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We’ve got so much happening here at Adafruit that it’s not always easy to keep up! Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Each week we’ll be posting a handy round-up of what we’ve been up to, ranging from learn guides to blog articles, videos, and more.
Adafruit’s Top Ten Blog Posts of 2023 #AdafruitTopTen
ADAFRUIT’S TOP TEN BLOG POSTS of 2023
News, Projects and Pis: These are the most read blog posts from 2023
More BLOG:
Adafruit USB Host FeatherWing with MAX3421E
Lots of microcontrollers these days have USB ports on them, to program or debug, act like a keyboard or disk drive, or simply send data between a computer and your firmware. But did you know that you can also add a USB Host port? That means that your microcontroller project can have a keyboard or mouse or disk drive plugged into it – which opens up a huge ecosystem of common off-the-shelf devices that you can now integrate. The Adafruit USB Host FeatherWing makes it easy to add USB Host support, especially now that TinyUSB supports it in the Arduino library as a ‘native’ interface for host support.
More LEARN
Browse all that’s new in the Adafruit Learning System here!
Every year video games reach a new pinnacle of graphic fidelity. You know about pixels and polygons but how does all actually work? learn how Vertex shading, rasterizaiont, fragment shading and more all come togehter. Clear informative video from Branch Education:
Have you ever wondered how video game graphics have become incredibly realistic? How can GPUs and graphics cards render such incredibly detailed scenes? Well, in this video we’re going to explore how just a bunch of data in your computer gets turned into realistic graphics. Additionally, we’ll take a quick look into Ray Tracing, DLSS or Deep Learning Super Sampling, and many other complicated aspects of video game graphics.
Einstein continues to shine new light on the creation of matter. Fascinating development in physics based on the classics: E = mc^2
We discovered a simple regime where a near-critical plasma irradiated by a laser of experimentally available intensity can self-organize to produce positrons and accelerate them to ultrarelativistic energies.
Via Gizmodo:
“This research shows a potential way to explore the mysteries of the universe in a laboratory setting,” said Vyacheslav Lukin, a program director at the National Science Foundation, which supported the recent research. “The future possibilities at today’s and tomorrow’s high-power laser facilities just became even more intriguing.”
The experiment could provide a way to peer into the universe’s composition, by bringing some far-out physics much closer to home. But for that to happen, an experiment will actually need to be built.
See the paper: Positron Generation and Acceleration in a Self-Organized Photon Collider Enabled by an Ultraintense Laser Pulse
Not that anyone needs convincing but here are some compelling reasons to upgrade your setup with a Pi 5. You’ll still need to act quick to snag one but availability is up compared to the Pi 4 over the past years.
The beefier power lends to better gaming, machine learning, media streaming, and beyond!
Via Make Use Of:
With a far more capable processor and a bunch of extra features, the Raspberry Pi 5 offers far more power than previous models. Let’s take a look at reasons to upgrade to a Pi 5, project by project.
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
Magnanimator shares:
My Hex Driver stripped internally and I came across https://ift.tt/s2G4Wuh which was a down load for short stubby
reversible Hex Bit driver. He did a nice job of the handle shape.
I used Meshmixer by Autodesk to modify the Handle and elongate it to suite my set. It fits perfectly and works very well. I also used FreeCAD to export the STL file as Meshmixer does a fine job but the file was very large. FreeCAD made the STL smaller for some reason but took ages to import.
I left the PVG – Prints Very Good Logo on the handle. Hope he is OK with that.
download the files on: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6304701
Every Thursday is #3dthursday here at Adafruit! The DIY 3D printing community has passion and dedication for making solid objects from digital models. Recently, we have noticed electronics projects integrated with 3D printed enclosures, brackets, and sculptures, so each Thursday we celebrate and highlight these bold pioneers!
Have you considered building a 3D project around an Arduino or other microcontroller? How about printing a bracket to mount your Raspberry Pi to the back of your HD monitor? And don’t forget the countless LED projects that are possible when you are modeling your projects in 3D!
LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord
Adafruit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adafruit
Shop for parts to build your own DIY projects http://adafru.it/3dprinting
3D Printing Projects Playlist:
3D Hangout Show Playlist:
Layer by Layer CAD Tutorials Playlist:
Timelapse Tuesday Playlist:
Connect with Noe and Pedro on Social Media:
Noe’s Twitter / Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecken
Pedro’s Twitter / Instagram: http://instagram.com/videopixil
3D Printing in 2023! Here are just some of the 3d printing projects for 2023 with Liz, Noe and Pedro Ruiz ( @ blitzcitydiy @ecken and @videopixil) !
