Hack N Mod - Amazingly Cool Hacks, Mods, and DIY Projects » Robots

Geo-Location Game “Urban Defender” using Arduino

Joe L — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:41:54 +0000

By using an Arduino, GPS, and an accelerometer, this group put together the “Urban Defender” – A hyper-local geolocation based game which allows users to “claim” various districts of a city by throwing the ball against a wall to claim the territory. The ball tells you whether you’re in friendly or enemy territory through it’s built in speakers and LEDs. The concept video below does a great job of demonstrating the project.

The map above is how the users can track which geo-locations are owned by different groups. It’s just a concept for now, but it would make for a great iPhone app to use to monitor which territories are owned by each team.

The Concept:

The superb concept video above demonstrates the goal of the game, mapping out your “territory” by claiming and taking over blocks of a city. Awesome stuff!

The Execution:

The Plan: The entire project is incredibly well documented, full of flow charts, diagrams, concept photos and videos so you can learn how to recreate the build.

The Code: Full details including flow charts, initial sketches, and source code can be obtained under their coding section.

The Build: Pictured above is their first prototype with all the electronics stuffed inside the ball, comfortably protected by foam. You can view a walk through of the entire project build if you’d like to learn more.

Final Results:

The final result reminds us a lot of Foursquare, a popular location based game. Full project details can be found at the links above at the project build site. Be sure to subscribe to HacknMod for free to stay in the loop on future projects.

Secret Knock Detecting Door Lock

Joe L — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:52:13 +0000

Here’s a fantastic project using an arduino, a motor, and a piezo sensor which allows you to both record and detect knocking patterns to unlock a door. The video below does a fantastic job of demonstrating how it works: It’s completely mobile and can be suction cupped to any dead bolt. Press a button to record a new sequence. Upon detecting the correct sequence of knocks, the motor turns the lock open. Brilliant!

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For more details on the project including detailed photos and code, check out the project build. We have hundreds of the best Arduino projects for your inspiration:

Inspiration: Rise of the Scrap Metal Robots

Saikat — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:42:21 +0000

They say that Michelangelo saw a masterpiece in every block of stone. Some of these creative minds see a robot in a pile of household junk. More precisely – a junk robot, or junkbot as they’re called. Little metal creations made from discarded appliances.

Don’t miss: Inspiration: Robotics and Steampunk Ray Gun Gallery

With sensitivity and imagination, these craftsmen have taken e-waste recycling to an art form. Instead of the trash can these robo figures can be placed on your mantelpiece. It takes a little understanding of electronics and little skill with the soldering iron. Beyond that, it’s all creative inspiration.

Miniature Motorcycles

These may not lap around the circuit but they have been fashioned from one. The sculptor has put together little motorcycle models from transistors and other electronic parts. Capacitors as handlebar mirrors…that’s an example of the careful detailing that has gone into these miniature bikes. These look ready to burn some rubber.

“Batteries not Included” Robots

Made from parts of old kitchen appliances, cell phones, computer parts, video game controllers and other throwaways, some of them can even blink back at you with their little red eyes. You almost wish they could come alive.

Sidewalk Sculptures
Let’s scale up and visit this auto parts shop in Moscow. These life size robots will make you pause just before you step into the shop. All made from old and used car parts, they look like they belong on the sidewalk. For these you might have to drop the soldering iron or the welder torch.

Even More Circuitry Art:

Trash to treasure sounds like a nice name and an eco-age art form. Check out some of the recycle art we have covered before. And do your bit for the environment.

Build a Coffee Maker into Your PC

Joe L — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:55:50 +0000

Ah, the sweet pleasures of a fresh cup of coffee brewed at the click of a mouse, literally. This hacker shoved an entire coffee maker inside (and partially outside) of his PC which is controlled by a simple Visual Basic application. Now you don’t even have to move to grab a fresh cup!

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How to Control Electronics with your PC

While it’s not the most attractive thing we’ve ever seen, we must applaud his creativity. Above is a screen shot of his application and full details of the project can be seen on the project build site.

Why stop at coffee?

Learn how to build a refrigerator into your PC to have cold one without the hassle of those bulky minifridges. This hacker build a tiny compartment in the base of the PC with a thermometer included. You can also install one in your car if you’d like.

DIY Batman-Style Secret Bookcase Passageway

Joe L — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:40:40 +0000

Getting his inspiration directly from the Wayne Manor, this DIYer created his own secret “William Shakespeare sculpture” button to access a hidden passageway. It’s a dirt simple circuit, basically the button activates a motor and presto, we have access. Personally, I’d use a giant red button, but that’s just me. For more details on the build, check out the build website.

