[B]Arduino Projects Discussion[/B]
[IMG]http://makezine.com/hackszine/arduino_20070627.jpg[/img]
[B][I]
(Note to mods: if you think this belongs in the programming section, please move it. I decided to post this in GD for more exposure, so I could possibly inspire others who haven't had much programming experience, but are fascinated by such projects in this thread and want to get into this kind of stuff)[/I][/B]
I didn't really find a whole lot of discussion about Arduinos here, so I thought I'd create this thread in which we can share our projects, talk about interesting ideas for new projects, and hopefully inspire those who have never used an Arduino before. I'm very passionate about these kind of projects and embedded systems, which is why I'm currently studying electrical engineering. My inspiration for choosing to study electrical engineering was hardware hacking. When mod chips came out for the original xbox, it just completely blew my mind that someone could take a commercial electronic product, and modify it's funtionality to make it do whatever they want.
Let's start off with some Q&A.
[B]Q:[/B] What is an "Arduino"?
[B]A:[/B] Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. If you're interested, you can check out more information on the arduino at its [url="http://www.arduino.cc/"]homepage[/url].
[B]Q:[/B] What's so cool about an Arduino and why should I care?
[B]A:[/B] If you enjoy programming, this takes your programming to a whole new level. You can program what are called [I]microcontrollers [/I](which is the brains behind the Arduino board). You can basically implement your programs to control just about anything outside of your computer.
[B]Q:[/B] Why's the Arduino so special?
[B]A:[/B] The Arduino (which is the actual board), contains tons of useful features that you don't have to worry about. Such things include all the proper parts for running a microcontroller, voltage regulation, LED, pushbutton reset, and tons of other things. Another really neat feature of the Arduino is that you can buy what are known as "shields," which you can think of as legos. Shields are simply various modular circuits/boards that are already made for you that can just add to your Arduino and not worry about creating them yourself. In a nut-shell, you just stack these various boards and your have so many new possibilities open for your projects. Such things include touchscreen, ethernet (so you can have your Arduino communicate with the internet), motor driver, protoboard, wireless / bluetooth, and the list goes on forever. Here's some examples of these shields
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2684288811_0fec06857c.jpg[/img]
You can find an extensive list of shields [url="http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=arduino+shield&x=0&y=0&search_section=products"]here[/url].
[B]Q:[/B] What programming language does the Arduino environment use?
[B]A:[/B] The Arduino is based off a variant of C, and is incredibly easy to learn. The official arduino website also includes a free compiler for you to use.
[B]Q:[/B] How much is the Arduino and where can I buy one?
[B]A:[/B] The USB Arduino is only $29.95 USD and the most reliable place to purchase one is from [url="http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=666"]sparkfun[/url]
[B]Q:[/B] What are some resources for the Arduino?
[B]A:[/B] The Arduino community is HUGE, here is a list of some of the most helpful sites that deal with the Arduino
[url]www.sparkfun.com[/url]
[url]www.arduino.cc[/url]
[url]www.adafruit.com[/url]
[url]blog.makezine.com/archive/arduino[/url]
[url]www.google.com[/url]
[url]http://hacknmod.com/topics/arduino/[/url]
[url]http://arduinofun.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.instructables.com/[/url]
Anyways, now that we have the preliminaries out of the way, I'll share with you guys some projects that I've done before.
[B]Knock Controlled Door Unlock-er[/B]
Apparently someone has already done the exact same thing, but I thought of the idea independently and wrote the code independently. I found that I'd constantly forget my keys in my room, and my roommate would often be gone. This is why I thought of this project. Basically the Arduino uses a piezo buzzer to detect vibrations (or knocks on the door rather), and then processes them to see if they match the password knock sequence. If the correct knock is confirmed, the Arduino uses a servo/motor to unlock the door. Right now I'm just waiting to order a motor/servo, but I have the rest of the project done.
[img]http://hoff.zomgstuff.net//Projects/Arduino/doorKnockOpener/images/alpha.prototype.no.moter.lowres.jpg[/img]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8eAcbISkXQ[/media]
[B]Touchscreen USB Mouse[/B]
I pretty much a tutorial from sparkfun for this, although I had to make a couple of modifications to the schematic and code to make it work. Basically you use a PSP touchscreen and make that into a PC USB touchscreen mouse, pretty cool.
[img]http://hoff.zomgstuff.net//Projects/Arduino/TouchScreen/Images/touchscreen.lowres.jpg[/img]
Video: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unugcaJwGFs[/media]
[B]Control 2 LED's in My Room Via the Internet [/B]
I made a thread for this a while back, and it sparked interested in others to get into Arduino programming. Basically I had an ethernet shield for my Arduino, which was directly interfaced into my router with a CAT-5 cable (no computer needed :D ). The Arduino could control 4 LED lights, and I had my webcam streaming the LED's. It was interesting seeing the LED's change as I was laying in bed, it felt as though someone else was in my room.