Tron Disc
Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/trondisc Build a Tron Disc using NeoPixel LEDs and #CircuitPython ! Powered by the Adafruit Feather and PropMaker FeatherWing, this tron disc is fully #3Dprinted. Using magnets, this disc can actually attach to your back! #3dprinting #adafdruit https://youtu.be/KSvqVOXgWSk
CircuitPython Floppy
Build a retro inspired 3.5in floppy disk with PyPortal, CircuitPython and 3D Printing! Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/a-floppy-thumb-drive-with-a-color-file-icon-display #3dprinting #dafruit https://youtu.be/Ax_L9URDDko
Star Fragment
Build a light up project inspired by the Star Fragments from video games Animal Crossing and Zelda ! Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/star-fragment-iot-lamp #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/j6_Fr98rQgY
AQI case
Build a compact air quality monitor with #3DPrinting and #CircuitPython ! Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/aqi-case #adafruit https://youtu.be/_eXNtAp_V9o #iot #engineering
Hex Midi Pad
Build a hexagon shaped MIDI device that plays chords using QT Py RP2040 and CircuitPython! This custom PCB features seven CHOC key switches and reversed mounted NeoPixel LEDs. Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/hexpad #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/9-5TnB5oiEo
Bo-Katan Helment
Build a 3D printed LED headband inspired by Bo Katan from Star Wars! tiny 0805 SMT LEDs and an #Adafruit coin cell breakout are great for props and models! Guide: learn.adafruit.com/led-headband #3dprinting https://youtu.be/Jf7QQod3aT4
Epcot Ball
IoT NeoPixel lamp inspired by EPCOT Spaceship Earth! Use a QT Py ESP32 PICO, NeoPixel BFF Driver and WLED to make amazing lighting effects! Guide #3dprinting #adafruit https://learn.adafruit.com/epcot-spaceship-earth-with-wled https://youtu.be/b4TbJSSuqb0
Zelda LED Ultra Hand
Link’s UltraHand from The Legend of #Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/ultrahand #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/DNyDilNJeho
Adabot RP2040
Build your own Adabot with the #Adafruit RP2040 PropMaker Feather! This is a fully 3D printed toy robot that features a servo-controlled head, sound effects and NeoPixel LEDs https://learn.adafruit.com/adabot-rp2040 #3dprinting https://youtu.be/Im_aNMb1gsA
LightSaber RP2040
Become a Jedi or Sith and build your own lightsaber with #3DPrinting and the PropMaker RP2040 from #Adafruit Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/lightsaber-rp2040 #3DPrinting https://youtu.be/x51i4NLoT6w
Master Sword RP2040
Build the #Zelda Master Sword to seal the darkness and defend your kingdom with the #Adafruit RP2040 Prop-Maker Feather https://learn.adafruit.com/master-sword-rp2040 #3dprinting https://youtu.be/F4ooEzrY8LE
Talking D20
Build a D20 gaming dye that tells you what number you rolled! Made with #3Dprinted parts, CircuitPython and an Adafruit RP2040 PropMaker Feather Guide: learn.adafruit.com/talking-d20-rp2040 #Adafruit https://youtu.be/-aibIM8q0RY
Tombstone Prop-Maker
Build an interactive tombstone for Halloween with #Adafruit RP2040 PropMaker Feather Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/tombstone-prop-maker-rp2040 #3dprinting https://youtu.be/U4jtZsjRZNg
Synth Guitar
Build your own 3D printed Synth Guitar with RP2040 PropMaker Feather and CircuitPython #3dprinting #adafruit https://learn.adafruit.com/guitar-synth-with-circuitpython-synthio https://youtu.be/g9egsD9QTgM
HAL 9000
Build a prop replica of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Use an #Adafruit RP2040 PropMaker Feather, #CircuitPython and a big red arcade button to trigger audio samples! https://learn.adafruit.com/hal-9000-rp2040-prop-maker #3DPrinting https://youtu.be/Y1Di5LjXXd0
Faz-Wrench – Five Nights at Freddy’s
Build a prop replica of the Faz Wrench from Five Nights of Freddy’s! RP2040 PropMaker Feather and CircuitPython run an LCD with buttons, LEDs, rotary encoder and a speaker for sound effects! Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/faz-wrench #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/zr6lKUDzCZM
LED Noodle Tree
Build a light-up tree with LED noodles, QT Py RP2040 an AW9523 LED driver! Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/led-noodle-tree #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/m6Q56f1lih0
Space Clock – Earth & Mars
Earth and Mars time (MTC) on a beautiful round 720×720 display Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/qualia-s3-space-clock #adafruit #3dprinting https://youtu.be/1aKPpNjMM1k
2.1″ Round Ornament Display
build a festive ornament that plays clips from your favorite holiday movies using a round TFT display and Adafruit’s Qualia ESP32-S3 https://learn.adafruit.com/2-1-round-ornament-tft #3dprinting #adafruit https://youtu.be/ytfkebsxjmE
Every Thursday is #3dthursday here at Adafruit! The DIY 3D printing community has passion and dedication for making solid objects from digital models. Recently, we have noticed electronics projects integrated with 3D printed enclosures, brackets, and sculptures, so each Thursday we celebrate and highlight these bold pioneers!
