Using MatchBox cars as a switch

posted Sep 15th 2009 1:41pm by Caleb Kraft
filed under: arduino hacks, tool hacks, toy hacks

cars

[atduskgreg] posted this interesting setup to flickr. He’s using two toy cars as a switch. He has wired into their metal undercarriages so when they collide, the circuit closes. We’ve seen some pretty nifty home made interface items, but usually they are posted with a clear purpose or a project. This one is a little puzzling. Does he intend to keep using the cars or was he just fooling around? Is he working on a toy that does something when they crash? Was he merely bored and wanted to see what he could attach to his Arduino. We may never know.

Comments [78]

tagged: arduino, cars, hotwheels, matchbox, toys

Reader Comments

maybe matchbox crashes with pyro and sound effects?

Posted at 1:48 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by djrussell

hackaday, please stop this.
a post about a single flickr pic, about a switch?

Posted at 1:57 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by really?

Slow news day?
Really now.

Posted at 2:13 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by eh?

WFT is this? C’mon Hack a Day! Don’t go lower!

Posted at 2:23 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by sansan

Whats the purpose of this??? I remember when I started reading hackaday, there was only one hack a day and I was learning something every time,, NOW, we have about 2 maybe more hack a day, if we can call it a “hack”, and these are useless “hack” like this. So, please stop this.

Posted at 2:33 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by dan

@really?, @eh?, and @dan: I think they’re intentionally trying to tease you, especially with the last line mentioning an arduino.

Posted at 2:46 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by moron4hire

o.O

WOW.

Posted at 2:50 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by andrew

more fluff from Krafty Caleb…

they’re really, really grasping for good material these days

Posted at 3:12 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by supershwa

It seems like a game of limbo, how low can they go?

Next time, find some true hacks to post, this rubbish is pissing me off,

Posted at 4:14 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by napalm

@moron4
STFU, seriously.

Posted at 4:15 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by napalm

Yeah, and its not like there isn’t tons of GOOD material they could be using instead.

Hell, I submitted cool stuff I stumbled across for awhile, but like everyone else I eventually stopped as it never ever got published – not enough Arduinos I guess.

This no substance crap is getting old.

Posted at 4:17 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Stunmonkey

If you don’t like the content, you can just not go to hack a day. Nobody is forcing you to read these and post the same comments over and over.

Posted at 4:18 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by RazorConcepts

i’d rather crash windows, but matchbox cars recover easier, WTG

Posted at 4:21 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by aztraph

“This one is a little puzzling. Does he intend to keep using the cars or was he just fooling around? Was he merely bored and wanted to see what he could attach to his Arduino. We may never know.”

If you don’t know, then why the gently caress did you publish the goddamned article? Sponsors weren’t getting their quota of Arduino plugs?

I was sick of articles about Arduinos that just did something lame, so now you’ve replaced it with articles on unfinished Arduinos doing nothing at all?

Whisky Tango Foxtrot, over?

Posted at 4:22 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Stunmonkey

I liked it better when you just stole articles from Instructables on the days you were too stoned to do your job.

Posted at 4:24 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by scott

AhAAhAhAhahA! EPIC! I never laughed so much about an article. Just look at people reactions.

And the arduino touch, beautiful!

@Caleb Kraft
Thank you

Posted at 4:30 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by MrX

I just don’t see what the issue is here. Somebody needed a quick fix for a switch and grabbed what has handy and turned it into something else besides the intended purpose. Wait… there is another word for that. Oh damn, what is it? Can’t think of it right now. People do it all the time. They have entire websites about it. Damn! I wish I could think of it. Oh well.

Posted at 5:07 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Buzzkill

To gay for words!

Posted at 5:59 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by chris

I want to put them in my ass

Posted at 6:26 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Bill Hates

unless you’re selling Arduinos,this site is about as useful as tits on a bull.

seriously tho,why does this site even exist anymore? it’s been eclipsed by at least half a dozen other,better,far less transparently “bought and paid for” sites.

the internet would be no worse off if this sad shadow of a “hack” site simply got deleted one day.

Posted at 6:52 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by bobob

In snort this is shit. See comment about your other shit post for reference (you know the lame ass lego stand post WTF?!?!).

Posted at 7:29 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Zymastorik

What sites eclipse this one? I need details people….

Posted at 7:34 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by chris

wow… a switch… this is usually the kind of technology that is unveiled at MIT! You are SOOOO lucky to have this on here… what’s next?

I GOT IT!

do away with the switch… what would happen if there were no switch and a staight wire was used? IT WOULD STAY ON ALL THE TIME!

we’ve all had enough arduino “hacks”… I agree with the guy below… i liked it much better when you just stole hacks from other sites and posted them here…. it’s too boring to come here any more…

SEE YA!

IMAGINE THAT!

Posted at 7:35 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by RICK

How many ohms through that switch?

Using a debounce circ…oh I just can’t do it.

it sucks IT SUHUHUHHUUUUCKS!!!

Posted at 7:47 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by strider_mt2k

BEST. Arduino. HACK. EVAH!

WANT MOAR!!!

