Taylor's latest hybrid toy hack

Nemo's creations!

Toy Hacking with Arduino controlled servos - experiments 1 and 2

Mindflex - hardware hack to power Scalextic

Chris and Louis in action hacking the Mindflex

Paper masks and Posca paint pens work well together!

Also check out the paper masks below from a great book made by United Dead Artists

Truly inspirational and fascinating!!: )

Mindflex hack instructions

http://frontiernerds.com/brain-hack
http://vimeo.com/10184668

Great instruction from an ace sharing blogger, thank you: )

BYC's DIY Cultures slot car crew in effect

Low level cars without the cover stay on 4 ever ya'll: )

Lollipop Robot V3 with SRF05 distance sensor

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121012704316?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

The robot is built, took me about 5hrs of playing around........only thing is the code is not working!!: )

// Magic03
// This code is designed for the Lollipo DIY Chassis
// Uses an HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor on the front steered axle
//
// The motors are controlled using the Adafruit Motor shield library
// which must be downloaded and installed first
// copyright Adafruit Industries LLC, 2009
// this code is public domain, enjoy!

#include <AFMotor.h>
#include <Servo.h>

AF_DCMotor motor(4);

int steerPin = 10;  // this is Servo 1 on the motor shield
Servo steerServo;

int pingPin = A0; // Analog pin 0 used for the Ping Pin (Trig)
int inPin = A1; // Analog pin 1 used for the Echo Pin (Echo)
unsigned long duration, inches;
int indec, cmdec;
int inchconv = 147; // ratio between puls width and inches
int cmconv = 59; // ratio between pulse width and cm
String s1, s2, s3;
int steerCentre = 80;  // set this to be dead ahead setting (or adjust servo horn mounting)

void setup()
{
  //Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(pingPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(inPin, INPUT);
  steerServo.attach(steerPin, 1000, 2000);
  steer(0);
}

void loop()
{
  int cm, lcm, rcm;
  forward(200);
  delay(200);
  cm = getDistance();
  if(cm < 20)
  {
    halt();
    steer(-60);
    lcm = getDistance();
    steer(60);
    rcm = getDistance();
    steer(0);
    if (lcm < rcm)
      steer(-45);
    else
      steer(45);
    reverse(180);
    delay(700);
    steer(0);
  }
}

void steer(int angle)
{
  steerServo.write(steerCentre + angle);
  delay(800); // wait for servo to get there
}

int getDistance()
{
  int rval;
  digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(pingPin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(pingPin, LOW);
  duration = pulseIn(inPin, HIGH, 38000L);  // Set timeout to 38mS
  if (duration == 0)
    duration = 1000;
  rval = microsecondsToCentimeters(duration);
//  Serial.println(rval);
  return rval;
}

void forward (int spd)
{
  motor.run(FORWARD);
  motor.setSpeed(spd);  
}
 
void reverse(int spd)
{
  motor.run(BACKWARD);
  motor.setSpeed(spd);  
 }
 
void spinLeft(int spd)
{
 }
 
void spinRight(int spd)
{
}
 
void halt()
{
  motor.run(RELEASE);
  delay(10);
}

long microsecondsToCentimeters(long microseconds)
{
  return microseconds / cmconv;
}

Yesterday's activity

Yesterday myself, David and Louis from the byc setup a green screen which you can make backgrounds with.
we also used i stop motion it was enjoyable .

Lloyd playing Mind Flex at BYC's DIY cultures session

Mind Control Scalextrix

http://www.riccardogiraldi.com/mind-controlled-scalextric.html

I read this awesome blog post by Riccardo Giraldi a couple of years ago. I think its time to build this at  at BYC, during one of the DIY Cultures sessions on a friday eve 7-9pm: )

Big thanks to Ricardo for sharing how he worked it out!!: )

Below are some other useful links to video's explaining some of the components/set up used by Ricardo and other Neurosky Mind Control/Arduino developers etc;

http://crea.tion.to/thinkgear-java-socket/

http://www.magicandlove.com/blog/2012/03/15/neurosky-mindwave-and-processing/

http://developer.neurosky.com/docs/doku.php?id=thinkgear_connector_tgc

http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/31528/arduino-controlled-slot-car-set-why-are-my-mosfets-burning-out

http://bildr.org/2012/03/rfp30n06le-arduino/

http://www.sparkfun.com/news/819

http://brunningsoftware.co.uk/FET.htm

http://www.instructables.com/answers/Whats-the-difference-between-N-channel-and-P-chan/

http://www.zeroshore.com/2011/06/playing-around-with-neurosky-and-processing/

Elijah Keyout Test 1

Elijah's Mine Kraft Pie Man 1

Lilly's Mine Kraft outfit

Use Quicktime to make screen recording like Fraps

Fraps will be used to make PC Time Lapse animation

Download Fraps here

Fyre UK rocks!

