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Interpreting Current-Voltage Curves of Different Materials

Interpreting Current-Voltage Curves of Different Materials

This article discusses the ideas involved in measuring and interpreting the current-voltage curves of solar cells, batteries, and unknown materials.


Introduction to Low-Power Embedded Design

Introduction to Low-Power Embedded Design

Low power consumption has become an important design goal in many electronic systems. This article introduces essential concepts and techniques.


Building an Infrared Tracker with a PICAXE 14M2 and a Stepper Motor

Building an Infrared Tracker with a PICAXE 14M2 and a Stepper Motor

Tracking an infrared light source is not as difficult as you might think; a 14-pin PICAXE, a stepper motor with a driver IC, three phototransistors, and a few other components will do the trick.


How to Make a Timed Air Ventilator

How to Make a Timed Air Ventilator

Need to ventilate a room? This article will show you how I made a relay-operated, GPS-timed fan to vent out the moist air in my boat's cabin. It is controlled with a PIC16F628A and has an LCD.


Understanding Current-Voltage Curves

Understanding Current-Voltage Curves

This article discusses I-V curves for passive components, voltage sources, and current sources.


C-BISCUIT: System Integration and Testing

C-BISCUIT: System Integration and Testing

Finally, we have everything we need for a functional robot. Let’s put the pieces together and see what the C-BISCUIT demo bot can do.


Projects Nov 28, 2016 by Robert Keim
Introduction to Wireless Power Transfer

Introduction to Wireless Power Transfer

Wireless Power Transfer holds the promise of freeing us from the tyranny of power cords. This technology is being incorporated into all kinds of devices and systems.


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

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.


Projects Oct 20, 2016 by Jeremy Lee
Build Your Own LED Saber—Audio and Power Systems

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.


Projects Oct 19, 2016 by Jeremy Lee
How to Build the Brightest LED Saber in the World

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.


Projects Oct 18, 2016 by Jeremy Lee
C-BISCUIT: Schematic Design for the RCB—Power, Stepper

C-BISCUIT: Schematic Design for the RCB—Power, Stepper

We’ll continue our discussion of the C-BISCUIT demo bot by looking at portions of the RCB schematic that weren’t covered in the previous article.


Projects Oct 07, 2016 by Robert Keim
Build Your Own Metal Detector with an Arduino

Build Your Own Metal Detector with an Arduino

Building a metal detector using a Colpitts oscillator and an Arduino.


Projects Oct 03, 2016 by Evan Kale
DIY Tools—Build Your Own Logic Probe

DIY Tools—Build Your Own Logic Probe

Having a logic probe handy is always a must for an electronics workshop. But instead of buying one, why not build your own for a fraction of the cost and have it working in an hour?


Projects Sep 22, 2016 by Robin Mitchell
C-BISCUIT: Robot System Architecture

C-BISCUIT: Robot System Architecture

The C-BISCUIT saga continues as we combine the various system components into a demo bot.


Projects Sep 08, 2016 by Robert Keim
DIY Synth Series Part 1 — The Exponential VCO

DIY Synth Series Part 1 — The Exponential VCO

Build a 1V octave voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) module and create your own analogue synth sounds.


Projects Aug 08, 2016 by Robin Mitchell
Build Your Own RFID Technology Using an Arduino MEGA

Build Your Own RFID Technology Using an Arduino MEGA

In this article, we are going to learn some basics about RFID technology and use an Arduino MEGA to a play around with a popular RFID module, the ID12LA.


Projects Jul 20, 2016 by Joseph Corleto
Building an RC Robot Using a Wheelchair Base—Part 2

Building an RC Robot Using a Wheelchair Base—Part 2

The Sabertooth 2x32 motor controller can be used to create a robust drive platform for your next robotic endeavour. This article uses an Arduino Uno to communicate with the Sabertooth 2x32 controller.


Projects Jul 13, 2016 by Mark Hughes
Building an RC Robot Using a Wheelchair Base

Building an RC Robot Using a Wheelchair Base

This two-part project will begin by showing you how to create a robot base from a used electric wheelchair. Part 1 creates a simple robot platform for use with remote control. Part 2 will develop a platform for use with and Arduino.


Projects Jul 06, 2016 by Mark Hughes
The How and Why of Energy Harvesting for Low-Power Applications

The How and Why of Energy Harvesting for Low-Power Applications

Harvesting energy from non-conventional sources has received an increased interest as designers look for alternative power sources. Even though the power is usually harvested in small amounts, it is adequate for various low-power applications.


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

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.


Projects Jun 08, 2016 by Seth Schaffer