Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist (update: now available for order)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-minibot-for-the-budding-roboticist/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-minibot-for-the-budding-roboticist/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-minibot-for-the-budding-roboticist/#comments SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist

SparkFun struck a chord with many when it released the ProtoSnap series last year. The perforated perfboard housed not only a tiny Arduino compatible chip, but a small host of sensors and components that made assembling simple projects a snap (pun not only intended, but relished). Tomorrow, the company will begin selling the next member of its ProtSnap family -- the MiniBot. Just like its predecessors, the ProtoSnap MiniBot is based around an Arduino compatible microcontroller (specifically ATmega328) and features a number of components that can easily be detached when you're ready to move from prototype to a more permanent arrangement. The onboard selection components is fairly limited. The base is a relatively bare perfboard with a 9v battery holder on one side and two wheels connected to a motor on the other. Up front is two IR sensors that can be used for basic controls.

Of course, it's simple enough to expand on the basic platform with any host of sensors and components, like servos or RF receivers. Ultimately it's up to your imagination and skill level, which is why SparkFun is primarily targeting the kits at the educational market. The company's new educational outreach program is making a big push to put the ProtoSnap MiniBot in classrooms across the country, starting with high schools and trade schools, as a bridge from more simplistic robotics kits to the more advanced projects tackled at the university level. The completely open source robotics platform will be available tomorrow for $74.95. As soon as we can get our mitts on one our own we'll return with a thorough hands on... one that reveals just how much smarter the average high school kid is than us.

Update: Good news, everyone: the ProtoSnap MiniBot kit is now available for order. You can claim yours at the source link below.

SparkFun launches ProtoSnap MiniBot for the budding roboticist (update: now available for order) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinoDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfeducationminibotprotosnapprotosnap minibotProtosnapMinibotroboticsrobotics platformRoboticsPlatformrobotssparkfunsparkfun protosnap minibotSparkfunProtosnapMinibotThu, 31 May 2012 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Adafruit modder builds Captain Jack's Vortex Manipulator / Leela's wrist-lo-jacko-mator for real]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/wrist-sensor-mod/#comments Image

This impressive wrist / forearm cuff is the brainchild of Adafruit forum member and modder Stephanie, who has built a sensor platform into the fashion accessory. The device can monitor the exposure value, track your movements over GPS, measure your galvanic skin response, tell you the temperature, humidity and even doubles as a watch and flash-light. It was built around Sparkfun's Pro Micro development board and a boatload of sensors purchased from Adafruit. We might just build one ourselves with a radiation detector, so that we can live out our Pip-Boy fantasies down at the mall.

Gallery: Integrated Sensors Electronic Bracer

Adafruit modder builds Captain Jack's Vortex Manipulator / Leela's wrist-lo-jacko-mator for real originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdafruitAdafruit IndustriesAdafruitIndustriesAlarm ClockAlarmClockCaptain JackCaptainJackExposure ValueExposureValueFlashlightGalvanic Skin ResponseGalvanicSkinResponseGPSHackHackerHackingHumidityIntegrated Sensors Electronic BracerIntegratedSensorsElectronicBracerLeelaModModderModdingPip-BoySensorSparkfunSparkfun Pro MicroSparkfunProMicroTemperatureTorchVortex ManipulatorVortexManipulatorWrist CuffWrist-lo-jacko-matorWristCuffWed, 30 May 2012 18:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Sphero goes modular, spins out for a drive (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/sphero-goes-modular-spins-out-for-a-drive-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/sphero-goes-modular-spins-out-for-a-drive-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/sphero-goes-modular-spins-out-for-a-drive-video/#comments
Sphero's hooked up with a new whip, albeit a retro-fitted one. Skylar, a Junior Developer at Orbotix, modded an old RC car with an Arduino board, H-bridge and a few trackball parts, enabling the remote control ball to serve as its brain. Just in time too -- there's only so much fun you can have getting the little orb stuck behind the filing cabinets. Still, it's certainly a leap beyond purposing it to pull an iPhone-toting chariot.

