It sounds that AVR microcontrollers aren’t suitable for processing video signals, but here it is – a Human Tetris game. Guys from Cornell University class managed to implement real time shape recognition on ATmega644 microcontroller where video data is taken from CMOS camera. They’ve used a high speed ADC to sample grayscale image coming from color camera and thus process it and overlay with original video where fun begins

They created couple demo games Human Tetris – where person has to fit in shapes displayed in screen; and another game Brick Breaker where player has to break bricks with bouncing ball. The project shows that processing power isn’t the most common criteria in design but creativity. You can actually do great things with fewer resources than you think.

Master clocks at schools are essential devices that synchronize peripheral clocks so they ring bells at same time. Thos project is a complete replacement of master clock with necessary features in order to run school life smoothly.

Project is based on Arduino Duemilanove that is connected to computer to synchronize time via Java based application. Project is kept as simple as possible with functions needed to ensure necessary function to be accessible. It has a switch to turn automatic bells on or off. Also it has an LCD screen where you can see time and status info, and three LEDs for fast indication of battery, bells status and power. So, why buy expensive systems – amaze principal with cheap solution.

Morse code is an old method of character encoding used to transmit messages via telegraph. Morse code mainly consists of dots and dashes that correspond to electrical tone length. Anyway Morse code is only used by radio amateurs now and is more fan than practical in such technology age. If you want to learn Morse code – why do this in old fashioned way… make it more computer friendly. Next project is a Morse keyboard that has old fashioned taping device connected to AVR ATmega168 microcontroller with software USB implementation.

Device is recognized as standard USB keyboard and can be used to input text by taping Morse code. Sounds fun, isn’t it? Also device has dual 7 segment LED indicator that indicates typing speed in Words per Minute (WPM).

Building games is one of most passionate activities especially if this involves developing hardware itself. And you know – game system doesn’t have to be shiny and crowded with lots of elements on fine PCB. Simply this can be done on a prototyping board with a bunch wires. This game console has an Atmel ARM7 microcontroller AT91R40008 that is capable of running at 100MHz if overclocked.

Arm processor gives enough processing power to run simple games like Super Mario but to make higher resolution VGA image (224×240 and 256colors) there is more RAM and more resources needed. So there is also a PIC18F4682 microcontroller used that only takes care of generating VGA signals and addressing additional dual-port Ram. Game itself is stored on SD card. Despite the fact that console ir still in deep debugging process you can already enjoy the results in following video.