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Around The Web

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Around The Web

iPad/Arduino Controlled KegBot, by Yelp

Engineers at Yelp have put together an Arduino and iPad controlled Keg-o-rator.  By swiping their RFID they can track how much a person is drinking, collect statistics about how others enjoyed the beer (by rating it), and maintain a leader-board of the office.  Everything used in the project is based on off-the-self components.  My guess is that they are communicating between the iPad and Arduino over the iPod Dock’s i2c interface.  It looks like they are using the PodGizmo iPod Dock Conntector Breakout board available at Kinetka Systems.  Drink up!

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Purdue Boilermakers are MAKERS!

George at nbitwonder caught this outside the Armstrong Hall of Engineering Purdue while walking to class.  The signs read:

I think work should be about making things work.  Better.  Faster.  Smaller.  Smarter.  So I build bridges between what’s known and what’s not.  I tinker.  I toil.  I write poetically in an abundance of languages (including code).  I hack.  I dissect.  I have an insatiable desire to un-complicate the complicated.  I am easily inspired.  I believe that just because it hasn’t been thought of doesn’t mean it won’t be.  Potential is my thrill ride.  Imagination is my most-used tool.  I am a maker, and I am what moves the world forward.

The QR code at the bottom right of the poster decodes to:  http://www.purdue.edu/makers

Always good to see I picked the right school for my EE degree!

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LED Calculator

Rob ‘linear’ Arnold has put together a fantastic LED Series/Parallel Wizard.  Not only will it calculate the current limiting resistor you need, it will draw a circuit diagram, and give you full statistics on power usage.  If you are just getting started with Electronics, this is a great resource for learning about LEDs.  Experienced users will enjoy a quick check of their math.

The array above is designed for some Blue LEDs I have laying around.  I wanted them to run with 15mA which is well below their max, but still very bright.  In this case 1/4W resistors should be fine and each should be 120 ohms.  I should be safe hooking this array up to an Arduino since each LED will draw less than each I/O pin can handle AND total current draw is only 60mA.

Very Cool Stuff!

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

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