Hackaday Podcast 037: Two Flavors of Robot Dog, Hacks That Start as Fitness Trackers, Clocks That Wound Themselves, and Helicopter Chainsaws
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/hackaday-podcast-037-two-flavors-of-robot-dog-hacks-that-start-as-fitness-trackers-clocks-that-wound-themselves-and-helicopter-chainsaws/
Hackaday Editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams take a look at the latest hacks from the past week. We keep seeing awesome stuff and find ourselves wanting to buy cheap welders, thermal camera sensors, and CNC parts. There was a meeting of the dog-shaped robots at ICRA and at least …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/hackaday-podcast-037-two-flavors-of-robot-dog-hacks-that-start-as-fitness-trackers-clocks-that-wound-themselves-and-helicopter-chainsaws/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/hackaday-podcast-037-two-flavors-of-robot-dog-hacks-that-start-as-fitness-trackers-clocks-that-wound-themselves-and-helicopter-chainsaws/
Hackaday Editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams take a look at the latest hacks from the past week. We keep seeing awesome stuff and find ourselves wanting to buy cheap welders, thermal camera sensors, and CNC parts. There was a meeting of the dog-shaped robots at ICRA and at least …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/hackaday-podcast-037-two-flavors-of-robot-dog-hacks-that-start-as-fitness-trackers-clocks-that-wound-themselves-and-helicopter-chainsaws/)
Here’s Your First Look at the Talks of the 2019 Hackaday Superconference
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/heres-your-first-look-at-the-talks-of-the-2019-hackaday-superconference/
The ultimate hardware conference returns this November as the Hackaday Superconference springs to life in Pasadena, California. It is our pleasure to announce the first set of accepted speakers who have confirmed their appearances at Supercon. This reveal is only the tip of the iceberg, so keep your eye on …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/heres-your-first-look-at-the-talks-of-the-2019-hackaday-superconference/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/heres-your-first-look-at-the-talks-of-the-2019-hackaday-superconference/
The ultimate hardware conference returns this November as the Hackaday Superconference springs to life in Pasadena, California. It is our pleasure to announce the first set of accepted speakers who have confirmed their appearances at Supercon. This reveal is only the tip of the iceberg, so keep your eye on …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/heres-your-first-look-at-the-talks-of-the-2019-hackaday-superconference/)
Haptic Clock Lets You Keep Your Eyes Shut At Night
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/haptic-clock-lets-you-keep-your-eyes-shut-at-night/
Picture this: You’re in your bed in the middle of the night, and you want to know what time it is. Bedside alarm clocks are a thing of the past and now you rely on your smartphone to tell the time. Only, if you turned the screen on, you’d find …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/haptic-clock-lets-you-keep-your-eyes-shut-at-night/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/haptic-clock-lets-you-keep-your-eyes-shut-at-night/
Picture this: You’re in your bed in the middle of the night, and you want to know what time it is. Bedside alarm clocks are a thing of the past and now you rely on your smartphone to tell the time. Only, if you turned the screen on, you’d find …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/haptic-clock-lets-you-keep-your-eyes-shut-at-night/)
The Zen Of Mechanical Keyboard Wiring
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/the-zen-of-mechanical-keyboard-wiring/
Mechanical keyboards are all the rage right now, but the vast majority of them are purchased commercially. Only the most dedicated people are willing to put in the time and effort required to design and assemble their own custom board, and as you might imagine, we’ve featured a number of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/the-zen-of-mechanical-keyboard-wiring/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/the-zen-of-mechanical-keyboard-wiring/
Mechanical keyboards are all the rage right now, but the vast majority of them are purchased commercially. Only the most dedicated people are willing to put in the time and effort required to design and assemble their own custom board, and as you might imagine, we’ve featured a number of …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/the-zen-of-mechanical-keyboard-wiring/)
When Your Car Breaks Down, Simply Hack It Into A Simulator
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/when-your-car-breaks-down-simply-hack-it-into-a-simulator/
When [Nishanth]’s Subaru BRZ came to a sudden halt, he was saddened by the wait to get a new engine installed. Fortunately, he was able to cheer himself up by hacking it into a car simulator in the mean time. This would have the added benefit of not being limited …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/when-your-car-breaks-down-simply-hack-it-into-a-simulator/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/when-your-car-breaks-down-simply-hack-it-into-a-simulator/
