Make Your Own Energy

Today we have a tutorial all about using openFrameworks with Arduino. openFrameworks (which we'll refer to as oF from here on out) is a handy software library written in C++ that is designed for the sole purpose of reducing the software development overhead faced by designers and artists that would like to create pieces that use various media (graphics, sound, video, electronics, etc.). On the surface, oF seems very similar to Processing, but there are some key differences that can possibly make oF more suitable for your particular application.

A fluid dress concept by Charlie Bucket

In this tutorial titled "Introduction to Using openFrameworks with Arduino,"SparkFun Engineer Chris Taylor goes step-by-step through the process of installing openFrameworks, getting programs running with it, and then using the oF software libraries to communicate over USB with an Arduino UNO. He also explains some of the key differences between openFrameworks and Processing, which will hopefully help you decide which one is right for you. Check it out to learn more!
 

The Pro Micro is a small Arduino-compatible microcontroller centered around an ATmega32U4 - an 8-bit AVR very similar to the ATmega328 with one caveat - the 32U4 comes equipped with a full-speed USB transceiver. That means that when you connect the Arduino to your computer, they're connected directly over the USB bus so the Pro Micro can be programmed to emulate any USB device you could imagine. So what does that give us? Let's check it out in this tutorial from SparkFun engineer Jim about How to Turn Your Pro Micro into a USB Keyboard or Mouse.

Say for example, your laptop lacks a keypad. That's where the Pro Micro comes in! By pairing the ProMicro with our 12-Button Keypad, you're just a few wires away from your very own DIY USB keypad. In the tutorial, Jim will also tell you how to turn your ProMicro into a mouse using a joystick andhttp://www.sparkfun.com/products/9032 how to use that same joystick as an arcade controller - all over USB. Check out the tutorial to learn more!

It's been a while since our last caption contest, so we decided it was about time to bring it back. For this contest, the lucky winner will receive - (drum roll, please) - the Wild Thumper 6WD Chassis! If you want to potentially win one, check out the picture below and leave your best caption in the comments. We'll accept entries from now until 9 AM mountain time tomorrow (Feb. 17th, 2012).

"Your Caption Here"

With its six wheels and 34:1 ratio, if you win, you'll instantly become the coolest kid on the block with this awesome off-roading chassis. Don't believe me? Check out this product video from a few weeks back (forward to about 14 minutes):

Alright - so leave your best caption on the picture above and we'll announce the winner at the beginnings of tomorrow's new product post. Best of luck!

Calling all Swift and Speedy Solderers! In a couple of months, we here at SparkFun Electronics will be hosting our inaugural soldering competition! On April 28th, we will be gathering at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids in Longmont for a day of furiously fast soldering antics!

For awhile now we've had the idea of getting out in the community and spreading the joy of electronics assembly.  Something similar to our soldering booth at Maker Faires past, but with an added edge of competition! We saw the NYC Resistor hackerspace host a similar contest back in 2008 and decided that we should find out who has the quickest iron in the old west!

We wanted to do something away from SparkFun HQ and Oskar Blues turned out to be that perfect place. They have kindly given us their support and will be providing us with access to their large back patio area for the competition. Note: this will take place OUTSIDE. There is an awning for keeping out the elements, and we will do our best to provide wind breaks in the event of foul weather.  This event will happen rain or shine, with the exception of a tornado, hurricane or similar act of Mother Nature.

The competition will go like this - Up to 100 contestants will be competing in 4 heats of 25, starting at high noon on Saturday, April 28th. From the 4 heats we will take the 16 fastest times and move those skilled few into our Sweet 16 round.  From the sweet 16 will emerge the 8 fastest times. Those Elite 8 will then compete in the final round to determine who walks away with Gold, Silver, and Bronze! Medalist will also receive prizes for their great work!

