The RAD2 (Research Activity Detector version 2) is a Feather compatible wing for sensing and logging motion. It includes a built in low-power passive infrared (PIR) sensor, a microSD card slot for logging data, and real time clock (RTC) for accurate timestamping. It also has 2 digital pins (A1 and A2) broken out to screw terminals for convenience and three signal LEDS for feedback.
The goals of this device are to:
Monitor motion via a PIR
Keep accurate time
Enable easy synchronization of additional datastreams with motion data
Log data locally but enable wireless transmission
Battery life of >1 month
This shield is an adaptation/improvement of the original Rodent Activity Detector (RAD), adding a battery backed-up RTC, a built in PIR sensor, and a smaller form factor. It is now compatible with the Adafruit Feather ecosystem for easily adding motion sensing and datalogging to their entire range of boards. RAD2 was designed by MCCI and Lex Kravitz.
SoundWing Audio I/O Board
By bobgreenwade:
In from the microphone, out to the speakers… for any project that involves both microphone input and speaker output, this FeatherWing puts those two things conveniently on the same board. And if you only need one, well, at least you have the other without needing to wire up a breakout.
This is, essentially, two mono audio breakout boards on one FeatherWing. With this board, any of these functions (and sometimes more than one at the same time) can be either turned into or integrated into a Feather project:
Voice changer (for cosplay, primarily; fit the device inside a helmet, or in your pocket!)
Voice amplifier for teachers and other small-room speakers, or those with certain medical conditions that result in an unusually quiet voice
Two-way communicator (over wires, or whatever wireless protocol you deem best — LoRa, XBee, Bluetooth, etc.)
Smart speaker (or interface with an existing smart speaker system)
Hearing aid (probably with some extra features that can’t be found in commercial hearing aids, since those can fit inside your ear)
Boom mike operator’s sound unit (in a film/TV setting)
Parabolic microphone
Myriad things I haven’t thought of yet!
Want to learn more about Feather? See the Awesome Feather list for details.
Adafruit has had paid day off for voting for our team for years, if you need help getting that going for your organization, let us know – we can share how and why we did this as well as the good results. Here are some resources for voting by mail, voting in person, and some NY resources for our NY based teams as well. If there are additional resources to add, please let us know – adafruit.com/vote
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
