Within the last few years, a lot of companies have started with the aim to disrupt the educational electronics industry using their LEGO-compatible sets. Now they’re ubiquitous, and fighting each other for their slice of space in your child’s box of bricks. What’s going on here? RAISON D’ÊTRE The main reason for LEGO-compatibility is familiarity….
IoT Security Posters
In 2017 these three posters were commissioned by the University of Wisconsin IoT Research Lab to demonstrate concepts of Internet of Things security. The three posters demonstrate 1) security vulnerabilities associated with sensors, and how a hack at each level of the chain might impact sensor data 2) security vulnerabilities with controllers, and how hacking…
LED Icicles
This project uses an ATTiny to control WS2812 LED strips. The strips are waterproof, and the embedded PCB and connector are as well. Up to 60 LEDs can be on each strip, and they cycle different modes on a power cycle or button press. This way they can all be synchronized to the same mode….
Sector67 Hackerspace Rocked by Explosion at New Location
Madison, WI hackerspace Sector67 is in a period of transition as they move from their current rented location to a new property that will be their permanent home a half mile away. Last Wednesday (September 20, 2017) an unfortunate propane explosion in the new building led to the injury of Chris Meyer, the founder and director of the hackerspace….
The Components are Inside the Circuit Board
Through-hole assembly means bending leads on components and putting the leads through holes in the circuit board, then soldering them in place, and trimming the wires. That took up too much space and assembly time and labor, so the next step was surface mount, in which components are placed on top of the circuit board…
Ben Heck Show – IoT on Wheels
In August 2017 I went on the Ben Heck show to build an IoT device quickly. We built the hardware, firmware, and app, in just a few hours. Part 1: Part 2:
Product Development and Avoiding Stock Problems
You’ve spent months developing your product, your Kickstarter just finished successfully, and now you’re ready to order all the parts. Unfortunately, your main component, an ATmega328P, is out of stock everywhere with a manufacturer lead time of 16 weeks. Now what? Read the full article at Hackaday: Product Development and Avoiding Stock Problems
The Sensors Automating Your Commute
In a bout of frustration I recently realized that the roads have all updated — most people have no idea how — and this sometimes hurts the flow of traffic. This realization happened when an unfortunate person stopped in a left turn lane well before the stop line. The vehicle didn’t trigger the sensor, so…
Will It Sell?
Many of us develop things for one of two purposes: to hack something cool, or to sell something cool. When hacking something cool, your target market is yourself, and you already know you’ve made the sale. If your goal is to sell the thing you are making, then a lot more thought and effort is…
Fail of the Week: Museum Buttons
Museum exhibits are difficult to make, and they’re always breaking down; especially the interactive ones. This is a combination of budget, building a one-off, and the incredibly harsh abuse they take from children. My first exhibit is an interactive laser show that turns waveforms from music into laser patterns, and different types of music have very…