And now for something totall different is the following 3D position-sensing device by Instructables member birdyberth. By using five inexpensive ultrasonic distance sensors mounted onto brackets controlled by servos, the distance between an object (for example a human hand) and the device can be determined.
Thus by using multiple sensors at different angles, the object's location in space (at the desk, not outer...) can also be determined and the resulting output used for various tasks, one of which as a mouse for a PC. This is easily done using an Arduino Leonardo or compatible board thanks to the simplicity of the HID interface on these boards. The creator takes the device for a test run in the following video:
Absolutely fantastic, something that could have been out of a science fiction movie can now be made at home, so visit the Instructable to get started. And for more, we're on facebook, Google+, and twitter - so follow us for news and product updates as well.
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