If you know Minecraft you will get a kick out of this Virtual Weather Station for Minecraft Game. This is actually a weather station named “Minestation” which gets the weather data for Minecraft game using a shield to connect to an Arduino which is connected to a PC via USB while you are playing the game. The video is a must watch to review the details of this amazing weather station. 

Translated page.

“ As the project progressed Minestation decided that would be a shield for Arduino. In this way, based on a widely used platform among us like to tinker with electronics. Thanks to Arduino code we communicate with the “watcher” that analyzes the conditions and real-time data from the game and every 100 milliseconds, we updated data on the screen. After the first tests with prototypes fruitful shield that worked without problems it was decided to make a small run of boards manufactured in series”.

The MakerBot Replicator is here! It’s an amazing 3D printer which lets you print 3D objects in different colors. It has dual extrusion now which facilitates printing objects in two different colors simultaneously. Check out what Bre Pettis from MakerBot Industries has said about the new model.

Via: MakerBot Industries

“The MakerBot Replicator™ creates anything you can imagine with the new MakerBot Stepstruder™ MK8, the extruder is the part of the machine that turns raw feedstock, like ABS (what Lego® is made of) or PLA (a biodegradable material made from corn), into the objects you desire. You can order your MakerBot Replicator™ with single or dual MakerBot Stepstruders on it. By choosing the dual extrusion option, you’ll print with two different colors at the same time. MakerBot Dualstrusion™ unlocks the ability to make beautiful combinations of colors and opens the door to experimenting with multi-material objects”.

Check out this DIY Litter Box Exhaust System. If the smell from your cat’s litter box is enough to have you cleaning the box many times a day you should consider an exhaust system. It was built using a 120 mm computer case fan, 4″ dryer duct, 12 vdc power supply, steel cans, electrical tapes, long zip ties, plywood and a few other various household items.  Some required tools are hot glue gun, knife, drill machine and permanent marker.

“This project costs less than $35 to make and can be prepared from affordable household’s and recyclable objects. The design is perfect for apartment dwellers.”

Check out this new robotic car that has been developed in France by the team from IFSTTAR and the Embedded Electronic Systems Research Institute at ESIGELEC. The goal of the two groups is to develop an autonomous car which would help us be safer in our cars. Researchers can control the car speed and its trajectory through an on-board computer system. The researchers drives the car with the help of a joystick, the group modified a Renault Grand Espace by adding robotic driver sensors, camera and control bay on roof.

Via: ieee Spectrum

“There are three cameras to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and one forward-facing used to track road lanes and markings. A LIDAR unit at the front detects other cars and pedestrians.”

Check out this interesting project which uses some remote controlled Hex Bugs. By adding a computer, an IR Toy from our friend Ian and an Arduino Jim Choate has created a way to add voice control to these cool little bug toys. The voice commands are deciphered by custom software running on the computer which was written in C#. If you are interested in having a look at the code Jim has it available here. 

Ben goes over some basics of CPLD and FPGAs. If you need a ton of power and a microcontroller just won’t cut it, it might be time to move up to a CPLD or an FPGA. Watch as Ben shows us some results of the first few Hello World like programs he runs on an Altera CPLD. Looks like there would be a steep learning curve to become proficient in VHDL or Verilog.

Thanks to Jeremy Lane from FastLane Technologies and Steve from Podnutz for inviting me onto the Podnutz show (episode 333). Podnutz is a podcast for Computer Repair Technicians. They were interested to hear first hand about the Global IT / Global PC Protection Scam. Wow I didn’t realize I said um and ah so much, I have to work on that…