Ask HN: Whats the coolest thing you've seen/done with Arduino?

24 pointsrodrigo17y ago26 comments

I think im not "getting" Arduino or Arduino-like platforms possibilities. Please share whatever you've seen or done with it.

26 comments

26 comments · 13 top-level

gamache17y ago· 4 in thread

I'm using mine to replace the ignition system on my motorcycle (1979 Honda CX500). The original system is a lovely piece of electrical engineering, but is prone to stator coil and capacitor failure (respectively, by heat and age). The Arduino will allow proper ignition timing to be maintained even as three of four timing coils fail.

weaksauce17y ago

That's pretty cool. Have you considered making the design open source?

gamache17y ago

It will absolutely be open source. I just need to complete it first. :)

joel_feather17y ago

That sounds like a bad idea to me. Arduino electronics are not designed to withstand vibrations, and they will go kapput very quickly.

gamache17y ago

The finished product will just use an AVR, not a whole Arduino.

bct17y ago· 4 in thread

What I don't get is why you'd pay $35+ for an Arduino when you can get an AVR (the microcontroller at the heart of an Arduino) for $5+.

iigs17y ago

I paid for a sizably more expensive ($60+) kit with one (or more properly, had one paid for for me for Christmas) because it's a ready to go kit with a USB-serial interface, some other support circuitry, and firmware in it already.

I suppose if I ever blow up the microcontroller I'll buy an unprogrammed one and reprogram + install it, but by far the compelling thing about it is that you get all of the parts in one box and can start tinkering on Christmas day. If you just get the MC you have to get a breadboard, USB support guts, and any other stuff separately before you can start using it.

gamache17y ago

It's a lot easier to get going on a project with a prototyping board. There are also many "shields" (daughterboards) which are designed to fit atop the Arduino: things like motor controllers, GPS modules, wireless ethernet cards, etc. Once a prototype has been worked out, the designer can then design their own circuit using standalone AVRs.

st3fan17y ago

I don't. I get these http://moderndevice.com/RBBB_revB.shtml ... you basically get 5 ATMega328 + power supply for 48 USD. Not a bad deal I think. They fit nicely into a breadboard or you can use them in a more permanent setting.

paulgb17y ago

The $35+ Arduinos usually have a USB port. Some Arduino (non-USB) clones are now less than $20. It's still a fair bit more than $5, but when you don't know what you're doing, a kit is better than trying to acquire all the parts yourself.

mwilliams_17y ago· 3 in thread

My Barduino (shameless self promotion).

Ruby + Arduino = Drink dispensing Barmonkey driven by a Ruby DSL that cost me like $50 to build.

Example recipe:

drink 'Screwdriver' do

  serve_in 'Highball Glass'

  ingredients do

    2.ounces :vodka

    5.ounces :orange_juice

  end

end

Code, video, photos: http://www.matthewdavidwilliams.com/2008/10/17/introducing-b...

otto17y ago

What type of pumps did you use, the link for them didn't work?

I've been trying to find cheap food-grade pumps for a similar project.

HeyLaughingBoy17y ago

One way around using food grade pumps is to seal the container and pressurize it with air so the pump never comes in contact with liquid. You can have some problems with pumps outgassing and contaminating the air, so I wouldn't rely on that method for a commercial product.

A much simpler way is to gravity feed the liquid. You can make pinch valves (like on school cafeteria milk dispensers) from a solenoid or a small R/C servo motor and only the tubing that comes in contact with fluid has to be food grade. That stuff is easy enough to find (and cheaper than food grade pumps).

mwilliams_17y ago

They were just cheapo (but new) windshield washer fluid pumps. Apply 12v and they go. One of the pumps died after I demo'd it at Rubyconf and served 30 or so drinks during a talk. $10 a piece. You can Google around to find similar pumps.

paulgerhardt17y ago· 2 in thread

The micrcontroller community today is analogous to the personal computer/homebrew computer clubs in the early 70's - except with more embedded applications.

I've written code for one Arduino to run a python script to order pizza when one pushes a button (this used to be on my fridge.)

I used Arduinos as the processing, communications, and power modules for an augmented reality/robotics project where virtual balls projected on a dry erase board bounced off robotic devices (like a see-saw) and the devices reacted appropriately.

Currently I'm writing a program for the Atmel to query how many days left until YC demo day - and light up a corresponding massive LED display mounted on our wall.

You should check out LadyAda's site - most of her modules totally rock - especially the xbee and motor shield stuff. http://adafruit.com/

rodrigoOP17y ago

That same analogy is what caugth my attention in the first place. I still cannot visualize wich is going to be the killer app.

abdels17y ago

>> The micrcontroller community today is analogous to the personal computer/homebrew computer clubs in the early 70's...

I totally agree, in fact I was harping on this to great lengths just a few days ago :-))

abdels17y ago

I was lucky enough to work on this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/2008/12/the_rockterscal...