Have you considered building a 3D project around an Arduino or other microcontroller? How about printing a bracket to mount your Raspberry Pi to the back of your HD monitor? And don’t forget the countless LED projects that are possible when you are modeling your projects in 3D!
LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord
Adafruit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adafruit
Shop for parts to build your own DIY projects http://adafru.it/3dprinting
3D Printing Projects Playlist:
3D Hangout Show Playlist:
Layer by Layer CAD Tutorials Playlist:
Timelapse Tuesday Playlist:
Connect with Noe and Pedro on Social Media:
Noe’s Twitter / Instagram: http://instagram.com/ecken
Pedro’s Twitter / Instagram: http://instagram.com/videopixil
SHOW & TELL and ASK AN ENGINEER returns next week!
Festive countdown to the New Year. Shared by Miles Nash a few years back but still relevant for 2024!🥳
This project is also a good reminder that diffused leds tend to pop a little more. You can use a Black Diffusion Acrylic Panel or opt for a simple piece of tracing paper [like Miles did].
Via Hackster.io:
The device transitions between data types automatically (Ex. shows days and hours when days remain, but taking up the whole screen with the final seconds). While displaying information, a smooth RGB color cycle is displayed through the text color. When the event arrives, a personalized message and mixing RGB background is displayed.
The device can be unplugged and maintain accurate time thanks to an RTC(real time clock) with an independent battery.
When J.R.R. Tolkein created Middle Earth, he started with language. The rigor, originality, and poetry involved in creating a language may have contributed to the profound feeling of presence that the Lord of the Rings story brings for many people. But there are a lot of ways in to world building. Calendars, for instance. If you’re working with an alien world, and that world has two suns, or a large or small orbit, or an particularly elliptical path around its sun, then our Earth calendar just won’t work. In that case, your world building process may begin with making a calendar. Here’s more from Quark and Dagger:
First, it is possible to have a Tatooine type planet that orbits two suns. And it’s a really cool idea. The question is, how do you invent calendar system based on the two stars?
Remember to think logically, and try creating from a bottom-up perspective rather than top-down. That is to say, think about the people residing on the planet and where on the planet they reside. Will seasons affect them? Will the world only have a single season? How is the rotation around the two suns going to impact seasons? Are there even months at all or just a number of days in a revolution?
ADAFRUIT’S TOP TEN BLOG POSTS of 2023
News, Projects and Pis: These are the most read blog posts from 2023
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Scott at Essential Craftsman is the precision with which he thinks and communicates. So, I knew this video of how to use mechanical advantage to more easily and safely move lumber around was not going to disappoint. It doesn’t.
I learned so much here about how to use lever, fulcrum, momentum, friction, and inertia to move around boards and sheet goods.
This is a must-watch.
Through a stroke of luck scientists discovered Frigate Birds routinely fly high enough to collect valuable data.
Via Scientific American:
They found that frigatebirds fly high enough to skim the edge of the planetary boundary layer, a low layer of the atmosphere that interacts with the surface of the Earth to influence clouds, winds and other weather-related factors. They can collect all kinds of useful atmospheric measurements when they’re outfitted with special sensors.
Learn all about the
Browse through all that’s new here!
Official Raspberry Pi Foundation Raspberry Pi 5 Case + Fan: Keep your Raspberry Pi® 5 computer safe and snug in this solid ABS acrylic enclosure. You can even pick up the official active cooler to super-charge your Pi 5 projects and stay frosty even under computational intensity.
