Project description:
We decided we wanted to build a Tetris-like game for our final 476 project. We felt this project would challenge our hardware and software skills. We liked the numerous optional features that we could add but were not crucial. For copyright reasons, we decided to change the rules and the pieces from the classic Tetris game and renamed it “BiLines”.
SED1330 LCD
Seiko G321D Graphic module

Link: BiLines AVR Tetris, AT90S8515

Project description:
In the vein of today’s trends to embed networking cababilities into simple appliances, our project implements a webpage interface for the Atmel AVR microcontroller. One of the original motivations of this project was to develop a low-level network interface for the Atmel device, specifically by controlling an ISA network card (see the eAVR Project) to transmit UDP packets across the Internet. We greatly modified our original plans once we found out about the SitePlayer device.
SitePlayer Ethernet Webserver device
Link: Web-based AVR Interface, AT90S8535

Project description:
My goal was to create a sequencer that is basic, yet has enough functionality to be useful, and not just an academic exercise. Because of hardware contstraints, I decided to build something that was more of a “sketchpad” for musical ideas with several basic functions that could be used with ease. This is something that is fairly unique in the world of MIDI sequencers, which generally tend to try to pack in as many functions as possible, resulting in a complex user interface using multiple menus, and requiring many button-pushes just to perform simple editing functions.

Link: MIDI Sequencer, AT90S8515 

Project description:
We aim at building an autonomous vehicle, “Homer”, which can stroll around an environment (e.g. our lab, or an environment that we build) without getting stuck at obstacles. That implies that we need a robust algorithm that tells the vehicle how to steer when it gets into different obstacle situations.   The goal would be to demonstrate a vehicle that will run by itself and not get stuck or bump into any obstructions.
Sharp GP2D02
HD74HC00P
74HCT04
Link: The Autonomous Tank, AT90S8515

Project description:
The original motivation behind our project was a desire to interface with some type of real world device. Since one of the clear limitations of the Atmel chipset is the lack of storage space, we felt it would be useful if we could connect to some type of mass media storage device. Implementing a SCSI interface would allow us to connect to virtually any type of storage device - hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and various removable media. Since Sean had a SCSI Zip drive lying around his apartment, our project concept began to come together.

Link: The Zip Drive and Digital Camera, AT90S8515

Project description:
Our security system is a stand alone device that allows access to registered users identified by their magnetic cards.(For this project, “access” is represented by a lit LED, showing how the system could be used to control an external locking mechanism.)

Link: Security Entrance System, AT90S8535

Project description:
For my final design project I decided to design and build a digital dot matrix message device. I’ve seen devices similar to this before and I wanted to find out if I could build one myself. The display consists of 7 LEDs in a vertical row. By moving them fast enough back and forth over each other, I can display a message which appears to be generated by a 7*n matrix of LEDs and not a single column of LEDs.

Link: Digital Message Machine, AT90LS8515

Project description:
We thought it would be interesting to try and construct a simple modem out of the ATMEL 8535. The main motivation for doing this was to test some DSP theories about the effects of transmission power, noise, and modulation technique on the bit error rate. Initially, we wanted to connect our modem to the public telephone network; however, the voltage, current, and bandwidth constraints over a phone line would have made the project much more complex. Instead, we chose to use a simple wire channel, and focus our efforts on actually transmitting and receiving the signal waveform.

Link: Analog Modem Design Project, AT90S8535

Project description:
We used an Atmel AT90S8535 microcontroller for this project. We used the ADC on the chip to read the positions of the potentiometer controllers (see Hardware). The game is for two player simultaneous play, although we found it is also challenging and fun to play against yourself using both controllers.

Link: Ping Pong, AT90S8535

Project description:
For our final project, we decided to enhance the controls of a Hummer RC truck. Our main objective was to demonstrate that an Atmel microcontroller together with basic hardware building blocks can replace all of the car’s original circuitry. Improving the RC truck’s handling involved adding analog control over steering and speed. The original construction of the car hindered this idea and forced us to resort to some mechanical engineering (mounting a servo) to resolve the problem! Overall, the project was a great deal of fun and involved a lot of tinkering with hardware (including dangerous flirtations with nearly exploding power transistors!)

Link: Hummer RC Truck, AT90S8535

Project description:
NOKIA cellphone game, Snake, implemented on a graphic LCD with an ATMEL AT90S8515 MCU.
T6963C

Link: Snake 476, AT90S8515

Project description:
Our alarm clock features a large, bright time display, easily visible in the bedroom. It also features a loud, irritating alarm, sure to wake even the soundest of sleepers. By far the most innovative part of the alarm is the LCD display, which gives the date, alarm status, and status for setting the clock.

Link: The Ultimate Alarm Clock, AT90S8535 

Project description:
This is a drum Machine, sampler, a wavetable synthesizer and a sequencer combined, all capable of interfacing with any standard MIDI device!
QTC 2601
ADC0804LCN
DAC0808LCM
LF351M
HCPL2601QT
TC55V1001AF-85-ND
Link: Drum Machine, AT90S8535

Project description:
Our final project involved the design of a fully functional, multi-purpose digital thermometer. This was our attempt at producing a portable device that could be widely used for a variety of different purposes. For example, think of the many situations where the precise measurement of temperature is of high importance. Temperature control and monitoring is important in homes for the comfort