We’re not exactly what you’d call naturalists here at Hackaday, so to us, the idea that hot pepper seeds need to germinate in hot conditions sounds suspiciously like a joke. The sort of thing somebody might tell you right before they try to sell you an elevator pass, or cram you into a locker. But …
Engineers create something out of nothing, and no where is this more apparent than in the creation of customized computer hardware. To make a simple MIDI controller, you need knowledge of firmware design and computer architecture, you need knowledge of mechanical design, and you need to know electronic design. And then you need the actual …
It’s fair to say that building electronic gadgets is easier now than it ever has been in the past. With low-cost modular components, there’s often just a couple dozen lines of code and a few jumper wires standing between your idea and a functioning prototype. Driving stepper motors is a perfect example: you can grab …
ARDUINO DRIVES SEVENTEEN STEPPER MOTORS, CAREFULLY Read More »
For every project that uses an Arduino to make soup or an ESP8266 to hash bitcoin, there’s always someone out there uttering the same old refrain. I could have done it with a 555. More often than not, this is true, even if it is tangential to the discussion being had. In this case however, such a …
While even the mention of a shark swimming close to shore is enough to send residents scurrying for cover, the “WasteShark” is being welcomed with open arms. The brainchild of South African entrepreneur Richard Hardiman, the aquatic drone is designed to devour all floating debris, including plastic and other non-biodegradable trash, that has accumulatedalong coastal waters, before it drifts out …
Trash-Eating “Sharks” Are Taking Over Harbors Worldwide Read More »
Graphing calculators are an interesting niche market these days. They’re relatively underpowered, and usually come with cheap, low resolution screens to boot. They remain viable almost solely due to their use in education and the fact that their limited connectivity makes them suitable for use in exams. The market is starting to hot up, though …
As a preview of his latest book, Arduino Project Handbook: 25 Practical Projects to Get You Started, Mark Geddes takes us through the project to create a simple plant monitor. In this project I’ll introduce a new type of analog sensor that detects moisture levels. You’ll set up a light and sound alarm system (an …
Vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs) are one of those beautiful pieces of bygone technology that you just don’t see much of anymore. At one time they were a mainstay of consumer electronics, but today they’ve largely been replaced with cheaper and more energy efficient displays such as LEDs and LCDs. While they might be objectively better …
After a youth spent playing with Amigas and getting into all sorts of trouble on the school computer network, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for hardware from the 80s and 90s. This extends beyond computers themselves, and goes so far as to include modems, photocopiers, and even the much-maligned dot matrix …
ARDUINO CONVERTS SERIAL TO PARALLEL: THE PARALLELOSLAM Read More »
Coffee machine manufacture Victoria Arduino is opening its new showroom in London on 28 March in collaboration with its local importer VA Machinery. Victoria Arduino’s showroom will introduce the company’s products to its United Kingdom partners at the River Thames near the London Bridge. The showcase will provide a space for roasters, baristas, technicians and …
