If you are a .NET programmer with a passion for hardware platforms, chances are you have heard of and used a Netduino. For the rest of us, however, learning both a new programming language and circuit design can be daunting. That is where Greg Duncan from the Coding for Fun Blog comes in. Greg has written several Netduino posts in the past and decided to write something specifically targeted towards beginners.
The DrinkShield, available in the Maker Shed, is an open source breathalyzer kit that is used with an Arduino. The sensor reacts to alcohol content in your breath and can be programmed to light the attached LEDs to act as a standalone breathalyzer or hooked up to a computer for a more interactive experience.
The Bulbdial clock from the Maker Shed is a unique LED based clock that works like an indoor sundial. It features 72 ultra-bright LEDs, an ATmega 168 based microcontroller, a laser cut case and everything else you need to complete the kit.
The Drum Kit Kit, available from the Maker Shed, lets turn you Arduino (not included) into a drum kit! Piezo discs act as the drum sensors so you can build your own pads or stick the the discs to your desk, paper cups, walls, or anything else that might carry a beat.
The Motion-Sensitive Camera Trap Parts Kit from the Maker Shed allows you add new abilities to your IR remote ready digital camera. Use the motion sensitive mode to take stunning wildlife shots or catch a bad guy. Then flip a switch to take time lapse photos at the interval of your choice using the intervalometer function.
Solder:Time is a new arrival in the Maker Shed. It was extremely popular at Maker Faire Bay Area for obvious reasons; It’s really cool! The watch comes in kit form and includes a laser cut acrylic enclosure and wrist strap. The bright red LED display is driven by a pic16 using a Dallas DS1337+ RTC chip for accurate time keeping.
The Mintronics Bundle from the Maker Shed is a great way to get started with Arduino and electronics. The MintDunio includes almost everything (requires an FTDI programmer like the FTDI Friend) you need to build a full featured Arduino based microcontroller. The Mintronics Survival Pack includes over 60 components to use with your MintDuino, electronics project, or just to restock your parts bin.
