HACKTOR - the Elektor dog - a PCB platform [150119]

Hacktor is a modular PCB development platform... oh, and by the way, also a dog. It's still a work in progress, but it will be ready to bark at the moon (and to any other stranger who gets close enough) pretty soon, so stay tuned!

Hacktoris a modular PCB development platform... oh, and by the way, also a dog. It's still a work in progress, but it will be ready to bark at the moon (and to any other stranger who gets close enough) pretty soon, so stay tuned!

It will feature a proximity sensor in order to detect when you're near it, playing a barking sound with an audio IC and turning its LED eyes on. Well, and its name says it all... it will be ready for your own hacks indeed!

Update 22/4/2014
Added design files of prototype.

Project Elements

Concept sketch (PCB assembly) (PNG, 32.05 KB)

Mean eyes (JPG, 682.18 KB)

Its a male! (JPG, 744.14 KB)

First sketch (JPG, 1.27 MB)

Schematic (early stage!) (PNG, 15.72 KB)

HacktorMain_0.sch (SCH)

Schematic (Designspark PCB) - UPDATED 01/27/14

hacktorModel.zip (ZIP)

3D Model (Designspark Mechanical) - UPDATED 01/27/14

150119-hacktor-panel.zip (ZIP)

Gerbers and panel design

150119-v1.0-hacktor-DSPCB.zip (ZIP)

DesignSpark PCB design files of the three boards

150119-1-Hacktor-V1.0-BOM.zip (ZIP)

Bill of Materials

Discussion (7 comments)

neilg 10 years ago

Here are the initial PCB layout files

Layout files (85kb)

1 Attachment(s) 0 Comment(s)

neilg 10 years ago

Initial part placement and board outlines for Hacktor. I still need to line up the connectors and fix the connections between the main board and the head board.

HacktorBoards.zip (60kb)

1 Attachment(s) 0 Comment(s)

neilg 10 years ago

Added slots on the main and head PCBs so that they can interlock together.

3D Model (29kb)

neilg 10 years ago

Yes, I used DSP Mechanical. Did you unzip it first?

wh 10 years ago

Hey - thanks Neil, but I am having difficulties opening it - did you do this with DSP Mechanics?

1 Attachment(s) 2 Comment(s)

neilg 11 years ago

Updated schematics for the body, head and legs.

HacktorSchematic.zip (38kb)

1 Attachment(s) 0 Comment(s)

neilg 11 years ago

Approximate 3D model from the sketch in Designspark Mechanical.

3D Model (22kb)

neilg 11 years ago

Sure! Not a problem!

Jaime G.-Arintero 11 years ago

Hey Neil, this is Jaime at Elektor. Would you mind if I add all the files from contributions on the main site? Even though it's a work in progress, I think it would be more clear this way... All contributions come from your side, after all :) Thanks!

1 Attachment(s) 2 Comment(s)

neilg 11 years ago

Added 2xAAA batteries to the schematic for power.

Schematic (67kb)

1 Attachment(s) 0 Comment(s)

neilg 11 years ago

My idea is to use an Atmel QTouch (AT42QT1011) sensor as a proximity sensor to detect when you are near Hacktor. This will then trigger an audio playback IC (ISD2360) to play a prerecorded barking sound via a speaker. The audio IC is programmed via an onboard SPI header. The audio IC also controls Hacktor's LED eyes.

Some of the component values still need to be calculated. Also what kind of battery should be used? A coin cell is power limited but small and cheap. 9V batteries have enough power but quite a bit of power would be wasted unless a SMPS is used. I like the idea of using 2 AAA batteries because then a regulator isn't needed.

Hacktor.prj (0kb)
HacktorMain.sch (49kb)

2 Attachment(s) 0 Comment(s)