Automated musical instruments aren’t a new idea. From water chimes to player pianos, they’ve been around for a while. But we can’t remember the last time we saw a player ukulele. [Zeroshot] shows us one, though, and it uses an Arduino. You can see and hear it in the video below.

Honestly, with all the stepper motors, linear rails, and belts, we thought it looked like a 3D printer, at least up at the business end. [Zeroshot] thought it would be easier to build a robot than to actually learn to play the instrument. We aren’t sure we agree.

The first problem was automating both picking strings and strumming. Then, you needed a way to press down on the strings at each fret. Solenoids can act like your fingers. With the mechanics in place, it is all software, right? There were quite a few unexpected little hardware wrinkles.

The solenoids don’t move along the fretboard, so it limits the range a bit. Also, the mechanical noises sometimes seem to drown out the instrument, but it does work. Kind of. We don’t think we are going to see AI buskers anytime soon.

Don’t have a ukulele? Do you have a GameBoy? If you are building an automated ukulele, you might as well add LEDs.

youtube.com/embed/2MbfsqCwU2Q?…

hackaday.com/2024/09/13/player…

During this year’s Hackaday Supercon, the Supplyframe DesignLab will be playing host to a unique exhibit that catalogs the evolution of display technology. That means showcasing the best and most interesting examples they can find, from the vintage to the ultra-modern. Where are all these wonderful toys coming from, you might ask? Why, the Hackaday community, of course.

This is a rare chance to show off your prized gadgetry to a captive audience of hackers and makers. Whether it’s a custom display you’ve created or some gonzo piece of hardware you’ve been holding onto for years, now’s the time to haul it out. However, there are only a few days left to submit your display for potential inclusion, so if you’ve got something you want the Hackaday community to see, make sure you fill out the form before the September 16th deadline. That’s Monday, if you were wondering.

The folks at the DesignLab tell us they’ve already got some very cool pieces of hardware lined up, many of which readers will recognize from these pages. We’re eager to get up close and personal with some of these incredible creations we’ve covered over the years, and we’re willing to bet many of the Supercon attendees will, too.

While we don’t want to give away too much, here’s a quick look at a couple of the displays currently slated for exhibition:

The More the Merrier

While there are some truly gorgeous examples lined up for the November exhibit, there are still a few gaps in the collection we’d love to see addressed. If you’ve got any of the following that you’d like to show off, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

• Unique LCDs (I.E. Tiger handhelds)
• Vintage Displays
• CRTs (All Types)
• Plasma Displays
• Nixie Clocks/Displays
• Anything Custom Built
• Video Synthesizers

For some of those, like CRTs, submissions would ideally come from the Southern California area. But in general, submissions from all over the globe are welcome.

If you’ve been holding off on submitting because you’re worried somebody else has sent in for the same thing, don’t be. Showing different permutations of a particular display technology is a bit part of the exhibit — we’d rather have too many Nixie clocks to choose from than not enough.

Whatever you’d like to show off, just make sure you submit it before the end of the weekend!

Sometimes there’s nothing more rewarding than pulling apart an old piece of hardware of mysterious origin. [saveitforparts] does just that, and recently came across a curious satellite system from a surplus store. What else could he do, other than tear it down and try to get it humming?

The device appeared to be satellite communication device for a tracking unit of some sort, complete with a long, thick proprietary cable. That led to a junction box with a serial port and an RJ45 port, along with some other interfaces. Disassembly of the unit revealed it contained a great deal of smarts onboard, including some kind of single-board computer. Comms-wise, it featured a cellular GPRS interface as well as an Orbcomm satellite modem. It also packed in GPS, WiFi, Xbee, Ethernet, and serial interfaces. It ultimately turned out to be a Digi ConnectPort X5 device, used as a satellite tracking system for commercial trucks.

What’s cool is that the video doesn’t just cover pulling it apart. It also dives into communicating with the unit. [saveitforparts] was able to power it up and, using the manufacturer’s software, actually talk to the device. He even found the web interface and tested the satellite modem.

Ultimately, this is the kind of obscure industry hardware that most of us would never come into contact with during our regular lives. It’s neat when these things show up on the secondary market so hackers can pull them apart and see what makes them tick. Video after the break.

youtube.com/embed/zcCzgE_gb0o?…

hackaday.com/2024/09/13/pullin…

We don’t get enough electrochemistry hacks on these pages, so here’s [Markus Bindhammer] of YouTube/Marb’s lab fame to give us a fix with their hand-built general-purpose electrochemistry device.

