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tinyCylon Kit
The original Cylons are from TV's Battlestar Galactica. They are humanoid robots with a scanning red visor where their eyes should be.
This is a tinyCylon because it's, well, tiny and because it is based on Atmel's ATtiny family of microcontrollers. My tinyCylon is a small, electronic device which simulates the red scanner. Add some chrome and you're halfway there!
Where some people look at my little invention and see a Cylon, other people see KITT's scanner from TV's Knight Rider. I guess a lot depends on how old you were when these TV shows were first aired.
tinyCylon Kit Product Help and Resources
Core Skill: Soldering
This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.
Skill Level: Rookie - The number of pins increases, and you will have to determine polarity of components and some of the components might be a bit trickier or close together. You might need solder wick or flux.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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I just added the Tiny Cylon to my Rostock Max printer. It looks great (and runs off my +5v for active endstops). Here it is installed Here it is scanning
Hah, that's awesome! Thanks for sharing!
It there an assembled picture?
Lots - here's one from the creator's website: http://www.dalewheat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/tinyCylon-thumb3.png. A video of it in action on a snowman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJdvrWFtQds.
Where is the full Cylon kit?
BY YOUR COMMAND.
omg. lol I love it! But no really...how do I build a giant, walking, talking robot that will not hesitate to do my every command? I WANT THAT! LOL
Sorry, we'd help you, but this is exactly how the First Cylon War began.
Is there any way to control the rate?
You'll have to alter the programming on the chip is all.
This is dagget dribble!
HOw bright are these? I'm looking into integrating these into my proton packs...... :)
Related Product: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11365
Three AAA batteries mean this runs on about 5 volts, right? That battery pack seems really large for this little guy - I'd love to run it off a few coin cells, could that be done?
The ATtiny will run on anything from 2V to 5.5V (there's no onboard regulator), so sure, give it some voltage in that range and it will happily kill all humans.
They have a plan...
Make one that's bigger? same but with bigger LED's? If so, I smell a costume in the works...
If you make these in a handy 12v version I know I could help you sell at least a thousand...
I agree, a 12V version would be awesome!
"tinyCyclon"? Galactic domination, pedal-by-pedal :-)