Hello Element14 community!
2023 is over and it is time to conclude it. In this blog I would like to summarize my participation on Element14 Community last year.
Previous Year Summary
One of the first blog which I posted last year was equivalent to this blog but describing the previous year – 2022.
Misaz’s Element14 2022 Blogs Summary
Experimenting with Gesture Sensors
I joined two design challenges. First of them is Experimenting with Gesture Sensors. It was nice competition and allowed me to learn very advanced gesture sensor MAX25405 from Analog Devices (Maxim Integrated). Most of blogs I posted in late 2022 but some blogs (most interesting blogs of the series, I think) I posted at the beginning of 2023. They describe my gesture-controlled games and my own gesture detection library. Later I was selected as winner of this competition and blogged about nice reward (MacBook + HTC Vive VR Set) which I received.
Blog #11: Undocumented features of MAX25405
Blog #12: Time-driven Swipe Gesture Detection Library
Blog #13: Improved Time-driven Swipe Gesture Detection Library
Blog #14: Gesture Controlled Pacman
Blog #15: Experimenting with Two MAX25405 Kits
Blog #16: Misaz’s Experimenting with Gesture Sensors Summary
Blog #17: Received Experimenting with Gesture Sensors Reward
Experimenting with Supercapacitors
The other design challenge which I joined is Experimenting with Supercapacitors. As part of this competition, I had opportunity to test several types of supercapacitors from Cornell Dubilier. As part of competition, I posted 7 blogs about my measurements and experiments with super capacitors. Later I was selected as 2nd place winner and blogged about reward (Oscilloscope) which I received.
Introduction to my Supercapacitors Experiments
Supercapacitors Overview and Comparison
Measuring Large Capacitance using Python
Measuring Capacitance using Python Part 2 (the unsuccessful ways)
Effective Energy Capacity Evaluation
Final Blog: Supercapacitor Backup Storage for Low-Power Compact Sensors
Received Experimenting with Supercapacitors Runner Up Prize
Summer of Sensors
Summer of Sensors was additional design challenge which I joined in previous year 2022, but due to some delays, I received my reward (iPad Pro and Air Purifier) for first place in In the Air Tonight category later in 2023.
Received Summer of Sensors Grand Prize Reward
Project14: NFC + RFID
Similarly at the beginning of 2023 I received reward for NFC and RFID Project14 which I did late in 2022. I blogged about reward (STM32MP1 Discovery Board) and basically reviewed it here:
Received RFID and NFC Project14 Reward
Project14: Off the Grid
The first Project14 competition which I joined in 2023 was Off-the-Grid. As part of this competition, I described my Mini Solar Powered Temperature Sensor (it is the same circuit which I later used in Experimenting with Supercapacitors for tests). In my opinion it is my best project last year. There were very low number of competitors in this competition, so I won extended basket and described most interesting parts of this reward in additional blog.
Mini Solar Powered Wireless Temperature Sensor
Received Off-the-Grid Project14 Reward
Project14: Christmas Special
The second and last Project14 competition which I joined in 2023 is Christmas special. I posted here very DIY project: Own Christmas wish card extended by LED strips and bulbs with sound making paper wishcard more interesting. This competition did not conclude yet.
Christmas Card with Lights and Sound
RoadTest
I applied for 3 RoadTests last year but was selected only in one case. As part of this RoadTest I reviewed smart connector for remote switching and monitoring power consumption of mains appliances.
Puzzle
I joined two puzzles and one of them I won. I won Clem’s stepper motor puzzle. In forum comment I posted description of my real experimenting with stepper motor driver for determining correct answer to Clem’s question. My answer was selected as the best one and I received my first Oscilloscope (and blogged about it, of course).
MP720644 Multicomp Pro Tablet Oscilloscope
Giveaways
Last year I won three giveaways. Two of them I won for asking best question on webinars and in one case I was randomly selected after completing quiz. Parts from kits which I received, I used in projects which I did last year (for example, in Mini Solar Powered Temperature Sensor I used parts from both Kemet and Wuerth kits). Soldering station I used, for example, for soldering my last Project14 Christmas wish card project. Btw. It is the same station which you can win now as part of Project14 Holiday Special. If you win it, I recommend buying replacement tips as part of basket which you can win with it because heat transfer of the stock tip is horrible, but with different type of tip (compatible are listed in datasheet) it is much better and I like this soldering station.
KEMET RF Optimized Capacitor Kit
Unboxing Würth Elektronik WE-CBF Ferrites Kit
HyperShock AMA Best Question Reward - MP740686 Soldering Station
Other
Last year, I posted two blog out of scope to Element14 activities. In first blog, I described my circuit which generates pictures on oscilloscope screen. I did this project twice. First time for testing tablet oscilloscope which I win in Clem’s puzzle and later I improved it for testing 4-ch oscilloscope which I won as part of Experimenting with Supercapacitors. It is here:
Showing Pictures on Oscilloscopes
The second blog is my last blog last year. It show technique for exposing additional DAC to pins on modern AVR Dx and Ex microcontrollers.
Exposing Secret Hidden DACs on AVR Dx MCUs
Closing
Thank you for reading this summary blog as far. In total, last year I wrote 26 blogs, 1 RoadTest review and 1 Project (Project was new form factor of articles, previous projects are included in blog category). For me it was interesting year. I learnt a lot. I hope that I will learn in 2024 as much as I learnt in 2023. If you want to support me, you can start by adding like to my Christmas Card with Lights and Sound project as well as to other good projects in Project14 competition which still runs at the time of writing this text. At the end, I would like to wish you all best in 2024 and happy new year.
Top Comments