Physical Computing all projects
Growing plants with the RelaySquid
Here’s another project I’ve always wanted to do … it’s a self-contained, automated plant growing terrarium. There are 2 plant growing lights, 1 bug deterrent light, and a heat lamp, all controlled with the RelaySquid.
Physical computing with BitDJ
Fire Arduino pins as you tap the screen. BitDJ allows for looping of a tap sequence and playback- attach it to a PowerSquid for a custom light show or use it to fire pins and test any other shield.
Pin Visualizer
Debug your code with ease! The pin visualizer is a simple block of code that tells you what pins fire when. Check your programming work or reverse engineer a shield! Voltage on analog pins and logic state on digital pins are displayed. The TouchShield only uses pins 2 & 3 (with power) which leaves 6 analog pins and 12 digital pins free for use. Signals are followed in real-time.
RelaySquid and TouchShield make breakfast
I got really lazy, and decided to make a project that would fix breakfast for me. I’m usually running out the door in the morning, and I don’t have time to sit at the stove cooking a real meal and making watching the coffee maker for 15 minutes (that’s about how long it usually takes me). I hooked up a coffee maker, and two electric stove surfaces to the RelaySquid. Then I run the RelaySquid with a slightly modified version of the BitDJ code, which I edited to make it time the signals to the RelaySquid to turn on the bacon hotplate for 7 minutes, followed by coffee for 2 minutes, and then the egg for 7 minutes (the coffee and egg run in parallel to start). The end result is crispy bacon that’s had a chance to dry out a little, coffee that’s not too hot, and a fresh hot egg!
RelaySquid light show
I’ve always wanted to make this project, and I finally got to with the RelaySquid (I’m kinda excited about it)... ha. Anyway, this project uses the Parallax sonar Ping sensor (which is a distance sensor), an Arduino, a RelaySquid, and four halogen spotlights. As I move my hand in front of the lights, the sonar sensor detects how far away my hand is, and turns on the light directly underneath my hand. It makes me feel like I’m controlling the lights with just my thoughts! I’m going to try to extend this project to make a virtual, interactive visualizer or equalizer at some point :)