This case keeps your Pi secure, has labeled holes for connector access, and even comes with four little bumper feet. You can use all of the connectors on the edges of the Pi: microHDMI, USB-C power, Ethernet, and USB ports.
The updated case for Raspberry Pi 5 builds on the aesthetic of its Raspberry Pi 4 predecessor but adds a host of new usability and thermal-management features.
Programming the Pico: Learn Coding & Electronics w/ the Pico – 2nd Edition by Simon Monk: This book will teach you Python programming and some basic electronics without assuming any prior knowledge of either subject. The book initially focuses on Python programming, building up a Morse Code example using the Raspberry Pi Pico’s built-in LED. Once you have leveled up on the basics of coding the Pico or Pico W, the book will introduce electronics, showing you how to use sensors, switches, LEDs, servomotors, and displays attached to your Pico or Pico W
All the parts used in Programming the Pico: Learn Coding and Electronics with the Raspberry Pi Pico are available in a companion kit by MonkMakes Ltd. available here.
Adafruit Grove and Stemma QT FeatherWing for all Feathers: The Adafruit Grove and Stemma QT FeatherWing for all Feathers allows folks to use many Grove devices with Feather boards! It fits nicely on top and has 3x Analog/Digital connectors, 1x UART connector and 2x I2C connectors. Not a ton, but enough to get many small projects going! We even managed to fit a vertical Stemma QT port on the end for another I2C connection.
Adafruit MCP3421 18-Bit ADC – STEMMA QT / Qwiic: The Adafruit MCP3421 18-Bit ADC is a simple, inexpensive, and easy to use 18-bit, 240 SPS, single-channel ADC with an I2C interface that can run up to 3.4MHz clock rate. A perfect component whenever you need an ADC that has differential inputs, adjustable gain, and a built in precision/low-drift reference voltage.
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Catch Santa with AI! Ish Ot Jr. got their new Pi 5 and wanted to test out Edge Impulse. No need to stay up all night, let AI let you know it saw Santa.
Edge Impulse Studio makes it really easy to build a dataset; with your Pi 5 all set up and the camera connected, you can use your browser on another computer, or the Pi itself (the Pi 5’s incredible performance finally makes this not just bearable, but trivial), by just pointing at the object, giving it a label, and hitting Start sampling under Data acquisition. In our case, we captured around 30 pictures of various Santas under the santa label, and 30 pictures of not-Santas under unknown.
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
Pick up your dopamine delivery at the Mailblocks. With this project you will only receive push notifications on your phone when you physically “pick them up.” A Pi acts as a router and blocks push notifications network-wide, only sending when your phone is put inside the mailbox.
From Guy Dupont on Hackaday.io:
I find myself easily distracted by push notifications, and Do Not
Disturb just isn’t sticky enough for me. After particularly screen-time-heavy night, I joked to my wife: “push notifications should be like regular mail – you should have to go somewhere to collect them. Once a day, max.”
Seemed like an experiment worth running.
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
John Park’s Workshop is off for the holidays, see you in the New Year!
Come on by for JP’s Product Picks of The Week! A new product pick will be revealed. The show airs at 4pm ET / 1pm PT, TODAY!
Check out the livestream right here inside this product page you won’t want to miss it because there will be a HUGE DISCOUNT during the show!
Tune in for:
The live video will also be on YouTube LIVE, Twitch, Periscope (Twitter) and Facebook. LIVE TEXT CHAT IS HERE in the Adafruit Discord chat! Come on into the chat to participate in the conversation!!
Every Tuesday @ 4pm ET/1pm PT!
On Project Farm, Todd tested 11 different brands of small space heaters. The heaters were compared for tip-over and overheat protection, fan noise, electricity consumption, power surge, spot heating, and heating a 200 square foot space.
Surprisingly, the product that did the best overall, especially given the cost, was the Amazon Basics heater, at $22. It’s a bit noisy though. At $40, the Dreo brand was an A-student for both safety considerations and noise.
On this I Like to Make Stuff, Bob looks at ten tools he’s used over the year that he thinks would make great holiday gifts. Some of these *I* want under my Festivus Tree, such as the cool retro steel toolboxes! He also recommends giant self-healing cutting mats (which I’m a huge fan of), the Gerber Arm Bar (EDC), and E6000 adhesive.
