Stigern.Netmy little blog

Important bugfix! If you downloaded 0.4 please download 0.41 to get the customs buttons working!

Due to a user one the forums asking me to add some keys I decided to make it a release.
And add some more features!

Current & new Features:

NEW, F Key, +, -, Scroll Lock, Num Lock, Space, Print Screen
NEW,  More delays, 5 to 60 minutes!
BUG, Customs keys fixed! 0.4 to 0.41

Backspace & Arrows up down etc. Also Alt + F4.
Option menu.
Click sound (can be turned on/off)
You can now hide it from taskbar.
Many different intervals for buttons to be clicked.
Custom buttons, lets you write you’re own button combination to be pressed.
Default buttons, like enter, page up etc.
Minimize to tray, hides it while running if you want.
Also logs how many key presses made.
Delayed start.
F1-F12 and more predefined buttons.

Of course it’s freeware, and you might download and share it as much as you want.

Download KeyPresser 0.41

I’ve just recently discovered this awesome game. It’s a combination of Garrysmod/Cortex Command/Dwarf Fortress/Clonk, and Blockland.

To keep it short, you mine blocks to get different materials or building blocks. Then you can farm, hunt, craft etc. That is if you bought the game and get to test out the indev version. If you haven’t bought it, you can try out the survival mode. Or the sandbox single-player or multi-player where it’s all about building and digging. Which is also very fun, especially in multi-player mode. Read more about the game here.

To keep it short, you need to give it a try!

A few screens:

Overview of my farm, on the walls are torches to light it up when night time comes sneaking.

The “inventory” where you can see my armor, and all my slots for weapons etc.

And a happy new year!

I’ve just set up the stigern.net/forums again, mostly for discussion around some of my guides and projects. But feel free to post and discuss other stuff.

http://stigern.net/forum/index.php

Thought I write some about my two robot projects! They both use a Modified Pico, since it’s the smallest Arduino I’ve found. And it also fits on a small breadboard!

Botty 2:

This is the most advanced robot I’ve built, but it’s not nearly finished.

It’s current task is to drive straight forward until it senses a object with it’s IR-sensor, then drive away from it until it’s cleared, and continue in that direction. Really simple

It uses a Sharp-IR sensor, mounted ontop of a servo, so it scans the horizon while driving forward. The sonar in the picture isn’t in use, since I actually like the IR sensor better.

BewBit:

Simple and yet fun to make arduino bot. Just follows the strongest light source. Using two LDRs, a modified pico and 1xAA and 2xAA battery packs, to give out 4,5 volts. Just enough to power theSN754410 and motors. But it gets around. It also includes a low-voltage alarm, which beeps when the voltage goes low.

Had a little accident, it drove over a carpet, or it came about 30cm into it and some funny gear-whining noise came A lot of hair in the gearbox, had to take it apart and clean it.

Future plans:

* Crash sensor, a small micro switch in front.
* Speaker, plays sound according to light source
* Better code

Hi

I just want to write a few words for those new to Arduinos, or those looking for tutorials, guides etc. If you haven’t got a Arduino board yet, you can get one from several places, I’ll list some of my favorite shops. And of course you also need the Arduino Software!

Sparkfun
Seeedstduio
Adafruit

Or, Modified Electronics for the great Pico! (not recommended for beginners, you’ll be better of with a normal board).

What you are looking for is the Arduino Duemilanove, the USB board. Which will suit most your needs. It’s very easy to use, and wires can be plugged right into it. Later on you might want a Boarduino or maybe a Pico as mentioned above, they are great for using in combination with breadboards! Alternatively you can get the Starter kit, almost all shops got these. Sparkfun got a nice kit, which is worth a look.

If you should want more I/Os, or just more space for code the Arduino Mega is a great choice! Or the Sanguino!

Parts!

You will always need parts, resistors, leds, breadboards, wires etc. I’ll list up a few shops that I use the most.

Futurlec

Lots of cheap basic parts! recommend the resistor packs, and they also got cheap breadboards. And all of the shops mentioned above stock parts too. For jumper-wires I recommend these at seeedstudio. Futurlec also got some nice jumper-kits. For extra small breadboards these at Seeedstudio are very nice!

Pololu

Great site for robotics, motors, gearboxes etc. They also got a nice tracked chassis. They got a lot great products, sensors, motor controllers, etc.

Tutorials/Guides/etc

1. The basic guide, from sparkfun. You should start with this!

2. The Complete Beginners Guide to The Arduino

3. Adafruit’s Arduino Tutorials

4. Arduino.cc`s Tutorials

5. Arduino.cc Reference! Not tutorials, but handy!

Also the Libaries page at Arduino.cc is great! I’m sure you’ll find something to use in several projects!

Well, thats all I’ll write for now. I’m sure I left out alot, and will update this post when I find something new to add

PS. If you got any questions etc, please take it in my forums post here.

Got my Serial 16×2 LCD today, I’m still quite noob when it comes to serial. But I’m gonna put out some simple and easy to follow tutorials for stuff when I get the hang of it

Anyhow, here’s just a little youtube clip showing some of my projects today!

Look at it?!

I just fell in love with it Also, 24$ isn’t bad. So if you’re considering the Arduino Nano, why not try this one instead?

Features:

ATmega328 running at 16MHz with external resonator (0.5% tolerance)
On-board FTDI232 USB to Serial Connection
Supports auto-reset (choose Duemilanove w/ ATmega328 in the Arduino™ software)
Operating voltage of 2.7 – 5.5 VDC
Schottky diode reverse polarity protection
Auto-sense power input between USB and external source
Resettable 500 mA fuse for overcurrent protection
On-board pin 13 and communication LEDs

Go check it out =)

http://www.modifiedelectronics.com/mp-01.php

Made a followup to my light tracker, except this one can go up and down. So it follows light in more directions than the other ones.

Made of some cheap plastic-foam, wont last forever but long enough for me to test it.

Program Code!

PS. If you got any questions etc, please take it in my forums post here.

My latest small app, the easy timer. It’s a simple timer application, with alarm sound when the time runs out. Can be minimized to tray, and pops up when times over.

But it got a advanced set of extra features:

* No pop up from tray, stays hidden even after time runs out.
* Mute, alarm makes no sound. Nice for starting apps.
* Close after alarm is over, also nice when starting apps or such.
* No installation at all, just unzip and use. Portable and small.

Custom Launch:

Here you can specify what file to open when time runs out, can be used as a custom alarm sound if you select Mute Alarm, and points to a wav file. Or it can open a certain application. Endless possibilities.

Launch a web address:

Opens a web address of your choice when the time runs out. This could be anything from a web page you need to check when time runs out or just for fun at a friends computer showing up something funny or nasty tongue.gif

But the basic feature is for making stuff in the stove, pizza, baguette etc.

Download EasyTimer 1.0

And as always, it’s freeware.