The basic structure is made from plyboard cut to size on a table saw and glued’n’screwed together. The top and front are constructed from an aluminium sheet bent to shape with a hand-bender. A laser-printed front panel finishes the aesthetic nicely, contrasting with the shiny aluminium. The electrode holders are part of off-the-shelf chemistry components, with the electrical contacts hand-made from components usually used for constructing stair handrails. Inside, a 500 RPM 12 V DC geared motor is mounted, driving a couple of small magnets. A PWM motor speed controller provides power. This allows a magnetic stirrer to be added for relevant applications. Power for the electrochemical cell is courtesy of a Zk-5KX buck-boost power supply with a range of 0 – 36 V at up to 5 A with both CV and CC modes. A third electrode holder is also provided as a reference electrode for voltammetry applications. A simple and effective build, we reckon!

Over the years, we’ve seen a few electrochemical hacks, like this DIY electroplating pen, a DIY electrochemical machining rig, and finally, a little something about 3D printing metal electrochemically.

youtube.com/embed/ZiB3p96-qc8?…

hackaday.com/2024/09/13/buildi…

The humble business card is usually a small slip of cardboard with some basic contact details on it — but as hackers know, it can be so much more. [Marian] has provided us a great example in the form of his own digital business card, which doubles as a handheld game!

Wanting to make his business card more interesting for better engagement, [Marian] was inspired by the Arduboy to give it some interactivity. He chose the STM32G030F6 microcontroller as a cheap and reliable option to run his business card. He then created a 10×9 LED matrix display using Charlieplexing to minimize the amount of I/O pins required. For controls, he went with the usual directional cross plus two action buttons. He implemented a variety of games on the card—including a Flappy Bird clone and a game similar to the classic Simon toy.

Files are on GitHub for the curious. We’ve featured some other great business cards this year, too. Indeed, we ran a whole challenge! If you’re cooking up your own exemplary little PCB to hand out at conferences, don’t hesitate to let us know!

hackaday.com/2024/09/13/2024-t…

I sette pezzi del disco riflettono l'immagine sonora di un gruppo che ha raggiunto un livello compositivo molto alto, la perfetta fusione di luce e tenebre, di vita e morte, di cosmo e terra, contrari che si girano su loro stessi.

@Musica Agorà

iyezine.com/jordaan-season-of-…

Jordaan - Season of redemption

Jordaan - Season of redemption - Jordaan - Season of redemption: I sette pezzi del disco riflettono l'immagine sonora di un gruppo che ha raggiunto un livello compositivo molto alto. - Jordaan

^{Massimo Argo (In Your Eyes ezine)}

Il trio di Düsseldorf (composto dal frontman e chitarrista Christian "Doctor" Koch, coadiuvato da Dario Treese al basso e tastiere e Frank Matenaar alla batteria) non lascia nulla al caso, curando ogni release con particolari artwork che si richiamano all'iconografia della cultura psichedelica/hippie e rievocano i manifesti-poster dei concerti acid/blues/psych/space rock dei Sixties (anche dando vita a festival pysch)....

@Musica Agorà

iyezine.com/vibravoid-we-canno…

VIBRAVOID - WE CANNOT AWAKE

VIBRAVOID - WE CANNOT AWAKE - Bene (si fa per dire) dopo questo pippone introduttivo, converrete sul fatto che in quel tipo di contesto "musicale", tossico per l'udito e nocivo per l'anima, sicuramente non ascolterete mai i Vibravoid, prolifica band …

^{Reverend Shit-Man (In Your Eyes ezine)}

Ventottesimo (!!!) album per gli OSEES, la creatura multiforme - con varie declinazioni nel moniker - guidata del prolifico talento di John Dwyer, da sempre anima del progetto e frontman polistrumentista dotato di una creatività artistica preossoché inesauribile.

@Musica Agorà

iyezine.com/osees-sorcs-80

OSEES - SORCS 80

OSEES - SORCS 80 - Ventottesimo (!!!) album per gli OSEES, la creatura multiforme - con varie declinazioni nel moniker - guidata del prolifico talento di John Dwyer, da sempre anima del progetto e frontman polistrumentista dotato di una creatività ar…

^{Reverend Shit-Man (In Your Eyes ezine)}

Gli Haji mi mandano il loro disco chiedendomi di essere estremamente sincero nel parlarne, la frase esatta è "di', se lo pensi, che è una cagata pazzesca".

@Musica Agorà

iyezine.com/haji-lexotan-sailo…

Haji - Lexotan Sailors 

Haji - Lexotan Sailors  - Quindi carissimi Haji il vostro disco non è affatto una cagata pazzesca, vi conosco e so quanto siate bravi e motivati, è anzi pregno di energia e di attitudine, distorsioni in libertà e drammaticità in abbondanza. - Haji

^{Il Santo (In Your Eyes ezine)}