DIY Nerds

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Archive for category Projects

Uzebox in an NES Controller

Nov 24

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nesuze

[David Cranor] has managed to fit a fully working Uzebox system into an old NES controller. Uzebox, an open source gaming platform based on the ATmega 644 and an AD725 NTSC encoder, is one of a couple systems that are becoming more and more widespread and accessible. There are a number of ready-to-go Uzebox kits available, but for the more hands-on types, [David] has been very generous with his schematics and step by step instructions. These schematics can all be readily reshaped, and would easily fit into controllers with less fun applications and sentimental value.

[Uzebox NES Controller via Hack a Day]

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$400 Budget HTPC

Nov 22

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Home_theater_PC_inside

IT IS ALIVE, and “I am so excited” in a Jessie Spano sort of way, minus the caffeine pills.  I finally have a house to call my own that is all networked up. For me the HTPC has been the heart and brain of my entire dream system.  The purpose of this project was to take advantage of all the free content on the internet and not have to pay a cable bill.  With programs like Boxee, Hulu, TVersity, and Graboid a person should have no reason to pay for tv.  Save the money on all the channels and up your bandwidth to 16mb+ a second.
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The Flamethrower Your Mom Always Wanted

Nov 10

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We can all thank Everett Bradford, a student with a wannabe superhero streak, for a project in his mechanisms class. He’s built his own flamethrower, a wrist-mounted one!  To give an arm-directed puff of flame like Pyro from X-Men. As you can see from the video above, it actually works… so a big thanks goes to Everett for breaking my awesome scale. Didn’t his Mom tell him not be careless with fire? Read the rest of this entry »

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Secret Knock Detecting Door Lock

Nov 9

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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! Read the rest of this entry »

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