Making things. It’s a bastion of New Zealand culture. We call it the “Number 8 Wire” mentality. Some would argue that the future of our economy relies on our ability to keep on with the makery. I love making stuff, and I love local kiwi company Mindkits, because they supply all sorts of electronic goodies to help you and me make anything we might put our minds to.
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Make Stuff With Mindkits
(28 posts) (3 voices)-
Posted 4 months ago #
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OK even though I’m ineligible, I’ll kick it off. I desperately want to make my own Little Yellow Drummer Bot. Check out the video. That thing is so cute!
Posted 4 months ago # -
NakedGeek
InactivePosted by unregistered user: NakedGeekCat exerciser.
I have two cats who are scared to go outside. Really! AND they were wild/feral when we caught them!
I would rig a controller to open cat-door at predetermined time.
Fake mouse operated by pulleys, motors would then tempt felines outside.Path of bait would require cats to jump around and get some exercise.
Mouse would return to “base” and cats could then be tempted back inside by automated feeder inside cat door.
RFID collars would also unlock cat door IF they ever decided to go outside of their own accord.
Might even rig up motion activated TwitPic feed as proof of exercise.
Posted 4 months ago # -
stitchpunk
InactivePosted by unregistered user: stitchpunkthe Drummer bot is so cute! I have always wanted to build a robot. Right now I would like to build one that is voice activated and with a gripper arm. When he hears me swearing VERY LOUDLY at the builders on the floor below me who are demolishing a lecture theatre apparently using nothing but drills, my little bot would come to life, trundle along my desk,use his gripper arm to pick up my Dr Grordbort’s Goliathon ray gun, and then use it to shoot holes in the floor and hopefully wing a builder or two. He would then come and sit next to my computer and make reassuring Wall-E noises and blink his LEDS in a soothing fashion (red light, green light, red light, green light…)
Posted 4 months ago # -
treebel
InactivePosted by unregistered user: treebelI would like to build a decibel sensor to turn on at night in the dogs run – so when he barks loudly it plays a firm clear recording saying ‘quiet Cade’. In the unlikely event that he is barking at burglars it might just a soft firm voice saying wierd things just might spook em enough that they run away (or burgle quietly)
Posted 4 months ago # -
James
InactivePosted by unregistered user: JamesOk so. I’d ideally like to build some form of network aware monitoring system for my flat. After seeing the very cool (and very expensive) home security gadgets on this site, I’ve been thinking about keeping logs of who enters my room.
Using the Arduino as a base, I could whip up a database (using the Arduino Ethernet Shield for connectivity) that would be able to alert me via email/twitter when an IR beam in my room was broken. This could be extended to controlling ambient features like temperature (switch on a fan) and light (strobe attack) in my room. Couple this with RFID reading capability, and I can effectively terrorise unwanted intruders or look after guests with their favourite music.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Scott
InactivePosted by unregistered user: ScottDog ball launcher. So that when the puppy, which requires approximately 12 hours of non-stop entertainment, can keep himself amused with some robotic input. Not disimilar from a tennis ball or cricket ball launcher but the dog would be able to drop the ball in a safe spot and from there it would be automatically (and safely) loaded for launch and fired off in a programmically restricted projectory and in a random direction within said programmed limits. This way the dog has some fun and I can have more time to do electronics! Then he’ll appreciate his runs more and not water the carpet.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Stu
InactivePosted by unregistered user: StuI’m dying to build an Arduino controlled cartesian coordinate system that can drive a cutting or milling head using G-code output from a Linux based PC. I’m just in the process of learning how to drive bi-polar stepper motors.
I’d use it to cut and rout 3mm MDF into exact shapes for all sorts of things like signage, simple kitset furniture for kits, and toys! Toys for kids, and toys for myself. In particular I’m a war gamer so I’d like to build exact cut war gaming tables from 1′ x 1′ tiles, and possibly small terrain models like this. But I’d also like to exact cut cool MDF toys, the sort of thing that used to feature in those thick old Reader’s Digest toy books from the 70’s (boats with working spring loaded cannons, wooden slot together castles etc).
With exact cutting I’d also be interested in making working counterweight wall clocks from MDF and possibly perspex… plus you know, anything else that springs to mind!
Posted 4 months ago # -
Stu
InactivePosted by unregistered user: StuHome monitoring systems are another option. Speaking of cats we have a cat door that’s left open during the day and I’m suspicious several neighborhood cats are helping themselves to our young cat’s food. I’d like to rig a motion detector up + webcam up to an Arduino board and capture some of the interlopers. Expanding on that it’d be interesting to try and do some video processing to identify our cat as opposed to anti-our-cats and possibly set of warning buzzers or flash lights at them.
Posted 4 months ago # -
rob-nz
MemberSimilar, except I'd like to have a locked cat door with a motion sensor on the inside to let our cats out, but nothing in. (The neighbourhood toms have figured out how to hook the door open when the latch is set to 'out').
I've seen a few RFID based cat doors advertised, but they are $300-400 plus getting the cat chipped.
Magnetic collar activated ones don't work for our moggys, the go psycho if you try and collar them.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Have you guys seen the Flo Control cat door system with image recognition? I don’t know if an Arduino is up to the task, but it’s damn cool.
Posted 4 months ago # -
RusNZ
InactivePosted by unregistered user: RusNZI’d help number one son build two very small and mobile robots to taunt number two son (and his Mum)
They would communicate with each other and play hide and seek around the lounge – with one getting his attention while the other hides…
Once he touches the top of one he can see – the other one must be found to start over
Could also give a hint when close…? Maybe a small irregular beep sound to drive him mad while he looks…
Should be fun to watch…Posted 4 months ago # -
MindKits
InactivePosted by unregistered user: MindKitsLoving the entries so far everyone. The RFID/mag cat door and the dog ball launcher cracked me up. Nice work guys and girls! Keep em coming.
As a note, you don’t have to use only the stuff on MindKits.co.nz site. You can add anything else you like but it must be able to be run by an Arduino.
It may help to use the MindKits site as a guide to what tech is out there that you can use.
You are also welcome to contact us via the MindKits contact form on the front page if you have questions about feasibility or would just like to ask a question.
Thanks,
Tim
MindKits Chief NinjaPosted 4 months ago #
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