ShawnHymel
Member Since: August 12, 2013
Country: United States
Profile
Role
Engineering Superhero
Programming Languages
C, C++, CUDA, LabVIEW, MATLAB
Universities
- Virginia Tech (2009-2011)
- Rose-Hulman (2002-2006)
Expertise
Embedded systems, board layout, firmware, and mad soldering skillz.
Interests
Electronics and gadgets and stuff. Nerd stuff. Outside of that, swing dancing whenever I can.
Websites
Time for the ever-popular loops discussion! We look at the three basic loops you can use in Arduino.
Let's take a look at three current and upcoming technologies that try to expand internet coverage to places where WiFi can't reach.
Building on our last Arduino programming episode, we look at creating compound conditional statements using logic operators.
Someone has been stealing my sandwiches. We'll use the two-way radio communication on the micro:bit to catch the thief.
For Part 3 of the "Getting started with micro:bit" series, we read temperature from a built-in sensor and rotate a servo.
The BBC micro:bit is being released in the United States! I'll show you how to get started with it using Microsoft's MakeCode block editor.
The tech news world has been buzzing with the recent congressional vote to overturn FCC privacy rules that were passed last year. We look at how ISPs can access and use data from your IoT devices.
I create a Yagi antenna out of Popsicle sticks and paperclips and use it to measure connection strength (RSSI) to WiFi access points.
We present another set of concepts in the computer science series as they relate to Arduino.
This week, we look at what constitutes syntax in a programming language and how to employ it when writing code in Arduino.
We examine the computer science concept of how a single-threaded, sequential program flows in Arduino.
A set of calipers can be an incredibly useful tool for precisely measuring the distance between objects.
Being able to program an ATtiny directly from Arduino can be a powerful tool to create low-cost embedded prototypes.
Staring at the multitude of buttons, switches and knobs on the face of an oscilloscope can be daunting. For this "Adventures in Science," we show you how to take basic measurements with an oscilloscope.
Looking to upgrade your workshop or mad science lab with more power? Here's how to get started with benchtop power supplies.
While many of us fancy a new "Home of Tomorrow," the real growth in IoT is occurring in places most of us don't see.
Build a power switch for the Amazon Echo that can be activated from a voice command.
Just getting into electronics or want a refresher on digital multimeter basics? We've got you covered.
Got an internet-connected device as a gift? Let's have a quick chat about how to prevent another Mirai botnet attack.
Importing custom artwork into a PCB CAD program is a fun way to personalize your board.
How to set up an Arduino as an in-system programmer (ISP) and program an Atmel ATtiny84A to blink
There are two basic ways to connect electronic components with two terminals: series and parallel. In this episode, we examine those two types of circuits and show how to calculate equivalent resistance.
Power is the rate of doing work, and for electricity, that means the rate in which energy is converted in a circuit.
Let's look at the resistor and how it affects current and voltage in a circuit. Here's a hint: if you know two of either voltage, current or resistance, you can solve for the third.
Over the next few weeks, we'll explore the basics behind electricity in a series of videos.
Let's dissect another section of EdiBot 2.0 and learn how to spin DC motors with Python.
The newest version of EdiBot relies on contour finding in OpenCV to locate and chase yellow objects.
Adding a chronograph to a Hot Wheels track to measure the speed of passing toy cars.
It's a known trick that we can use LEDs in reverse. We'll explore how to use them as photodetectors with Arduino and create a simple demo that responds to hand swipes.
Here's how you can use boards with your Chromebooks in makerspaces, libraries and schools
One idea for hosting a web page or browser game at events with no Internet connection.
How to make your own seismometer to measure ground activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
I have a love/hate relationship with hackathons; maybe my rant can give you some helpful hints next time you compete.
LIDAR-Lite v3 Hookup Guide
July 3, 2017
A tutorial for connecting the Garmin LIDAR-Lite v3 to an Arduino to measure distance.
ZX Distance and Gesture Sensor SMD Hookup Guide
June 1, 2017
How to connect and use the SparkFun ZX Distance and Gesture Sensor with an Arduino.
micro:bit Breakout Board Hookup Guide
May 11, 2017
How to get started with the micro:bit breakout board.
