Building PlotClock
I found a YouTube video of a clock that can draw the time with an erasable pen, then wipe it away before restarting the cycle: There is something very human and endearing about …
Halloween Photoresistor Circuit
Here is a simple project we made for Halloween. We used a photoresistor and a couple of LEDs to make a spooky skeleton with eyes that light up when it gets dark …
MPU-6050 Redux: DMP Data Fusion vs. Complementary Filter
I’ve been using the GY-521 IMU breakout board containing Invensense’s MPU-6050 IMU to compute orientation in my self-balancing scooter (the “Halfway”). I’d like to improve the scooter’s performance on hills and …
Angular Momentum / Arduino / Gyroscopes / Segway / WiiChuck
The “Halfway” – A Self-Balancing Scooter
This latest project is the longest and most complicated so far. Over the last several months I’ve been working to put together a Segway-like self-balancing scooter, aka the “Halfway”. Many …
Pi-Bot, an Affordable Arduino Robot
I was recently forwarded a link to the soon-to-be released Pi-Bot robot kit. The Pi-Bot’s Kickstarter campaign is fully funded and is estimated to ship this June. This robot kit …
Squishy Circuits – Color Mixing with Light
A Math/Science activity night is coming up at my kids’ elementary school, requiring a 30 minute class project. I decided to check out squishy circuits. They consist of two kinds …
The Joy of Sketchup (CAD for Free)
I am learning to weld. I am making a metal frame, and am cutting, drilling and welding stainless steel tubing. I’d really like the results to be precise, so it …
Arduino / e-Textiles / Kid-Friendly / Lilypad
A Soft-Circuit Potentiometer Makes Music
I recently received some e-textile components in the mail from an Italian company called Plug and Wear (www.plugandwear.com). In the interest of full disclosure, I should state that the company …
3D Printers with Kids – Part 3 (Printrbot Prints!)
After last week’s frustration with the Printrbot Simple, we were on the verge of returning it and looking for a different model. Research revealed, however, that there was no other …
3D Printers with Kids – Part 2 (Printrbot Problems)
The travails of our Printrbot assembly continue (see previous post for background). On about August 20, I’d contacted Printrbot via the support page on their website about the faulty cable …