Do Not Miss: DIY Rotating Bookshelves, Staircases and Trap Doors

More Batman Projects:

Incredible R2D2 Hack has 8 Consoles + Projector

Joe L — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:46:45 +0000

Here’s an outstanding project for all you Star Wars fans. This guy took an R2D2 cooler and turned it into a retro gaming machine! Inside are eight consoles and a even a projector mounted in the head just like R2D2. Perfect! Now you can have a personal gaming robot to follow you around and fulfill all your nostalgic gaming desires. Unfortunately, these are all the pics and info we have about the project right now.

Don’t miss: DIY Retro Gaming Projects

R2D2 Innards:

We can take a look at the guts of the system (minus the projector) and see the wild mess of cables, fans, and retro consoles. It’s definitely a fantastic feat of engineering to get all of them to fit in such a small space and then have an R2D2 head-mount projector and built in sound system to work on top of it all. Take a look at some of our related Star Wars projects:

Top 5 Outstanding Wall Climbing Robots

Joe L — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:35:49 +0000

Violating the laws of gravity has been a dream of inventors for centuries. Five teams of scientists have finally fulfilled their fantasies by creating these exceptional wall scaling robots. Each one uses a different technique to conquer the wall surfaces they’re faced with. See all our robotic projects.

5. The Electroadhesive Robot

This robot uses electrostatic charges on a wall substrate using a power supply connected to compliant pads situated on the moving robot. It has demonstrated robust clamping to common building materials including glass, wood, metal, concrete, or just about any other material.

4. Air Hog’s Zero Gravity RC Car

Using a tiny fan, this RC car uses suction to secure itself to walls and ceilings. Not exactly DIY friendly, but a fantastic toy nonetheless.

3. Mobile Spy Robot

This one utilizes a flip up camera to spy on rooftops and through windows. A common tank tread design helps is maneuver building sides.

2. Sticky Pads Waalbot

Using rotating pads, this bot can easily adapt to curves and corners. The detailed video above demonstrates it’s capabilities.

1. Stanford’s StickyBot

Although the name may be similar to the #2 contender, the movements of the two bots is entirely different. The detailed demonstration video and its smooth, seamless movements make this #1 on our list.

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Build your own AutoGyro Flying Machine

Joe L — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:14:34 +0000

An Autogyro is an odd, yet fascinating flying machine which uses a helicopter rotor for lift while a standard plane rotor provides thrust. You can learn to build a DIY autogyro yourself and even build autogyro models using miniature servos. Heck, even a remote Chinese farmer built his own autogyro.

AutoGyro Tutorials:

Early version of an autogyro:

The SpiderBot: Amazing Climbing Robot

Saikat — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:20:41 +0000

Spiderman isn’t the only one who can climb walls anymore: Crawling its way out of a robotics lab comes Spidey’s robot alter ego. Not exactly in android form yet, the robotic contraption is more of a study in motion planning but is still a cool concept. The university’s robotics lab defines the demonstration as a “cable suspended robot capable of maneuvering from one stance space to another by clinging to new contact points.”

More Climbing Robots:

Don’t Miss: Top 5 Outstanding Wall Climbing Robots

For now, we have only the video above to go on. It appears that the robot has four ‘limbs’ outfitted with grapplers. Simply speaking, the robot is suspended from a cable. A program controls the path the robot has to take. The actual motion is through the four grapplers which shoot out and adhere to surfaces. The robot is able to swivel and maneuver using its four limbs. The look may not remind you of our arachnid superhero, but the theory certainly does. It definitely is a work in progress.

Don’t miss our entire showcase of robotics projects we have showcased.
Incredible Jumping, Balancing, and Climbing Robots

Inspiration: Robotics and Steampunk Ray Gun Gallery

Saikat — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:15:26 +0000

It’s certainly true that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Just take a look at these incredible works of art which have risen from the scrap piles, fashioned out of odds and ends. Some might call it junk art, but looking at the whole gallery of mechanical bots, we think the creative retro-vision is awe inspiring. It is not only the detailing on these mechanical guys but the fact that they were compiled completely of ‘junk’ and obsolete items.

Each robot is a sculpture…made from outdated (but vintage) stuff. That’s why each piece stands unique in this collection of robotic scrap art.

From robots that look like the forefathers of C3PO to more sensuous robot shapes; we end with a small gallery of steampunk ray guns. See all of our steampunk posts.

Don’t miss out on our impressive robotics tech we posted a little while back and check out these inspirational posts: