Make: Kit Reviews

Turn anything into a drum set with your Arduino and this simple kit. Some makers build custom drum sets from fine hardwoods, while others take the easy route and make practice sets from mouse pads and sheet metal. Instead of building my own, I used the included piezo elements to trick out my Rock Band […]

Musical Instruments: Arduino, drums, music, musical instruments

Android rocked the physical computing landscape last spring when it announced the Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK), an Arduino-based platform that combines the brains and connectivity of the Android with Arduino’s wealth of open source wares for controlling physical devices. The ADK presents almost limitless potential for projects. Now the ADK TinkerKit unleashes this […]

Electronics and Controllers Microcontrollers: Arduino, electronics, microcontrollers

The world of Arduino microcontrollers can be a challenge to break into — but not if you’re equipped with this kit, which includes all of the hardware you need to work through each of the experiments in Getting Started with Arduino, the popular introductory book by Arduino project co-founder Massimo Banzi. To make it even […]

Electronics and Controllers Microcontrollers: Arduino, electronics, microcontrollers

Quadcopters rely on computer stabilization to fly. They can be radio controlled, but with an onboard computer, why not let it fly itself? The community at DIY Drones developed the open source ArduPilot Mega (APM), an Arduino-based autopilot that lets you control multi-rotor (and other) aircraft autonomously, or via R/C. The ArduCopter 3DR Quad Kit […]

Radio-Controlled Vehicles: Arduino, drones, helicopter, quadcopter, RC, robot

The DrinkDuino drinking game was the perfect excuse for me to get my first Arduino. After ordering the DrinkShield breathalyzer kit and an Arduino Uno to drive it, I hastily pieced it together on my living room floor. The kit was simple enough, all components were included, and the instructions online were quick and easy. […]

Kit Party: Arduino, breathalyzer, drinking game, party

If you like high-voltage sparks arcing through the air (and who doesn’t?), check out the Coil Driver, which drives an automotive ignition coil at audio frequencies. Like other musical kits, the Coil Driver makes a great group build because you can all make cool sounds together when you’re done. However, while it’s an easy solder, […]

Kit Party: Arduino, high voltage, music, party

The Wise Clock 3 is an easy and highly customizable driver for a 32×16 RGB LED matrix display (included). Its default program includes several different clock modes, but it can also display the date and temperature, or any message. Check out all the different clock faces, including Pong and Pac-Man.

Clocks: Arduino, clocks, LEDs, Pac-Man, Pong

Need to add a clock function to your next Arduino project? This Real Time Clock (RTC) breakout board kit is your answer. Based on a DS1307 RTC and equipped with an onboard battery and crystal, this kit is simple to solder together, works well, and is easy to use thanks to Adafruit’s online documentation. It’s […]

Clocks: Arduino, clocks

Old-fashioned Nixie tubes are beautiful, but driving them in a circuit can be complicated since they often require voltages as high as 250V DC. The ArduiNIX board for Arduino makes it easy to add standard clock functions to your next project. Just be sure to design an enclosure that will keep those high voltages safe. I […]

Clocks: Arduino, clocks, Nixie tubes, old-fashioned

Alternative time-telling devices are compelling, but only if they’re easy to read. Building a kit can be satisfying, but only if it leaves room for creativity. The Chronulator clock kit fits the bill on both counts. Solder it together, and you’ve got a microcontroller-based clock that converts time to current, displaying hours and minutes on […]

Clocks: Arduino, clocks, hackable