The Electric Vehicle Modular Chassis

A Generic Platform for all

Although it certainly sounds like the Peoples' Automobile, the general idea is that there be one simple platform for nearly every format of vehicle.  This is what Volkswagen is doing already. with the future release of their electric vehicle lineup.  But VW's EVs are still private source vehicles. 

With a generic chassis that can fit to the body of any shape, the possibilities might be limitless.  Whether it be a sedan, coupe, crossover, pickup, minivan, or suv, the chassis has the potential to make any type of vehicle in effect, every type of vehicle.  It might even be possible to merely keep shells and swap out the chassis . I would hope for this possibility

Remote Controlled cars or RC-cars have had this format for decades.  Where the builder or racer can pick the body or chassis separately, and then fasten them together creating the desired look and function.  While there are many differences between an RC-car and a car that is piloted by humans and to carry humans, the concept is the same.

Open Source Chassis, Private Source Body

The idea that I would most like to see is that the body and interior of cars became the focus of the car industry.  That the chassis and motive power systems were generic and it was far easier to work on these systems.  Motor companies should focus on the allure of the internal features and comfort of the passenger, than of the function of the propulsion.  Elon Musk of Tesla has proven that it is possible to build a general chassis and apply it to multiple vehicles. So why cannot all manufacturers follow suit?

Currently, there are thousands of versions of vehicles almost no two models are much the same.  To find and fit an electric motive system to an internal combustion vehicle is a major undertaking, ( I speak from experience).  It's almost just easier to start from scratch and make a new model for the industry.

The Open Source Electric Vehicle Chassis, that anyone could build and anyone could buy, would create a distinct platform for all.  It could be akin to other modular electronic models that exist today in Computer Technology. 

This idea is as yet somewhat undeveloped, but Here's to Hoping that it will happen.

Brillant Tech Light Switch, Could be Better / Cheaper with e-Ink

It could be Truly Brilliant

Once a person comprehends even the most basic idea of what this could be, it becomes a true "Ah Ha!" moment.  The utility that a small touch screen with color has is quite a wide range of capabilities, including visual concepts, color queues.  It is far more than just a light switch it is a portal to the rest of the SmartHome. The switch can control music, lights, communications between family members, keep tabs on young children, etc.  But the buy-in is just a tad bit too high. 

Old School

The Wink Relay was one of the first small-form-factor devices to do the roughly the same thing as the Brilliant Switch. It had all the same controls, but lacked the back-end connectivity to tools like Alexa and Google Home.  Wink had a good idea, but like the Brilliant Switch, its price of $300 was just a bit more than most were willing to spend.  Albeit, it is quite possible to spend $2000 on SmartHome devices, but that should be the total for at least a dozen devices, not half that.

A Good Solution with e-Ink

While Brilliant is quite intelligent in the approach to providing access to SmartHome capabilities in a more stationary and available manner.  The up-front cost of purchase and then the concern for energy use in the future is to use an e-Ink screen touchscreen rather than a full color.  Granted, the device would no longer be usable as a video chat tool, but I'm sure many people would be much happier to pay one-third to one-quarter of the price and lose that feature. 

The advantage of e-Ink comes in the fact that the screen only uses power to change states.  You can see this in many consumer stores, like Best Buy or Kohls, where most of the prices are in e-Ink.  Each module is battery op and the prices can be changed from a smartphone, rather than printed out new each time on paper. 

Cost Projections

Without a good idea of the cost, I can only speculate.  Using the e-ink / e-paper display sold on SparkFun and Adafruit sites as a reference, I suspect that the switch could be priced around $50 each, to start.  And after 1.000,000 units sold, possibly as low as $25?

No Conclusion

There's no way of knowing, but I hope that Aaron Emigh (the CEO of Brilliant) sees this post or at least has already pondered the possibility of using e-Ink / e-Paper to offer a project that is similar in the future.  As it stands now, his company may be rolling with the idea to sell the Top end model first to then bank roll the lesser cost product later. 

Nest Cam on the Cheap: rPi Cam

rPi SpyCam

This idea is not original. Although I did think of it independently, I also researched it on the interwebs to see if I was the only one.  Thankfully, I am not, but that doesn't mean that the idea is any less a Mad Tech Idea.  (link)

There are literally dozens of manufacturers that make both analogue and digital cameras for monitoring.  A major player in that game is Nest for the recent acquisition DropCam.  The Dropcam is small, light, and easy to setup.  But it's a bit pricey at $200 and to boot it's nothing more than Network / IP Cam.   Granted it does have a pretty nice cloud infrastructure to support the video feed. But that feed is closed and it is not easy to hack a Nest Cam for your own purposes.

A Raspberry Pi based camera could offer a great deal more features and add-ons.  Although it would take up more room than a Nest Cam, it would offer more capacity for the user to manage if not make changes to the device.

One of the gripes that is commonly chatted in the forums for Nest is a problem with control of Night Vision.  If a user mounts a Nest Cam on the inside of a window, to view the outside, at night the Night Vision (infrared LEDs) reflects back to the camera from the window.  Although the LEDs can be turned off, the Night Vision is also turned off (without the LEDs).

