See also past student projects.

Interesting web sites:

• Make magazine has lots of cool ideas, particularly in the blog sections.
• Circuit Cellar magazine, particularly the contests such as 2006, 2005, 2004
• AVRfreaks
• Tom Loredo's Electronics
• Dick Cappels' Project Pages (LCD, RF, nearfield, and attoBASIC)
• Alan Parekh's project pages and hacked gadget blog
• Jesper's AVR pages

Some ideas:

• COMPUTER PERIPHERALS
  • XY plotter for oscilloscope
  • Oscilloscope video games
  • Scanner

• LAB EQUIPMENT
  • Frequency counter: Auto ranging, potentially with pattern detection/rejection.
  • Noise/random signal generator with filtered spectrum.
  • Sound/animal call recorder/playback
  • Distance ranging device. Sonar? Lidar? Parallax?
  • DDS impedance meter
  • Tachometer using periodic sound/light

• CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
  • Cat scaring device triggered when the cat jumps on the kitchen counter.
  • Telescope mount: 2-axis motor mount to track stars, use coordinates in elevation/azimuth or right-ascention/declination.
  • Home alarm system with coded signals on continuity sensors and an unlock keypad.
  • http://extraversion.co.uk/beatbox/
  • A device to convince hunters not to tresspass. Perhaps a box which makes a loud scream when it hears a gunshot. Or a network of devices which emit random, but synched, ultrasound bursts.
  • data recording pet collar.
  • programmable office door message unit.
  • Digital Hourglass
  • DCC model railroad controller

• Robots
  • robot to pump a swing (Controlling a swing)
  • robot which carries a pen to make drawings
    
• COMPUTER SCIENCE
  • Interpreted Programming language: Language parser/interpreter, programmed via serial port.
  • Narrow word floating point, perhaps 8-bit matissa, for DSP.

• Biological applications
  • Haptic Radar (ultracound to vibration hat) also hackaday and youtube
  • Coupled non-linear oscillators (fireflies, neurons)
  • Networks of spiking neurons.
  • Programmable Mini Keyboard for use with Computer Kiosk:
    A five button mini keyboard that connects to a computer via USB where the five buttons can be configured as needed to send specific commands. Commands such as: Left Arrow, Space Bar, Right Arrow, Fkey, Fkey. Configurable so the key functions can be changed or administratively disabled. A working solution would be used to allow end-user manipulation of the ECE Display Corner LCD Displays. (2 separate units required, in a small footprint)

• SIGNAL PROCESSING
  • Audio processing: Stereo mixer, surround sound synthesizer, equalizers, filters, echo/reverb generators, music tempo extraction, music synthesis, audio compression, spectrum analyzer, Fourier transforms, sonar, etc.
  • Musical instrument synthesis: Karplus-Strong string, horn, piano
  • Speech processing: Speech command recognition, speech synthesis, speech coding and reconstruction
  • Fast Walsh transform or FFT or DCT analysis and display
  • "Whistle Hero" to train someone to whistle.
    
• Communications
  • Nearfield communciations
  • Hacking the Hot Wheels radargun

Please send more ideas to BRL4@cornell.edu

Dec 2007