Open Hardware: Raspberry Pi, Amiga 3000, Arduino, More Raspberry Pi
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AI weed killer uses sunlight and Raspberry Pi
A TensorFlow custom image classification model taught the robot to differentiate between weeds and plants that Nathan wants to keep. When the Raspberry Pi identifies a weed, the motors flip out the giant lens and manoeuvre it into place directly above the hapless plant. Photoresistors track the direction from which the light is coming, and provide the information needed to focus the sun’s beam through the lens. Then the weed burns to death. Sounds bleak, but nature is cruel by necessity.
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Amiga 3000: Restoration Part 1
There has been a long running joke with my friend Paulee that I would buy their Amiga 3000 from them. Then, a week ago, they connected me to someone in Canada who was looking to sell their Amiga 3000 at a reasonable price. I purchased it and a couple of days later, it arrived. It is working but needs a little work, so let’s get into it.
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When Open Becomes Opaque: The Changing Face of Open-Source Hardware Companies
However, recently some open-source hardware companies have either gone closed-source on products, are in process of going closed-source, are delaying the release of files/source code, or require NDAs to obtain the software for an advertised-as open-source hardware & OSHWA certified product. Many of the formerly open-source hardware and software based companies were built on open-source, what will this mean for the users, and open-source community going forward?
Why write about this? This article intends to highlight some examples of what’s happening now as part of the years I’ve spent covering open-source and open-source hardware. Things are changing, that’s for sure. For almost two decades, starting at MAKE Magazine, including when I founded Hack a Day (2004), then working full-time at Adafruit, I’ve covered the start of open-source hardware and all its ups and downs. From the open-source hardware definition, the logo disputes, Arduino’s former CEO ousting, and MakerBot going closed-source – I’m stuck with this beat, and this beat is stuck with me.
Since I have covered this beat for so long, companies and individuals ask for assistance on a regular basis when something is damaging the community, false open-source claims, straight-up code credit removal / attribution, or when switcheroo behavior comes up. The current challenge for helping out is that many of the companies or people who are bending or breaking the rules have specifically described Limor, myself, and Adafruit as a competitor. The strategy is to assist folks with open-source software and hardware disputes privately, contacting the parties and see if there is an agreeable resolution. The goal is to avoid a Twitter fight and pile-on where it gets personal and brings out the worst in everyone. So far, communicating directly and privately has worked out – there has been a “ruffling of feathers” when it’s a self-described “competitor,” but other open-source hardware companies are not competitors. The best way to describe it is: we are at a skate park, doing tricks, pushing what’s possible, and trying to learn and share from each other for the next trick – building upon each other to go to new heights. Sometimes the next big trick doesn’t land unless you can learn from someone else.
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This Bluetooth tank is a perfect first robot
The project starts with a tracked robot chassis kit, which includes the frame, DC motors, hubs, and tracks. An Arduino Nano Every board controls those motors through an L298N H-bridge driver. An HC-05 module adds connectivity and power comes from a 9V battery. The electronics enclosures are 3D-printable, but you can also use any pre-built project box. If you do have a 3D printer, you can also add a tank turret rotated by a 9g micro servo motor.
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Raspberry Pi Mows Your Lawn So You Don’t Have To
According to Ulli, he’s been working alongside TGD-Consulting, a German IT firm, to develop the mower and create some software that’s effective and easy to use. As of right now, the project is still in development so it’s not quite finished yet. Most recently, Ulli has 3D printed a chassis for the basic hardware components that enable them to test the latest software release.