But seriously, Troll bait much? I ROFLED so much over this article and the comments below it I had to go FAP!

Thanks HAD, you made my day :)

Posted at 7:56 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Frank

So does it have to be matchbox cars or can any tin toy car work? If I can transpose this hack to wooden blocks will you post it?

Posted at 7:57 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by vonskippy

try moist dog turds

Posted at 7:59 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by chris

This has to be a joke, right? Surely nobody could have looked at this and thought it was actually worthy of getting posted.

…Right?

Posted at 8:30 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Tom

What if, instead of Matchbox cars, they used…

wait for it…

real cars!

And four Arduinos!

You’re welcome.

Posted at 8:49 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Thumb

what if you just wired up a THOUSAND arduinos,then dipped them in chocolate,and rammed them up Caleb’s ass??????

i await negotiations on the book deal and movie rights.

Posted at 9:09 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by bobob

The next picture in hist stream explains it just a bit better. He is using the arduino to detect the collision between the cars and trigger a camera to capture the crash.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unavoidablegrain/3924334227/in/photostream/

Posted at 9:38 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Jes1510

It’s a flash trigger. http://www.flickr.com/photos/unavoidablegrain/?saved=1

Posted at 9:40 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by adam

“This one is a little puzzling. Does he intend to keep using the cars or was he just fooling around? Is he working on a toy that does something when they crash? Was he merely bored and wanted to see what he could attach to his Arduino. We may never know.”

Step One: Click on next item in stream
Step Two:…
Step Three: Profit from his description of what he is using the switch for.

Posted at 9:51 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by Campbell

Why was this even posted? I think hackaday is posting stuff now solely for SEO.

Posted at 10:10 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by AnthonyDi

I keep coming to this site for the same reason I still watch thundercats once in a while. I think, man it used to be so cool, I gotta see that again. Then when I watch it or come to this site I’m filled with a cold realization that I was either easily impressed because I was 8 or I’m a fucking idiot.

Considering I didn’t start reading this site until much later in the timeline of my life it can’t be that I was easily impressed because I was 8 so I must be a fucking idiot for continuing to read this site. And yet here I am again, really its getting to the point that I am almost ready to accept what you post as possible hacks and this makes me sad, like put a gun in my mouth sad. Please don’t kill me hackaday……please.

Posted at 10:15 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by thedudefrommiamivice

could someone please expand on the sites that have eclipsed this one? a replacement for this site is overdue.

i thought maybe they would eventually get the point and, well, improve or something. that obviously isn’t gonna happen.

time to stop wasting time prodding these guys to not suck so much, and just give someone else the ad revenue.

Posted at 11:13 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by scott

wow great hack! ‘ve got to figure out how to do this at home and show all of my friends so we can turn on some LEDs with our toy cars. excellent yuhu!

Posted at 11:27 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by johnn

oh, i have just seen that there is an arduino board in the picture? so that’s why this was posted…

Posted at 11:28 pm on Sep 15th, 2009 by johnn

Yesterday I used two wires as a switch. If you just touch them, it’s like a push-button. But if you twist the ends, it’s like an on-off button. Isn’t it cool or what?
Oh, it’s not using an arduino, so I don’t think it will get published on hack-a-day :(

Posted at 12:18 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Fili

fuck you caleb kraft, for insulting our intelligence, fuck you.

Posted at 12:27 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by longtime reader

[holding a torch AND a pitchfork]

Posted at 12:53 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by jimmys

@caleb kraft: funny post wise guy. not sure how exactly you managed to slowly strangle this site, but when you are done could you move to my mother in law’s house? if you could pull the same thing off there we’ll call it even for the cluster that this site has become.

Posted at 1:53 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Doc Helladay

@ Helladay lol no shit right? I was just curious if you guys get a kickback everytime someone mentions the Arduino? If so you guys should be asking for a bigger kickback as much as you talk about how f’n great it is. Just aayin.

Posted at 3:11 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Zymastorik

who the heck at hack-a-day is the gatekeeper for this shit. we need to replace that person with an arduino; then we might get some better content.

Posted at 4:32 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Drone

I think the car on the left is a Majorette, not a matchbox.

/useless

Posted at 4:47 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by _ezaK

Atleast it doesn’t twitter… Or did I just spoil tomorrow’s post of “Twittering matchbox car switch”?

Posted at 5:03 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Jeff

OMG!

I FOUND TEH VIDOES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk-9bOEJLgs&NR=1

Carz touching – maek me fap!

Posted at 5:44 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Frank

cd..
del

Posted at 6:41 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by 3rix

But anyway, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen similar switches integrated into toys like these, not just toys, also the fact that cars chassis usually serve as the ground gives me the impression that this inspired this thing [that's not a hack].

Posted at 6:54 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by 3rix

@mrx.
bingo!