The hat of rock was my invention :-)

Abdel A Saleh, https://twitter.com/abdels

st3fan17y ago

The twitter shitter of course!

http://hacklab.to/archives/the-hacklab-toilet-now-on-twitter...

noodle17y ago

http://hacknmod.com/hack/top-40-arduino-projects-of-the-web/

tierack17y ago

The brief description of this little Arduino project why did was enough to get me started: http://twitter.com/_why/status/1065757843

I'd love to see it in person. Someone made and documented a similar idea here: http://www.urbanhonking.com/ideasfordozens/2009/02/the_git_b...

mcotton17y ago

Here is my twitter based home security system. I'm using phidgets but I have ordered an Arduino and will update the code. Making software do things in the "real" world is a lot of fun.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Combining-security-system-wi...

andresleon17y ago

Not done yet... but near Food dispenser :)

http://andres-leon.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-first-arduino-pro...

comments always welcomed!

Titanous17y ago

I connected a PS2 barcode reader to a Sanguino, and programmed it to store the scans in memory, then dump them when sent a specific serial command. This allows me to scan a pile of books for LibraryThing when I'm not at my computer.

timmaah17y ago

On my wall at work, used to monitor the health of my servers.

http://www.82smugglers.com/blog/?p=7

rodrigoOP17y ago

Great things here, thank you for your replies.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

26 comments

26 comments · 13 top-level

gamache17y ago· 4 in thread

weaksauce17y ago

That's pretty cool. Have you considered making the design open source?

gamache17y ago

It will absolutely be open source. I just need to complete it first. :)

joel_feather17y ago

That sounds like a bad idea to me. Arduino electronics are not designed to withstand vibrations, and they will go kapput very quickly.

gamache17y ago

The finished product will just use an AVR, not a whole Arduino.

bct17y ago· 4 in thread

What I don't get is why you'd pay $35+ for an Arduino when you can get an AVR (the microcontroller at the heart of an Arduino) for $5+.

iigs17y ago

gamache17y ago

st3fan17y ago

paulgb17y ago

mwilliams_17y ago· 3 in thread

My Barduino (shameless self promotion).

Ruby + Arduino = Drink dispensing Barmonkey driven by a Ruby DSL that cost me like $50 to build.

Example recipe:

drink 'Screwdriver' do

  serve_in 'Highball Glass'

  ingredients do

    2.ounces :vodka

    5.ounces :orange_juice

  end

end

Code, video, photos: http://www.matthewdavidwilliams.com/2008/10/17/introducing-b...

otto17y ago

What type of pumps did you use, the link for them didn't work?

I've been trying to find cheap food-grade pumps for a similar project.

HeyLaughingBoy17y ago

mwilliams_17y ago

paulgerhardt17y ago· 2 in thread

The micrcontroller community today is analogous to the personal computer/homebrew computer clubs in the early 70's - except with more embedded applications.

I've written code for one Arduino to run a python script to order pizza when one pushes a button (this used to be on my fridge.)

Currently I'm writing a program for the Atmel to query how many days left until YC demo day - and light up a corresponding massive LED display mounted on our wall.

You should check out LadyAda's site - most of her modules totally rock - especially the xbee and motor shield stuff. http://adafruit.com/

rodrigoOP17y ago

That same analogy is what caugth my attention in the first place. I still cannot visualize wich is going to be the killer app.

abdels17y ago

>> The micrcontroller community today is analogous to the personal computer/homebrew computer clubs in the early 70's...

I totally agree, in fact I was harping on this to great lengths just a few days ago :-))

abdels17y ago

I was lucky enough to work on this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs/2008/12/the_rockterscal...

The hat of rock was my invention :-)

Abdel A Saleh, https://twitter.com/abdels

st3fan17y ago

The twitter shitter of course!

http://hacklab.to/archives/the-hacklab-toilet-now-on-twitter...

noodle17y ago

http://hacknmod.com/hack/top-40-arduino-projects-of-the-web/

tierack17y ago

The brief description of this little Arduino project why did was enough to get me started: http://twitter.com/_why/status/1065757843

I'd love to see it in person. Someone made and documented a similar idea here: http://www.urbanhonking.com/ideasfordozens/2009/02/the_git_b...

mcotton17y ago

Here is my twitter based home security system. I'm using phidgets but I have ordered an Arduino and will update the code. Making software do things in the "real" world is a lot of fun.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Combining-security-system-wi...

andresleon17y ago

Not done yet... but near Food dispenser :)

http://andres-leon.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-first-arduino-pro...

comments always welcomed!

Titanous17y ago

timmaah17y ago

On my wall at work, used to monitor the health of my servers.

http://www.82smugglers.com/blog/?p=7

rodrigoOP17y ago

Great things here, thank you for your replies.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse