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Hamster Powered Generator
2008-02-27 12:22:00
  Everyone is looking for alternate energy sources these days. I think this is one that is almost always left untapped. Just think of all the wasted power when the pet hamster is doing his thing with the hamster wheel. You can now do something to harness all that wasted energy, build yourself a Hamster ...
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Amaizing RC Demonstration Videos
2008-02-26 12:16:00
  Some of these videos look a bit suspicious… Any fakes amongst them? I could see how the RC car that is tethered to the center pole could achieve some tremendous speed but I wonder if the video was simply sped up?    
More About: Videos , Demonstration

DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009
2008-02-25 12:15:00
DARPA is working hard to advance prosthetics  technology, the result will be a limb that is easier to control and have improved run time compared to current devices. "The four-year Revolutionizing Prosthetics 2009 program will create a neurally controlled artificial limb that will restore full motor and sensory capability to upper extremity amputee patients. This revolutionary ...

Gummi Bear Burns in Potassium Chlorate
2008-02-24 12:11:00
  Take some Potassium Chlorate, a Gummy Bear and add some heat. What do you get? A fun Burning Gummy Bear Reaction! "Fill the test tube to a depth of about one inch with potassium chlorate. Clamp the test tube in place at an approximately 45° angle. Set up the ringstand-clamp-test tube assembly behind a safety shield ...
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Monkey controls a Robot with Brain Power
2008-02-23 12:45:00
  If this research wasn’t being performed by a reputable University I wouldn’t have believed that a Monkey could control a Robot with Brain Power ! "In a first-of-its-kind experiment, the brain activity of a monkey has been used to control the real-time walking patterns of a robot halfway around the world, according to researchers at Duke University ...

Name the Thing Contest - 40
2008-02-23 09:10:00
  Congratulations to the last contest winner. The prize this week is a tool to help you take apart your next mod project.. This contest will run till mid next week (February 23 - 27, 2008) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and give an example of what ...
More About: Contest , Contests , Thing

Universal Remote Control Tester - Ubicom SX28 Microcontroller based
2008-02-22 12:26:00
If you have ever wanted to make a remote control project, this Universal Remote Control Tester project that uses the Ubicom SX28 Microcontroller could be a good starting point. This chip is now being sold by Parallax. "This project use the Ubicom SX28 micro controller to made a test of the frequency and the complete wave ...

IR LEDs used to defeat Security Cameras
2008-02-21 12:46:00
I have seen lasers used to "dazzle" security cameras before but they normally use visible light and need pinpoint accuracy to be effective. I had never thought about using an array of IR LEDs (infrared light emitting diodes) to create a permanent result that would not be noticeable to anyone else around. Original Version, Translated version "IR.ASC ...
More About: Security , Cameras

Almost There - Near Space Project
2008-02-20 12:26:00
  A Hacked Gadgets reader took his Almost There project up to over 42,000 feet a few years ago and documented the process.  Looks like Near Space is gaining some popularity recently. Here is a list of projects that are worth a look: Near Space Project 1 Near Space Project 2 Near Space Project 3 ...

Canadian Inventor to Launch Bottle Rocket into Orbit?
2008-02-19 12:21:00
  This Canadian inventor from Antigravity Research who holds the world record in bottle rocket launches wants to launch a rocket into orbit! Is it possible? After watching some videos and poking around the inventors site I am thinking that if it is possible that Antigravity Research will be the company to do it. Watch the ...
More About: Rocket , Launch , Orbit , Bottle

Ford Ranger MP3 Radio AUX Input MOD
2008-02-18 12:22:00
There are many products that will allow you to hook up your latest audio gear to your car stereo but none of them will give you the sound quality of this Ford Ranger MP3 Radio AUX Input MOD. "I recently purchased a new cell phone and wanted to play my MP3’s in my truck. My truck ...

Smart Pal Robot
2008-02-17 12:14:00
  Finally a robot that can do all the mundane chores that I hate to do. So what if it looks like it may kill you when you sleep, just think of all the laundry it will do for you. I am not sure if Smart Pal is the robot of the future, but it ...
More About: Robot

Gun Robot - PIC Microcontroller and VB.NET based
2008-02-16 12:01:00
  This Gun Robot project can monitor the entrance to your fortress and ward away any enemy attacks! The servo action seems nice and smooth, next step would be to make it IP based so that you could have the unit at work and control it from home. "The bot is totally controlled by an ...
More About: Microcontroller

Name the Thing Contest - 39
2008-02-16 06:59:00
  The winner for last week will be announced soon. The prize this week is a portable hard drive enclosure. This contest will run till mid next week (February 16 - 20, 2008) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and give an example of what can be ...
More About: Contest , Contests , Thing

Fire Glove
2008-02-15 12:08:00
   If you are looking for a dangerous project to work on you are in luck. This project could burn you and burn down you house. But who said fun projects were always safe? Matiah Shaman has full instructions for his Fire Glove on his youtube page.   "It took me a while to figure out how to ...

Oscilloscope Tetris - Scopetris
2008-02-14 12:28:00
  We know that you can make a cool clock scope, but have you ever seen a video game played on a scope? Well have a look at Scopetris! It seems that one scope manufacturer actually put the game in the firmware of the scope.   "The two resistor ladders, interfacing ports on the AtMega32, were connected to ...
More About: Tetris , Oscilloscope

Arduino based Drum Loop Machine
2008-02-13 12:16:00
Matt Mets is on a quest to make lots of cool hacks day after day! This Arduino based Drum Loop Machine is simple but nice and clever. Using a bunch of scavenged parts (the best kind) and an Arduino microcontroller he has made a drum recording device that will play back the same sequence that ...

The Balloon Project - Berlin
2008-02-12 12:05:00
  What a great idea to get some cool aerial pictures on a small budget. The uncontrolled flight aspect of the balloon adds to the excitement since no one knows exactly where the rig is going to go. With aerial RC plane videos everything is under control and there is little left to chance. As shown ...
More About: Project , Berlin , Balloon

X-Y Table Built from DVD Players
2008-02-11 12:45:00
  PraeMortem shows off his X-Y Table that is made from some DVD players. Now is the time to get out some of those old CD-Rom drives to make your own. See the second video for the surface scanner that he made. Have a look at this coin scan result.   "I´m trying to build a 3-axis cnc ...
More About: Players

Etched Door lit by LEDs
2008-02-10 13:11:00
Smilodon has found a great use of some LEDs!. To make the Etched Door LED lighting effect, the light travels from the edges of the glass and is not seen until it hits the etched portion. Using two LED colors really makes the end result pop!  "I also used a 4 layer glass. Two outer layers ...

Sweeping Radar System - using a GP2D120 IR Sensor
2008-02-09 12:11:00
  Want to make a cool project that uses one of those IR distance sensors that are found everywhere? Have a look at this Sweeping Radar System which has many uses. "The goal of this project is to create a working ir radar system. The system will only be required to measure close proximity at an angle ...
More About: Sensor

Name the Thing Contest - 38
2008-02-09 07:02:00
  Congratulations to the last contest winner. The prize again week is a portable hard drive enclosure. The color may vary, last time they were out of blue… This contest will run till mid next week (February 9 - 13, 2008) . Ending time is based on central standard time. To enter, identify the item pictured above and ...
More About: Contest , Contests , Thing

Wiimote Nintendo Gun Mod
2008-02-08 18:19:00
  If you own an Wii and miss the old Nintendo gun action this Wiimote Nintendo Gun Mod will bring back those memories…  "The Nintendo Gun provided a better point and shoot mechanism than the add on modules that are available for the Wiimote. This hack allows you to adapt one of the original Nintendo Guns to ...

