Hopefully Detect Trolls Before They Devour You

In the cold and mysterious wilderness of Norway, it pays to be ready for anything–especially heavy-walking trolls. The team at [nullohm] decided to prepare thoroughly for their trek into the woods to witness the Leonids meteor shower by putting together an Arduino-based “troll detector”.

The device is based on the superstition of hammering a steel spike into a tree to keep trolls away from camp. This goes one step further by including an accelerometer and LED indicators so that you can tell exactly what type of troll is just about to feast upon your tender human flesh.

When the detector is installed into a nearby tree, it takes an average seismic measurement and then looks for telltale footfalls. Even if you’re not concerned with perpetuating superstitions, you might find a use for the source code for simple seismic activity monitoring at home to supplement your miniature seismic reflector.

24 thoughts on “Hopefully Detect Trolls Before They Devour You

  1. 1) Is this HAD post trollbait?

    2) Are accelerometers really that sensitive to seismic activity? (ie, from the earths movements. not someone stomping near a tree)
    Obviously not. so right, this thing will indicate the direction of a tresspasser? how will it do this when the tree can only move side-to-side?

    Are there other models more precise for this purpose?

    3) Are people from norway really that superstitious? [read: stupidstitious]

    4) This isnt really a hack, is it?

    5) HAD Editors, leave out all the bullshit from a post and get to the point.

  2. Hmmm. Neat project!
    yeah you need a Grue detector/repeller.

    On a side note I wasn’t aware of the superstition, but it DOES explain why I’ve seen railroad spikes driven into trees where I’ve camped in the past.

    Generally I’m not superstitious, just extrastitous.

  3. FINALLY A DEVICE THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF o wait…oops nope internet trolls are not taken care of fail owell NOW A DEVICETHAT WILL KEEP THose TrOLLS OUT OF MY kITCHEN YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Just make sure Dethklok is not in town making an apology and you should be fine.

    For those not in the know: Dethklok is a fictional metal band that visits Finland in one episode to apologize for the country being destroyed by riots during their last tour. None of them are any good at speaking, so they make a song for it using lyrics from the countries book of necronamics. They awaken the Kraken which proceeds to destroy the country again.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUnhoe0rpU

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