The document discusses hardware hacking, including its definition and various types such as circuit bending, reverse engineering, and toy hacking. It provides guidance on getting started, particularly with Arduino as a microprocessor platform, highlighting its capabilities and related software tools. Additionally, it offers resources and communities for aspiring hardware hackers to explore and connect.

1. Hardware Hacking
by Andy “Bob The Builder” Brockhurst
For the Yahoo! Developers Network
and SkillsMatter

2.  Picture “Hardware Hacking”
by nicholasjon- flickr

3. Talk topics (in no particular order)
 Introduction
 What is hardware hacking
 How to get started
 Microprocessors
 Sensors & Switches (Hardware I/O)
 The world is your mollusc
 Basic Circuit Theory
 How to get those sensors to work

4. If anything should go wrong
Blame this next guy

6.  Photo “Hacking”

7. What is hardware hacking
 Hacking
 An elegant solution to a difficult problem
 Using a technology for something it was
not originally intended.

8. Types of hardware hacking
 Just hacking hardware
 Circuit Bending
 Reverse Engineering
 Toy Hacking
 SteamPunk
 Craft Hacking/“Making”

9.  Photo: “WRT54G & NSLU2”
by lime*monkey- flickr

10.  Picture “Circuit Bending”
by jamie_hladky- flickr

11. Circuit Bending
 Pete Edwards
 Musician/Hacker
 http://casperelectronics.com

12.  Picture “Reverse Engineering”
by Micah Dowty- flickr

13.  Picture “Toy Hacking”
by Vanderlin - flickr

14.  Picture “Making”

15.  Photo: “Steampunk”
by Balakov- flickr

16.  Picture “Reverse Engineering”
by Neal Connor- flickr

17. Getting Started
 Arduino
 Entry level microprocessor
 OpenSource Hardware & Software
 14 digital Inputs/Outputs (6 PWM Out*)
 6 analogue Inputs
 IDE with loads of example code
 Aimed at artists/hobbyists with limited
programming experience
*We’ll come to this shortly

18. Arduino (Atmega 328)
 16bit Microprocessor, Embedded C
 32k Flash, 2k SRAM, 1k EEPROM
 16Mhz

19. Arduinos are not the only fruit
 Atmel Tiny (ATtiny)
 PIC AVR (PICAXE)
 Range of ARM processors
 FPGA

20. Arduino
 OpenSource Hardware
 Schematics freely available
 Lots of “Flavours”; Diecimila, Duemilanove,
Mega, Mini, Nano, Lilypad
 Lots of boards for specific tasks;
Motor/servos, Autonomous Vehicles,
Robotics, Autopilots, CNC (*32 makers)
 Sheilds to extend functionality; Bluetooth,
wifi, radio, ethernet, GPS, relays, LCD,
touchscreen…

21. Arduino Initiatives
 Software
 Processing
 IDE is based on Processing and Wiring
 Fritzing
 Prototyping and circuit layout
 EduWear
 Introducing programming and electronics
to children

22. Hardware Hacking
Let’s build some stuff!

23. by Bekathwia - flickr

24. Arduino (very) Basic I/O - Parts
 Setup a circuit
 Arduino
 Breadboard
 LED
 Resistor
 Switch
 Wire

25. Arduino (very) Basic I/O - Layout

26. Arduino (very) Basic I/O - Code
 Define an input and an output
 Read the input and set the output
void setup() {
pinMode(2, INPUT);
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
int switchValue = digitalRead(2);
digitalWrite(13, switchValue);
}

27. Take it a bit further
 Substitute the LED for a physical
interaction device
 Servo
 Bit more wire

28. Adding a servo

29. Update the code
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myServo;
int steps[] = {0,60,120,180};
int currentPos = 0;
void setup() {
pinMode(2, INPUT);
myServo.attach(13);
myServo.write(steps[0]);
}
void loop() {
if (HIGH == digitalRead(2)) {
currentPos = (3 == currentPos) ? 0 : currentPos + 1;
myServo.write(steps[currentPos]);
delay(500);
}
}

30. Taking it further
 Substitute the switch for a physical
interaction device
 Piezo Electric transducer
 Can be used to sense “Knocks”

31. Wire in the piezo

32. More code updates
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myServo;
int steps[] = {0,60,120,180};
int currentPos = 0;
const int KNOCKTHRESHOLD = 100;
void setup() {
myServo.attach(13);
myServo.write(steps[0]);
}
void loop() {
if (KNOCKTHRESHOLD <= analogRead(0)) {
currentPos = (3 == currentPos) ? 0 : currentPos + 1;
myServo.write(steps[currentPos]);
delay(500);
}
}

33. Tour of the software
 Arduino IDE
 Fritzing

34. by pieter [iamdoom / bwrah bwrah]- flickr
 Photo “Inspiration”

35. Getting Inspiration
 MakeZine
 http://blog.makezine.com/
 Instructables
 http://www.instructables.com/
 Circuit-Projects
 http://www.circuit-projects.com/
 Tinker.it
 http://www.tinker.it/

36. Where to get stuff
 Specialist Arduino Retailers (UK)
 http://www.earthshinedesign.co.uk/
 http://www.oomlout.co.uk/
 Other Hardware suppliers (UK)
 http://www.active-robots.co.uk/
 http://www.techbotics.co.uk/
 http://www.technobots.co.uk/
 http://www.ebay.co.uk/

37. Finding fellow hackers
 London Hacker Space
 http://london.hackspace.org.uk/
 irc://irc.freenode.net/london-hack-space
 London DorkBot
 http://dorkbotlondon.org/

38. Thank you for listening
Where I can be found:
http://kingkludge.net/
http://twitter.com/b3cft
(or in the pub)