Ep042: Capacitive Earthquakes, GRBL on ESP32, Solenoid Engines, and the TI-99 Space Program

Hackaday Podcast · 1 Nov 2019 · 54m

What this episode covers

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss the upcoming Hackaday Supercon badge, which features an FPGA with dual RISC-V cores and requires significant firmware work. They review several community hacks, including Bart Dring’s ESP32-based GRBL controller for a retro Atari plotter, UCSD’s slow soft robot using liquid crystal elastomers, and a capacitive seismic sensor built with a 555 timer. The episode also covers a TI-994A retrocomputer modified into a Kerbal Space Program simulator, solenoid engine builds, and a deep dive into the mechanics of vintage speaking clocks and the future of 5G networks.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Swindon Powertrain
Products: Atari 1020, TI-994A, Kerbal Space Program
Chips: ESP32, 555 timer, MLX90640, ESMT AD83586B, ESP8266
Tools: GRBL
Also: Hackaday Supercon, Bart Dring, MakerB, Oscarb Joe

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

The Electromaker Show25 Oct 2023 · 27m
ESP32 iPod, Super Fast E-Ink, Generative AI on the Edge, and more!
Host Ian reviews a mix of embedded hardware news, crowdfunding projects, and maker tutorials. He covers Nvidia's new Generative AI tools for robotics, the Tangara ESP32 music player on Crowd Supply, and Seeed Studio's high-refresh-rate Inkplate 6 Motion. The episode also highlights specific maker projects, including a DIY RC car using an ESP8266, a Silicon Labs gesture remote powered by Neuton.AI, and the open-source CLN17 stepper driver.
AI & machine learning Microcontrollers & dev platforms
1 chapters
The Electromaker Show28 Nov 2022 · 44m
DIY Streamdeck, Bela's beautiful STM32 module, ROCK 5 Model B, and more!
The host reviews several maker projects and crowdfunding campaigns, including a pneumatic soft robot tentacle controlled by an Arduino Nano BLE Sense and a DIY Stream Deck alternative called the Infinite Deck using an ESP32 and Ducky Script. He highlights Bela's Gliss, a pressure-sensitive Eurorack module based on an STM32, and the EsPiFF board, which combines an ESP32 and RP2040 in a Raspberry Pi form factor. The episode concludes with a look at the OKdo x Raxda ROCK 5 Model B, a powerful single-board computer featuring a Rockchip 3588 SoC.
Prototyping & iteration Microcontrollers & dev platforms
1 chapters
The Electromaker Show2 Aug 2024 · 20m
Red Pitaya gets even more Incredible, Lego Planetarium meets Arduino, Autotuned Kazoo, and More!
The host reviews Red Pitaya's STEMlab 125-14 and MIKROE Click Add On Shield, describing the FPGA-based board as a versatile 'Swiss Army Knife' for engineers that can function as an oscilloscope, logic analyzer, or software-defined radio. Guy Dupont’s Autotuned Kazoo project is highlighted, featuring an ESP32-S3 and MEMS microphone to create a wireless MIDI controller and synthesizer using a sawtooth wave trick. Robin Mitchell’s Electromaker Educator segment demonstrates a voice-controlled Lego Planetarium upgrade using an Arduino Nano 33 IoT and stepper motors, while Wiznet’s announcement of the W55RP20 chip combining an Ethernet controller with an RP2040 is also noted.
PCB design & layout Microcontrollers & dev platforms
5 chapters
The Electromaker Show11 Mar 2024 · 8m
Firebeetle Gas Sensor, Cheap RISC-V Linux, $20 Synth, and more!
The host highlights a Firebeetle 2 gas sensing project by Ralph J. Y., which uses an ESP32-based board, a Siege Studio multi-channel gas sensor, and Node-Red for MQTT visualization. The episode also covers the BP Synth, a $20 synthesizer built with an STM32 Black Pill and an I2S DAC, featuring tutorials by Synthetech and Floyd Steinberg. Additionally, the show announces the Zimablade winner and features the Micro:Bit V2 as the Product of the Week.
Microcontrollers & dev platforms Embedded firmware
1 chapters
The Electromaker Show13 May 2022 · 31m
ESP32 vs Pi Pico, ShaRPiKeebo Tiny Linux Deck, new Arduino kit and more!
The host reviews the April Electromaker of the Month winners, including a biomechanical robotic hand and a machine-learning-controlled RC plane, before discussing the ESP32 versus Raspberry Pi Pico debate, highlighting the Pi Pico's PIO capabilities for VGA rendering. He then covers new hardware announcements such as the Arduino Portenta X8 single-board computer and its Max carrier board, the ShaRPiKeebo tiny Linux deck, and the papered.ink e-paper display board, while also reflecting on the implications of remote kill switches in John Deere tractors.
Microcontrollers & dev platforms Embedded firmware
1 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Hackaday Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.

Ep042: Capacitive Earthquakes, GRBL on ESP32, Solenoid Engines, and the TI-99 Space Program

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

ESP32 iPod, Super Fast E-Ink, Generative AI on the Edge, and more!

DIY Streamdeck, Bela's beautiful STM32 module, ROCK 5 Model B, and more!

Red Pitaya gets even more Incredible, Lego Planetarium meets Arduino, Autotuned Kazoo, and More!

Firebeetle Gas Sensor, Cheap RISC-V Linux, $20 Synth, and more!

ESP32 vs Pi Pico, ShaRPiKeebo Tiny Linux Deck, new Arduino kit and more!