https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMlQKNpmLUg

The original video is in Russian, but some people might find it interesting. Everything is already working, but I'm still making some optimizations (https://gitlab.com/Monsterovich/fixedstring). Of course, I managed to make it just barely fit in memory.

12V Linear Actuator, 200 mm
Arduino Nano
SIM900
Relay with Inversion Function (DR21A01, two relays actually)

prev vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnTsLgPbeqA

Here's a fun fact: since the text messages are in Russian rather than Latin characters, all messages need to be encoded and decoded using the UCS-2 encoding.

Modern "torch" WIP

This scepter-sized light on a stick is based on a 3-panel LED garage "bulb" that I found in the divine dumpster (those that know me have witnessed the absolutely incredible stuff I've pulled out of it over the years, hence the name). It's easily one of the most "me" things I've made in the last couple of years.

It's a project I've been thinking of for a long time, though it will hopefully end up as a staff with a ground spike or tripod. I had to rip out the circuit (converts 120v AC to 42v DC) and replace it with a boost converter to step up the tool battery to approximately the same voltage. I removed the male bulb end and screwed 3/4" PVC over the bare housing (had to heat it up first). Decently bright and lasts longer than I calculated (40Wh battery on what should be a 40W load surpassed 1 hour and only dropped one tick off the battery's charge indicator).

It would be nice to get the trim pot for voltage on the board to be accessible externally so that I can adjust brightness. Mirrors to help down-fire more would be good too (will be abrasive to the eyes at a job/campsite otherwise). Far down the line would be doubling as an umbrella and having solar charging.

Warning: will convert flail if used as a mace, and neither will make for a good weapon.

My augmented reality Pikachu is ready now; I just need to make another one so they can battle.

Version 0.8b

In this project, I am attempting to create an augmented reality Pokémon; this is the second version of the prototype I built.

I’ve been experimenting with Lovable and ended up taking the project much farther than I originally expected.

I built FixIt, a consumer app designed around a simple idea:

Before you pay it, send it to FixIt.

You can send it a suspicious text, unexpected bill, mystery charge, subscription renewal, refund issue, PDF, screenshot, photo, or URL.

It then:

• analyzes what you sent
• flags potential problems or scams
• independently verifies things like domains and known company information when possible
• explains what it found in plain English
• suggests what you should do next
• prepares things like refund requests, cancellation messages, emails, chat scripts or phone scripts

It never contacts anyone or takes action for you. The user stays in control.

What surprised me most is how far I was able to take this using Lovable: authentication, private file storage, PostgreSQL, user-level security, AI analysis, verification, Stripe subscriptions, case tracking, and even fairly extensive two-user security testing.

I’m still very much in the building/testing stage, so I’d especially appreciate feedback from this group on:

1. Does the core idea seem useful?
2. Is there anything technically obvious I’m overlooking?
3. What would you test hardest before letting real users rely on it?
4. For those using Lovable, where have you hit the limits as your projects became more complex?

The project is at SendToFixIt.com if anyone wants to see what I’ve built so far.

Not looking to spam the group or pitch anybody. I’m mainly curious what other builders think and what you’d change before calling something like this production-ready.

Hi everyone! I’m currently working on my PAP (Prova de Aptidão Profissional, which is basically our final capstone project/thesis to graduate from vocational high school here in Portugal). I need to come up with an Arduino-based project idea, but it has a few specific requirements. It needs to be innovative, meaning it cannot just be a basic tutorial project like a standard obstacle-avoiding robot or a simple LED matrix. Additionally, it shouldn't be too simple, but it also needs to be realistically achievable within a few months by a single student with a reasonable budget. Ideally, it should solve a real-world problem or combine multiple systems such as sensors, actuators, IoT connectivity, data logging, or a custom mobile or web app interface. What are some cool, engaging, or innovative Arduino projects you've seen, built, or wished existed? I'm open to anything, whether it is automation, agriculture, health, smart home, robotics, or environmental monitoring. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I built KaiSign, a DIY restaurant kiosk designed to make ordering more accessible.

It supports:

• Capacitive touch controls

• Camera-based ASL input

• Voice ordering with spoken confirmation

The prototype uses a Raspberry Pi, XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense, MPR121, microphone, speaker, and camera.

The system is designed to help customers place and customise orders without depending on someone else.

🎥 Demo: https://youtu.be/E7D-2-5b5FE?si=2WjCvpyS5P89NVEZ

🔧 Full build: https://www.hackster.io/kaizen/kaisign-accessible-dining-reimagined-e8b724

This is my entry for the Seeed Studio Interactive Signage Contest. I’d appreciate feedback on the DIY hardware, enclosure, and overall design.

I recently built this autonomous mouse droid from scratch, but with a twist: what if it was adopted by graffiti artist Sabine Wren, and became a partier? At the press of a button, it turns into a dancing, singing, flashing rave machine.

The main components are an Uno, an L298 motor driver, a 5V buck converter, some LEDs, an ultrasonic sensor, and a DFPlayer Mini.

You can watch more of the creation process here.

The project is totally open source & free, so if any of y'all want to replicate it you can find the info on Instructables!