New Project Ideas
So here is a list of my new projects:
Wireless Controller System
The goal of this project is to expand on the USB NES and make the controllers wireless while keeping the USB interface. I am not yet sure how to have the USB controller create more than 1 controller, but I am guessing that it is possible using the device descriptors. Ideally I could use 1 reciever and up to 4 different controllers and have the reciever detect the type of controller so you can use NES, SNES, Sega, etc… Although I am just trying to get an NES controller working for now.
UltraSonic Ranging Device
My idea for this is to use a servo motor attached to a ultrasonic ranging device and create a hand-held sonar imaging system. The range should be about 15-20 feet with a graphical LCD showing the surroundings. The device will also have serial and USB communications. The board design is done and I am working on the layout.
Vehicle Datalogger
Essentially, I would like to use accelerometers and gyrometers to determine a vehicles acceleration, speed, and distance traveled (similiar concept to the USB Zapper). This in conjunction with a GPS would yield interesting and fairly reliable data. I would also like to add an ignition wire clamp to log the vehicle RPM’s. There would also be 10 (or so) analog inputs and 10 (or so) digital inputs to log other events in the car. With this information, it would be fairly easy to calculate things like Horsepower, Torque, 1/4 mile time, reaction time, … There is one point that is really holding me up though, I haven’t figured out a sufficient way to determine the shift points in the car. This would be easy enough if the driveline RPM was known, but how can it be done without driveline RPM or a transmission sensor? Anyone have any suggestions/ideas?!
Use sound as a transmission sensor? I know it’s not very accurate, but the sound of the engine rises gradually then drops when the gear switches (as you know).
If you can isolate the engine sound from external sounds (maybe with a diff amp keeping CMRR in mind), then maybe it could work…
Comment by Mike — July 31, 2005 @ 1:11 pm
For your Wireless Controller System, you could use Bluetooth, Just an idea, don’t know if it could be easier that way.
Comment by Pagail — August 17, 2005 @ 12:41 pm
Bluetooth would be sweet. I am only holding off on Bluetooth right now due to the cost of the modules (a 50$ NES controller isn’t exactly cost efficient!). Hopefully some inexpensive modules will come out and make it a financially feasible option.
Comment by Administrator — August 17, 2005 @ 1:08 pm
Very nice blog.
Comment by nice — September 1, 2005 @ 10:07 pm
Most Newer cars have built in shiftpoints in the computer, IF it is an automatic trans, there is a signal wire that sends the tranny the signal to shift gears I can’t remember Exactally where it may be because of different manufactures, but most cars these days are shifted electronically so it should not be to hard to locate the wire/circuit in even a chiltions manual, which you can get at any auto store. Now for a manual, you could almost use the shift light circuit that come on at pre-determined points depending on RPM or maybe you could dissect that circuit and see if there is anything useful.
Comment by Rich — December 29, 2005 @ 6:38 pm
Very interesting site. I like the thought of a wireless USB controller. Why not sell them if you are going through the effort of developing them? I am not a hardware buff myself and it seems like some people… you know who I am talking about charge a huge premium to produce an inferior product right now. You could produce something that many people could enjoy for a fraction of the cost. People would not mind paying you a few bucks for your efforts.
Comment by Gordon — February 21, 2006 @ 6:28 pm
Any progress on those Wireless NES controllers? I’ve been scouring the net looking for some way to get this done with little results. These controllers would be great for someone with a HTPC running NES emulation software, but not wanting to deal with the wires from the standard wired USB NES controller mod.
Comment by Patrick — April 11, 2006 @ 5:58 pm