Latest Consumer Electronics Projects

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Mitigate Power Failure Programming Issues Using EERAM

In this how-to article, we explore the use of I2C EERAM to save critical program variables when power fails and restore them when power returns to easily preserve program continuity.

August 07, 2017 by Raymond Genovese

Controlling a Stepper Motor with an SIRC TV Remote and a PICAXE: Infrared Capabilities

Remote controls for electronics often use IR (infrared) radiation in a very precisely coded sequence for channel surfing, volume adjustments, and more. One of the most popular codes is the SIRC (Sony Infrared Remote Code) which may be used with a PICAXE microcontroller to manage a stepper motor, or most any other electronic or electro-mechanical device.

February 09, 2017 by Charles R. Hampton

Testing a Custom IoT Framework by Controlling an LED: RIOT (RealTime Internet of Things)

Using a custom framework (RIOT) to control an LED with a networked computer.

February 08, 2017 by Robin Mitchell

An Introductory Project for Software Defined Radio

Learn how to listen to frequencies on the air with nothing more than a USB dongle: first FM radio, then voice signals.

February 02, 2017 by Christi Durham

Designing a Circular-Touch-Sense User Interface

This project gives you an example of how a basic user interface can be implemented using only one circular capacitive touch sensor.

January 05, 2017 by Robert Keim

Circular Touch Sensing with an EFM8 Microcontroller

In this project we will develop an algorithm for precisely locating a touch event that occurs somewhere on a circular capacitive sensor.

December 15, 2016 by Robert Keim

Capacitive Touch Sensing with an EFM8 Microcontroller

This project explores capacitive-touch-sense technology using an evaluation board for an EFM8 Sleepy Bee microcontroller.

December 12, 2016 by Robert Keim

How to Build a Touchless MIDI Controller with Arduino

Learn how to build your own touchless MIDI controller using an Arduino... video and code file included.

November 03, 2016 by Evan Kale

Build Your Own Low-Resistance Meter

This project will show you how to make a device that can measure resistances as low as 0.1 ohms.

October 26, 2016 by Robin Mitchell

C-BISCUIT: Layout and Assembly for the Robot Control Board

We’ll discuss some important layout and manufacturing concepts as we look at the PCB for the Robot Control Board.

October 25, 2016 by Robert Keim

Ghostbusters Toaster—A Solenoid Lesson

With the help of some solenoids, the Dancing Ghostbusters Toaster really topped off my Halloween costume this year!

October 24, 2016 by Ryan Jones

Build Your Own LED Saber—Assembly and Hilt Construction

In the final installment, we build our light-blade and assemble the electronics into the hilt.

October 21, 2016 by Jeremy Lee

Build Your Own LED Saber—Firmware, Microcontroller, and Testing

In part 3, we compile the firmware and build the controller at the heart of the Saber, then do initial testing and diagnostics.

October 20, 2016 by Jeremy Lee

Build Your Own LED Saber—Audio and Power Systems

In part 2 of the LED saber project, we'll assemble the power and audio systems.

October 19, 2016 by Jeremy Lee

How to Build the Brightest LED Saber in the World

The brightest blade in the world. Fluid sound effects generated in real time. Any colour, changeable on the fly. If you want to know what it feels like to hold a Lightsaber, this project is the closest you can get today.

October 18, 2016 by Jeremy Lee

Build a Wireless “Tipping Bucket” Rain Gauge, Part 3—Receiver, PICAXE, and LCD

Here's a rain gauge that empties itself and that you can read from your easy chair. Best of all, you can build it, yourself.

August 19, 2016 by Charles R. Hampton

Build a Wireless “Tipping Bucket” Rain Gauge, Part 2—Adding the Transmitter

A tipping bucket rain gauge is a clever way to measure rainfall. Learn how to add wireless capability, a PICAXE microcontroller, and an LCD display to your weather station.

August 16, 2016 by Charles R. Hampton

Build a Wireless “Tipping Bucket” Rain Gauge, Part 1—Assembling the Bucket

A tipping bucket rain gauge, an RF transmitter and receiver, a PICAXE microcontroller, and an LCD can make a great addition to your weather station.

August 09, 2016 by Charles R. Hampton

AC/DC: Battery Power Conversion for AC Speakers (Part 1)

This project details the process by which AC-powered speaker sets can typically be converted to battery power. I'll detail my own projects and provide advice for converting almost any set of speakers.

June 08, 2016 by Seth Schaffer

How to Build an Arduino-Controlled AM/FM/SW Radio

Combine the Si4844-A10 analog-tuned radio receiver with an Arduino to make a full-featured multiband radio.

May 26, 2016 by Raymond Genovese