My goal for the Christmas break is to see if I can establish a WiFi connection between an iPad and a Propeller Activity Board using the new XBee WiFi S6Bs (100 arrived at Parallax on Friday), with techBASIC on the iPad. The pieces of this puzzle seem within reach to me, so I'll give it a try. Even if I'm blinking LEDs from an iPad I'll be happy with my success. I'll probably start a thread if anybody else wants to do the same over break.
You'll need an iPad, $15 for techBASIC and some XBee WiFi units (which I can send if you want to play along).
Ken Gracey
This sounds really interesting and I really hope it can be persuaded to work. Can we purchase the s6b wifi modules from the Parallax shop so we can "play along"?
The other approach that looks interesting would be to make a propeller based "hijack" board. The 7.4mW of scavenged power should be just enough to boot the prop from eeprom, after boot the ~2mA power budget would be available for sensors etc. I think Lawson and Tracey found the prop would run down to a few uA in RCSLOW. http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~prabal/projects/hijack/
HiJack also works in with techbasic. Looks like a few UC Berkeley students were doing interesting things with it.
My goal for the Christmas break is to see if I can establish a WiFi connection between an iPad and a Propeller Activity Board using the new XBee WiFi S6Bs (100 arrived at Parallax on Friday), with techBASIC on the iPad. The pieces of this puzzle seem within reach to me, so I'll give it a try. Even if I'm blinking LEDs from an iPad I'll be happy with my success. I'll probably start a thread if anybody else wants to do the same over break.
You'll need an iPad, $15 for techBASIC and some XBee WiFi units (which I can send if you want to play along).
It ain't rocket science, but the little BS1 "Knock Box" which I made 2 years ago over break remains one of my favorite quickie Christmas projects. I was quite pleased that the little piezo disk worked well as a knock sensor on my first attempt.
Erco- would you care to share your code for this? I wanted to make something similar for my grandson.
It's a great tradition, Heater. Maybe if I lived in Oz, I'd scuba dive somewhere on the Great Barrier Reef this time of year. But since I don't, an electronics project seems perfect.
Unfortunately I've jumped the gun this year. I've already got projects going left and right.
I got a jump on my turkey projects last night and built this $4.79 AM/FM radio kit: http://www.ebay.com/itm/112216788500 I def got that Heathkit vibe. Kit was complete, it worked the first time, a very satisfying feeling. ~Two hours of building and guessing what the Chinese instructions were saying. Certainly not the most sensitive or selective radio out there, but I built it! I also ordered this fully assembled AM/FM radio for $3.96: http://www.ebay.com/itm/391613508596. Cheaper and assembled. Probably works better too, will advise upon receipt. But building something, even from a kit, is educational and inherently satisfying. Even therapeutic.
In the glory days of Heathkit, you learned as you built. The assembly books were great, and they also contained troubleshooting procedures which were also very helpful and educational.
Someone else's video: time lapse assembly of this same radio kit with awesome classical music. Also fun to watch. Sort of a yule log for DIY'ers. Merry Christmas!
Yes, the gait is quite cool. The gears have mixed sectors (as shown) to achieve that quick forward stroke. I plan to make it a diff-steered bot, but the legs will require syncing to walk properly.
Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4NrrKTYmBI
This sounds really interesting and I really hope it can be persuaded to work. Can we purchase the s6b wifi modules from the Parallax shop so we can "play along"?
The other approach that looks interesting would be to make a propeller based "hijack" board. The 7.4mW of scavenged power should be just enough to boot the prop from eeprom, after boot the ~2mA power budget would be available for sensors etc. I think Lawson and Tracey found the prop would run down to a few uA in RCSLOW. http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~prabal/projects/hijack/
HiJack also works in with techbasic. Looks like a few UC Berkeley students were doing interesting things with it.
Ken,
How did this turn out?
Erco- would you care to share your code for this? I wanted to make something similar for my grandson.
Thanks for bringing this to the top, another one of the little gems around here I hadn't seen before.
Great stuff erco!
What, like THIS?
Since then we have been away from home every Christmas so no chance of any Turkey Projects.
This year we are staying home so thanks for reminding me to get something lined up for the season.
Unfortunately I've jumped the gun this year. I've already got projects going left and right.
In the glory days of Heathkit, you learned as you built. The assembly books were great, and they also contained troubleshooting procedures which were also very helpful and educational.
Someone else's video: time lapse assembly of this same radio kit with awesome classical music. Also fun to watch. Sort of a yule log for DIY'ers. Merry Christmas!
Yes, the gait is quite cool. The gears have mixed sectors (as shown) to achieve that quick forward stroke. I plan to make it a diff-steered bot, but the legs will require syncing to walk properly.
And to keep the bad guys off the Forums.
Projects continue after the first of the year.
Great project, good luck with that!
However, I hope that whilst they are slumbering, happily full of Christmas dinner, your soldering iron is all warmed up and ready for action!
Okay, okay, I'll skip a day...