He also makes an impassioned case for the 12′ (instead of the common 25′) tape measure. As he points out, for around the shop, you really don’t need more than 12′ a lot of the time, so why carry around 12 extra feet of tape? He recommends two tapes, a cheap, plastic-housed 12′ tape and a more expensive Stanley engineer’s tape measure.
Lots of good stuff here, to give or to get.
[Via Maker Update]
Noise is hard to avoid. Beyond being a nuisance there are tangible health concerns with constant noise exposure.
Joe Makes was looking for solutions for his Masters Thesis from University College London. Very interesting project combing design, 3D printing, and lots of trial and error:
I gave a talk on my Masters Thesis Project in Architecture focusing on Altering Soundscapes in Exterior Environments using Helmholtz Resonators in Ceramic Bricks to absorb Low Frequency Traffic Noise.
I recently graduated from @BartlettArchUCL at University College London and was invited to give a talk on my project for the Portland Maker Meetup Club in Portland.
You can see more :
Portfolio on the Creation of Helmholtz Resonator Bricks
Thesis Paper on Helmholtz Resonator Absorber Bricks
So is wrapping presents an art or a science?
If you always end up with way too much extra paper, or even worse, not enough. This quick tip may help you out. Don’t be intimidated by the “math” no calculators required.
From Katie Steckles via New Scientist
Mathematician Katie Steckles, talks us through how maths can help us wrap our gifts perfectly, wasting as little wrapping paper as possible.
Malicious hackers can spoof aircraft wreaking havoc on flight networks. I’m not sure how common ADS-B spoofing is but the repercussions could be devastation. Angelina Tsuboi created the Fly-Catcher for safer skies.
Hackers can easily spoof “ghost” aircraft into the sky. As a pilot and cybersecurity researcher, I developed a device called Fly Catcher to detect instances of aircraft spoofing on ADS-B 🛫. I also flew it on a plane over the coast of Los Angeles 🌴. Fly Catcher monitors the ADS-B 1090MHz frequency to detect spoofed aircraft by ground-based hackers using a custom neural network 📡. The device consists of a 1090MHz antenna, FlightAware SDR, and a Raspberry Pi, and scans nearby ADS-B messages and runs them through a neural network to detect fake aircraft transmitted by bad actors ⚡️.
See more on Hackster.io, GitHub, YouTube and Tom’s Hardware
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
elizabethswims shared this project on Thingiverse!
I needed a mount for my GoPro camera that would attach to a standard pool pole. Upon searching, I discovered that such a mount was not available for purchase. Consequently, I designed and created my own mount. The homemade mount functions perfectly.
Download files: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6345549
Every Thursday is #3dthursday here at Adafruit! The DIY 3D printing community has passion and dedication for making solid objects from digital models. Recently, we have noticed electronics projects integrated with 3D printed enclosures, brackets, and sculptures, so each Thursday we celebrate and highlight these bold pioneers!
Have you considered building a 3D project around an Arduino or other microcontroller? How about printing a bracket to mount your Raspberry Pi to the back of your HD monitor? And don’t forget the countless LED projects that are possible when you are modeling your projects in 3D!
🔮🔮I see…chilly fingers in your future! This Divining ball is sort of like a big electric mood ring. Made with a Metro and MCP9808 Temperature Sensor Breakout
sent in by Carol and shared on Instructables. Extremely sweet concept video below.
Have you ever imagined becoming a diviner one day, revealing
unknowable mysteries to the public through divination ball? Have a look at
this divination ball made for diviners. When the diviner’s hand is close
to the crystal ball for a period of time, the heat sensor will light up the
built-in LED light when it senses the heat. This device can enhance the
sense of atmosphere and mystery of divination..
Wild world is the creation of Anton Thomas. The map shows 1,642 animals in their native region. Armed with colored pencils and inspired by a childhood passion for geography Thomas created a cartographic masterpiece.
Nice write up from the New York Times:
So Mr. Thomas set himself guidelines. Animals should be native to their location and neither domesticated nor extinct. The names of places would, where possible, be the ones preferred by their inhabitants. Human-made borders do not feature. (In practice, this meant both names appear; the thylacine does not; and a Cantabrian brown bear supplanted the toro.)
Illustrated maps like Mr. Thomas’s are powerful in part because they mimic how the human brain perceives the world, said John Roman, an artist-cartographer in Boston and the author of “The Art of Illustrated Maps.”
Explore more on AntonThomasArt.com, h/t flowing data
Come on by for JP’s Product Picks of The Week! A new product pick will be revealed. The show airs at 4pm ET / 1pm PT, TODAY!
