This Robotic Camera for Hole Investigation system by Cannibal Robotics was built to have a look in a mystery hole. The camera can pan and tilt, the unit takes serial movement commands so that it can be driven from outside the hole using a tether cable (that can also be used to yank out the robot if it gets stuck). The system uses 4 servo motors that have been modified to operate in a constant rotation mode.

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Our friend from Another Coilgun Site is working on a new 32 LED Programmable Sequencer, the results are looking good! The board design and software interface look very good. It looks like shortly you will be able to purchase your very own.

Here is a great way to ring in the new year with some friends and technology. It allows you to wire up the fireworks before you start consuming beverages and watch your handy-work when the time is right.

"The Mortars are all on the 16th channel. the "Det" channel. I’ve ran an extension cord out to the street and plugged it into a 12 volt 1 amp power supply. That power supply wire is then frayed and the positive and negative wires are connected to an electronic fuse starter. From there the long fuse is zip tied to all the mortars fuses which will delay them."

Via: Hacked Gadgets Forum

If you are wanting to grow some plants indoor on a budget have a look at this LED Plant Grow Box idea. The LEDs look similar to the 10mm White LEDs that we sell but unfortunately ours don’t get marked down 80% off after Christmas.

If LEDs aren’t for you have a look at the other grow box that is shown at the The Cheap Vegetable Gardener, for $20 you can’t go wrong.

"The light needs to be close to the newly emerging seedlings, but can’t be burning the more mature plants growing into it. My solution to this problem is a LED storage container grow box. With this I will have a portable seeding area and since LEDs practically emit no heat the plants can literally touch the lights without problems. At that time I move them to a larger grow box where it can continue to grow and start more seedlings."

If you are interested in film making have a look at this DIY Cable Cam Project. For about $30 you can achieve some cool Hollywood effects on a backyard filmmakers budget. Who says you have to spend lots of money for good effects? After you build this project be sure to have a look at the Johnny Lee Steadicam project.

"This week on Backyard FX, Erik and the crew build a Cable-Cam to achieve awesome cinematic camera angles like fly-thru and overhead shots. The Cable-Cam is like a camera dolly, but instead of being on a track, the camera is in the air on cables or rope, so you can shoot above the action."

Matt has put together a good looking M1A2 Abrams RC Battle Tank. The drive system looks nice and beefy, there is a pulley system on the inside which drives a chain system on the outside where it can get wet and muddy. When this thing is loaded with some ammo I don’t think I would want to see it in a back alley.

"The speed controllers I used are IFI Victor 885′s. They are capable of handling up to 120 amps continuous draw, so they are more capable than anything I would ever need. They are hooked up to 100 amp fuses. The turret is a very complicated piece of the M-1 Abrams. It has about 19 faces and has to clear the upper hull while turning 360 degrees. It turns on a 12 inch lazy susan and is powered by a high torque servo modified to rotate continuously. The servo also has a built in speed controller to allow proportional speed."

This is a great day for the hackers and maker around the world. Make Television is On the Air! This is a big step in legitimizing the DIY area that we are all so interested in. Have a look at the videos and let me know what you think. I think my favorite is the VCR project but I would have liked to see a bit more details, something like a time lapse build would have made for a great addition.

"Make: is the DIY series for a new generation! It celebrates "Makers" – the inventors, artists, geeks and just plain everyday folks who mix new and old technology to create new-fangled marvels. The series encourages everyone to invent, revent, recycle, upcycle, and act up. Based on the popular Make magazine, each half-hour episode inspires millions to think, create, and, well, make. "

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