Hello everyone, this is Robert and I'm here to talk to you about the new products we have for this week. Let's dive right in and see what we've got.
The SparkFun Servo Trigger is a small robotics board that simplifies the control of hobby RC servo motors. When an external switch or logic signal changes state, the Servo Trigger is able to tell an attached servo motor to move from position A to position B. To use the Servo Trigger, you simply connect a hobby servo and a switch, then use the on-board potentiometers to adjust the start/stop positions and the transition time. Check it out in action!
The ESP8266 WiFi Module is a self contained SOC with integrated TCP/IP protocol stack that can give any microcontroller access to your WiFi network. The ESP8266 is capable of either hosting an application or offloading all Wi-Fi networking functions from another application processor. Each ESP8266 module comes pre-programmed with an AT command set firmware, meaning, you can simply hook this up to your Arduino device and and economically add WiFi to your next project.
This week we have a new version of the EasyDriver! This popular board is the easiest way to drive a stepper motor. Unlike normal motors, stepper motors require a special controller to get them moving. The new revision of the EasyDriver now runs all the way up to 30V reliably and corrects a few issues from the previous version.
We also have a new version of the Taz 3D printer, the Taz 5. The new version has an upgraded extruder allowing it to print a broader range of materials.
We have a new version of the PIR motion sensor that uses a more standard connector. This version has a standard JST connector. If you're not familiar with PIR motion sensors, they're pretty cool. You plug it in, let it 'read' its surroundings, and if something moves within it's view, it triggers the alarm pin. It's a really simple motion detector that's easy to integrate.
Last but not least, we have a new version of the Spectrum Shield. The Spectrum Shield enables your Arduino with the capability of splitting a stereo audio input into 7-bands per channel. You can then read the amplitude of each channel using the ADC on your Arduino allowing you to control everything from LEDs to motors, pumps to relays, or even fire, all with sound. With this shield you will be able to have almost any project be able to react to music or sound! This revision moves to all SMD components making it a bit easier for production and reliability.
That's all I have for this week! Be sure to come back tomorrow (Saturday) for our Arduino Day Sale! Thanks for reading. I won't see you next week because I'll be out at RoboGames hopefully destroying other robots with my Antweight, Sgt. Cuddles. If you're gonna be there, stop by and say hi. Wish me luck!
Robert, Have you gone camera shy? This is like 3 or 4 weeks in a row without the venerable new product video post that many of us have tuned in for every Friday for years now. (and Thursdays before that) Individual project & product videos are great and appreciated, but all is not right with the world without your new product video each week. Even if you are just presenting more mundane updates to BOBs or new LEDs or what not, the weekly video was something we could count on to get our Sparkfun fix each week. If there isn't much "new product" to talk about, how about augmenting the video with user projects, upcoming events, and other happenings with Sparkfun.
you might not realize how much I appreciate you saying this. thank you :-)
Perhaps Robert is taking the Zack Galifianakis approach like when he hosted SNL a while back. He shaved his beard (for real) for the final sketch and...then appeared with a (fake) beard again during the closing credits.
I'm guessing that Robert is recovering from some medical procedure where they had to shave his face, and is too embarrassed to be seen on camera beard-less. We will see him again when the magic beard grows back. Just be patient and remember that magical beards take many weeks to grow back.
Ha, nice theory. Actually, my other duties\ areinterfering with videos, unfortunately. I just don't have the time to devote to making the meticulously fabulous videos you've come to expect from me.
Hahaha.. this is one of the greatest SparkFun videos ever. The servo trigger is a pretty cool little product, and Nic's in-character singing gave me a much needed laugh.
Great video! You know when a unicorn is not the coolest thing in your video, you're winning!
Side note - check the hyperlink for Arduino Day Sale. Should be https://www.sparkfun.com/arduinoday2015, I believe.
Good catch - should be fixed.