Increasingly Complex

Solder Has Become a Necessity

It’s time. I need to start soldering again. And really learn how to do it properly this time.

So here’s the list:

  • Soldering gun. Low wattage I think is fine.
  • Soldering station. Holder. Sponge. The works. I think a wet sponge is really key for tip cleanliness.
  • Solder. Duh.
  • Small vice, or PCB holder.
  • Diagonal or flush cutters / snippers (for trimming leads).
Posted 2 months ago
I think I found the perfect character display for my Twitter box. It’s a shield, which makes it super stupid simple to attach to an Arduino and go. Hopefully, it will worked attached to another shield (the ethernet shield), because getting data via the Internet is essential to my project. I’m abandoning some of my other apartment improvements. Why? I learned that, the only thing I can regularly have in my pockets and not forget, is my cell phone. Ergo, trying to keep and not lose an RFID card has proven to be impossible. I wanted to place the RFID card in a case within my cellphone, but the GSM antennae causes interference and this does not work. The solution has officially become impractical. I recently made some internal life decisions, and have decided it’s time to stop improving my apartment from a hardware perspective. I’ll continue to make changes and improvements to the software, but basically, anything I have to add with effort, which will take time to remove later, I’m abandoning. So yes, that means no working RFID swipe point, or door knock sensor.

I think I found the perfect character display for my Twitter box. It’s a shield, which makes it super stupid simple to attach to an Arduino and go.

Hopefully, it will worked attached to another shield (the ethernet shield), because getting data via the Internet is essential to my project.

I’m abandoning some of my other apartment improvements. Why?

  1. I learned that, the only thing I can regularly have in my pockets and not forget, is my cell phone. Ergo, trying to keep and not lose an RFID card has proven to be impossible. I wanted to place the RFID card in a case within my cellphone, but the GSM antennae causes interference and this does not work. The solution has officially become impractical.
  2. I recently made some internal life decisions, and have decided it’s time to stop improving my apartment from a hardware perspective. I’ll continue to make changes and improvements to the software, but basically, anything I have to add with effort, which will take time to remove later, I’m abandoning. So yes, that means no working RFID swipe point, or door knock sensor.
Posted 2 months ago

Organizing Projects Out Loud

I’ve got quite a few Arduino projects bouncing around in my head right now. I’d like to get them organized on Tumblr:

  1. Properly debug my RFID door scanner (not truly an “Arduino” project, but could be, and will require more thorough coding.)
  2. Arduino UNO R3 and a piezo sensor to generate a “door knock sensor” for alerts when I am away from home. The code that makes item #1 work will be helpful here, as it will be similarly sending RS232 data over USB to my Mac Mini server.
  3. In the pursuit of more digital art, I’d like to move forward on my “Twitter box”, which, as I’m researching it more, is not a truly ‘unique’ idea. But nonetheless, I’d like to develop it to: A. See if I can. B. Give Taylor a chance to be artistic with the exterior casing. C. Perhaps then find a customer for it on Etsy.

    The following links will be helpful in the pursuit of completion on this project:
    Twixie Project. 
    Arduinio + Ethernet.  
    I’ll need to buy this.
    And of course, I’ll need some sort of compatible character display. And the code to drive it.

  4. Random - but I have a secret project I am thinking of that may or may not come to fruition that will involve this. 
  5. And I’d like to build another health bar. And successfully sell it on Etsy. I already have the Legos to do so.
  6. I’m working on another idea that isn’t truly unique. But it would be a gift. And I know the recipient would adore it. See the “Twixie” project. It’s similar stuff.
  7. I shouldn’t forget about doing something fun with the thermal printer that Sparkfun sells.
Posted 3 months ago 1 note
With lots of assistance from the Internet and Michelle, I finally have my gals health bar working completely. The hearts fade out, one at a time, over the course of 24 hours. Meaning, I have three days until her love runs out completely. I “recharge” the hearts with a swipe of my unique RFID tag… the scanner of which, is hidden inside the body of the health bar itself. I hope she likes it. View Larger

With lots of assistance from the Internet and Michelle, I finally have my gals health bar working completely.

The hearts fade out, one at a time, over the course of 24 hours. Meaning, I have three days until her love runs out completely. I “recharge” the hearts with a swipe of my unique RFID tag… the scanner of which, is hidden inside the body of the health bar itself.

I hope she likes it.

# Arduino Lego Project Digital Art

Posted 3 months ago 10 notes

Done!

With the assistance of the geniuses on the Internet, I have officially completed my first Arduino project! It works precisely the way I envisioned it and I’m really excited to show it off.

I’m testing it now and will be doing so over the next three days. I hope it works out. Once I confirm it does what it’s supposed to do, it’ll be completely ready.

# Arduino Project Satisfaction Completion Relief

Posted 3 months ago
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

I have my Arduino recognizing specific RFID tags without the use of an AppleScript. This is entirely standalone and independent.

# Arduino RFID

Posted 4 months ago
[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

I don’t have to worry about the Mayan Doomsday Prophecy. My door locks auto-magically.

# Smart Home Insteon MorningLinc

Posted 4 months ago 2 notes