October 03, 2012

Pan webcams with "Guitar Hero" foot pedals and Arduino

 With the need to constantly rotate a webcam between two parties during online conversations, Tom created two methods to rotate it using a servo. The first method was by using a 555 timer to generate the pulses required to activate and move the servo, which was then controlled with a potentiometer. The next solution was to use an Arduino board - which makes controlling servos very simple, and a set of foot pedals from the "Guitar Hero" console game. Now when the pedal is pressed, the camera will rotate and then return upon a change of state on the pedal - for example:


Another problem solved with an Arduino and some imagination. For more information, visit Tom's project page. And for more, we're on twitter and Google+, so follow us for news and product updates as well.

Servos? Arduino? Not sure what that's all about - but would like to know? Then the best way to learn is with out new Experimenter's Kit for Arduino:


The package includes a wide variety of parts, sensors and modules including: a servo motor, lights, buttons, switches, sound, sensors, breadboard, wires and more. Furthermore a Freetronics Eleven Arduino-compatible board is included to make this an extensive hobby experimenter, inventor and starter kit. However we don't leave you alone to figure it all out, included is a great project and instruction booklet, plus access to a supporting web page and software examples. In other words - this is everything you need to get started for a fun range of electronics and Arduino related projects! 

So to get started or for more information and to order, check out the product page.



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