Roshamglo Project: TV-B-Gone
March 12, 2017
Turn your Roshamglo board into a (nearly) universal TV power button.
How to Install an ATtiny Bootloader With Virtual USB
February 14, 2017
With this, you will be able to upload Arduino sketches directly to the ATtiny84 over USB without needing to use a programming device (such as another Arduino or FTDI chip).
Importing Custom Images into Eagle
December 5, 2016
How to create custom graphics and import them into Eagle for silk, copper, etc.
Internet of Things Experiment Guide
November 23, 2016
The SparkFun ESP8266 Thing Dev Board is a powerful development platform that lets you connect your hardware projects to the Internet. In this guide, we show you how to combine some simple components to remotely log temperature data, send yourself texts and control lights from afar.
Vox Imperium: Stormtrooper Voice Changer
October 25, 2016
Add some flair to your Imperial uniform by changing your voice using a Teensy 3.2 and Prop Shield.
Experiment Guide for the Johnny-Five Inventor's Kit
June 28, 2016
Use the Tessel 2 and the Johnny Five Inventors kit to explore the world of JavaScript enabled hardware through 14 awesome experiments!
ASCII
June 13, 2016
A brief history of how ASCII came to be, how it's useful to computers, and some helpful tables to convert numbers to characters.
Sparcade: Edison as a Web Server for Browser Games
May 19, 2016
Turn the Intel® Edison into an access point that serves a simple browser-based game. High scores from the game are displayed on a character LCD.
Measuring Internal Resistance of Batteries
May 5, 2016
Classroom STEM activity that has students build a battery from a lemon, measure the open and closed circuit voltages, and determine the battery's internal resistance.
What is a Battery?
May 3, 2016
An overview of the inner workings of a battery and how it was invented.
SIK Keyboard Instrument
April 15, 2016
We can use the parts and concepts in the SparkFun Invetor's Kit to make a primitive keyboard instrument.
SparkFun LED Array (8x7) Hookup Guide
March 10, 2016
Getting started with the Charlieplexed 8x7 LED array.
BadgerHack: Gaming Add-On Kit
February 16, 2016
Make a Breakout clone with the BadgerHack Gaming Add-On Kit.
Interactive Smart Mirror
February 8, 2016
Build a smart mirror that displays weather data using the Intel® Edison.
Using an LCD on the Edison
February 8, 2016
How to connect an LCD controlled by an ILI9341 driver to the Intel® Edison.
SparkFun Inventor's Kit for Edison Experiment Guide
December 17, 2015
Learn how to harness the power of the Intel® Edison using JavaScript to post data to the cloud, control electronics from smartphones, and host web pages that interact with circuits.
BadgerHack
September 23, 2015
This tutorial shows users how to solder their SparkFun interactive badges as well as put them to use in other projects.
SparkFun Blocks for Intel® Edison - 9 Degrees of Freedom Block
August 19, 2015
A quick overview of the features of the 9 Degrees of Freedom Block.
SparkFun Blocks for Intel® Edison - Pi Block
July 28, 2015
Tutorial on setting up and using the Pi Block for Intel Edison.
ZX Distance and Gesture Sensor Hookup Guide
July 9, 2015
How to connect and use the SparkFun ZX Distance and Gesture Sensor with an Arduino.
Large Digit Driver Hookup Guide
June 25, 2015
Getting started guide for the Large Digit display driver board. This tutorial explains how to solder the module (backpack) onto the back of the large 7-segment LED display and run example code from an Arduino.
Electric Imp Breakout Hookup Guide
June 25, 2015
An electric imp HUG! Provides an overview of the imp card and breakout. Both hardware and firmware subjects are covered.
Experiment Guide for RedBot with Shadow Chassis
May 28, 2015
This Experiment Guide offers nine experiments to get you started with the SparkFun RedBot. This guide is designed for those familiar with our SparkFun Inventors Kit and want to take their robotics knowledge to the next level.
Assembly Guide for RedBot with Shadow Chassis
May 28, 2015
Assembly Guide for the RedBot Kit. This tutorial includes extra parts to follow to go along with the RedBot Inventor's Kit tutorial.
