Published by rich on
Monday, June 30, 2008 - 01:52:04
- Filed under Other Fun Stuff
For fun I posted a few videos with me apparently using my cell phone to pop popcorn on YouTube.
I of course faked it.
Here’s how I did it:
(direct link to video)
A lot of people seemed skeptical - but a good number of comments suggested the poster was actively entertaining this as possibly being real.
Some users expressed that the video confirmed what they already knew - that wireless devices were causing people around the world multiple health problems (a claim that so far hasn’t been substantiated).
One user wasn’t sure what was going on - but found it very interesting that all the major television networks were taking so much effort to report the various videos as being fakes.
I suspect a lot of the less skeptical comments came from 15 year olds. However, I think a good number of them came from adults without working baloney detection kits.
Credit to unknwn55 and leelord337 who both accurately suspected I was using a heat gun.
Published by rich on
Monday, June 30, 2008 - 00:33:59
- Filed under Robots and Electronics, Other Fun Stuff
My trusty old air purifier I was using as a white noise generator to help me sleep recently conked out.
I had some extra parts around - so I decided to make an AVR-based white noise generator. Certainly would use less power to run!
You really only need a few parts:
1. A speaker
2. A resistor (in the 100ohm range)
3. Atmega168 (or similar) working programmer board + a motor driver or transistor (or you can get all this in a "Baby Orangutan" board for about $25)
I -highly recommend- Pololu's Baby Organgutan for this project. The built-in motor driver is good for 500ma - which is plenty to drive a small speaker.
If you were to use another AVR board + a transistor - I'd look at a TIP120 (available from RadioShack).
I programmed this project in Bascom AVR. The free version of Bascom AVR is limited to a few K compiled code - but that's fine for this project.
Yes, you think I would've moved on and become proficient in a computer language other than the one I learned at the age of 5 - but you'd be wrong.
Here's the code:
'Bascom AVR white noise generator
'Portd.5 is connected to either a motor controller or transistor (which is connected to a speaker)
'Use a resistor to limit current flow / adjust volume
Config Portd = Output
Dim A As Integer
Dim B As Integer
A = 1
While A = 1
'changing effects noise quality - value of "2" results in much lower volume
B = Rnd(3)
'toggle speaker on/off each time b=0
If B = 0 Then
Toggle Portd.5
End If
Wend
I taped up the back of my speaker - and faced it pointing downwards. This helps reduce the amount of treble in the sound.
If you wanted to get really fancy you could use a crossover or graphic equalizer to further shape the noise.
If the volume is too loud - try using a higher value resistor.
I'm a little fuzzy on what defines white noise - but I can say this project certainly sounds like it.
Published by rich on
Friday, June 27, 2008 - 14:36:29
- Filed under Robots and Electronics, Other Fun Stuff
SpamButcher will be competing in the 2008 Seattle Power Tool Race & Derby this Saturday.
Introducing Thrillsaw!
(direct link to video)
Unlike most drag-racing tools this one is radio controlled and runs off batteries.
Assembly time was about 2 hours. I bought the 18v skill saw at harbor freight for $50.
My expectations are pretty modest. My real intent here is to create a “fully controllable” power tool. Ie. - being able to turn left / right in order to chase squirrels.
The secondary motor controller for turning is installed - but I haven’t quite figured the best way to pull this off mechanically. For now I’m just going to worry about racing.
On a side note - the cat -really- does not like this thing.