Notices tagged with openhardware, page 2

Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Monday, 20-Jul-2020 18:23:51 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
This automated perpetual calendar is a beautiful way to watch the years pass by https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/07/20/this-automated-perpetual-calendar-is-a-beautiful-way-to-watch-the-years-pass-by/ #arduino #openhardware
In conversation Monday, 20-Jul-2020 18:23:51 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. This automated perpetual calendar is a beautiful way to watch the years pass by
  
  By Arduino Team from Arduino Blog
  
  Troy Hawkins (AKA “tomatoskins”) had come across an interesting wooden perpetual calendar, which used a trio of rings to show the month, day, and day of the week. The only problem is that it’s manually operated, subject to human error or neglect. So when he decided to construct his own version, he a
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Monday, 20-Jul-2020 04:18:43 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
● NEWS ● #adotwholelottanothing #OpenHardware ☞ Building DIY LED strips for fun https://a.wholelottanothing.org/2020/07/18/building-diy-led-strips-for-fun/
In conversation Monday, 20-Jul-2020 04:18:43 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. Building DIY LED strips for fun
  
  By mathowie from A Whole Lotta Nothing
  I work remotely and have for many years, but let’s be honest: it’s the case for a lot of people now. Lately I’ve been trying to step up how my home office looks, especially with regards to its video conferencing capabilities. I started using a DSLR as my webcam along with a ring light and dimmable room lights. With the basics out of the way, I next wanted to work on my office’s background by installing LED light strips below each my office’s bookshelves.
  
  If you’ve watched YouTube or Twitch streamers, you might have noticed they have interesting backgrounds behind them, often with colored LED lighting on shelves or in corners. My new home office has a bunch of built-in floating shelves and I thought it’d be a perfect place to install LED strips.
  
  LEDs are ample, ubiquitous, and cheap
  
  LEDs are amazing. They’re incredibly bright while also using low power. Modern technology has incorporated them into almost everything and that’s driven the price for light strips ridiculously low. What you see in my final product in the photo above cost about $100 total for 45 feet (15m) of light, including a hard-wired controller, all the wiring, and the power supply.
  
  BIG NOTE UP FRONT: You can buy great pre-built, consumer grade LED light strips that come with a remote control, can be controlled by your phone, and are relatively cheap. Personally, I’ve purchased a few Govee light strips like this long one and they work great for simple applications like on a shelf, or around a door jam, or up on a crown molding. For 90% of most people’s needs, that’s the best and easiest way to go.
  
  Since I had six shelves, I didn’t want to have to manage six plugs, so what I’m describing here is going the full-on DIY route, cutting your LED strips up, using a solder gun, and creating the exact lights you need for your space. Here’s how I did mine.
  
  Buy some WS2812B strips
  
  This video is a fantastic overview of all the options when it comes to LED strips, but the long-story-short is WS2812B is the standard designation for a simple, individually addressable string of LED lights. I bought mine with no waterproofing (since they’re used indoors) and I got them in 30 pixels/meter density to keep my power needs low. Typically you’d pay about $10 for a 6 foot (2m) string and 16 foot (5m) strings are about $20. They’re all over eBay, Amazon, and Aliexpress (which is the cheapest but can take the longest to arrive).
  
  Light strips come with a simple adhesive sticky backing to mount under things, but I went a little extra and bought some aluminum channel designed for LEDs that also comes with a diffuser panel that helps spread out the light. You screw them into something, stick your LED strips inside, then snap on the outside light diffuser for a more permanent installation.
  
  I also finished off my mounting by putting this corner guard in front of the lights to both hide the aluminum strip and further diffuse the light on the upper three shelves. It gives a nice downward glow.
  
  Next, buy and prepare your controller
  
  Your lights will be controlled by a tiny computer chip with a WiFi adapter in it and the one you want is a NodeMCU ESP8266. The great part is they’re only about three or four bucks each and I bought this set of three at Amazon just in case I fried one along the way. Download WLED software and flash it to your NodeMCU, then configure it onto your WiFi network. All of it is covered in this step-by-step video to building your first light strip. If you buy the things you need, just follow Dr Zz’s guide closely to get them all working (it’s how I did mine).
  
  Wire it together with a power supply
  
  The above video also goes into the math around how to select a power supply for your LEDs. You’ll also have to pay attention to the voltage in your system. I went with 5V LED strips for all the reasons stated above (lower power needs, cheaper strips), but make sure you use 5V everything, including your power supply, your NodeMCU, and all your wired connections.
  
  My strips all together total 400 LEDs so I needed a pretty big power supply. I bought this 30 amp model that is fanless and runs cool. My first purchase was a 60 amp power supply with a giant fan but it sounded like a hair dryer when you plugged it in and I’d only suggest using those for outdoor applications.
  
  I used basic red/black wire for dropping power on each strip’s end. I used some LED wire to connect them all together back to the controller. I avoided a lot of soldering by using these specially made connectors that fit my LED strips perfectly. I also used these T-connectors for connecting additional power while reducing the amount of soldering needed. A set of jumper wires is needed to quickly connect up your NodeMCU to your power supply.
  
