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/rtfm-adcs-and-dacs/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/rtfm-adcs-and-dacs/
It’s tough to find a project these days that doesn’t use an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for something. Whether these converters come as built-in peripherals on a microcontroller, or as separate devices connected over SPI, I2C, or parallel buses, all these converters share some common attributes, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/rtfm-adcs-and-dacs/)
The Smallest Homebrewed TTL CPU In the World
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/the-smallest-homebrewed-ttl-cpu-in-the-world/
The may very well be the smallest homemade TTL CPU we’ve ever seen. Measuring at one square inch, this tiny chip boasts 40 connections, an 8-bit databus, a 16-bit address bus, a 64 kB memory space, reset and clock inputs, and 5 V power lines.
TTL (transistor transistor logic) logic …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/the-smallest-homebrewed-ttl-cpu-in-the-world/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/the-smallest-homebrewed-ttl-cpu-in-the-world/
The may very well be the smallest homemade TTL CPU we’ve ever seen. Measuring at one square inch, this tiny chip boasts 40 connections, an 8-bit databus, a 16-bit address bus, a 64 kB memory space, reset and clock inputs, and 5 V power lines.
TTL (transistor transistor logic) logic …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/the-smallest-homebrewed-ttl-cpu-in-the-world/)
Painting with Light: The Homemade Pixelstick
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/painting-with-light-the-homemade-pixelstick/
Light painting has long graced the portfolios of long-exposure photographers, but high resolution isn’t usually possible when you’re light painting with human subjects.
This weekend project from [Timmo] uses an ESP8266-based microcontroller and an addressable WS2812-based LED strip to paint words or custom images in thin air. It’s actually based …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/painting-with-light-the-homemade-pixelstick/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/painting-with-light-the-homemade-pixelstick/
Light painting has long graced the portfolios of long-exposure photographers, but high resolution isn’t usually possible when you’re light painting with human subjects.
This weekend project from [Timmo] uses an ESP8266-based microcontroller and an addressable WS2812-based LED strip to paint words or custom images in thin air. It’s actually based …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/painting-with-light-the-homemade-pixelstick/)
Lane Keeping RC Car Uses OpenCV
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/lane-keeping-rc-car-uses-opencv/
Automakers continue to promise that fully autonomous cars are around the corner, but we’re still not quite there yet. However, there are a broad range of driver assist technologies that have come to market in recent years, with lane keeping assist being one of them. [raja_961] decided to implement this …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/lane-keeping-rc-car-uses-opencv/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/lane-keeping-rc-car-uses-opencv/
Automakers continue to promise that fully autonomous cars are around the corner, but we’re still not quite there yet. However, there are a broad range of driver assist technologies that have come to market in recent years, with lane keeping assist being one of them. [raja_961] decided to implement this …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/lane-keeping-rc-car-uses-opencv/)
Using TL Smoothers For Better 3D Prints
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/using-tl-smoothers-for-better-3d-prints/
Some 3D printers will give you prints with surfaces resembling salmon skin – not exactly the result you want when you’re looking for a high-quality print job. On bad print jobs, you can usually notice that the surface is shaking – even on the millimeter scale, this is enough to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/using-tl-smoothers-for-better-3d-prints/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/using-tl-smoothers-for-better-3d-prints/
Some 3D printers will give you prints with surfaces resembling salmon skin – not exactly the result you want when you’re looking for a high-quality print job. On bad print jobs, you can usually notice that the surface is shaking – even on the millimeter scale, this is enough to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/using-tl-smoothers-for-better-3d-prints/)
3D-Printed Transformer Disappoints, but Enlightens
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/3d-printed-transformer-disappoints-but-enlightens/
Transformers are deceptively simple devices. Just coils of wire sharing a common core, they tempt you into thinking you can make your own, and in many cases you can. But DIY transformers have their limits, as [Great Scott!] learned when he tried to 3D-print his own power transformer.
To be …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/3d-printed-transformer-disappoints-but-enlightens/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/3d-printed-transformer-disappoints-but-enlightens/
Transformers are deceptively simple devices. Just coils of wire sharing a common core, they tempt you into thinking you can make your own, and in many cases you can. But DIY transformers have their limits, as [Great Scott!] learned when he tried to 3D-print his own power transformer.
To be …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/16/3d-printed-transformer-disappoints-but-enlightens/)
Long Live Jibo, Our Adorable Robot Companion
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/17/long-live-jibo-our-adorable-robot-companion/
Jibo, the adorable robot made by Jibo, Inc., was getting phased out, but that didn’t stop [Guilherme Martins] from using his robot companion for one last hack.
When he found out that the company would be terminating production of new Jibos and shutting down their servers, he wanted to replace …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/17/long-live-jibo-our-adorable-robot-companion/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/10/17/long-live-jibo-our-adorable-robot-companion/
Jibo, the adorable robot made by Jibo, Inc., was getting phased out, but that didn’t stop [Guilherme Martins] from using his robot companion for one last hack.
When he found out that the company would be terminating production of new Jibos and shutting down their servers, he wanted to replace …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/10/17/long-live-jibo-our-adorable-robot-companion/)