Elijah is inspired by Fyre Uk's time lapse animation, and is going to make his own time lapse animation sequence in Mine Craft for the opening credits of 'World of PieCraft'.......possibly building a large pie!

elijah thought that the group could do an abridged
series BECAUSE WE CAN.

How to Make a $5 Mobile Phone Projector

Exploring Senses has a new member to its tech, Louis D'Aboville has a few tricks up his wizard sleeve in terms, and will be helping Hannah and myself deliver lots of DIY Cultures activities at the mighty BYC night starting Friday 8th February 2013.

The picture above of the $5 dollar mobile, was noted by Louis, who agrees these kind of  steps are in the right direction, cheap simple solutions, for all to enjoy!

ES would like to invite all you budding young creatives to rock up to DIY Cultures, to play with technology, mixing the lo-fi, with the hi-tech to make some fun!!: )

Big thanks to 'Make:' website for the image, check their site out its amazing......so many fun things to try out.........add them to your permanent list if things to do, and continue to do...! : )

Sketchpad - online browser version of Processing digital art coding program

http://sketchpad.cc  is an open studio for creating beautiful code, built on a mashup of Processing and Etherpad. Created by @aribadernatal

San Francisco, CA · http://sketchpad.cc

Here is a good article explaining what its about, plus more links to similar free online browser interactive graphic coding programs: )

3D Puppetry: A Kinect-based Interface for 3D Animation

Turning CommuniToy toy hacks into a motion capture animation is not far away!

Check out how its all made possible here

Bosewitch - glow in the dark cardboard robot

You can find the ingredients and making instructions here: )

KinectToPin -

This seems like a great way to use the Kinect sensor with KinectToPin and Adobe After Effects to make interactive motion capture animations....how rad is this, maybe we can use this process to make Exploring Senses CommuniToy Toy Hacks come to life!!: )

Find out more about KinectToPin here.

Robot InMoov 3D printed

Find out more here

Zezinho the poser - this robot could be funto make

All the microservo supports where made with the amazing material Polymorph.....a cheaper alternative to a 3D printer when making bespoke simple parts!

How to use Polymorph.

He is being controlled by 8 analog inputs, each input controls one micro servo. 

This is the analog inputs setup and a custom servo shield. 

An Arduino Mega is being used because the robot require 6 analog inputs.

Get more info here.

Spazzi - A solenoid-powered dancebot + 3D Printing

This little dancing robot is pretty neat, you can find instructions on how to make it here.

Only problem is we will need to get access to a 3D printer to make the bespoke parts listed in the instructions.......

Maybe we could seek funding to purchase a 3D printer for Brighton Youth Centre!!: )

Check these links for info about £D, oops 3D printers!

Whats out there and how much does it cost?

Makerbot

How about making a Drawdio?

You can find instructions on how to make your own Drawdio here!
or here for a lofi cheaper option!!: )

Unboxing the Boxing Battle Kit......should we get one?

Tamiya Boxing Fighter Robots in Effect!

How awesome is Bare Paint!!: )

How cool is this product......a paint you can use to draw and make electrical circuits!!: )

Check out the cardboard robot card kits;

http://www.bareconductive.com/robot-card-kit

You can even make a proximity sensor using Bare Paint and Arduino, check out the video on this page;

http://www.bareconductive.com/capacitance-sensor

Tribute images for Rock Em Sock Em Robots and Real Steel

Elijah, Louis and David have been discussing making Robot fighters........obviously this turned into a Rock Em Sock Em Robots conversation with references to movie Real Steel.

Elijah: It would be AWSOME to make robots similar to the ones from real steel such as ambush!

All Digital Makers Rise!

Exploring Senses provided the students of Self Managed Learning College a free CommuniToy 'Toy Hacking' toy reuse workshop today. ES discussed with the students about the joys of hacking and asked if they thought the workshop can provide an introduction to launch new digital makers projects.........the answer is YES It Can!!: )

The students are interested in animation, film making, music videas, games and robotics!

Elijah is really psyched about the possibility of constructing cardboard robots, and ES are going to include such digital activities during their Friday night DIY Cultures activities at BYC.....starting end of Jan 2013.

Check out Nesta Digital Makers for info about some interesting educational projects, ideas. ES are applying for the Digital Makers bid.....fingers crossed!

Limbs a plenty for Tekkit costumes!

Izy first Minecraft suit nearly finished painting

Iona making Minecraft suit detailing using Posca paint pens!

Elisha and Izy making Minecraft suits

Anyone lost a Top Hat?

Elijah painting the Top Hat