  Fire up your phone and enjoy your lights
  WLED running in a desktop web browser
  Download and install the WLED app for your phone and you should be able to control your lights after some configuration (don’t forget to input the exact number of LEDs you have and play with your LED preferences). You can also control them from a desktop web browser by simply going to your controller’s internal IP address.
  
  WLED is pretty incredible since it comes with a couple hundred different patterns already built-in and you simply select them to make your lights run complex patterns. I’ve customized my setup to split each bookshelf’s strip into its own segment, so programmed light effects happen on every shelf at once.
  
  I’ve also added my light strips to my Homekit control by using a WLED homebridge plugin so I can turn them off or on from my phone inside or outside my house, and as part of routines. Currently, I’m working on an iOS Shortcut to automatically dim my room’s Hue lights and turn on the LED strips whenever I connect my AirPods to my laptop (which is when I’m about to jump into a Zoom meeting).
  
  To complete the look for my office, I added a Samsung Frame 55″ TV I flush wall mounted that I turn on each morning to display Samsung’s art prints, which I rotate out often. The Frame TV is pretty incredible, with a screen that has a matte finish and it really does look like a painting to the naked eye, though when photographing it, it tends to overstate the brightness making it look more like a bright TV. If I had one TV in my living room over a fireplace mantel, I’d totally buy one of these, since it looks great when you’re not watching TV.
  The Frame TV running a different piece of artwork with a fake white border mat.
  Here are a few more shots of what my LEDs look like installed, along with what I look like in a Zoom meeting (on a Saturday, wearing a tie-dye shirt).
  
  I’ve got the LEDs set to a rainbow routine that I’ve slowed down, and they gently change in the background of my meetings.
  
  Again, if you have a simple setup, just go with an off-the-shelf option like the Govee lights, but if you want to go fully custom, LED strips are a fun cheap way to add some color to your surroundings.
  
  (in case you were wondering, that’s not a real Eames chair, it’s a nice knock-off I bought on Aliexpress for $500 and the plywood/leather chair is another famous knock-off from Aliexpress for $150, they’re mostly used for reading books in or giving guests a place to sit.)
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Sunday, 19-Jul-2020 03:44:42 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
● NEWS ● #Vice #OpenHardware ☞ Why People Are Hacking Ventilators to Save Lives https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/v7gz93/why-people-are-hacking-ventilators-to-save-lives
In conversation Sunday, 19-Jul-2020 03:44:42 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. Why People Are Hacking Ventilators to Save Lives
  
  Why a Polish hacker is bypassing manufacturers to repair life saving ventilators.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Friday, 17-Jul-2020 21:32:29 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware and Devices With #Linux http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/140017

In conversation Friday, 17-Jul-2020 21:32:29 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Friday, 17-Jul-2020 08:42:26 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware and Devices That Run #Linux http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139986

In conversation Friday, 17-Jul-2020 08:42:26 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2020 18:59:49 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
Restricted Hardware and #OpenHardware ( #RaspberryPi , #Arduino Nano) http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139927 #gnu #linux

In conversation Wednesday, 15-Jul-2020 18:59:49 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Wednesday, 15-Jul-2020 05:40:14 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware : #RaspberryPi , #Arduino and More http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139882

In conversation Wednesday, 15-Jul-2020 05:40:14 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Tuesday, 14-Jul-2020 04:31:35 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
Deck out your ride with an #Arduino -controlled spoiler https://blog.arduino.cc/2020/07/14/deck-out-your-ride-with-an-arduino-controlled-spoiler/ #openhardware #hardware
In conversation Tuesday, 14-Jul-2020 04:31:35 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. Deck out your ride with an Arduino-controlled spoiler
  
  By Arduino Team from Arduino Blog
  
  Car spoilers can provide downforce for better performance, or simply give the appearance of speed. To take things to another level, Michael Rechtin designed his own custom wing that doesn’t just sit there, but pitches up and down via a pair of servos. The system utilizes an Arduino Nano along wit
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Friday, 10-Jul-2020 17:34:02 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware : #Adafruit , #Arduino , #Librem5 and More http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139746

In conversation Friday, 10-Jul-2020 17:34:02 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Thursday, 09-Jul-2020 16:02:13 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware : #Arduino and Beyond http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139707 #gnu #linux

In conversation Thursday, 09-Jul-2020 16:02:13 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Monday, 22-Jun-2020 11:01:11 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
Devices/Embedded With #GNU / #Linux and/or #OpenHardware http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/139031

In conversation Monday, 22-Jun-2020 11:01:11 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Saturday, 20-Jun-2020 05:31:27 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
Software and #Games on #OpenHardware Arduino and #RaspberryPi http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/138960

In conversation Saturday, 20-Jun-2020 05:31:27 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
stragu (stragu@mastodon.indie.host)'s status on Wednesday, 17-Jun-2020 07:52:38 EDT stragu
- mntmn
There’s 36 hours left if you want to secure yourself an MNT Reform, the #openHardware, #privacy-respecting, completely repairable laptop.
https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/reform
They’re on Masto too: @mntmn

