DIY Projects

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Elizabeth Adams has created a new Raspberry Pi smart scale combining a Wii balance board and Raspberry Pi 3 model B mini PC together. The project has been published to the Hackster.io website and has been classified as a beginner project which should take approximately 30 minutes to complete if you have all the appropriate hardware. Check out the video below to learn more about the Raspberry Pi Smart scale project and how to build your very own.

“Are you tired of staring at that boring, bad news bathroom scale every morning? The one that you often say “I hate you” to you as every time you step on it. Why hasn’t anyone made a scale that is actually fun or motivating to use? It is time to create a scale that is not only smart but has a bit more personality to brighten your day. We are going to build our very own hackable, weight tracking, text messaging bathroom scale that comes with a built-in sense of humor. This is a fun, easy project that combines a Wii balance board, a Raspberry Pi, and an online data analytics platform to create a web-connected scale controlled by a Python script you can hack.”

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Jump over to the Hackster.io website for full instructions, component list and code.

Source : Hackster.io : Adafruit

Filed Under: DIY Projects, Top News

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Electronic hobbyist Jin Zhu based in San Francisco has started a Kickstarter campaign to create a new elegant TWI/I2C library for AVR Mega series MCU, which is available from just $5 and is expected to be delivered sometime during May 2020. Zhu explained a little more about the inspiration behind the project and its goals.

“I don’t want to say it, but most if not all TWI/I2C libraries for AVR MCU floating around in the internet suck huge Python Programming Language, and as a C++ person, it’s plus plus unacceptable to me, but it’s what it is, and I want to change it, and you can help. I2C is so essential because it’s so well adopted across many integrated circuits, but we are literally living in a world with great hardware but shitty software to drive it. If 100 people agree with me, and have 5 dollars to spare, then the above statement will no longer be true, at least not for the AVR TWI part of the statement anymore, and I can guarantee you that this is the best five bucks you will have ever spend on anything.”

Items the TWI library will offer users include :

– Easy to use ( Your 8 years old kid will be able to use it with ease. Most important!)
– Glitch free ( You should focus your time and creativity on your projects. )
– Highly code efficient ( Less is more!! that is why I never like Python. )
– Full software implementation of Atmel’s Two-Wire Interface (TWI) for the I2C protocol
– 8 modes of operation: MT, MR, ST, SR, MT+ST, MR+ST, ST+MR,SR+MT (M:Master; S:Slave; T:Transmitter R:Receiver)
– 2^4 = 16 bytes for the single role mode; 2^8=256 bytes for the combined role mode. ( For instance, in MT mode, you can only send 16 bytes at a time; In MT+ST, you can send up to 16 bytes first, then receive up to 256 bytes from the slave later.)
– Both Interrupt and/or polling based! When there are pros and cons for both, then why not include them both in the library?
– AVR-C and Arduino compatible
– Selectable 244hz to 500khz Serial Clock speed with a 8Mhz system clock ( Note: SCL is meaningless for most of the time, and clock stretching from the slave will slow it down quite a lot, so we don’t really need to bother with SCL that much, unless the slave is too slow and then we will need to slow down the master as well. The technical maximum 500khz speed is only achievable when both the master and the slave can process the TWI BUS data within 16 clock cycles. Realistically a driver written in C will be half of that maximum speed, so 500khz can still be achievable with a higher 16Mhz cpu clock, but since our library will incorporate a full implementation of TWI, 100khz is the only guaranteed fastest clock speed. You can still select 500khz, but it will not output at 500khz. To increase the code and speed efficient of this library, we also have to use the slowest clock of about 15khz. Therefore in reality, the usable clock speed range is from 15khz to 100khz. Probably can get up to 200khz, but it’s not a promise. )

Source : Kickstarter

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Raspberry Pi enthusiasts looking for an interesting project to keep them busy this weekend may be interested in the Raspberry Pi cassette Internet of Things scroller created by Hackster.io member Martin Mander. Using a retro cassette as a case the small IoT scroller is a self-contained battery powered notification stroller powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero mini PC.

“The Cassette Pi is a self-contained real-time notification scroller, all housed neatly inside a transparent cassette tape. A Raspberry Pi Zero is sandwiched between the two tape reels, retrieving all manner of Internet of Things notifications from the fabulous IFTTT (If This, Then That) service, delivered almost instantly to the Pi via an Adafruit.IO feed and a Python script. The whole cassette vibrates to alert you to the incoming notification, and the text is then scrolled clearly across a Pimoroni 11×7 LED display.”

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“Everything is powered by a 150mAh LiPo battery, connected to the Pi via a LiPo Shim – also within the cassette is an Adafruit Micro Lipo so when the battery runs low it can be plugged directly into a Micro USB power source to grab some juice. The most fun part is that thanks to some trimming of the Pi itself, the cassette can still fit inside any vintage tape player, turning that old ornament into a functional and classy Internet of Things device.”

For full instructions on how to build your very own jump over to the official Hackster.io project page.

Source : Hackster.io : Adafruit

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An innovative autonomous, sustainable irrigation system has been created using TFLite object detection on Jetson Nano, offering an artificial intelligence irrigation robot to look after your plants. The project has been published to the Hackster.io website by Dumi Loghin and is listed as an advance project which should take approximately four days to complete.

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Full instructions are provided if you are interested in building your very own using the NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit, Arduino UNO and Genuino UNO together with a Raspberry Pi Pi NoIR Camera V2, ultrasonic sensor and a SparkFun Dual H-Bridge motor driver.



“The Irrigator is an autonomous, sustainable, smart robot that takes care of indoor and outdoor plants. This presentation focuses on watering the plants, but the design and implementation can be extended to perform other tasks such as dispensing fertilizer and pesticide, detecting the level of water in the soil, detecting sick plants.”

Broad design goals for the plant irrigation robot.
– Autonomous – it does its job with no (or minimum) human interaction.
– Sustainable – it uses solar energy to recharge its battery, rainwater to refill its water tank, and it’s made out of recycled materials, wherever possible (e.g. I have used recycled wood, metal, and screws for the chassis).
– Smart – it uses computer vision and machine learning to perform complex tasks.

Specific design goals for the AI robot irrigation system.
– Nvidia Jetson Nano – to be used as the central control unit where advanced machine learning inference can be run. Hackster.io
– Nvidia Isaac SDK – to be used as the programming platform for the robot.

Source : Hackster.io

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MoCM (Monopolis custom made) has created a unique dual cassette DJ rig aptly named the Tapetron -2 .providing a unique blend of retro technology, check out the video below to learn more about the Tapetron -2 and see it in action. The Tapetron -2 module is based on the idea of the early samplers. The music centre consists of two portable cassette players playing pre-recorded tapes or loop tapes, the controls for each tape are below Offering the ability to change the play speed, volume and more.

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“It is a laboratory that is creating DIY prototypes of electronic- hand made constructions. MoCM was initially created by need for artistic expression and developed as adjacent activity of Andreas Monopolis.

A. Monopolis as composer and performer of “electronic experimental music” himself, soon caught on to the potential of both live shows and the experience of music making in terms of “instrument” use. MoCM sound solutions come as an answer to those fields which rely largely on software’s algorithmic “point, scroll and click” routine; however they can easily adapt to all kinds of music genres. By focusing on Tinkering, prototyping and junk instrument philosophy, these DIY sound modules open a whole new world of creativity and experimenting for studio recordings or live performances.

All modules are unique, incorporating a variety of materials and features. Their feel is equally old school and futuristic, elegant and edgy, fun and inspiring. The MoCM lab is a work in progress. Complementary to the line of sound modules which can be purchased when they are found available, it welcomes interaction as well as brainstorming, and it is orientated to workshops and improvs aiming at breaking new artistic grounds.”

Source : MOCM : Adafruit

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If you have a small pet such as a hamster, gerbil or mouse that needs feeding on a daily basis you may be interested in a new Raspberry Pi project by Explaining Computers. Which uses the Raspberry Pi Zero mini PC to create an automated pet feeder. Check out the video below to learn more.

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“People make marvellous things for their pets with Raspberry Pi. Here’s a splendid hamster feeder tutorial from Christopher Barnatt of Explaining Computers, just perfect if you’re after a small project for this weekend. All you need to build your hamster feeder is a Raspberry Pi Zero and peripherals, a couple of servos, some plasticard, sellotape and liquid polyadhesive, and some jumper wires. The video takes you very clearly through the entire set-up, from measurements to wiring details to Python code (which is available to download). As Christopher explains, this will allow you to feed your hamster controlled portions of food at suitable intervals, so that it doesn’t eat the lot in one go and, consequently, explode. What’s not to love?”

Source : RPiF : Explaining Computers

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Instructables member Gosse Adema has created a fantastic Raspberry Pi split mechanical keyboard which is powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero W house in a separate casing which connects the two halves of the keyboard together using ribbon cables. The keyboard is equipped with Cherry MX low profile Red switches and UHK keycaps and full instructions have been published to the Instructables website enabling you to build your very own. Adema explained more about the project and its inspiration.

“I’ve used a Microsoft Natural Elite keyboard for years. And after almost 20 years of loyal service, it’s at the end of its lifespan. During my search for a replacement, I also looked at different mechanical keyboards. And because I regularly do DIY projects, I thought it would be a great experience to make such a keyboard myself. This is my the first mechanical keyboard project. And this will be for daily usage. Although the possibilities are almost endless, I limit myself to the basic functionality: An ergonomic keyboard with mouse functions. While searching for parts I came across a new type of switch. A low-profile version of the Cherry MX Red. This makes it possible to make a thin mechanical keyboard. And I tried to keep this keyboard as thin as possible.”

“The entire design was made with Autodesk Eagle and Fusion 360. Hereby I’ve used the possibility to load the printed circuit board direct into the 3D drawing program. In addition to these programs, Python code is used to support various steps. This Instructabe therefore contains many Python examples. I didn’t add any ‘nice to have’ features which add complexibility. There are no background LEDs, additional usb ports, speakers and/or displays. There are some spare GPIO ports for additional features, but these aren’t used yet.”

Source : Instructables

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A unique Raspberry Pi weather station has been created by repurposed sing and old 1987 “SoundDesign” brand mini CRT TV. As you can see from the image above the weather station has been integrated into the CRT TV and surrounded by vegetation for an overgrown look.

The Raspberry Pi weather station was created using a model three mini PC with a 3.5 inch LCD attached displaying date, time, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed as well as a forecast for the next three days. For more information jump over to the Imgur post via Reddit.

If you’re interested in learning more about which Raspberry Pi operating system you should use for your next project jump over to our previous article which lists the most stable releases currently available in 2020. The Raspberry Pi Foundation also earlier this week announced the availability of the Raspberry Pi Imager application which makes it easy to install Raspbian and other operating systems onto SD cards.

Source :Reddit : Adafruit

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