Alan Parekh

Computer in a Briefcase

  If you are needing to use your computer on the move why not hack it into a briefcase like imp558 has done. "The next step will be to install my device programmer so it just shows a socket and indicator, and some black paint on the monitor brackets. The monitor is safely behind a piece of Lexan but it’s hard to see. The reason for this project is that

Ball-E Color Following Robot - Cornell University ECE 5760 Advanced Microcontrollers Project

  The Cornell University ECE 5760 Advanced Microcontrollers Project fall 2008 results are up. This Ball-E colored ball following robot is just one of many cool projects. Cathy Chen and Matt Meister did a great job of documenting the project for us to enjoy! This year Bruce Land gave the students a Altera/Terasic DE2 FPGA development board to let their creative juices flow. "Our project’s goal was to create an

Name the Thing Contest - 71

This contest will run for one week (Dec 13 – Dec 18, 2008) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and give an example of what can be done with it. Note that the picture shows the device in a cutaway model so that the inside workings are visible, the actual make and model is not needed this time. Please do

Rotating Blue LED Display

  Thanks to Csaba for sending in this very nice looking display. The frosted blue LEDs have a great effect! Project code (zip). "Motor An old tape recorder motor. With this load it can rotate about 7.4/s. The image is flashing, it should rotate about 25/s. For supply a 7809 IC is used. Supply of the rotor The commutator of another similar motor is used (crw_1511) and a 3 phase

HP Printer Display Hack - No Computer Needed

  Our friend Sprite_tm has had some time to play a clever prank. Some HP printers have the ability for code to modify what is being displayed on the status screen. This HP Printer Display Hack uses that feature to make a stand alone module that displays some funny comments to the roommate that felt that it was OK to leave a bunch of printers laying around for others to

Drumming Robot

  This drum robot was built for about $50 and a bit of time. I think this is the perfect thing to get kids involved and interested in electronics and robots. "The"body for this bot is from an old toy motor housing. The perfect size for covering all the wires, speaker, and other robot guts. (Since I have small children, this is a necessity for the bot to have any

LUTEC Engine

  Seems like there is tremendous amount of information over at LUTEC Australia PTY describing their technology but is any of it real? I have seen lots of claims over the years form companies like this but none of them have turned out to be feasible. "In order to gain an understanding of the operation of a LEA (Lutec Electricity Amplifier) it must be understood that there are actually three