In conversation Wednesday, 17-Jun-2020 07:52:38 EDT from mastodon.indie.host permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Friday, 12-Jun-2020 06:16:24 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#Librem5 #Dogwood and #OpenHardware Updates http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/138674 #gnu #linux

In conversation Friday, 12-Jun-2020 06:16:24 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Thursday, 11-Jun-2020 12:26:39 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
Devices and #OpenHardware With #Linux , Mostly #RaspberryPi http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/138645

In conversation Thursday, 11-Jun-2020 12:26:39 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Thursday, 11-Jun-2020 05:03:04 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
● NEWS ● #jeffgeerling #OpenHardware #raspi ☞ I'm booting my #RaspberryPi 4 from a USB SSD http://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2020/im-booting-my-raspberry-pi-4-usb-ssd

In conversation Thursday, 11-Jun-2020 05:03:04 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 10:44:04 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware /Modding: FPGAs, AR, #HardwareX , #COVID19 and More http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/138483

In conversation Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 10:44:04 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 10:36:40 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
African scientists leverage #openhardware https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01606-z #africa #nature #naturejournal
In conversation Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 10:36:40 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. African scientists leverage open hardware
  
  A growing emphasis on do-it-yourself science is helping researchers to equip labs in resource-limited areas.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 05:50:08 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
● NEWS ● #jpieper #OpenHardware ☞ Improved swing trajectory https://jpieper.com/2020/06/05/improved-swing-trajectory/
In conversation Sunday, 07-Jun-2020 05:50:08 EDT from pleroma.site permalink
Attachments
1. Improved swing trajectory
  
  By Josh Pieper from A Modicum of Fun
  Now that I finally have tplot2 working sufficiently to diagnose problems in 3D, it is time to start actually fixing those problems. The first obvious thing I noticed when watching data replay was that the legs scooted around a lot after making contact with the ground. Absent 3D visualization, I knew something was wrong, but couldn’t easily tell what.
  
  Diagnosing the first problem
  
  Once I was able to plot the commanded position and velocity trajectory, I could clearly see a number of problems. For one, the trajectory was not terribly achievable. The velocity jumped in a discontinuous manner between different phases of the swing cycle, which resulted in large tracking errors when moving the physical legs:
  
  Also, there are those odd periods near the downturn where the commanded Z velocity goes to exactly zero for a while, then resumes its downward trend in a non-physical manner.
  
  When I first wrote the simple walk cycle, I didn’t spend a whole lot (well almost zero) time debugging it, as I didn’t have appropriate debugging tools. Clearly it wasn’t working and something better needed to be done.
  
  Updated swing trajectory
  
  While not the entirety of the problem by any stretch, I figured fixing the swing trajectory was a fine first step that would be mostly independent of any other resolutions. I wanted the swing phase of the leg movement to have a few properties:
  
  Continuous velocity profile (I don’t care about jerk)
  When lifting off and touching down, maintain the ground velocity for a brief period of time
  For now, I’m not doing whole body control, so the trajectory can be scripted, and it is acceptable to lock in the target position at foot liftoff time
  I decided to tackle the problem independently in the Z axis and in the XY plane. In both cases, the approach is based on piecewise cubic bezier curves. In one dimension, these curves have a continuous first and second derivative, but only the position and first derivative are controllable.
  
  For the equation:
  
  The position, velocity, and acceleration are as follows:
  
  Z axis
  
  To generate the Z trajectory, we’ll just stick two of these back to back in a mirrored fashion, so the Z height raises to a peak at the halfway point, then lowers back to the original value with a continuous velocity reaching exactly 0 velocity at the touch down point. That makes the overall Z trajectory look like:
  
  X-Y Plane
  
  In the X-Y plane, I broke up the swing into 3 piecewise sections. The first is a constant deceleration profile from the initial velocity to 0, and the last section is a constant acceleration profile from 0 to the target velocity. The middle section is just a single cubic bezier curve independently applied in the X and Y axes. A sample trajectory (with velocities shown as vectors), might look like:
  
  Then to put the Z and X/Y pieces together, here’s a plot in the XZ plane of a similar system:
  
  So yes, it seems to be doing what we want in that the velocity is continuous in all 3 axes — we lift off gradually, perform our swing, then set back down gradually.
  
  Testing on the robot
  
  Well, I actually tested it first in simulation, but where’s the excitement in that! Here’s what the tplot2 video looks like with the new leg trajectory in a slightly stuttery GIF:
  
  The green and blue feet in the 3D view show that the legs track the control points well, and that 2D plots shows that yes, the Z position and velocity are smooth and continuous as we desired.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊) (schestowitz@pleroma.site)'s status on Wednesday, 03-Jun-2020 18:45:20 EDT Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)
#OpenHardware #RaspberryPi, #AstroPi and #OpenPower Foundation http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/138368

In conversation Wednesday, 03-Jun-2020 18:45:20 EDT from pleroma.site permalink

After
Before

Public

Notices tagged with openhardware, page 2