Posted May 3, 2008 by Chris

This is actually the third part in a series on digital audio. The project write-up and the instructional video show how to play an audio wave file from an SD card using a standard microcontroller. The hardware setup & software source code is all there for you.

Posted April 27, 2008 by Chris

Atmel’s line of AVR microcontrollers is very popular among both hobbyists and professionals. This write-up lists out some of the more affordable programmers for AVR as well as all the ‘free’ development tools necessary to get started.

Posted April 21, 2008 by Chris

Rube Goldberg machines are usually over engineered devices that perform a series of simple tasks to complete another simple task. Today’s write-up is from a professor from Portland State University who created a computer out of relays. Watch the video to hear them clicking away as it calculates.

Posted April 12, 2008 by Chris

Many of you have likely heard of using a lemon as a battery. For those of you who haven’t or have always wanted to, this video gives a great demonstration that virtually anyone can follow along with.

Posted April 11, 2008 by Chris

Embedded & Real-time versions of Linux have become more popular in recent times because of both the compactness & portability that it offers. This write-up offers a method for getting a GNU/Linux kernel working on an ATmega8.

Posted April 7, 2008 by Chris

In a more ‘back to the basics’ type of project, here is a very simple electric generator. This project is designed around making a generator produce enough electric current to make a light glow. All the parts and the procedure for building it are included in the write-up.

Posted April 4, 2008 by Chris

We’ve seen VGA signals generated by the PIC before and also with VHDL. Here’s an entirely new look at generating VGA signals with working source code and everything.

Posted March 30, 2008 by Chris

Moving away from basic and boring segment LCDs we have the color graphic LCD! This write-up has an in-depth look at how to control the LCD with an ATMega and make it display what you want.

Posted March 21, 2008 by Chris

The invention of the adding machine saved the human race countless hours of actually having to do the math ourselves. This marble adding machine is a true pleasantry (at least on the eyes) as it is very well done. Yet it somehow it looks like it could be from a game show.

Posted March 19, 2008 by Chris

If you’re looking for a handheld gaussian pistol then you’ve found it. This sucker probably weighs a ton but unlike most gaussian shooters it’s mobile. This website has all sorts of angles, photos & videos of the pistol.