When [Nishanth]’s Subaru BRZ came to a sudden halt, he was saddened by the wait to get a new engine installed. Fortunately, he was able to cheer himself up by hacking it into a car simulator in the mean time. This would have the added benefit of not being limited …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/when-your-car-breaks-down-simply-hack-it-into-a-simulator/)
Darwin Approves: Berkeley Evolves Analog Design
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/darwin-approves-berkeley-evolves-analog-design/
Digital design is hard. But in the right environment, digital circuits are more forgiving than analog. That 3.3V signal coming out of the chip has to drop a lot along the way to not be a logic level at the destination. If you are trying to push the boundary then …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/darwin-approves-berkeley-evolves-analog-design/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/darwin-approves-berkeley-evolves-analog-design/
Digital design is hard. But in the right environment, digital circuits are more forgiving than analog. That 3.3V signal coming out of the chip has to drop a lot along the way to not be a logic level at the destination. If you are trying to push the boundary then …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/darwin-approves-berkeley-evolves-analog-design/)
A Raspberry Pi 4 Video Streaming Backpack
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/a-raspberry-pi-4-video-streaming-backpack/
Were you aware that there’s a market for backpack-housed live streaming video systems, and that they can cost as much as $1600? Apparently these things are popular with social media moguls who want to stream themselves living their fabulous lives to people sitting at home watching on YouTube or Twitch. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/a-raspberry-pi-4-video-streaming-backpack/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/a-raspberry-pi-4-video-streaming-backpack/
Were you aware that there’s a market for backpack-housed live streaming video systems, and that they can cost as much as $1600? Apparently these things are popular with social media moguls who want to stream themselves living their fabulous lives to people sitting at home watching on YouTube or Twitch. …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/27/a-raspberry-pi-4-video-streaming-backpack/)
A CIA In 74HCT
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/a-cia-in-74hct/
If you owned a classic Commodore home computer you might not have known it at the time, but it would have contained a versatile integrated circuit called the MOS6526. This so-called CIA chip, for Complex Interface Adaptor, contained parallel and serial ports, timers, and a time-of-day counter. Like so many …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/a-cia-in-74hct/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/a-cia-in-74hct/
If you owned a classic Commodore home computer you might not have known it at the time, but it would have contained a versatile integrated circuit called the MOS6526. This so-called CIA chip, for Complex Interface Adaptor, contained parallel and serial ports, timers, and a time-of-day counter. Like so many …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/a-cia-in-74hct/)
Dual Screen Laptop Is A Slick DIY Build
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/dual-screen-laptop-is-a-slick-diy-build/
Laptops are great for portable productivity, but ergonomically they can leave something to be desired. They tend to force the user to look down, creating neck strain over extended periods. Rather than invest in expensive massages, [DIY Perks] decided what he really wanted was a dual screen laptop. So he …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/dual-screen-laptop-is-a-slick-diy-build/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/dual-screen-laptop-is-a-slick-diy-build/
Laptops are great for portable productivity, but ergonomically they can leave something to be desired. They tend to force the user to look down, creating neck strain over extended periods. Rather than invest in expensive massages, [DIY Perks] decided what he really wanted was a dual screen laptop. So he …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/dual-screen-laptop-is-a-slick-diy-build/)
3D Printing is Transformative Experience for Airgun Shooter
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/3d-printing-is-transformative-experience-for-airgun-shooter/
It’s interesting to peek into other scenes and niches and see how they intersect with things that one may find commonplace, like 3D printing. In this case, [NewToOldGuns] wrote a guest blog post for PyramydAir (a retailer, so be prepared for a lot of product links) about how 3D printing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/3d-printing-is-transformative-experience-for-airgun-shooter/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/3d-printing-is-transformative-experience-for-airgun-shooter/
It’s interesting to peek into other scenes and niches and see how they intersect with things that one may find commonplace, like 3D printing. In this case, [NewToOldGuns] wrote a guest blog post for PyramydAir (a retailer, so be prepared for a lot of product links) about how 3D printing …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/3d-printing-is-transformative-experience-for-airgun-shooter/)
Tiny ESP32 Fits inside USB-A Connector
