Auxiliary Input For A Car Stereo

auxiliary in

Matt Gilbert was tired of using his noisy cassette adapter with his iPod so he added an auxiliary input to his factory radio. Normally this type of thing isn’t possible with factory stereos, but Matt’s 2001 Corolla has the factory CD player as a separate component from the head unit. He starts a CD playing and then uses a toggle switch to swap the sound coming from the iPod with the sound from the CD unit. This would also work with a factory CD changer, but you can’t just plug straight into the head unit because it needs to receive the “everything’s okay” signals from a CD player in order to turn on the input. You might be able to do this with “premium” factory stereos since they usually have a separate amp. All this hack needs now is a clever dock; I bet you won’t even miss that clock.

[thanks Matt]

Continue reading “Auxiliary Input For A Car Stereo”

Electric Starter Powered Kart

electric starter kart
Taking a cue from bar stool racers, Robert Lee built this kart using a Honda starter. The frame is constructed out of PVC with steel reinforcement. Notice the forced air cooling. Along with the kart details he’s got links to PDFs about building barstool racers and PVC frames on the site. Be warned: Tripod sites will make you envy the blind.

[thanks john kiniston]

Continue reading “Electric Starter Powered Kart”

The Poor Man’s Segway

Skate Segway

Well, maybe it’s not entirely a Segway, but it’s the right idea. these ubc students went and drew up the plans for a skateboard based segway-like vehicle. they dubbed it “emanual” after the skateboard trick called the manual (come on, you at least played tony hawk for playstation right?). they awesome part is that it works. took a few years, but hey, good things take time. it uses electronic tilt sensors to keep you from falling over and has it’s own control system.

thanks [DBS]

Continue reading “The Poor Man’s Segway”

Hack A Honda/Acura Navigation System

Acura Honda

if you have 2 MDXs, and NSX, and an RSX like we do, this might be for you! seriously check it out. honda and Acura have their little built in GPS navigation screens to help guide you to wherever…well that’s gotta look boring after about 1000 miles, so spice it up with some customade skins. there is even a blue screen of death background, which is a wonderful thing. you’ll need a program called dumpnavi  that will let you change it. there’s little documentation but the source code is right there. it’d be cool to see some BMWS, infinitis, and other luxury cars hacked.

There is a GUI version, a console version, and good ol’ source code. pick your poison and if anyone actually….wants to try this, please let us know! thanks [pantz]

Continue reading “Hack A Honda/Acura Navigation System”

Subaru WRX STI ATV

STI ATVI

sheesh, got enough acronyms for you?

either way we don’t care. this is in fact, a Subaru STI converted into an ATV. a kick ass ATV i might add. Just check out some specs

PECIFICATIONS:

ENGINE:     2.0 LITER SUBARU WRX
                    TURBO CHARGED   AND  INTERCOOLED
                 
TRANSMISSION:     5 SPEED 4WD

SUSPENSION:      BLISTIEN            
POWER:     170kw
WEIGHT:     550KG

as we  began to drool, we wiped our chins off and continuesreading. this is a turbo charged atv with an intercooler
the site doesn’t have much info because it’s being worked on, but the 5 pics they give you show you how awesome this is . the question is…would it beat an original STI on the road? hmmmm…

Continue reading “Subaru WRX STI ATV”

Sneaker Power

sneaker power

just think about how much energy you waste when you pound your heels into the ground while walking or jogging.  you exert a lot of effort fighting gravity to lift your foot and body from the ground, only to let gravity take over, allowing your body to fall forward onto your heel again and wear another layer from the sole of your sneaker.

the kind folks at the mit media lab decided to do something about this.  by placing a piezoelectric element or a rotary magnetic generator into the heel of your shoe, you can effectively recycle some of your strut and use it for a mobile device.

it’s like regenerative braking for your feet.

Continue reading “Sneaker Power”

Gm Onstar Hacking

onstar serial hack

this site shows you how to jack in to the gps receiver inside any gm onstar system.  it’s as simple as soldering a up a serial cable.  you can then connect to it and either run some gps diagnostic software, or switch the device to nmea mode so that you can use it with your gps mapping software in your car pc.

if you’ve got an onstar system but aren’t paying for the service this might be just the hack for you.  thanks for the link leo!

Continue reading “Gm Onstar Hacking”