Sean Buckley contributed to this post.

Sphero goes modular, spins out for a drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidararduinoaugmented realityAugmentedRealityballiosminipostorbotixOrbotix SpheroOrbotixSpheroreviewrobotrobot ballRobotBallroboticssillysparkfunspherosphero carSpheroCartoytoy ballToyBalltoysvideoMon, 19 Mar 2012 02:36:00 EST<![CDATA[SparkFun announces $80 Electric Sheep development board for Android accessories]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/sparkfun-announces-80-electric-sheep-development-board-for-andr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/sparkfun-announces-80-electric-sheep-development-board-for-andr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/16/sparkfun-announces-80-electric-sheep-development-board-for-andr/#comments
Looking for an alternative to the Google-approved Android Development Kit? Then you now have another fairly inexpensive option to consider courtesy of SparkFun. It's officially announced its new Electric Sheep development board, which costs just $80 and will let you build your own Android accessories using the Open Accessory protocol. That means it and any accessories built with it will work just fine with your Nexus One, although there's of course no guarantees it'll work with, say, a future Nexus-6 model -- we hear those might be a bit unpredictable. Press release is after the break, and you can find some additional specifics and an order button at the source link below.

Continue reading SparkFun announces $80 Electric Sheep development board for Android accessories

SparkFun announces $80 Electric Sheep development board for Android accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesadkandroidboarddev kitdevelopmentdevelopment boardDevelopmentBoardDevKitdiyElectric SheepElectricSheephomebrewmobilepostcrosssparkfunWed, 16 Nov 2011 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/sparkfun-launches-protosnap-pre-wired-arduino-kits-for-beginner/#comments ProtoSnap Line Looking to get your start in the world of Arduino programming, but having trouble with that whole circuit prototyping thing? Well, the crafty guys and gals at SparkFun have whipped up something they call ProtoSnap -- pre-wired boards with an Atmel AVR processor and a small pile of components that are ready for experimenting. When you've got your code down, the parts easily snap apart for use in a properly soldered, permanent project. There are three different kits available in the online store now, the Pro Mini ($45), the LilyPad Development Board ($60), and the LilyPad E-sewing kit ($20), the latter being an accessory pack for the LilyPad Board. Check out the gallery of goodies below, as well as the video and PR after the break.

Gallery: SparkFun ProtoSnap Kits

Continue reading SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video)

SparkFun launches ProtoSnap, pre-wired Arduino kits for beginners (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinodiyelectronicskitkitslilypadlilypad development boardlilypad e-sewing kitLilypadDevelopmentBoardLilypadE-sewingKitpro miniProMiniprotosnapprotosnap lilypad development boardprotosnap lilypad e-sewing kitprotosnap pro miniProtosnapLilypadDevelopmentBoardProtosnapLilypadE-sewingKitProtosnapProMiniprototypingsparkfunsparkfun protosnapSparkfunProtosnapvideoTue, 02 Aug 2011 15:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Web-controlled tweeting Roomba is a perfect storm of DIY magic]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/web-controlled-tweeting-roomba-is-a-perfect-storm-of-diy-magic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/web-controlled-tweeting-roomba-is-a-perfect-storm-of-diy-magic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/web-controlled-tweeting-roomba-is-a-perfect-storm-of-diy-magic/#comments Web-controlled tweeting Roomba There are three things that will guarantee your DIY project some attention: slap it on a Roomba, base it on Arduino, or make it tweet. Do all three and, well, you've got a nerdgasm-inducing bit of Make fodder. The creation you see above is a web-controlled tweeting Roomba whipped up by Instructables member matchlighter using a 500 series vacuum bot and the Sparkfun WiFly shield for Arduino. The autonomous cleaner can be triggered from anywhere there's an internet connection and updates Twitter to keep you abreast of its status (Ahh! Dock sweet dock). While Mr. matchlighter was kind enough provide directions for building your own, a lot of the actual coding is left up to you. (We're lazy, let us just copy and paste dammit!) If you think you've got the programming chops, hit up the source link for instructions and check out the original's Twitter feed at the more coverage link.