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/tiny-esp32-fits-inside-usb-a-connector/
The ESP32 was introduced a few years ago as an inexpensive way to outfit various microcontrollers with WiFi or Bluetooth. Since then it has been experimented with and developed on, thanks to its similarities to the ESP8266 and the ability to easily program it. Watching the development of this small …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/tiny-esp32-fits-inside-usb-a-connector/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/tiny-esp32-fits-inside-usb-a-connector/
The ESP32 was introduced a few years ago as an inexpensive way to outfit various microcontrollers with WiFi or Bluetooth. Since then it has been experimented with and developed on, thanks to its similarities to the ESP8266 and the ability to easily program it. Watching the development of this small …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/tiny-esp32-fits-inside-usb-a-connector/)
Lighting the Way for the Visually Impaired
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/lighting-the-way-for-the-visually-impaired/
The latest creation from Bengali roboticist [nabilphysics] might sound familiar. His laser-augmented glove gives users the ability to detect objects horizontally in front of them, much like a cane or pole is used by the visually impaired to navigate through a physical space.
As a stand in for the physical …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/lighting-the-way-for-the-visually-impaired/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/lighting-the-way-for-the-visually-impaired/
The latest creation from Bengali roboticist [nabilphysics] might sound familiar. His laser-augmented glove gives users the ability to detect objects horizontally in front of them, much like a cane or pole is used by the visually impaired to navigate through a physical space.
As a stand in for the physical …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/lighting-the-way-for-the-visually-impaired/)
Arduino Wire Bender Probably Won’t Kill All Humans
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/arduino-wire-bender-probably-wont-kill-all-humans/
Do you want to make your own springs? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Well, blow the dust off of that spare Arduino and keep reading. A few months ago, we let you know that renowned circuit sculptor [Jiří Praus] was working on a precision wire-bending machine to help him hone …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/arduino-wire-bender-probably-wont-kill-all-humans/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/arduino-wire-bender-probably-wont-kill-all-humans/
Do you want to make your own springs? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Well, blow the dust off of that spare Arduino and keep reading. A few months ago, we let you know that renowned circuit sculptor [Jiří Praus] was working on a precision wire-bending machine to help him hone …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/arduino-wire-bender-probably-wont-kill-all-humans/)
Maps to SMS, When You’re Really Far Away
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/maps-to-sms-when-youre-really-far-away/
GPS is available on most smart phones, which is all well and good unless you drive out into a place with weak service. Unless you want to go into the before-time and buy a standalone GPS (and try to update the maps every so often) or go even further back …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/maps-to-sms-when-youre-really-far-away/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/maps-to-sms-when-youre-really-far-away/
GPS is available on most smart phones, which is all well and good unless you drive out into a place with weak service. Unless you want to go into the before-time and buy a standalone GPS (and try to update the maps every so often) or go even further back …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/maps-to-sms-when-youre-really-far-away/)
Chinese Radio Telescope Hopes to Find Exoplanets FAST
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/chinese-radio-telescope-hopes-to-find-exoplanets-fast/
People who enjoy radio are constantly struggling to find a place to erect a bigger and better antenna. Of course it’s a different story and the most hardcore end of the spectrum: radio astronomers. The Chinese are ready to open up a new radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/chinese-radio-telescope-hopes-to-find-exoplanets-fast/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/chinese-radio-telescope-hopes-to-find-exoplanets-fast/
People who enjoy radio are constantly struggling to find a place to erect a bigger and better antenna. Of course it’s a different story and the most hardcore end of the spectrum: radio astronomers. The Chinese are ready to open up a new radio telescope called FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/28/chinese-radio-telescope-hopes-to-find-exoplanets-fast/)
DIY Thermal Imager Uses DIY Gaussian Blur
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/diy-thermal-imager-uses-diy-gaussian-blur/
Under the right circumstances, Gaussian blurring can make an image seem more clearly defined. [DZL] demonstrates exactly this with a lightweight and compact Gaussian interpolation routine to make the low-resolution thermal sensor data display much better on a small OLED.
[DZL] used an MLX90640 sensor to create a DIY thermal …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/diy-thermal-imager-uses-diy-gaussian-blur/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/diy-thermal-imager-uses-diy-gaussian-blur/
Under the right circumstances, Gaussian blurring can make an image seem more clearly defined. [DZL] demonstrates exactly this with a lightweight and compact Gaussian interpolation routine to make the low-resolution thermal sensor data display much better on a small OLED.
[DZL] used an MLX90640 sensor to create a DIY thermal …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/diy-thermal-imager-uses-diy-gaussian-blur/)
This Word Clock Has Dirty Alphanumeric Mouth
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/this-word-clock-has-dirty-alphanumeric-mouth/
Clocks which use words to tell the time in place of numbers are an increasingly popular hacker project, but we have to admit that before seeing this gorgeous clock from [Mitch Feig], we didn’t realize how badly we wanted to see one that could curse like a sailor.
But don’t …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/this-word-clock-has-dirty-alphanumeric-mouth/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/this-word-clock-has-dirty-alphanumeric-mouth/
Clocks which use words to tell the time in place of numbers are an increasingly popular hacker project, but we have to admit that before seeing this gorgeous clock from [Mitch Feig], we didn’t realize how badly we wanted to see one that could curse like a sailor.
But don’t …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/this-word-clock-has-dirty-alphanumeric-mouth/)
The Price of Domestic Just In Time Manufacturing
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/the-price-of-domestic-just-in-time-manufacturing/
Hardware is hard, manufacturing only happens in China, accurate pricing is a dark art. Facts which are Known To Be True. And all things which can be hard to conquer as an independent hardware company, especially if you want to subvert the tropes. You may have heard of [Spencer Wright] …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/the-price-of-domestic-just-in-time-manufacturing/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/the-price-of-domestic-just-in-time-manufacturing/
Hardware is hard, manufacturing only happens in China, accurate pricing is a dark art. Facts which are Known To Be True. And all things which can be hard to conquer as an independent hardware company, especially if you want to subvert the tropes. You may have heard of [Spencer Wright] …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/the-price-of-domestic-just-in-time-manufacturing/)
Probe the Galaxy on a Shoestring with this DIY Hydrogen-Line Telescope
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/probe-the-galaxy-on-a-shoestring-with-this-diy-hydrogen-line-telescope/
Foil-lined foam insulation board, scraps of lumber, and a paint-thinner can hardly sound like the tools of a radio astronomer. But when coupled with an SDR, a couple of amplifiers, and a fair amount of trial-and-error tweaking, it’s possible to build your own hydrogen-line radio telescope and use it to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/probe-the-galaxy-on-a-shoestring-with-this-diy-hydrogen-line-telescope/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/probe-the-galaxy-on-a-shoestring-with-this-diy-hydrogen-line-telescope/
Foil-lined foam insulation board, scraps of lumber, and a paint-thinner can hardly sound like the tools of a radio astronomer. But when coupled with an SDR, a couple of amplifiers, and a fair amount of trial-and-error tweaking, it’s possible to build your own hydrogen-line radio telescope and use it to …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/probe-the-galaxy-on-a-shoestring-with-this-diy-hydrogen-line-telescope/)
Upgrading a MIDI Controller with an FPGA
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/upgrading-a-midi-controller-with-an-fpga/
While the “M” in MIDI stands for “musical”, it’s possible to use this standard for other things as well. [s-ol] has been working on a VJ setup (mixing video instead of music) using various potentiometer-based hardware and MIDI to interface everything together. After becoming frustrated with drift in the potentiometers, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/upgrading-a-midi-controller-with-an-fpga/)
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/upgrading-a-midi-controller-with-an-fpga/
While the “M” in MIDI stands for “musical”, it’s possible to use this standard for other things as well. [s-ol] has been working on a VJ setup (mixing video instead of music) using various potentiometer-based hardware and MIDI to interface everything together. After becoming frustrated with drift in the potentiometers, …read more (https://hackaday.com/2019/09/29/upgrading-a-midi-controller-with-an-fpga/)