Cutting-edge diy projects

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Cutting-edge diy projects

Category Archives: Projects

DOLPi DIY Polarimetric Camera Awarded 5th Place in 2015 Hackaday Prize

Posted on by Posted in David, Projects, Quantum Physics

David Prutcho PhD 5th place Hackaday prize winner

The DOLPi Raspberry Pi-based polarimetric cameras received 5th place in the 2015 Hackaday Prize. Winners for this year’s prizes were announced on stage at the Hackaday Superconference on November 14, 2015.

The DOLPi project involved the development and construction of two low-cost polarimetric camera types based on the Raspberry Pi 2. DOLPi-MECH (and its productized IR-VIS-UV version DOLPi-UI) is a filter-wheel-type camera capable of performing full Stokes analysis, while the electro-optic based DOLPi-EO camera performs full linear polarimetric analysis at higher frame rate. Complete Python code for polarimetric imaging is presented. Various applications for the cameras are described, especially their use for locating mines and unexploded ordinance in humanitarian demining operations.

CLICK HERE for a complete project description including detailed construction instructions and Python code in pdf format.

 

 

d.i.y. High-Power, Swappable-Head, UV/IR/Visible LED Flashlight with Intensity Control

Posted on by Posted in Abigail, David, Photography, Projects 1 Comment

High-Power UV/IR/Visible Flashlight. David Prutchi Ph.D. www.prutchi.comI urgently needed a high-intensity UV/IR/visible light source for a work-related industrial inspection project, so this weekend I recruited Abigail to help me build a 10W LED flashlight that features swappable UV/IR/visible heads.  We decided to document the build since this flashlight would fit nicely in a photographer’s kit for light painting, IR illumination, UV reflected photography, or UV fluorescence photography.

Our flashlight is based on LedEngin’s LZ4-40____ series 10W LEDs.  These are available in wavelengths ranging from the infrared through the ultraviolet.  White-light LEDs of different color temperatures are also available as part of this series.

WARNING!  This flashlight is capable of producing very powerful invisible radiation in the UV and IR.  The eye’s protection reflexes do not work at these wavelengths, and may thus cause extensive damage if exposed to direct or specular illumination.  In addition, UV at 365nm may cause damage to the skin.  Never point this flashlight at anyone without taking proper precautions!

Continue reading→

d.i.y. Combined L-Band (23 cm) Helical Feed and Ku 0.4 dB LNBF for 120 cm Dish

Posted on by Posted in Amateur Radio N2QG, David, Projects, Radio Astronomy

Helical feed for L-Band dish for amateur space communications. N2QG David Prutchi PhD www.prutchi.com www.diyPhysics.com

The high-gain antenna on my space communications array is based on a Fortec Star 120 cm dish.  This is a high-quality, large dish designed for motorized FTA reception of analog, digital, and high-definition programs on Ku band satellites.  I built a feed that combines a KU band horn for free-to-air (FTA) satellite reception with a helical feed for transmission and reception in the amateur L-band (23 cm, 1,296 MHz).

Being a peace-loving atheist, I am not interested in the religious and radicalized political junk that is most prominent over FTA.  Instead, I use the Ku-band transmissions from geosynchronous FTA satellites as known-Az/El beacons to calibrate the aim of my array.

Continue reading→

d.i.y. Gyroscopic Camera Stabilizer that Really Works!

Posted on by Posted in David, Photography, Projects 5 Comments

One of my current work-related projects required me to buy some gyroscopes for prototyping.  I purchased some of the beautiful, motor-driven demonstration gyros made by Glenn Turner at www.gyroscope.com.

Also as part of the project, I came across the professional-grade (and professionally priced, starting at $1,600) gyroscopic camera stabilizers made by Kenyon Laboratories.  These devices don’t seem to have changed much since Kenyon’s founder filed the following two patents in the 50’s:  US2811042, US2570130. Continue reading→

Posted to diyPhysics.com: d.i.y. GPS-Disciplined 10 MHz Standard + UTC Clock

Posted on by Posted in Amateur Radio N2QG, David, Projects, Radio Astronomy

diy GPS-disciplined 10 Mhz frequency standard and atomic universal time clock by David Prutchi PhD

Last week I posted detailed construction information for my rubidium atomic clock frequency reference.  Besides that unit, I also built a GPS-disciplined 10 MHz oscillator to serve as a secondary frequency reference, as well as a source of GPS NMEA data for my ham shack instruments that can use precise location and real-time-clock data (e.g. for satellite tracking).  I just posted on www.diyPhysics.com details about this 10 MHz GPS-disciplined standard. Continue reading→

SharkVision – A Sensing Suit for the Blind by Hannah Prutchi

Posted on by Posted in d.i.y. Medical Devices, Hannah, Projects 11 Comments

SharkVision obstacle detector for the blind by Hannah Prutchi www.prutchi.comSharkVision – A Sensing Suit for the Blind

Hannah Prutchi, 8th Grade, Science, VMS, October 2011

Blind people often use canes to avoid obstacles when walking. But, these are intrusive, can only detect obstacles where they are pointed, and could be dangerous to other people.  I devised the “SharkVision Suit” to help blind people move around their environment more easily.

I developed this idea from the concept that sharks find their prey by sensing disturbances in an electrical field they form around their bodies. This suit simulates the shark’s ability to sense objects around its body, giving a blind person a new type of sense. Continue reading→

We Received The First Copies of Our d.i.y. Quantum Physics Book!

Posted on by Posted in David, Geiger-Müller Counters, High Voltage, Multichannel Analyzer (MCA), Projects, Prutchi's CDV700 Pro Geiger Counter, Quantum Physics, Radiation Detectors, Radioactive, Scintillation Detectors, Shanni

Today we received the first two copies of our new book! It is a do-it-yourself book on Experimental Quantum Physics, and was published by John Wiley & Sons.

From the back cover:

“Build an intuitive understanding of the principles behind quantum mechanics through practical construction and replication of original experiments.

With easy-to-acquire, low-cost materials and basic knowledge of algebra and trigonometry, Exploring Quantum Physics through Hands-on Projects takes readers step by step through the process of re-creating scientific experiments that played an essential role in the creation and development of quantum mechanics.

Presented in near chronological order—from discoveries of the early twentieth century to new material on entanglement—this book includes question- and experiment-filled chapters on:

  • Light as a Wave
  • Light as Particles
  • Atoms and Radioactivity
  • The Principle of Quantum Physics
  • Wave/Particle Duality
  • The Uncertainty Principle
  • Schrödinger (and his Zombie Cat)
  • Entanglement

From simple measurements of Planck’s constant to testing violations of Bell’s inequalities using entangled photons, Exploring Quantum Physics through Hands-on Projects not only immerses readers in the process of quantum mechanics, it gives them insight into the history of the field—how the theories and discoveries apply to our world not only today . . . but also tomorrow.

By immersing readers in groundbreaking experiments that can be performed at home, school, or in the lab, this first-ever, hands-on book successfully demystifies the world of quantum physics for all who seek to explore it—from science enthusiasts and undergrad physics students to practicing physicists and engineers.”

For more information, please visit our d.i.y.  Modern/Quantum Physics projects website at:  www.diyPhysics.com