For each round of the competition contestants will be soldering up a specified kit available on our website:

First round (4 heats of 25) - Simon PTH Kit

This kit is considered a beginners kit, it is simple in design and features all PTH (plated through hole) soldering.

Second Round (Sweet 16) - BigTime Watch Kit

This is a slightly more advanced kit, includes PTH and SMD (surface mount device) soldering. Contestants will only be timed on completing the soldering portion of this kit.  Physical assembly will not be taken into consideration for final time. For the Final Round (Elite 8) we will be keeping the product a secret. You can expect a much more complex design incorporating a good deal of both PTH and SMD soldering.

We will also be featuring a Kids' Heat for the first 25 kids (under 12) who sign up the day of the event.  This will be a one heat event, awarding gold silver and bronze as well.  This mini event is separate from the main competition, however a kid can participate in both if he/she is signed up for the main competition and meets the requirements for the kids heat. The Kids' Heat will feature a simple beginners kit with all PTH components.

All contestants will be able to take home whatever they build up, so if you make it all the way to the finals you get three sweet kits with the possibility of a medal and associated prize! We will also have a soldering iron station set up for those who don't finish their kit in the allotted times. This way you can try to salvage any mistake you might have made in the competition.

This event is more than just your standard run of the mill soldering competition. We encourage everybody and anybody interested in coming out and partaking in the days activities. We will be raffling off prizes throughout the day and will also have some music and entertainment for your enjoyment.  If you plan to attend just as a spectator please register on our EventBrite page to give us a better idea of how many people to expect. We also encourage you to show up to compete even if all 100 spots are reserved in the event that 1 or more contestants don't show. Thank you for your attention and we hope to see you out there!

Contestants, reserve your spot today!!!

First off, time to announce the winner of the caption contest from yesterday. Thank you for all of your submissions - it's always extremely hard to pick a winner with all the clever responses. This week the winner is - MaxBot! See his caption below. As they say, brevity is the soul of wit. Nice work, MaxBot - keep an eye on your email so we can get you your Wild Thumper Chassis!

"Gah - where'd I put my [Arduino] shield?"

Hello everyone! It's Friday again and that means it's time to talk about the new products for this week. Unfortunately, it was a slow week and we don't really have that many new products. But, to make up for it, we decided to have a little fun in the video, so check that out. I will warn you, it's low on content, but high on shenanigans.

So, for the record, it was Dave's idea to get splashed in the face with water. He's such a trooper. Good thing he had the glasses on!

Most electronics kits focus only on soldering. With the Bright Bunny Kit we wanted to combine sewing with soldering. The kit includes a PCB that you have to solder as well as all the cutouts you need to make the bunny picture above. We also give you a bunch of extra felt so you can decorate your bunny in any way you choose. Then, take the magnetic carrot and stick it near the bunny and his stomach will light up (thanks to a reed switch and the power of electricity.

We've carried safety goggles for awhile now, but the new ones we got are now cheaper. They still sport the SparkFun geek logo and protect your eyes from solder, light shrapnel, or anything else that's not supposed to be screaming towards your eyeball.

The Voice Recorder Breakout gets a revision this week.  We've made the board a bit bigger to accommodate mounting holes as well as an audio jack, but we still use the ISD1932 IC. Check the product page for a sample recording that gives you an idea of the sound quality.

We also have a new revision of the Color LCD Breakout. This new revision now uses a properly sized inductor which creates a much more stable driver circuit. The last one got pretty hot under certain conditions. The Color LCD Breakout is a great little LCD screen that's relatively easy to use. Check the product page for more information.

Lastly, we have a new revision of the UDB4. Through customer feedback, we realized that people didn't like having a reset button on the surface of the board because it could accidentally reset your vehicle mid-race. So, the footprint remains, but the switch is gone. You can still populate the footprint with this switch or just leave it alone.

Well, that's it for this week. I've been placing a lot of orders for new stuff lately, so it should start showing up here in the new month or so. I'll see you again next week with more new products. Thanks for reading!