You’re always having the determination, which you would like to build yourself a simple and easy to navigate Atmel AVR controlled clock? However, your dream seems doesn’t become a reality, due to the many factors?

Well, it wasn’t too late as long as you have the urge here…

Oh, for those of you that don’t know about the definition of “AVR”, it is a Harvard architecture 8-bit RISC, which have been fully modified and developed by Atmel in 1996. The AVR has been known as the first ever microcontroller that being used in the on-chip flash memory for the program storage purposes. The types of programs can be One-Time Programmable ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM.

There are four basic families for the AVRs and there are:

1. tinyAVRs, which equipped with 1-8 kB program memory and 8-32-pin package
2. megaAVRs, where it’s a 4-256 kB program memory and 28-100-pin package
3. XMEGA is a 16-256 kB program memory and 44-100-pin package
4. Application specific AVRs, which are a megaAVRs with some special features that not found on the other members of the AVR family, example like LCD controller, USB controller, advanced PWM etc.

Ok, after a simple introduction about the AVR, is time to back to the topic…

For today project, you have to make the AVR controlled clock, where it only consist one AVR processor and one BQ-M512RD LED display. You can download the schematic here.

That’s all for today, thanks and enjoy the project

Do you wish to have an X-Y Plotter, which it operates in two axes of motion (the ‘X’ and ‘Y’) by helping you to draw those continuous vector graphics? Since most of the standard plotters only has one control “Y” axis, this additional “X” axis will bring a big different.

Today, you will have the chance to create your very own X-Y plotter, but it does need a little bit modification by yourself. If you have limited budget, you can uses those components that were salvaged from any types of old scanners, but the amount must be in a pair.

Those components that needed for this project are:

• Belts
• Motors
• Driver boards
• Stepper motors

When you’re combined all the above components, it will give you a resolution of 16 micrometers per step, which is a whole lot better accuracy than what you expected here. Read more »

You’re amazed by how capable the Lego PICAXE Pete moving and competing with each other? You want to challenge yourself to make a cool PICAXE Pete? If you have the urge here, then let started the project right now…

First thing first, you might need to prepare these components:

1. Two Lego 9V mini motors, which powered with 12V (The actuators/output devices)
2. PICAXE 40X1 (The CPU)
3. Two Li-Ion 7.2V packs in serial connection (The power source)
4. Picaxe basic (The programming language)
5. LDRs (The sensor/input devices)

This PICAXE Pete is a homemade robot that has a line sensor, which using the light dependent resistors (LDRs) and a PICAXE-board with an L293 driver chip. The LM7805 voltage regulator is used for regulate the chips and line sensor with some bulk capacitors.

Meanwhile, PICAXE board also has a means of connecting the programmer cable to the board, in order to program the PICAXE chip.

There are two main parts for this PICAXE Pete, which as:

• The Engine block
• The tail section

You need to put the engine block and the tail sections together; also don’t forget to assemble the controller board and batteries to the project as well!

You’ve been searching for the reliable and user friendly backlight controller, but it’s seen like a hard task, as you cannot even find the controller that suited your needs? Well, since you’ve failed to find it, why don’t you just spend some time and give yourself a new kick start, by simply create a Router Term for your own use?

For your information, the Router Term is a serial terminal for the Edimax BR-6104KP router, which running with Linux. It has 16×2 LCC display with the backlight and PS/2 Keyboard (Look it carefully, it’s “PS/2″ not “PS 2″!). The barin is a microcontroller ATmega8.

The Router Term can be used for the following purposes:

1. Shell terminal
2. Controlling the backlight (F1 hotkey)
3. TAB for command completing, BACKSPACE

Ok, how to deal with the Router Term? Well, you just need to press the “Ctrl+C” buttons at the same time to shut down the running program. It is simple and hassle free indeed! Read more »