Friday Product Post: High Seven!
The new OpenMV H7 is here, along with a new Buck-Boost Converter, a few revisions to our micro:bit kits, and a latching solenoid!
Hello everyone and happy Friday! Today we have the new OpenMV H7 camera for a new machine vision option. We also have a buck-boost SparkFun Original and a few updates to three of our micro:bit kits. Last up is a new latching solenoid offering that should help with your next door project.
Upgrade to the H7 today!
The OpenMV H7 Camera is a small, low-power microcontroller board that allows you to easily implement applications using machine vision in the real world. The OpenMV Cam is programmed in high-level Python scripts (courtesy of the MicroPython Operating System) instead of C/C++, which makes it easier to deal with the complex outputs of machine vision algorithms and high-level data structures. You'll still have total control over your OpenMV Cam and its I/O pins in Python, and you can easily trigger photo and video on external events or execute machine vision algorithms to figure out how to control your I/O pins.
Get the boost you need!
The SparkFun Buck-Boost Converter is a handy power accessory board that allows you to fine tune the amount of power your project receives. This converter can take an input voltage of anywhere from 3-16V and regulate it to an output voltage between 2.5-9V. With the switch on the bottom of the board, you can set the common output voltages of 3.3V and 5V, but we've also added a custom setting that allows you to solder a resistor based on your custom voltage needs. The GPIO pins have also been broken out along the top of the board for even more control!
We've updated three of our most popular micro:bit kits with a new battery pack! The SparkFun Inventor's Kit for micro:bit, SparkFun Inventor's Kit for micro:bit Lab Pack and SparkFun micro:climate kit for micro:bit now feature an updated AAA battery pack that allows for much easier battery swapping and detachment.
Does controlling door and cabinet access with the power of electromagnetism interest you? Excellent! In effect, this latching solenoid is an electronic lock. When powered with 12VDC source, the latch is pulled in, allowing movement. Without power, the latch is extended to block movement, and your secret drawer is safe and secure.
That's it for this week! As always, we can't wait to see what you make! Shoot us a tweet @sparkfun, or let us know on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what projects you’ve made!
