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The Microsoft Milan Surface Computing system represents 5 years of development. We have seen similar demonstrations in the past, the SensitiveWall Towers and Ultimate Gaming Touch Screen come to mind. The Microsoft system looks more refined however new product demos always look great… As for Milan, the software maker hopes to get the technology into lots of other areas, such as the education market, in addition to into consumers’ hands. Although the initial customers are getting the same tabletop design, Microsoft says the product will eventually come in other shapes and sizes, including vertical, or stand-up units.”
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This robot arm uses potentiometers to determine where the human arm is and then a servo controls the robot arm to match the position. To do this on the elbow for example, I straightened the master arm, and checked the resistance. Then I tried sending various numbers to the elbow servo until I figured out what number meant straight. I did the same for fully bent. With these 4 numbers in hand I was able to write an equation that maps any angle on the master arm to a similar servo angle on the slave arm. I also used these numbers as hard limits on the values I sent to the slave arm.” |
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Eight bit microcontrollers can get some real work done but the Parallax Propeller chip puts most microcontrollers to shame. The Parallax Propeller boasts eight – 32 bit processors on one chip! This example of Manic Miner running on the Propeller is an example of the power this chip wields. Hook up a TV, keyboard and a handful of components and you are ready to get your game on! If you want to try it yourself Baggers has provided full code for the game. |
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There are tons of hacks floating around the net these days that claim you can open vehicle doors using various methods. I haven’t tried any of them, and I am skeptical of most of them. I am sure that most of them use some tricks like a second person manning a second key fob, pressing it at the right moment. The only one that seems technically feasible is the cell phone to cell phone one that has a remote person hold the key fob up to the phone as the second phone is held close to the car. Obviously the phone is meant to transmit audio and not the RF signal that the key fobs transmit. However all modern phones have a telecoil that allows the phone to interface with hearing aids. This coil might be able to pick up the RF that is transmitted by the fob when it is placed close enough. |
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ASTLAB has built an machine that automates programming microcontrollers. This could be a useful machine if you needed to make hundreds of pre-programmed microcontrollers. There is a tube of blank microcontroller chips on the right, and the programmed ones on the left. A motorized arm moves over to this tube and grabs a blank chip using a suction tool and drops it into a ZIF socket, a servo then closes the ZIF socket allowing the chip to be programmed. The arm then picks up the programmed chip and drops it into the tube of programmed chips. It looks like the project is well documented, unfortunately I don’t understand the language and my trusty Google translator doesn’t help either. If someone wants to summarize it in English I would be appreciative. Video after the jump.
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The Riot Wheel looks like it’s straight out of Mad Max! Video after the jump. |
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Congratulation to 56Effie and Kevin who were the winners last week.
Send an email to contest @ hackedgadgets.com with “Name the Thing” as the subject consisting of: The device is a 5 volt regulator. This device would be used where you have a high voltage and need a stable 5 volt supply. For example a 7805 could be used to take the 12 volt power available in your car and produce a stable 5 volt power source for a microcontroller. There are of course many other uses for the device. The winner is Peter D. Thanks to all who entered.
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