HP Printer Prank - Change the LCD Display Message
2008-02-08 12:23:00
  Office pranks, ah these can be quite fun. They can actually become quite competitive also, employees always trying to outdo the other. I have come across some very unique and fun pranks, but this one has to be one of my favorites. Scott from OdeToCode.com decided to "hack" an office HP Laser Jet Printer . His ...
More About: Prank , Change , Display , Message

They can have my Geiger Counter when they pry it from my glowing hand
2008-02-07 23:35:00
OK, NYC has it’s reasons to be a little careful but Richard Falkenrath, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner for counterterrorism may be just a little bit too careful. As the Village Voice reports that the city is just a little worried that the good citizens might just report too many false alarms. If you read through the comments, a couple of people had the same thought I had. Smoke alarms give false alarms very, very often, and if you have an alarm system the firetrucks are coming just in case. Don’t some smoke detectors measure radiation increases?  Plus in the greater New York area you can’t sell a house without a Radon Test and in some houses there is a powered radon detector so you get a warning if the abatment system fails. So if I can’t have one of these. Can I use this?   (I had one of these as a kid. Of course back then we thought nuclear energy would save the world. ) It’s not a ""Geiger" counter but de...
More About: Hand , Counter

DIY Solar Refrigerator Water Heater
2008-02-07 18:29:00
  With millions of people’s wallets being drained by household appliances and heating/cooling, energy saving mods are very popular these days. Mother Earth News .com and Miles Free elaborated with each other to develop a cheap but very awesome household mod.   "So the boys pulled the liner out of the Hotpoint’s door and replaced it with the heat exchanger. Then a couple of holes were drilled through one end of the door and a couple of pieces of scrap copper tubing (also scavenged from the refrigerator) were used to extend the exchanger’s coils through the insulated wall. (It was exceptionally easy to slip the recycled 3/8-inch tubing right over the ends of the 1/4-inch plumbing and solder the "splice" into a watertight junction.) Next, six holes were drilled through both the exchanger plate and the "back" of the collector box (actually, through the main body of the old re...
More About: Solar , Water

Sacramento Police Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program Gaining Altitude
2008-02-07 12:05:00
  If you are in the Sacramento area in the near future you may be looking up wondering what that buzzing noise is. Sacramento will be getting a new eye in the sky to help out law enforcement. Not sure how well it will be received, I can just imagine this thing crashing into a crowd of people buying a hot dog at an outdoor vendor. "The Sacramento, Calif., Police Department announced its Urban Unmanned Aerial (UAV) Vehicle Program and showed off its unique homegrown version of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at the Versadex Conference in downtown Sacramento. The mini airplane on display was one of two aircraft in the development stage designed to enhance the department’s existing airborne technology program. The current program consists of two helicopters with video downlink communications that stream video to mobile data terminals in police patrol cars and to mobile command vehicles."   Via: Robot Gossip  
More About: Gaining

Ping Pong Ball Inkjet Printer
2008-02-06 12:21:00
  So we have all thought about making a custom Ping Pong Ball Printer right? Well maybe not, but this is one cool project. A hopper holds a bunch of balls, one is removed and spun in front of a Parallax Inkjet Printer. The printer sprays text onto the ball as the ball continues to rotate. ...
More About: Ping Pong

Drawing with LED Lights
2008-02-05 18:03:00
  LEDs are wonderful items, they don’t need much power, they are cool to the touch and come in many colors. This is the perfect combination for drawing with them. If your camera has a long exposure mode you are in luck. Just like the long exposure pictures we have all seen of city streets showing ...
More About: Drawing , Lights

Paper V-12 Engine
2008-02-05 12:09:00
  When I had a pilot’s license and more disposable income I wanted a Hawker Hurricane. Sure The Spitfire was more famous and sexier but both planes had the Rolls Royce V12 Merlin engine. Now that I no longer have a licenese and a lot less cash I have to settle for paper airplanes. At least I ...
More About: Engine , Paper