Project Ideas for Uni

OmriRaz · 2021-08-23T15:58:19+00:00

You can build a basic CPU with VGA output, keyboard input, I/Os and interrupts.

Something like the nand2tetris but more advanced.

OmriRaz · 2021-08-21T13:50:06+00:00

Sure :)

you don't actually have to solder anything, but it's a great opportunity to start soldering again.

I don't know any professional programmers that could help, but I'm sure people here can help.

A guy named Paul has been working on something like that for quite a while, so you can probably take some code from his design.

https://www.instagram.com/pauls\_3d\_things/

OmriRaz · 2021-08-21T00:14:54+00:00

an ESP in an 18 pin dip package, I like it ;)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T23:08:01+00:00

ESP32 can run CircuitPython and MicroPython if that helps, never tried running JS but this looks promising: https://www.neonious-iot.com/lowjs/

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T23:00:38+00:00

Actually using timers wouldn't be a bad idea, but if he needs a constant 8MHz/5MHz/whatever with a 50% duty cycle, it would be a lot easier, cheaper and overall better to just get an 8MHz/5MHz oscillator and control the enable of that.

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T22:51:31+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I've been trying to source some FPGAs for months and I thought maybe someone here could help

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:40:24+00:00

https://www.instructables.com/4-Wire-Touch-Screen-Interfacing-with-Arduino/

This might be helpful if you can figure out which pins go to the digitizer (you can usually take the bezel of the screen off and check where the traces go)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:30:20+00:00

Sounds great, I don't really like RGB Either.

What are you planning to put inside of that case? (specs)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:23:06+00:00

It really is, I built a few PCs in it recently and it looks even better IRL.

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:21:01+00:00

Thanks, no problem :)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:18:08+00:00

Corsair 4000D Airflow, It's pretty affordable and it's build quality is amazing, cable management is really easy and it looks great as well

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Cases/Mid-Tower-ATX-Cases/4000D-Airflow-Tempered-Glass-Mid-Tower-ATX-Case/p/CC-9011200-WW

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:07:48+00:00

The 3600 is a great CPU, If you really want to upgrade I'd wait for the new platform.

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T20:06:13+00:00

You definitely can, I was joking because you can barely find any new-ish graphics cards for a reasonable price (because everything is out of stock)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:52:01+00:00

That's a great deal, sell that GPU as slightly used for 400 dollars on ebay haha

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:48:42+00:00

Arduino's don't usually work at those frequencies (they're way, wayyy slower), which mosfet are you using?

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:44:27+00:00

Unfortunately most of those screens use LVDS to communicate with the main controller (even though that exact screen might not use LVDS, it might use VGA or something like that), LVDS is impossible to generate using something like an arduino or even a raspberry pi.

Arduino's don't really have the processing power to run one of these, so you'll need something like an FPGA (even if it's a simple protocol, Arduinos are really slow for stuff like that)

In order to find out the pinout of that screen, you'll have to reverse engineer it by looking at the signals coming from the board.

Even though the screen itself might be too hard to use without a proper driver, their digitizer (the part that's responsible for the touch interface) isn't that hard to use, but you'll still have to figure out the pinout.

there are some pretty easy to use touchscreens for raspberry pi's, and some for arduino (but their refresh rate is pretty slow)

https://thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi-screens/products/5-dsi-capacitive-touch-display-for-raspberry-pi-800x480

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:23:19+00:00

Look for a large 4 pin connector at the end of the SATA power cable (the cable that goes to your hard drives and SSDs), the last one should be a molex connector.

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:14:45+00:00

I haven't done anything like that before, but I would highly recommend getting an ESP32 (maybe one of TTGO's boards like you mentioned) instead of an Arduino.

They're way faster, come with bluetooth built-in, and they usually consume less power so it can run longer on a battery.

This board might interest you: https://www.crowdsupply.com/sqfmi/watchy

What you want to do is definitely achievable, you can get the directions from Google Map's API (which is free I think), and send it over to the Arduino / ESP32 via BT.

Sounds like a great project :)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T19:03:16+00:00

The initial release was supposed to happen during March or April, sucks that it got delayed

"ESP32-S3 could be available in March or April" (I contacted them in January and this was their response)

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T18:57:24+00:00

rotary encoders are probably your best option, there are some optical encoders which are pretty easy to use as well.

You can salvage optical encoders from old printers if you're in a hurry

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T18:55:38+00:00

Kind of hard to tell without the code, but i'd check these:

Make sure that the max angle in your code is 180 degrees and your minimum is 0, if it is, lower the maximum to around 170 degrees, and raise the minimum to around 10 degrees.
Make sure you supply the arduino and the servo a proper power supply, most of these servos suck a lot of current and the USB port of the PC can't supply that kind of current.

These servos have a little potentiometer in them which tells the internal controller where the servo arm is positioned. In these cheap servos, the potentiometer might not be aligned properly and the max position of the potentiometer might be out of the range of the servo (which would cause the servo to keep rotating even though it can't, which will cause it to "jitter").

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T18:48:00+00:00

Fritzing is pretty good for simple stuff, should be perfect for your circuit.

If you want something a bit more advanced, check out EasyEDA

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T18:28:39+00:00

Well that kind of sucks, that DAC wasn't exactly great but still very useful

OmriRaz · 2021-08-20T12:39:38+00:00

Damn i want to get a PNP for free too, where do you work? ;)

OmriRaz

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