Sound Page Guide
May 22, 2015
How to use the Lilypad MP3 Player and some Bare Conductive Paint to make a fandom silhouette sound trigger page.
How to Solder - Castellated Mounting Holes
May 12, 2015
Tutorial showing how to solder castellated holes (or castellations). This might come in handy if you need to solder a module or PCB to another PCB. These castellations are becoming popular with integrated WiFi and Bluetooth modules.
Loading Debian (Ubilinux) on the Edison
December 5, 2014
How to load a Debian distribution (specifically Ubilinux) onto the Edison.
mbed Starter Kit Experiment Guide
November 27, 2014
This Experiment Guide will get you started with the wonderful world of mbed microcontrollers. Need to find that next step after mastering the Arduino? This a great place to take those skills to the next level.
APDS-9960 RGB and Gesture Sensor Hookup Guide
November 6, 2014
Getting started guide for the Avago APDS-9960 color, proximity, and gesture sensor.
Using AT&T's M2X With the CC3000
September 2, 2014
A set of tutorials and examples to show how to connect an Arduino and CC3000 to AT&T's M2X data streams. We show how to post, fetch, and delete data. The final lesson is controlling an LED from an M2X stream.
Getting Started with the BrickPi
February 20, 2014
How to connect Lego Mindstorms to the Raspberry Pi using the BrickPi.
USB Type A Female Breakout Hookup Guide
February 13, 2014
An above-and-beyond example using the USB Type A Female Breakout board.
AT42QT1010 Capacitive Touch Breakout Hookup Guide
December 12, 2013
Learn how to use the simple AT24QT1010 Capacitive Touch Breakout.
INA169 Breakout Board Hookup Guide
November 20, 2013
How to interface with the INA169 Breakout Board to measure current.
Raspberry Pi Twitter Monitor
November 19, 2013
How to use a Raspberry Pi to monitor Twitter for hashtags and blink an LED.
Alternating Current (AC) vs. Direct Current (DC)
September 5, 2013
The differences between AC and DC.
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I originally had it scanning in both directions, but there was about a 10 degree offset, and I was too lazy to write the code to make sure the measurements lined up (not for a video demo, anyway).
Not sure why the Sweep can’t get the right corner, but I know that my laptop was blocking view to the left corner :)
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1.6.10 should work. I used 1.8.1 for the screenshots in this tutorial, so you may want to give that a shot.
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I don’t know much about Showbox, but if you are actively developing it, I’m sure you could. You just need to be able to make REST HTTP requests and parse the response.
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Heads up, all: the 2x AA battery pack that’s currently listed as “purchased together” does not mate with the micro:bit, as its JST connector is too big. We are working on getting a battery pack that will work.
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So glad you asked! https://www.sparkfun.com/news/2161 :)
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I know that feeling :)
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That works–I like it. Next step: put BLE-connected LEDs on your coat hangers that light up to show you which coat to grab!
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The constant before the variable is genius! I will definitely have to start using that. I have to admin, I don’t readily see what the sorter condition block does? Is that to make it easier to read on a single screen?
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Hahahaha, I like this plan. It’s where I was trying to go with the “Smart Mirror” project, but I never got it to where I wanted. Having something that sits next to your coat closet would be good, though. Are you thinking of having something that just gives the day’s forecast, or actually looks at all that data and makes a recommendation on what to wear?
Getting Started With Raspberry Pi - Ep. 2
Components needed to get started with the Raspberry Pi, as...
Getting Started With Raspberry Pi - Ep. 1
Components needed to get started with the Raspberry Pi, as...
Getting Started With Raspberry Pi - Ep. 3
Components needed to get started with the Raspberry Pi, as...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 2: Buttons and PWM
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 5: Internet Clock
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 4: Accelerometer
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 6: USB Host and Threading
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 8: Temperature Logging
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
mbed Starter Kit - Part 10: Hardware Soundboard
The parts listed are required for the mbed Starter Kit -...
M2X Tutorial - Temperature Data Logging
Parts needed for connecting an Arduino and CC3000 to AT&T’s...