You can find the thread [url="http://www.facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=777250"]here[/url]
[img]http://i27.tinypic.com/2q1ezuo.jpg[/img]
[B]Use your Direct-TV remote to play melodies[/B]
I used an inexpensive infrared receiver to detect the various signals from my direct-TV remote, and used them to play random melodies from a speaker. A WIP project stemming for this that I never got around to finishing was to have the Arduino use the IR receiver to figure out the channel that I was watching (by keeping track of me scrolling through channels with a list of channels fetched from the direct-TV schedule on their official website), and update twitter with the show.
[img]http://hoff.zomgstuff.net/Projects/Arduino/IR_Remote/Images/IMG_2522.JPG[/img]
[img]http://hoff.zomgstuff.net/Projects/Arduino/IR_Remote/Images/IMG_2525.JPG[/img]
Video: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcu0UQvQPA8[/media]
I've also worked on many different random projects before, but none really that noteworthy. Have you guys had any experience with Arduinos? If so, post your projects, and those who are interested, feel free to discuss.
I'm trying to jump start a hobby electronics forum section on an already well-established forum, so if you're interested PM me and I'll send you a link (I don't want it to see as though I'm just spamming/advertising). I'm looking for anyone with any amount of experience, whether you're a microcontroller veteran or just a newbie wanting to get into this stuff or just someone who likes to brainstorm and see their ideas come to fruition.
holy shit this looks awesome
I made an LED clock once...
That's like all I've done. I'm thinking about interfacing it with the General Instrument AY-3-8910, and slap on a MIDI in. But I probably won't have time until summer D:
I really need something made actually!
It's a little module I want to put into the collar of my jacket, where the LED's light up according to external volume, like what is spoken.
So if I talk, the LED's light up, but I also want to be able to sew it into my jacket.
it's like wiremod but for irl :aaa::biggrin:
This looks pretty cool, thanks OP
[QUOTE=Subhazardman;18330912]I really need something made actually!
It's a little module I want to put into the collar of my jacket, where the LED's light up according to external volume, like what is spoken.
So if I talk, the LED's light up, but I also want to be able to sew it into my jacket.[/QUOTE]
I actually saw something like that the other day, I think I saw it on instructables.com
I'll keep my eye out for it.
today I came across this. It's glaringly simple on the hardware end, just 4 pots connected to analog in, and one digital pin for output.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LKmtJHSLF0[/media]
I've always been a fan of the sound of granular synthesis. Maybe tack on a MIDI in.
That's awesome. You should post a tutorial on how to create stuff like this, and how it works.
[QUOTE=fenwick;18336125]today I came across this. It's glaringly simple on the hardware end, just 4 pots connected to analog in, and one digital pin for output.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LKmtJHSLF0[/media]
I've always been a fan of the sound of granular synthesis. Maybe tack on a MIDI in.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, essentially the arduino and the 4 pots act as filters for various frequencies.
Actually last sunday I created one on a breadboard. I have all the parts to make a single sided board, but I want to get some protoboard to make it more permanent. I also made a parallel programmer to burn the bootloader and upload sketches. Fucking amazing stuff. Now I am diving into the programming aspects, so far I have made a little blinking program, but its really simple. I want to try to put this potentiometer I got out of an old CD drive on it. I was thinking it could control speed.
I will post a picture or 2 later.
Here is what I am making:
[url]http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardSerialSingleSided3[/url]
Parallel Programmer:
[url]http://www.arduino.cc/en/Hacking/ParallelProgrammer[/url]
This looks [b]VERY[/b] interesting. something I really want to get into. Can you get these in the UK?
[editline]11:09PM[/editline]
What about this?
[url]http://www.robotbits.co.uk/arduino/arduino-duemilanove-328/prod_20.html[/url]
[QUOTE=BAZ;18340619]This looks [b]VERY[/b] interesting. something I really want to get into. Can you get these in the UK?
[editline]11:09PM[/editline]
What about this?
[url]http://www.robotbits.co.uk/arduino/arduino-duemilanove-328/prod_20.html[/url][/QUOTE]
Certainly can, the official arduino website has a link to all the official retailers from country to country. Looks like robotits is one of their official retailers. Check out the full list here
[url]http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Buy[/url]
Is the Duemilanove ok?
I have the electrics test kit thingy that you have in the one picture, I may have to try it out with these arduino's boards
[QUOTE=BAZ;18340798]Is the Duemilanove ok?[/QUOTE]
Yup, the Duemilanove is the newest version, which I believe came out earlier this year because "Duemilanove " means 2009 in Italian.
