USB device for controller a shift register

This simple USB HID device is connected up to a shift register which is used to control a number of LED outputs. It proves the principle of using the shift-register as a serial-to-parallel interface. Data is sent from the PC via USB to the PIC microcontroller, which in turn clocks serial data into the shift register.

The shift register displays a series of 8 bits, as received on the serial line, on the output pins. We're simply showing the state of the output pins by connecting a surface mount LED

Scalexercise at BuildBrighton

Here's Other Chris and Mike at BuildBrighton Hackspace, testing the Scalexercise racing cars for the Dublin Mini MakerFaire.

 A few tweaks here and there may be needed for the final version, but as a proof-of-concept, it's looking really exciting. Pedal faster and the car zooms around the track.

Braking is proving a bit of a sore point, at the onboard mcu effectively has to wait for a timeout from the exercise machine before reducing speed which is why there's a delay between stopping pedalling and the car stopping.

 Perhaps it's time someone fitted a brake to an exercise machine?

 

Fuzz face distortion pedal effects

Video showing a home-made fuzzface distortion pedal effect. The PCB was deliberately made as small as possible so that the final circuit could be embedded inside the guitar, behind the scratchplate. At about 0:45 the video pauses while a second pedal is replaced. This second pedal uses the same circuit but different transistors and capacitor/resistor values to create a different tone. The first pedal is based on the older, original "fuzzy overdrive" circuit. The second uses components often seen in louder, fuzzier "distortion" effects.