Diodes

Geiger Counter

Geiger Counter

This DIY Geiger counter clicks and flashes an LED each time it detects a radioactive particle. It works with most common Geiger–Müller tubes, and easily connects to radiation rate meters, data loggers, true random number generators, and the Radiation Network’s GeigerGraph software. Share your radiation readings with the whole world!

USB Watchdog for Linux with Arduino

USB Watchdog for Linux with Arduino

A watchdog device monitors your computer to see if the OS is still running. If the system has locked up it will reset the system. High end servers come with built in watchdogs, for basic servers and workstations you can pick up a PCI card version for $100+ depending on features. Basic watchdog cards receive […]

Spazzi: A Solenoid Powered Dancebot

Spazzi: A Solenoid Powered Dancebot

At BeatBots, we believe that dancing is one of the most worthwhile occupations a robot can have. We like making cute characters move in interesting ways, and as you’ll see, this doesn’t require expensive components or complicated programming. For Spazzi here, we decided to forego the rotational motors (servos and steppers) that many robots use. […]

555 Timer Ball Whacker

This project uses a simple 555 timer chip and a feedback loop to control a servo-controlled wooden arm. Whenever an object comes close to a photosensor mounted on the end of the arm, it blocks the amount of light detected, which triggers the arm to swat the object away.

ESP/psi Testing Lamp

ESP/psi Testing Lamp

Albert Einstein once wrote that God does not play dice with the universe. To which Niels Bohr (or Enrico Fermi) reportedly replied, “Stop telling God what to do with his dice.” Here’s a mood lamp that expresses these dice as 4 multicolored cubes that blink randomly, with true randomness — not the deterministic, pseudo-random chaos […]