If you’re wondering, “How can I drive USB keyboard from Arduino? Does it require a lot of complicated steps?” In this case, you should stop by and read on this article, as we’re going to show you the easiest ways to solve up this problem.

Normally, a keyboard is hard to use, if results of typing can’t be seen on the screen. Well, the first step is to add an output device. You might want to use the LCD high-level routines and develop low-level functions that specified to MAX3421E hardware. Since the function syntax is identical to official LCD functions, the user manual is already written and can be easily found in the library reference by title “LiquidCrystal”.

You will notice that the only difference is in the constructor, where only 4-bit mode is possible and only one pinout is supported, the Max_LCD constructor is not accepting any parameters.

The LCD data lines are driven directly by 3.3V logical levels of MAX3421E, while the VDD is connected to 5V. By using this method, the LCD contrast can be adequately biased.

So, please go and test out the simulation right now. See if you can find out the differences by using the simple techniques that we’ve stated above.

Arduino have been a very common electronic component in this 21^st century. As a home hobbyist, it would be a shame, if you haven’t heard this magical word, “Arduino”.

Honestly, it’s very hard to imagine, as we can do tons of electronic projects, by only using a simple Arduino. By the way, for those who want to try the 3D application, then this 3D Studio Max or 3DS is absolutely the best of all.

Ok, some of you might be imagined, “How could I transfer the data from the Arduino to 3DS?” For your information, the 3D Studio Max has a very nice SDK and it’s quite easy to control it.

Arduino to 3D Studio Max from melka on Vimeo.

Psst…, there is a good way to control objects. Did you know that by using the track view option, you could assign different type of controllers to the various properties of the object you want to control?

Furthermore, the 3DS have different inputs to allow motion capture, including Mouse, Keyboard, Joystick or MIDI.

However, there is a little bit drawbacks for the 3DS, where the CC messages are only 8 bits (128 values). Apart of it, the 3DS is definitely a marvelous 3D application!

Did you have some spare Arduino that being stored for a long time inside the storeroom? If you can spend few hours in the weekend, then you might be interested to build up a marvelous yet cheap Thermoscanner.

The definition “Thermoscanner” is actually the short form of “Thermography scanner”. Oh, talking about thermography, would you like to know more about it?

Technically, thermography or thermal imaging is a type of infrared imaging science. In most of the time, thermographic cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and produce images of the radiation. We called the outcome as “thermograms”.

Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects based on their temperatures and makes it possible to see one’s environment with or without visible illumination, even at the darkest places during night! The Thermographic cameras are good on spotting the warm objects, including humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, especially on night!

By the way, this homemade Thermoscanner is extremely a piece of cake. Just mount a TPA81 thermopile array onto an XY servo mount and hook it up to the computer using the Arduino microcontroller. That’s it!

By less than $150, this Thermoscanner is considerably cheap compare with others in the marketplace.

Have you ever suffered from the obsessive compulsive, where you’re always have the urge to check your mailbox every few seconds? Do you feeling uncomfortable, when you’re using a whole computer just to know how long your mailbox backlog is? Alright, let’s stop all the annoyance and make yourself a fantastic ArduInboxMeter!

Some of you might be wondering, “Seriously, do you think that this ArduInboxMeter is going to solve up my hassles?” The truth is this ArduInboxMeter is a very powerful device, as it based on the Arduino Duemilanove board with an Ethernet shield. Furthermore, it also equipped with the following components, including:

• An old analog VU-meter,

• A few LEDs,

• 100-ohm resistors, and

• A prototyping PCB.

Well, you assemble them all together and solder them with soldering alloy. Then, you might want to leave all parts exposed, or maybe just securing them with duct tape or toothpicks. It also a good idea, where you can take some Fimo Soft PVC, flatten, bake, pierce and cut it into the square box-shaped.

Lastly, it’s time to add some software and plug the box into your network. This ArduInboxMeter displays the number of messages in your mailbox and allows your friends to offer you a coffee, to accept or reject any offers!

Arduino platform is really popular today. Probably because it is very simple, easy mastered by novice and has strong and growing community around the world. Only limitation of Arduino is that platform is tied to AVR family microcontrollers. Other shortcoming might be non native USB interface on the chip.

The guys from hackinglab managed to build somewhat similar to arduino but with different microcontroller base and IDE. Opensource of course!

The main difference is that Pingduino uses PIC 18F2550 microcontroller which has integrated USB interface. Pingduino IDE is built on Python which translates program into C code – which is actually shorter in legth and execution speed.

Pingduino application uses SDCC C compiler, GPUTLS assembler and linker and bootloader based on PUF VASCO project. IDE is available for windows, linux and Mac os x. Lets hope that project will evolve in to stable and supported evironment for PIC lovers. Native USB feature may be kick ass for Arduino itself don’t you think? Check out for latest news in http://jpmandon.blogspot.com/ blog.