The world is going nuts over the Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) for being a whole system under $50. In reality though the Pi isn’t actually the cheapest computing device available. If you want really cheap how does $13.50 sound for a mini computer that can plug into your PC’s USB port be programmed in
Arduino Masterclass Part 1: Make your own hardware Continue Reading
Need more Arduino board? Do not spend more money for another one. Why not try to build your own DIY Arduino board? It is easy and simple. DIY Arduino Step 1 Get an Atmega328–PU or Atmega328P-PU (with bootloader inside). atmega328p A brief introduction on the Atmega328 chip: 8-bit MCU 32kB Flash Memory 1kB EEPROM 2kB
Build Your Own Arduino Board Continue Reading
The DIY industry is booming, despite the desperate blackmailing of society by finance capitalists. Companies like Adafruit and Makerbot are grossing well over a million dollars a year, and Evil Mad Science Laboratories just recently dedicated themselves to running a full-time kit business. Making kits is fun, but starting a business can be scary. If
Get Into the Kit Business: How to Build and Sell Your Own Arduino Shields Continue Reading
I got my start in microcontrollers with the Arduino, as many of us outside of electrical engineering did. (And still do!) The ease of programming that little board makes it a great gateway… and like any gateway, sometimes you go through. Most of my projects now don’t use Arduinos directly. For simple microcontroller applications, it’s
ISP Clip for ATtiny44/84 (or others!) Continue Reading
Here’s a simple Arduino-based datalogger I’m currently developing: This test-of-concept model is based on the Arduino Pro Mini (ATMega168). It runs on a 1.5-V battery, using a voltage up-converter from Sparkfun.com. For a sensor, it’s using a 3-axis accelerometer on a breakout board, also from Sparkfun. It has one button for control. When the device
Simple Datalogger Continue Reading
I’m teaching “Electronics for Scientists” this semester, and I wanted to allow each student to have their own Arduino to play with for microcontroller lab exercises and possibly use for their final projects. The Arduino is not very expensive at roughly $30 per, but they add up quickly when you have a whole class of
“Ayrduino” Single-Sided Arduino Clone Continue Reading
Ah yes, it’s time for another Instructable involving an Altoids tin… But this time it’s not about what’s inside the Altoids tin, it’s about the Altoids tin itself. In all its greatness, the Altoids tin we all know and love has one rather major flaw for DIY electronics use: it’s electrically conductive. To combat this,
Electrically Insulated Altoids Tin Continue Reading
The Haptic Proximity Module (HPM) seeks to enable people with low vision, or other vision impairments, to engage with their direct surroundings through vibration feedback from a range detector, and do so cheaply with readily available components. The aim of this instructables is to share the parts and process of creating this device in the
Haptic Proximity Module (HPM) for Low Vision users Continue Reading
I buy a lot of these stackable Arduino header sets because they are handy for a lot of things. I make some breakout boards with them, I use them to add some clearance between a taller shield and the next shield that I am stacking on top, and sometimes they are necessary when a shield
Simple Arduino Wing Shield Continue Reading
Arduilay is an 8 channel AC relay box for use with Arduino, Max/MSP, Processing, etc. I designed this system as an alternative to the USB>DMX 4 channel relay option. While DMX gives you dimming control, the setup is easily 5 times as expensive as this simple relay box. Step 1: Get all the parts To
Arduilay is An 8 Channel AC Relay Box For Use With Arduino Continue Reading
