Nerd Stuff

The Predictor: College Football

2011-01-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Predictor: College Football Edition brought to you by Dean's Sports. With this application you can input statistics from the official college football website and the app will give you the predicted team scores, the favorite, and the total game points. The formula used in this application has been in use for over a decade and has a fairly good track record. 2010-2011: Team Points 45%,

Simple Weather Bash Script

2010-12-21T23:39:00.000-08:00

This simple weather bash script was written with the intention of piping it to a text to speech program such as flite or festival. However, it can be used for any sort of text notification such as printing to the command line or emailing. #!/bin/sh # spkweather.sh # Written by: # Brandt Daniels # December 2010 LAT=XX.XXXX LON=-XXX.XXX RAW=$(curl -s "http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?

x10 Rain8II sprinkler weather scripts for use with Heyu

2010-10-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

I use Heyu-2.9.1 for X10 home automation running on a Sheevaplug. For irrigation, I purchased a Rain8II from WGL Designs some time ago. With the Rain8II you need an X10 ON, and OFF for each zone to control it, unlike the first Rain8 where you just needed to trigger the first zone and it would automatically go through it's watering cycle. The Rain8II is also 2-way X10. That means you can configure

Sheevaplug

2010-09-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

Well I got a sheevaplug. I don't feel like writing now so I'll update this as I feel like it. Reserved for sheevaplug

Linux Voice Recognition and Speech Home Automation

2010-02-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a video I made for the Syno contest: Please read more!! I was able to successfully cross-compile and run Julius Voice Recognition Engine on my Synology DS209. http://julius.sourceforge.jp/en_index.php http://voxforge.org/home/downloads#QuickStart%20Anchor I am working on trying to compile Festival w/ MBROLA engine in place of Flite for better TTS voices. I am also looking at

Flite TTS on a Synology NAS

2010-02-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

I was able to successfully cross compile a text-to-speech engine called Flite which is very lightweight to run on my DS209j. This means you can use HEYU or Misterhouse to output speech upon an event. http://www.speech.cs.cmu.edu/flite/ Here is my config file generated from running configure: root@xubuntu-vm:/usr/local/flite-1.3-release# cat config/config # -*- makefile -*- # # This file is

Misterhouse on Synology NAS

2010-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

Misterhouse: http://misterhouse.sourceforge.net/ I've confirmed that misterhouse does work with /dev/usb/ttyUSB0. I recommend unzipping Misterhouse in /usr/local DiskStation> cd /usr/local DiskStation> gunzip < /volume1/Downloads/misterhouse-2.105.tar.gz | tar xvf - Make sure you run the configure which uses h2ph. h2ph is just a perl script, but you have to make sure you download the your

CM11a, Heyu, and domus.Link running on Synology NAS

2010-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

I have an old HD11a which is just a re-branded CM11a, and I verified that it does work through the usb/serial converter I have. Using optware ipkg (ipkg is a must!) I was able to install HEYU. They also have one called Ppower or Penguin Power, which I assume would also work: DiskStation> ipkg list | grep "home automation" heyu - 2.8.0-1 - X10 home automation control using the CM11A ppower -

Cross-Compiling Bottlerocket for CM17a Firecracker on Synology

2010-02-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

Cross-Compiling Bottlerocket, which uses the Firecracker CM17a: http://www.linuxha.com/bottlerocket/ Following the 3rd-party app integration guide; configure, make, make install. This puts it in your local machines /usr/local/bin. You then have to upload the program 'br' to your Synology in the same directory. Set your cross-compiling environment variables to point to the toolchain you

Home Automation on Synology NAS

2010-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am the proud owner of a Synology DS209j NAS. This NAS has firmware that allows much more than just storage. While I only wanted one computer on 2/47 in the house. I also wanted a home automation server. Unfortunately, the Synology NAS devices weren't intended to be home automation servers. Therefore, a lot of modification has been required to get it to act as a home automation server. These

2010-01-31T02:12:00.001-08:00

I got one of these to help me map the circuits in my house for X10 use. With this you can do it without turning the power off to see what is on what circuit.

Getting started in home automation

2009-08-31T14:30:00.001-07:00

I just picked this up from the Smarthome factory store and it prompted me to write a blog about home automation, abbreviated as HA from here on out.I'm not going to go into a definition of what HA is as I will assume you are already aware of it. As I am interested in robotics, I am also interested in home automation. Like robotics it is a series of sensors (distance, motion, temperature), a brain

Robot firmware over the air!

2009-02-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry my posts have been kind of weak lately. I have not really felt like writing things up, and I've been very busy with school and work. Here is a horrible video I made last night of my robot demonstrating object avoidance and programming the target MCU wirelessly.Robot firmware over the air! from Brandt Daniels on Vimeo.

Servo Magazine

2009-02-03T13:41:00.001-08:00

I was featured in this month's Servo Magazine regarding wireless programming :)Check it out:

Wind-Up Robots

2009-01-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

I love these wind-up robots of mine! Now all I need is the B9 from 'Lost in Space', R2D2, and C3-PO!

MEMS 2-Axis Accelerometer

2009-01-28T09:32:00.000-08:00

I picked up a Memsic 2-axis accelerometer from the sensor drawer at radio shack. I've never used an accelerometer before and this one uses MEMS technology. I hooked it up to my BS2-IC via breadboard and uploaded a maze game.My next goal is to write C code for it using the AVR libraries and integrate it with my robot. I am thinking it will help with pathfinding as well as being able to tell when

Wireless programming with Roboduino and XBee

2009-01-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wireless programming with Roboduino and XBee

Free upgrade to my electronics tools

2009-01-21T17:04:00.000-08:00

I recently received a postcard in the mail from the HR department where I work. They often send out mailings that go straight in the trash, but the thing that caught my eye on this one was an offer for a $100 gift certificate. As I read more, I found out all I had to do was complete a simple health related survey and I would receive a $100 gift certificate to any place on a list of about 350

Battery Monitor - Voltage Divider Circuit

2009-01-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

There are many IC's out there that can do what is called "gas gauging" to monitor how much battery is left in your robot, just like in mobile phones.Since I am somewhat new to electronics, I wanted to learn how to implement a battery monitor sensor by using what is called a voltage divider circuit.Just like LEDs use a series resistor to ensure they receive no more than 20mA of current, with 5vdc

Homemade Benchtop Power Supply

2009-01-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

For all my robotics and electronics prototyping needs!!For Christmas, my step-mother received a new laptop, that being said there is always old junk that needs to go.(I always can think of way to put old desktops and laptops to work.)Anyway, I snatched up the power supply out of the old desktop and followed this tutorial:Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-SupplyNow easy access to

Adding a Parallax Ping to an AVR using C

2009-01-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

Introduction I chose to go with the Parallax Ping Ultrasonic Sensor for this upgrade to my robot. Though only tested on an ATmega8, 168, and 128 this should port over to any AVR 8-bit RISC microcontroller. The reason I chose this sensor is because it is readily available at some local electronics locations instead of having to order online. Most notably, this sensor can be picked up at your local

Atmel AVR High Voltage Fuse Reset

2009-01-03T01:03:00.001-08:00

(Lesson Learned: Divots should face each other)Parts: 1 - Breadboard1 - Set of breadboard jumper wires2 - ATmegas (one good one, and the one you're locked out of)2 - Regulated power sources, 12vdc and 5vdc1 - LED1 - 2N3903 or 2N3904 transistor (available at Radio Shack)1 - Tactile/Momentary Button (Omron B3F-1000 is a popular one, can be stuck into a breadboard)20 - 1K Ohm Resistors, 1/4 watt is