Hookup wire

Fetch-O-Matic: Automatic Ball Launcher

Fetch-O-Matic: Automatic Ball Launcher

Several years ago I watched a viral YouTube video that starred Jerry the Dachshund, whose engineer owner had built him his very own automated ball launcher. I had two dogs at the time, and was also unemployed with some time on my hands, so I decided to try my hand at building one. After a […]

Got Wireless? Modify a Simple 12VDC Wireless Remote Control for 5VDC Operation

Got Wireless? Modify a Simple 12VDC Wireless Remote Control for 5VDC Operation

Adding a remote control switch to nearly any project is easy with these small keyfob-based RC relays. They are very inexpensive (<$20) and offer such options as MOMENTARY and TOGGLE operation as well as multiple relay channels to control. However, from what I found, these units require 12VDC to operate properly. This article explains how […]

Optical Tremolo Box

Optical Tremolo Box

Plug your guitar into light-programmable waveforms with this unique effects box.

Monkey Couch Guardian

Monkey Couch Guardian

My cats like to jump on furniture and shed their fur, which ends up on my clothes. To stop them, I’m using a Monkey Couch Guardian. I made it from one of those old-fashioned cymbal-banging toy monkeys, modified with an inexpensive Arduino microcontroller and a proximity sensor. Now when a cat jumps on a table, […]