Monthly Archives: October 2016

Hack cheap RF remote light controllers for your OpenHAB project

Basically the author uses an ESP8266 with a 433 transmitter to control them.  The ESP listens on the network for what to do and then after you sniff the traffic for the 433, turns the correct switch on and off.  … Continue reading

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Make simple bat shapes for haloween

The article includes a template you can print out to cut the bats out from construction paper. http://www.madeeveryday.com/2010/10/bats.html/

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Have some old MIDI devices and need a controller?

Use an Arduino to control them.  Nice build overall. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/make-midi-controller-arduino/

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Nice video on controlling a stepper with L293D and an Arduino

Nice video on using the two chips together to control a simple stepper motor.  This is great with smaller steppers, bigger ones need a bit more thought. http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-How-to-Control-a-Stepper-Motor-With-L293D-/

Posted in Arduino, robots | Comments Off on Nice video on controlling a stepper with L293D and an Arduino

Build a quadcopter out of PVC

Well that definitely reduces the frame cost.  The author build the frame for a quad-copter out of PVC.  Everything else is standard stuff (so motors and controller are standard stuff. http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Ultimate-PVC-Quadcopter/?ALLSTEPS

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, robots | Comments Off on Build a quadcopter out of PVC

TestButler, opensource app to test apps from LinkedIn

Looks like an interesting tool to try. https://www.linux.com/news/21-open-source-projects-iot

Posted in android, Software Development | Comments Off on TestButler, opensource app to test apps from LinkedIn

Some interesting IoT opensource projects

Some are more standard or controlling IoT based.  Still a good article to read. https://www.linux.com/news/21-open-source-projects-iot

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Need to handle the new RPi image, use Etcher

I haven’t heard of the tool myself.  But it can take an image and flash it to a drive for you in what looks like a pretty easy method. http://raspi.tv/2016/how-to-flash-an-sd-card-with-4gb-files-like-raspbian-september-2016-update

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Someone hacked an electronic billboard to play smut

Sigh….Another IoT problem with security. http://gizmodo.com/porn-plays-on-electronic-billboard-during-traffic-jam-1787293528

Posted in Security | Comments Off on Someone hacked an electronic billboard to play smut

A bowling ball slingshot

This guy made a giant slingshort for bowling balls.  Its interesting to see what happens to the bowling ball when it hits solid stone. http://gizmodo.com/a-bowling-ball-slingshot-is-exactly-as-destructive-as-y-1787352111

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