Raspberry Pi - Raspbian, Wheezy & sound

first SD card image based on the Raspbian distribution

Good:

• based on Wheezy,
• ssh enabled by default,
• raspi-config makes it easy to extend the image to the entire sd card, configure how much memory goes to graphics etc.,
• sound driver is loaded automatically,

Bad:

• can't get audio to work from python-pyao, doesn't want to open any device i tried, even installed pulse (but audio isn't broken as mpg123 works fine...).

Arduino + Canbus shield + GPS Receiver

Ingredients:

• SparkFun - Arduino CAN-BUS OBDII Kit with LCD
• SparkFun - Break Away Headers - Straight

Also required:

• soldering iron
• patience & basic soldering skills (to solder the headers onto the Canbus shield)
• arduino software
• computer, car/van etc.

Things to keep in mind:

• when you want to stop logging: press on the joystick until the leds go out so that the file on the sd card is properly closed
• make sure to reset if you plugin before starting the engine, not all pids are available at that point
• with the engine off my engine runs at 280 rpm...
• powered from the canbus, so i disconnect before leaving the vehicle in case it would drain the battery

Still todo:

• solder on the lcd display, build an interface that shows fuel consumption
• see if there is a more efficient way to log all available sensors (on startup  check which pids are available and then log all of the available ones)
• print a case
• sleep mode: if the engine is off (or rpm is 280 for a couple of times in a row), switch all leds off, switch off the gps (if possible), check every n seconds if the engine was started etc.

Raspberry Pi - alsa

Install alsa:

• sudo apt-get alsa

and make sure that the module is loaded:

•  sudo modprobe snd-bcm2835

Raspberry Pi - ssh

Using the Debian squeeze image from http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads

I'd like to be able to run it headless, need ssh running automatically after boot:

1. ssh-keygen (answer the prompts)
2. sudo update-rc.d ssh default
3. sudo reboot

or

1. cd /boot
2. sudo mv boot_enable_ssh.rc boot.rx
3. sudo reboot

Robot hand from seven parts - 2 (some photos)

The finger bend both ways: the finger tips can therefore are either pads or sharp.

From the base of the wrist to the tip of a finger is about 27cm. If i ever get to build the entire robot it'll be approx 2m70 high...

Robot hand from seven parts - 1

Take one or more of each of the following parts, snap or friction fit them together and you get a robot hand!

Snap the first two together to create a rotating joint:

Hold a couple of those together with a connection piece and you get finger:

At one end of the finger place a finger tip:

Give the thumb an additional degree of rotation:

 Use a spacer between the fingers...

when you slide them on the wrist, then snap the thumb on and the hand is ready.

Partslists:

Part 1		Part 2		Part 3		Part 4
Part 5		Part 6		Part 7

Finger:

• Part 1 : 3
• Part 2 : 3
• Part 3 : 3
• Part 4 : 1

Thumb:

• Part 1 : 4
• Part 2 : 4
• Part 3 : 4
• Part 4 : 1
• Part 5 :1

Hand:

• Part 1 : 16
• Part 2 : 16
• Part 3 : 16
• Part 4 : 5
• Part 5 : 3
• Part 6 : 4
• Part 7 : 1

Installing SImpleOpenNI for an Asus Xtion

• follow the instructions from simple-openni/wiki/Installation
• OpenNI installs very quickly, on to Nite
• which fails with a " niReg: error while loading shared libraries: libOpenNI.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory."" error 
• but the file is there! Google for it: reboot or run "ldconfig -v", "ldconfig -v" it is
• now Nite installs
• install the Sensor
• and 'install' SimpleOpenNI = copy the files across - easy!
• and then we go and find some sample code to run!

1.