Check out the livestream right here inside this product page you won’t want to miss it because there will be a HUGE DISCOUNT during the show!
Tune in for:
The live video will also be on YouTube LIVE, Twitch, Periscope (Twitter) and Facebook. LIVE TEXT CHAT IS HERE in the Adafruit Discord chat! Come on into the chat to participate in the conversation!!
Every Tuesday @ 4pm ET/1pm PT!
Hard science fiction often focuses on technological developments. Books like that tend to ask for covers that depict space ships, space stations, advanced weapons of war, that sort o thing. But what about new wave science fiction focusing on abstract ideas like The Female Man, or books that use computing as a metaphor like Neuromancer, or that explore the intersection of power, politics, and religion like Dune? Those books demand something different, which is why many science fiction covers, especially the New Wave covers of the 60s and 70s, tend toward the abstract. Here are some of the best, from Artspace:
Vintage science fiction books have a cult following, with collectors willing to empty their wallets for limited editions of rare titles. Why? In part, because their covers are just so damn good. In an age when most people read on e-readers and screens, tangible book covers—especially ones drawn by hand—are becoming a thing of the past. Here, we absolutely judge these books by their covers, highlighting some of our favorites from the sci-fi genre. So many of them, created decades ago, feel so stylistically relevant today, as figuration, airbrush, and surrealism are back in vogue. Maybe these books really did forecast the future!
FREISA (Four-legged Robot Ensuring Intelligent Sprinkler Automation) uses a camera module to observe the surrounding environment and evaluate plants using AI. via Tom’s Hardware
Using a Raspberry Pi to make a robotic dog is nothing new but putting it to work is practically unheard of. The team behind this project created a robotic dog, known as FREISA, that uses AI to determine when a plant needs watering and helps the thirsty plant by activating its onboard sprinkler system. This project was created by a team that goes by B-AROL-O with members Davide Macario, Andrea Podo, Gianluca Teti, Gianpaolo Macario, Orso Eric, and Pietro d’Agostino.
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
A nicely crafted workshop tool. If you work with a variety of different LEDs this tester will come in very handy! Shared by Mirko Pavleski on Hackster.io:
The device described in this video is a useful tool for testing, and determining characteristics of LEDs, as well as a calculator for calculating the series resistor depending on the connected voltage.
Have you seen any of the code.org hour of code livestreams? Watch a replay of them demoing Dance Party: AI Edition on their YouTube channel!
Meet Melissa Toohey – one of Code.org’s professional learning leads. Melissa has been working on curriculum for elementary school like the Computer Science Connections course. Watch her demo Code.org’s newest Hour of Code activity Dance Party: AI Edition, creating her own dance party and demonstrating the power of Artificial Intelligence. Hosted by Hour of Code lead, Tanya Parker.
Check out the code.org YouTube channel for more hour of code videos and try out some of the coding projects and games for all different age ranges!
Bookworm is the newest version of Raspberry Pi OS. Since releasing a couple months ago the team has been working on tweaking and refining. An update announced on Wednesday brings bug fixes and a long wished for dark mode.
This update includes improved support for encrypted connections in WayVNC; the latest version of Thonny; Mathematica and Scratch 3 working on Raspberry Pi 5; and a bunch of other small bug fixes and tweaks. But we thought we’d give you a little pre-Christmas bonus in this release too…
Creating a dark theme can be relatively easy, or really hard, depending on how the colours have been defined in your original theme. If all your colours are defined as variables, it is relatively easy — but if all your colours are hard-coded values, then it is rather more time-consuming. And of course, in PiXflat, as in Adwaita before it, the colours were all hard-coded! So the first job was to go through 4500 lines of CSS and find all the hard-coded colours, replacing them with variables, and then setting those variables to the original hard-coded values so I didn’t break the original light theme.
Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!
Super cute 3D printed light up Christmas tree project. Shared by maketvee.
Watch the whole build above and get full details on Instructables, Printables and hackaday.io
This is a 3D-printed Christmas tree with embedded addressable LEDs inside. So it is possible to program the LEDs for nice light effects and using the 3D printed structure as a diffusor.
The tree is separated in 4 stages and a base element (the tree trunk) to make it easier to assemble and embed the LEDs during the prints. So in total 5 elements have to be printed.
LEDs are part of the print, they are not removable afterwards. Please ensure that everything works fine before embedding them into the print.