Update: The complete code is in step eight of the Instructable.

Web-controlled tweeting Roomba is a perfect storm of DIY magic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinoDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfinstructablesmatchlightrobotrobotsRoombaroomba 500 seriesRoomba500Seriessparkfunsparkfun wifly shieldSparkfunWiflyShieldtweeting roombaTweetingRoombatwitterweb-controlled roombaweb-controlled tweeting roombaWeb-controlledRoombaWeb-controlledTweetingRoombawifly shieldWiflyShieldFri, 17 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[SparkFun intros IOIO for Android, a hack-free breakout box to get your mind spinning]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/sparkfun-intros-ioio-for-android-a-hack-free-breakout-box-to-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/sparkfun-intros-ioio-for-android-a-hack-free-breakout-box-to-ge/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/sparkfun-intros-ioio-for-android-a-hack-free-breakout-box-to-ge/#comments Meet any seasoned techie, and they'll likely spin whimsical tales of computing's early days, and the challenge of finding a practical use for a device with seemingly limitless potential (you know, like feeding your cat while you sleep). A new product from SparkFun promises to bring this old-school awesomeness into the smartphone age: introducing IOIO (pronounced yo-yo), a breakout box that enables any Android 1.5+ device to control electronic circuits from within Android's applications. Designed in collaboration with Google, Spark's PCB connects to your phone over USB, working its magic through a Java library that hooks into your apps. This DIY paradise will begin shipping in a few weeks, and can be yours for $49.95 on pre-order. We've already witnessed some clever mods with IOIO, and when it sent a real alarm clock ringing, we couldn't help but smile. Crack one yourself after the break.

Continue reading SparkFun intros IOIO for Android, a hack-free breakout box to get your mind spinning

SparkFun intros IOIO for Android, a hack-free breakout box to get your mind spinning originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 04:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcircuitcircuitrydiygooglehackhackedhacksioiomodmodssparkfunvideoSun, 10 Apr 2011 04:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Sparkfun LED Tetris up close and personal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/19/sparkfun-led-tetris-up-close-and-personal/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/19/sparkfun-led-tetris-up-close-and-personal/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/19/sparkfun-led-tetris-up-close-and-personal/#comments
Just in case you were wondering what that Sparkfun LED Tetris game really looks like, we caught a whiff of it today at Maker Faire. Press the buttons on the right to rotate clockwise, and left to rotate counter-clockwise. It's more difficult than you might suspect when playing up close (the lights! the colors!), but it's pretty as all get out, and if we don't have one in our house -- on our wall -- very soon, we're going to curse the day we ever laid eyes on its beauteous visage.

Gallery: Sparkfun LED Tetris up close and personal

Filed under:

Sparkfun LED Tetris up close and personal originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 May 2007 22:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ledsparkfuntetrisSat, 19 May 2007 22:43:00 EST<![CDATA[The $500 GSM rotary phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/#comments Sure, we're guessing the belt holster is a bit unwieldy, but the decades-old chassis on Spark Fun's "portable" rotary phone is probably every bit as sturdy as the Symbol MC70's for one-quarter the cash. We'll take ours in beige, please.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Filed under:

The $500 GSM rotary phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deskgsmphonerotaryspark funSparkFunwirelessMon, 14 Aug 2006 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[The $500 GSM rotary phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/14/the-500-gsm-rotary-phone/#comments Sure, we're guessing the belt holster is a bit unwieldy, but the decades-old chassis on Spark Fun's "portable" rotary phone is probably every bit as sturdy as the Symbol MC70's for one-quarter the cash. We'll take ours in beige, please.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Filed under: ,

The $500 GSM rotary phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deskgsmmobilephonerotarysparkspark funSparkFunwirelessMon, 14 Aug 2006 13:44:00 EST