I finally got another free evening to devote to reverse engineering the Can-Am Spyder diagnostic interface. For the back story, see part 1 here. But things did not quite work out like I hoped for tonight’s Spyder hacking. As usual, it is the hardware guy’s fault. First order of business was to build another cableRead more
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Every year, I try to volunteer at the VEX Robotics World Championship. This year I volunteered as a Field Technician. When the field or robots have trouble connecting or technical issues, I was there to help troubleshoot the problem. As an added bonus, a robotics team that I mentor called the DiscoBots also competed in the event.Read more
We are always on the lookout for an ARM-based microcontrollers with high-end sensors. A recent ARM Cortex evaluation board from ST Microelectronics features a 3-axis gyro, accelerometer, and compass modules for under $15. This STM32 F3 Discovery Kit and the sub-$15 price is jaw-dropping because in the (not-so-distant) past, this type of board would costRead more
I bought a used 2008 Can-Am Spyder GS last spring. It was a compromise vehicle, I wanted another motorcycle but my wife did not want me back on two wheels after my last mishap left me with 8 titanium screws in my spine. I can’t say that I blame her. But the spyder is aRead more
Let’s go back in history to a time without global positioning systems (GPS) helping you navigate to your favorite sushi bar. Sometime around 2004, Qualcomm announced they successfully tested assisted GPS on a mobile phone after acquiring the technology from SnapTrack. Now, every mobile smart phone and device takes advantage of GPS. Let’s fast forwardRead more
I love combining my passion for tech with working out. I use bluetooth and Ant+ sensors to record speed, position, heart rate, and cadence. For years I have used a mixture of devices from Garmin, Zephyr Technology, and various phones. I like Zephyr Technology. They make cool bio-metric technology. I bought their original HxM bluetoothRead more