Posted at 7:03 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by calebkraft

For whatever its worth, this photo was documenting an early stage of a project that actually did have a practical application (however modest). I used the ability to detect the moment of impact between the cars to flash a bank of LEDs. That way, I could take a picture of the moment of impact between two rolling cars by leaving a camera in position with the shutter open. With the lights off, a short enough LED flash would act like a short exposure of just the collision. Check out the rest of the documentation photos and some of the results here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unavoidablegrain/sets/72157622259091291/ I’ve also written up the results of the process and what I learned here: http://itp.nyu.edu/~gab305/blog/?p=3

Posted at 7:03 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Greg

Wait, so why is the arduino not centered in the picture. Like its impossible to see which wire goes where?

This is a really good hack. 100% New stuff, now I don’t need to buy these really expensive switches.

Posted at 7:10 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by ArduinoFreak

Oh, the Huge Manatee!

Posted at 7:21 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by strider_mt2k

ArduinoFreak — The wires aren’t centered in the picture because the circuit is so damn simple that I thought people could mostly figure it out and it was worth sacrificing really clear documentation of that for a nicer picture. If you want a step-by-step walkthrough of using a switch to turn on an LED with an Arduino, checkout the tutorial from my class at ITP: http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Labs/DigitalInOut

Posted at 7:23 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Greg

Greg:

You ever heard about sarcasm?

Posted at 7:33 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by ArduinoFreak

ArduinoFreak — It’s hard to detect in this crowd. The amount of vitriol here (mostly aimed at the Hackaday folks themselves) is pretty astounding.

Posted at 7:37 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Greg

Greg – The vitriol isn’t hard to understand; previously this was an awesome site. Now the person who brought us slothra and the arduino mousetrap managed to sink even lower – an accomplishment many didn’t think was possible.

Not that anything you did was inherently wrong, but do you honestly think it was newsworthy? That using an arduino as yet another common simple device was an accomplishment needing coverage?

Posted at 8:59 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by scott

If we hook up this guy with grow light guy we could kill two birds with one stoned.

Posted at 10:01 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by strider_mt2k

I think this shows exactly how bad this site is managed…

Posted at 10:18 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by Remarknl

I think this post is a troll. Or at least I hope so. The “hack” itself is part of a flash trigger used to take picture of car crashes, so it’s not entirely without merit.

Posted at 11:47 am on Sep 16th, 2009 by vic

i wish someone would post a hack about how to delete websites from a remote location,so i could put this miserable “hack” site out of it’s misery.

no court would convict me,since it would be OBVIOUSLY be a mercy killing.

Posted at 12:26 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by bobob

why is everyone so pissy on this site now a days? I for one love these little posts, because it gives me ideas.

attach two matchbox cars and use them for circuit bending. epic on stage performance. never would have thought of this with you hackaday.

keep it up!

Posted at 2:01 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by lapubell

..now if you replace the toy cars with two golden spike dildos and shove one in each of Caleb’s orifice, that should trigger a reaction of some kind..maybe upgrade to a voltage regulator and…and…what’s the use, nobody listens to me anymore…silly wabbit

Posted at 2:21 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by fluxster

so far as hackaday replacements, hackedgadgets.com is decent I think

Posted at 2:23 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by Spiff

I think this shows exactly how bad this site is managed…”

I think so too.

BTW: I think the site should enforce email confirmations again so idiotic noobs such a myself don’t flame… Or maybe we can all have accounts someday. (When pigs fly) I say we will never have an account system. Prove me wrong.

Posted at 2:55 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by 3Rix

Word hackedgadgets > hackaday

Posted at 2:57 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by thedudefrommiamivice

sigh

Posted at 5:38 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by Zymastorik

ugh. Can we please have some actual content posted?

Posted at 6:25 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by ngth

How stoned author of this article was when he wrote this. What drugs he use ? can I have some ?

Posted at 6:37 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by therian

definite big thumbs up for hackedgadgets.com,it’s what this site should aspire to. also,lifehacker (while having a lot of silly crap) does also bust out some interesting stuff once in a while. you sure as shit do NOT see the ridiculous and repetitive product placement that you get beaten over the head with here at hackaday.

Posted at 7:30 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by bobob

uelectronics.info is also a great place….
i used to lurk at pyroelectro but the site’s dead

Posted at 8:05 pm on Sep 16th, 2009 by Dim

http://hacknmod.com/

Posted at 12:04 am on Sep 17th, 2009 by Remarknl

(sigh) The arduino-equipped toothbrush arrived even sooner than I expected.

Coming up – turning an arduino into a 555. (Oops. My bad. That’s what this already is.)

Posted at 10:13 am on Sep 17th, 2009 by Roly

THIS is why:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/09/matchbox_collision_photography.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

Posted at 2:50 pm on Sep 17th, 2009 by Shadyman

@ Strider

HA Good one

Posted at 4:28 pm on Sep 17th, 2009 by vikki

God I love these comments

Posted at 6:59 pm on Sep 23rd, 2009 by jamieriddles

@jamieriddles – I like the hack! I liked it so much, it got a link on my site :)

WANT MOAR!

Posted at 11:31 pm on Sep 23rd, 2009 by Frank

I’m thinking Rube Goldberg.

Posted at 6:12 pm on Sep 25th, 2009 by William

Using MatchBox cars as a switch

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