Arduino + Serial (ASCII)
October 4, 2016
Microcontrollers operate on +3.3Vdc or +5Vdc relative to GND typically. Digital electronics consider a signal of +5Vdc (or +3.3Vdc) HIGH and a signal of 0Vdc LOW. Arduino microcontrollers treat voltages on a digital I/O pin above +0.7Vdc as HIGH and voltages below +0.3Vdc as LOW. If a digital I/O pin is not connected, electrostatic discharge […]
Arduino + Serial Monitor
October 3, 2016
Description When you upload code to an Arduino board, the computer uses serial communication to transfer the code to the device. The Arduino board contains a serial-to-USB converter chip that is detected by the computer when you first connect the Arduino board. A virtual serial port on the computer will allow the computer to send […]
Arduino + LEDs
October 2, 2016
Description Blinking a single LED is not all that hard. But how do we go from there to driving 8 LEDs connected to an Arduino board? Hardware Required There are a large number of similar boards on the market. They either have a common ground or common Vcc pin (active low logic). The exact pinout […]
Arduino + LED
October 2, 2016
Description Blink the on-board LED. Make no mistake – this is an essential skill and a gateway to numerous challenging and creative projects. Hardware Required Arduino Board Circuit Arduino boards have a number of onboard LEDs: ON – Power indicator TX – Transmit (pin 1) – Used for programming and diagnostics (USB serial port communication). […]
Tropical garden plants
October 1, 2016
Propagation From easy to hard: Cutting Plant division Grow from seed Grafting (Trees) Cutting Take cuttings from new growth. The part of the stem that forms new roots and shoots is called a node. These growing points produce leaves, flowers or shoots when the plant is growing normally but, if a bit with two or […]
Kerbal Space Program – How to get to orbit
September 30, 2016
In a nutshell, first we initiate a Gravity Turn. We make sure not to exceed Terminal Velocity. Then we need to get to orbit. Learn to use the Navball. When coming down we use Aerobraking. That’s it, class dismissed. Gravity Turn Terminal Velocity How to Get into Orbit Navball Aerobraking Gravity Turn Getting to space […]
Kerbal Space Program – How to build a rocket
September 30, 2016
What engines to use? How much fuel to take? What shape should the craft be? Stack decouplers or Radial decouplers? Solid booster or Liquid Fuel Engine? Let’s start with some basic concepts. Basic concepts Forces There are four forces acting on a craft when in the lower atmosphere within gravity: Thrust, Weight, Lift and Drag. Thrust and […]
Kerbal Space Program
September 28, 2016
Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is a space flight simulation video game where you design and build rockets (and spaceplanes) to launch cute little Kerbal creatures into space. This shouldn’t fly?! Kerbal Space Program is like buying a self-assembly Space Shuttle without instructions. And to make matters worse, the program does little to stop you from […]
The Dark Defiles
September 9, 2016
The dark defiles. They lead here, all of them. This is where they empty out, and he chose to follow them to their end. He was not brought here, he asked to come. The ikinri ‘ska. The ancient, silent walkways at An-Monal, the stilled machines. The watchful spirits that lived in the walls. The […]
The Cold Commands
September 9, 2016
“Gifts at the crossroads are not cheap,” Hjel says quietly. “Everyone must pay. And most of us heal somewhat with time.” “I am Welcomed in the Home of Ravens and Other Scavengers in the Wake of Warriors,” Ringil recited for him, hollowly. “I am Friend to Carrion Crows and Wolves. I am Carry Me […]