[QUOTE=rainman12;18340854]I have the electrics test kit thingy that you have in the one picture, I may have to try it out with these arduino's boards [/QUOTE]
I got that as a Christmas present a long time ago, and it's actually quite useful with the various voltage rails ranging from 1.5V - 9V
Hey Mr. Hoff, I have a question!
I got perf board, and I am putting the arduino together on it. I just need some basic tips for wiring it, because although it is sorta like breadboards, it is a little confusing. It is also pretty small, but I should be able to cram it all on.
Mainly how do I supply power to it? I guess I mean do I need some "power rails" like a breadboard? I don't think I can wire tons of shit to one contact point, things started to short out. Can you point me in the right direction, and possibly show me an example? Thanks a lot!
[QUOTE=-Matt-94;18389259]Hey Mr. Hoff, I have a question!
I got perf board, and I am putting the arduino together on it. I just need some basic tips for wiring it, because although it is sorta like breadboards, it is a little confusing. It is also pretty small, but I should be able to cram it all on.
Mainly how do I supply power to it? I guess I mean do I need some "power rails" like a breadboard? I don't think I can wire tons of shit to one contact point, things started to short out. Can you point me in the right direction, and possibly show me an example? Thanks a lot![/QUOTE]
One technique that I use is bridging various holes with wires of solder. Here's a a project writeup that someone did, and you can see how he did his solder bridges.
[img]http://www.diystompboxes.com/beginner/build/finished%20001.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.diystompboxes.com/beginner/build/build%20015.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.diystompboxes.com/beginner/build/npnboostbuild.htm[/url]
I used this technique when I made an LED binary counter.
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/15i6e5c.jpg[/img]
As far as supply power, just follow whatever the article tells you. If you want to be able to change up the wiring to the pins later, I recommend you solder in male pin headers.
They look like this
[img]http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/images/products/2x5.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/images/products/09015-03-L_i_ma.jpg[/img]
Let me know if that doesn't answer your question completely.
This stuff is awesome, I ask my parents to buy me one for christmas!
I had one ordered and the fucking EMS service sent the package to someone else.
Anyways I've took apart old CDrom drives, harddrives and other electronic junk and salvaged various motors, switches, sensors and LEDs. But I don't know what to do with all this wonderful shit yet.
I got one this summer, I'm working on a sort of buzzer system with the arudino and VB express that detects the state of two pins and the first one that's pressed gets a message box popping up. I may get the Ethernet shield, it seems like it could be really useful.
Me and some friends want to build a rocket that is controlled by an arduino. We still need some way to store the liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen and control the thrust, but we already kinda know how to launch it. Also we will produce our of Oxygen and Hydrogen.
[QUOTE=DrLuke;18679973]Me and some friends want to build a rocket that is controlled by an arduino. We still need some way to store the liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen and control the thrust, but we already kinda know how to launch it. Also we will produce our of Oxygen and Hydrogen.[/QUOTE]
Get Makezine volume 20, has instructions for that, [url]http://makezine.com/20/hhorocket/[/url]
A friend of mine swears by these, he's feverishly trying to get me into them because I'm into robotics and such. Problem is I'm like super code-dumb, I couldn't even learn Python. :v:
I have never made a robot with one because you would need a lot of extra things for it like shields for the servos.
I have built robots using a Handyboard or an NXT.
I am still learning how to use an arduino, but its clearly not as good for making robots.
handyboard site [url]http://handyboard.com/hb/[/url]
Actually with a little code-wizardry the Ards can control servos just fine. That friend of mine rigged one up to control some servos with the joy-stick from a Wii Nunchuck without any special add-on boards other than a bread-board.
Oh, I thought you needed more things for it, to attach.
I used a handy board back in high school, thinking of buying one, they are like $200 though.
I own an NXT, it's really fun and you can build pretty awesome robots with it, because its built with legos, it really focuses on the mechanics of the robot, while the ones i made with the handy board, I had to make my own parts out of plexiglass and wood with a laser cutter.
I've been thinking of making a really loud alarm clock, but I'm too lazy to buy an arduino, RTC chip, and buzzer.
[QUOTE=rathat48;19486366]Oh, I thought you needed more things for it, to attach.
I used a handy board back in high school, thinking of buying one, they are like $200 though.
I own an NXT, it's really fun and you can build pretty awesome robots with it, because its built with legos, it really focuses on the mechanics of the robot, while the ones i made with the handy board, I had to make my own parts out of plexiglass and wood with a laser cutter.[/QUOTE]
You're using a laser cutter?! Cheater, I have to make my stuff with a hack-saw, cordless and a Dremel. >:/
Personally I've been using parallax for a couple of years: [url]http://www.parallax.com/[/url]
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