Making a Tribble that Detects Klingons -- Episode-643

Andy takes on an interstellar challenge of turning a stuffed Tribble into a Klingon detector. Tribbles, those fluffy creatures from Star Trek, usually make cute sounds, but Andy wants to make this one a bit more communicative. He dives into the project, wanting the Tribble to react with sounds and vibrations if it detects that someone is a Klingon (although the question of whether the Klingons are friends or foes varies quite a bit).

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Andy kicks things off with a bunch of components – an amp, an eight-ohm speaker, a vibration motor, an RFID reader with a pin 532 chip, and a Raspberry Pi Pico. Then, he goes hands-on; even though he’s using a breadboard, there is some soldering involved. He shares some handy tips, like configuring the RFID reader correctly and setting up the amplifier for optimal sound.

Programming the Tribble is where it gets interesting. Andy uses an Arduino Pico to control vibrations and nail down the logic for detecting RFID tags. He even spices it up with some raw eight-bit sound data, converting MP3s and making the tribble chirp just right.

But size matters, and the first tribble prototype was a bit too clunky. So, Andy goes deep into the world of PCB design. He reveals how he learned the ropes using the element 14 community, eventually creating a slick custom PCB that makes assembly a breeze.

Next, 3D printing comes into play for a sleek enclosure that fits inside the Tribble. Andy takes us through the design process, facing challenges but conquering them like a pro.

Finally, Andy tests the newly upgraded Tribble out, involving characters like Mr. Spock and a Klingon for the ultimate geeky touch. If you've ever tinkered with tech to bring your favourite sci-fi fantasy to life, we’d like the hear about it!