Matchbook - A tiny book format

i was reading an interesting article that articulated something i've thought of for a while - so many good ideas and stories out there... how to stand out?

Infestation (the article)

Unless you are famous, you won't be seen outside your normal circles.  I'm ok with this but do like the broader feedback.  Not interested in the fame or fortune, just want input on my thoughts or ideas.  Kind of why i blog to myself...

here is a fun project.  A mini book, the size of a book of matches.  "Matchbook".

it is simply an ATtiny85 microcontroller (~$1USD), a SEEPROM memory device (i have lots of the Microchip 24LC256 already), and a cheap 1" OLED display.  Everything fits the form-factor EXCEPT the battery... gotta work on that.  No good having a mini book with a cord or power needs.  The memory gives space for ~20k ascii text files, and is pushed in by an Arduino over the USB.

My first preferences for Matchbook titles:

The Machine Stops (E M Forster)

The Feeling of Power (Isaac Asmov)

Great short stories, and 'relevant' to the form itself.

Dark Light Shooting

OK, its been a while since posting, and this isn't anything new but needed for another project.

We are doing some night drills with the kids home from college, and using our wifi-controlled targets.  They are really fun, and i've added a 'random' feature to turn the target on/off for random lengths of time. 

Here are some of the logo images...

you can get the targets and more info at shootdarklight@gmail.com.

where has the time gone...

Wildlife as viewed by Thermal Camera

Here are some comparison videos showing a raccoon and some deer moving through the trees.

The raccoon was about 25 yards away and tough to see even with a flashlight in the early morning.  Lit up the thermal camera, though.

I never saw the deer until i put up the thermal camera and there were some bright red spots.  About 40 yards away as they moved off slowly through the trees.

Thermal Camera and Suppressors

Yep, more thermal camera pictures.  Here are some of the weapons we took pictures of after heating up the cans.

Warning, plenty of targets were harmed in the making of these images.

Here's video of a 22LR:

a Glock 17 (Liberty can):

Knife Making and Forge with the Thermal Camera

Yeah, we are pointing the thermal camera at about everything these days.  Technology lets us see the hidden world.

We did a comparison of quenching tool steel in water vs. motor oil.  i was quite suprised how quickly the oil heated up and how slowly it cooled the steel.  impressive.

Here is a better comparison of the two.

Thermal Camera Video for Target Practice

This thermal camera (Seek CompactXR) we are playing with for Drone use is also a ton of fun out shooting.  Shooting is fun anyway, so we took a bunch of video.

Here's snapshot of a 50 BMG (BMG = BigMammaGun!).  Before the shot...

During the shot...

After the Shot.  Barrel didn't really heat up as much as i expected.  that hot forehead caught the camera's attention, though.

Here's one of the videos.  more on the FaceTube channel.

The suppressors were great fun, too.  22LR really didn't heat up much.  Here is a Liberty Suppressor on a Glock 17.  165*F is the hottest the camera recorded.

Here's one of the videos.

An AR chambered in 7.62x39.  Love this gun!  The pucker factor is great - LOUD, belching flame, and throwing a 30cal projectile.  Gets everyone's attention quick!

Here is a lever action 357 (Ruger) with the suppressor on it.  We were only shooting 38s, so it was quiet, cool, and almost boring.  almost...

Lots of video on the FaceTube channel.

Thermal Camera for DJI Phantom 3

Working on a thermal camera to see through the trees and locate stray cows...

No pictures yet on the design, but the test flights are AWESOME!

here is some early test video... i'll try to upload more later, but we hare having too much fun lately.

Those stray cows don't stand a chance hiding from us...