What Are You Working On August 2012

[sambooo]

0.upto 126 do | i |
  puts '[' << i << ' : ' << i.to_s << ']'
end

Isn't that such an elegant way to loop?

[esalaka]

Make a circular maze that rotates with plasma background that also warps the maze using another plasma as a heightmap

[DrLuckyLuke]

Today I want to introduce my project I've been working on for some weeks now (mostly just research).

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/28079852/Logo1_small.png[/img]

[SUB]The logo still is WIP, let me know what you think[/SUB]

[B]Project BFF - Black Forest Frontiers[/B]

BFF is a High Altitude Balloon project. Similar to a weather balloon, it consists out of a big latex balloon filled with hydrogen with a payload attached to it. It will rise to an altitude of roughly 35.000 meters before the balloon pops and the payload falls back to earth, slowed down by a parachute.
During the entire flight, a 434 MHz radio transmitter will be transmitting the GPS position and some basic flight relevant data and can be received from all around southwest germany, swiss and east france, and probably even farther (This is a call to all HAMmers who want to help me track it!).

[B]But DrLuke, why do you want to waste your money on such a stupid project?[/B]
Because I can! I am a space enthusiast, but I probably won't be able to participate in anything space-related for a long time. So this project is as close as it gets to actually being in space, especially on the engineering side. I will have to deal with air-temperatures of down to -60°C and immense radiation, while the sun heats up the payload as there's no athmosphere to convey they heat. All these conditions are an engineering challenge I am all up for.

[B]Pics[/B]
[table="width: 800, class: grid, align: left"]
[tr]
[td]This is a Nokia 6150 cellular phone I use to transmit the coordinates of the payload once it landed.
As the coverage in germany is very good, this is sort of a failsafe device, in case I loose the radio link or otherwise won't be able to track the payload.
I've strippe down as much parts as possible, to reduce the weight. I reduced it from 160 grams to a little over 90 grams. It's still very much functional, and will be controlled by a microcontroller via a data-interface.[/td]
[td][thumb]http://i46.tinypic.com/2w652fa.png[/thumb][/td]
[td][thumb]http://i50.tinypic.com/b63vjs.png[/thumb][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]This is the ublox6 GPS receiver. It isn't just any, but one of the few that can actually go above 14.000 meter [del]without self destructing[/del] without shutting down. It outputs a standardized NMEA string with the current time, position, altitude and other informations. The microcontroller will poll the data via I2C and then parse it into another string, which will then be sent back to earth via the radio transmitter.[/td]
[td][thumb]http://i46.tinypic.com/200elba.jpg[/thumb][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]This is the Radiometrix NTX2 10 mW transmitter. It is quite popular amongst HABbers, and has been proven to be reliable. It will transmit via a quaterwave groundplane antenna.[/td]
[td][thumb]http://i49.tinypic.com/2lb13kz.png[/thumb][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]The brain behind the whole payload, the ATMega168 microcontroller. With the whopping speed of just 16 MHz it will parse, control and communicate everything. It will probably log data in one way or another (onto an SD card)[/td]
[td][thumb]http://i47.tinypic.com/ehyzau.png[/thumb][/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

[B]What's next?[/B]
I need to build an insulated payload capsule and see how much the whole thing weights. The lighter it is, the better, as I can get a smaller balloon, resulting in less cost for me. Smaller balloons are cheaper than bigger obviously, and they also need less hydrogen to fill up.
Once I am that far, I can tell you a definite launch-date, but as of know late november/early december seems to be the most realistic estimate.

[B]That's cool! Is there any way I can help?[/B]
I'm glad you asked! I don't have any money to buy a camera to go on this ride, so if you have any old digital camera you don't need anymore, please let me know if you want to donate it to me. I will even pay the shipping! (I live in germany)
Please note that I can't return the camera, as I will take it apart and only fit the bare minimum onto the payload. (Similar to the phone).

I hope to keep you up to speed on my little project and I hope you enjoyed reading it.

[Parakon]

[img]http://niggaupload.com/images/bdrBH.gif[/img]

NPCs that react to their surroundings! astounding!

[acpm]

nokia joke, easy-mode engineering, indestructible, etc. etc.

[editline]23rd August 2012[/editline]

[QUOTE=Parakon;37374085][img]http://niggaupload.com/images/bdrBH.gif[/img]

NPCs that react to their surroundings! astounding![/QUOTE]

knight game ii has some serious competition, this is real gotyay material right here

[DrLuckyLuke]

[QUOTE=amcfaggot;37374090]nokia joke, easy-mode engineering, indestructible, etc. etc.[/QUOTE]

It's quite cleverly engineered, preventing me from stripping the keyboard-pcb as its backside is the RF-shielding for the GSM part. I am quite fascinated by the way how simple and good this phone is engineered. Also taking the battery out of the casing really was hard, took me 2 hours to pry it out.

[chimitos]

[QUOTE=DrLuckyLuke;37374043]Today I want to introduce my project I've been working on for some weeks now (mostly just research).

[IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/28079852/Logo1_small.png[/IMG]

[B]Project BFF - Black Forest Frontiers[/B]
[/QUOTE]

[URL="http://facepunch.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=240"][IMG]http://s15.postimage.org/ukfhtt9qv/new_Thread.png[/IMG][/URL]

[DrLuckyLuke]

[QUOTE=chimitos;37374144][URL="http://facepunch.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=240"][IMG]http://s15.postimage.org/ukfhtt9qv/new_Thread.png[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE]

Nah, I think it's fine here

[backwardspy]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/NgLUE.png[/img]
[sp]half-assed filler while I figure out how I'm going to do my next idea...[/sp]

[sambooo]

def lazyrot13 string
  out = ''
  string.chars.to_a.each do |char|
    if char.ord >= 'A'.ord and char.ord <= 'M'.ord || char.ord >= 'a'.ord and char.ord <= 'm'.ord
      print (char.ord + 13).chr
    elsif char.ord >= 'N'.ord and char.ord <= 'Z'.ord || char.ord >= 'n'.ord and char.ord <= 'z'.ord
      print (char.ord - 13).chr
    end      
  end
  puts
end

def rubyrot13 string
  puts string.tr 'A-Za-z', 'N-ZA-Mn-za-m'
end

lazyrot13 'Sambo'
rubyrot13 'Sambo'

Woo learning

[supersnail11]

Ruby reminds me of Python.

Ewwwww.

[sambooo]

Python = Icky icky aint getting no dicky

Ruby = Holy shit let's skip the meal and go straight to the sex

[iPope]

[QUOTE=supersnail11;37374339]Ruby reminds me of Python.

Ewwwww.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for presenting your opinion with maturity, knowledge and insight. We all learned a lot by this sharing of information.

[Dlaor-guy]

[QUOTE=Chris220;37374235][img]http://i.imgur.com/NgLUE.png[/img]
[sp]half-assed filler while I figure out how I'm going to do my next idea...[/sp][/QUOTE]

The next step is obviously adding another dimension.

[origamiguy]

[QUOTE=esalaka;37373826]Make a circular maze that rotates with plasma background that also warps the maze using another plasma as a heightmap[/QUOTE]

As requested:

[video=youtube;fnX9fN3yeY0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnX9fN3yeY0[/video]

[Naarkie]

I made something that tracks mouseclicks in Dota 2. It also takes a 100x100 screenshot around the mouse.
Actually I have no idea what I'm making. Something like IOGraphica I guess?
[IMG]http://i48.tinypic.com/2eyxp4o.png[/IMG]
[thumb]http://i50.tinypic.com/264qbf7.png[/thumb]

[ichiman94]

Fractal maze?

[dajoh]

[img]http://puu.sh/Y6DZ[/img]

working on something loads of people hate

[ralle105]

With all the mazes coming back I thought I might as well repost my entry from the previous maze era
[img]http://puu.sh/Y6Ur[/img]
Hexagons:v:

[origamiguy]

[t]http://i.imgur.com/eax4e.jpg[/t]

[Nigey Nige]

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/TTp8E.png[/IMG]

[dajoh]

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11401644/Images/fuck.png[/img]

[veDemaG]

[QUOTE=Nigey Nige;37375458][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/TTp8E.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]

sexiest graphics library 2012

[acpm]

[QUOTE=Nigey Nige;37375458][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/TTp8E.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]

the genius would be if this was generated based off intentionally crude splines

[Matt-]

[QUOTE=origamiguy;37375222][t]http://i.imgur.com/eax4e.jpg[/t][/QUOTE]

[t]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3659637/sorry.jpg[/t]

Sorry, couldn't let this slip.

[Lexic]

[QUOTE=amcfaggot;37375826]the genius would be if this was generated based off intentionally crude splines[/QUOTE]

Would that actually be possible? I always thought human level inconsistencies were quite hard for machines.

[Dlaor-guy]

[QUOTE=Lexic;37376037]Would that actually be possible? I always thought human level inconsistencies were quite hard for machines.[/QUOTE]
Perlin noise distortion on the lines should do the trick.

[leontodd]

[QUOTE=DrLuckyLuke;37374043]Today I want to introduce my project I've been working on for some weeks now (mostly just research).[/QUOTE]

What do you estimate the final cost of the project will be or what is your budget?

[acpm]

[QUOTE=Lexic;37376037]Would that actually be possible? I always thought human level inconsistencies were quite hard for machines.[/QUOTE]

I think so, you just make several points on the generated lines, offset the points' x and y and then create splines based off those points. Draw aliased lines for that mspaint feel and you might have something.

[QUOTE=Dlaor-guy;37376055]Perlin noise distortion on the lines should do the trick.[/QUOTE]

That would be a neat way to do it, too.

[DrLuckyLuke]

[QUOTE=leontodd;37376060]What do you estimate the final cost of the project will be or what is your budget?[/QUOTE]

So far it cost me 90€ in total, and I think the balloon, the hydrogen and the parachute will cost me another 150€.