The rPi Cam could have all sorts of applications applied to it.  The previously mentioned control of Night Vision is just one.  Another idea could include Internet of Things control where Zigbee or Zwave devices could have a connection to the rPi Cam for sensory inputs.  Or the Cam could be controlled by the IoT.   And yet another could be that rather than powered by land-based power, the rPi Cam could use batteries, or even solar.

Ideally, these inclusions would be Open Source Hardware add-ons, collected into categories like that of AdaFruit rPi add-ons.  Pre-build or designed so that they are easy to connect / install.  Adaptability is the key to advancement.  Now to build my empire from Pi!

Source: MakeZine

Pocket Pen Computer

Pocket Pen Computer

Finding new and interesting uses for the tiniest of computers was not always a hobby of mine,  merely the capacity to interact with a remote system used to be enough.  But lately I've found that discreet function, low-power, and remote access to be desirable features in a computer.

Mobile smartphones do well to meet both the low-power and remote capabilities of what I want, but their high cost is restrictive.  The Raspberry Pi on the other hand may not be powerful, but can accommodate countless applications.  But even the rPi is still too large for the application I seek.

The sort of device that is defined by the title of this article, a pocket pen computer is most accurate to define the ideal.  The ideal is that of a device that can act as a remote control digital interface with the portability of a pen.   It should have at least one USB interface, preferably type-C and all the other interfaces found in most smartphones, Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, Qi, etc... It should support a few hours of battery power so as to maintain itself when land power is unavailable.

A pocket pen computer could do many things when installed at a remote location.  It could act as remote sensor inputs, like visuals, audibles, or weather statuses.  It could manage small WiFi traffic devices or merely monitor wireless activity.  It could be a disposable signaling device or a tiny thin-client.  The potential that such a tiny thing brings when it is both small and a computer is challenging to quantify without a demonstrable example, but there are likely as of yet unknown applications just waiting for a platform.

Nano Router runs off non-powered Ethernet

Nano Routers are all the rage now, as they race to the bottom to the smallest device that still maintain the functional ability.  These devices can be tasked to several different functions, such as Wireless Access Points, Wireless Client Adapters, and Wireless Bridges. But what if you could run a Nano Router off normal, unimproved (!PoE) Ethernet?

One of the first problems to face is power.  Depending on the speed Ethernet can have a potential difference of between 2 and 5 volts.  Each speed is different and signals are also different depending on the bandwidth.  But there's a problem with distance and Direct Current (DC). The low voltage is only at that point at the source and the further you get away from the source, the lower the voltage will become.  So it might be smart to only use such a device within a very short distance from the source.

But what would you do with such a tiny device?

Oh, I can think of several things, mostly having to do with power, but also discreetness.  First off, most people don't care about broadcasting the signal more than a few feet, maybe up to 25 feet (8 m). So if your signal is weak, you can blame the low voltage.  But a device of such size won't really  need much power.  And due to the fact that it won't need an external power source, it wouldn't require an additional power port or a power adapter.

But the second purpose, discreet use, is the fun part.  A device that is barely larger than the head of an ethernet cable could be very discreet and portable.

Right now the smallest routers are about the size of a pack of gum, which is quite small.  But these devices still require external power.  But with something as small as the jack itself, it might be pretty cool (if not very useful).

Multi-purpose Computer Socket Interface

One Socket Fits All

Ever since the USB port made it's way into my hands, I've been a fan.  It is truly a Universal Serial Bus.  However, because of it's size and shape, it requires that all connects be external.

In computer hardware support, a field I have long worked in, there are sockets known in the industry as SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable).  These sockets allow for a considerable number of interface formats to use the same housing-connection.

A great idea would be to create a Universal Serial Device Socket. A host device that could take all sorts of items.  Items could include networking and storage, but also lights, tools, interfaces to other items like monitors, keyboards and mice.

Although it may be apparent that this very thing could be done by merely placing a USB socket into a frame, it is still possible to use the USB protocol.  But I would hope for something smaller, lighter, and sheath-able, rather than exposed per the current standard.

Although the image above doesn't  much match the ideal of this post, to have a Swiss Army Knife of gadgets with sockets-galore, might just be a Mad Tech Idea.

Solar Potential Clock

Ever wonder how much solar power you are receiving wherever you are? The Solar Potential Clock will not only tell you, but give you an idea of what you might be missing.

Solar Potential Clock

• runs on batteries
• The Solar Potential Clock
• is charged by the sun
• reads the Sun’s intensity
• generates 1 Watt of power
• logs daily sun power received
• has a built-in wifi transceiver
• uploads your solar potential to the internet
• helps you to understand how you can start saving money by switching to solar power
• is portable
• is free

Features

• e-paper digital clock
• WiFi connectivity (or BLE)
• Solar Panel
• internal lithium ion battery

Functions

• Display simple solar output info
• Log solar incidence
• Distinguish between Sunlight and man-made light
• Determine weather at current location.
• Receive updates from website
• Display clock (digital)