SomethingUnreal | UPDATED! Computer+Microprocessor Controlled Washing Machine @SomethingUnreal | Uploaded 16 years ago | Updated 6 hours ago
We've updated my brother's (steeeven1's) computer-controlled washing machine! =D

Originally it could only do 8 different speeds, and in 1 direction. Now it can do 1000 different speeds - 500 in either direction! (This also means we can smoothly fade between speeds.)

It no longer buzzes or 'whines' as the motor turns! It's now pulsed at 32,000 Hz, well above the hearing range of humans. The result: A quiter and smooth-sounding motor.

It now is also more self-contained, running off a normal 9V battery and a 9.6V NiCd remote-controlled vehicle battery. Prevoiusly it needed its own power supply unit (transformer).

Instead of a simple circuit, it is now controlled via 2 circuit boards, by the computer. The first circuit board is a microcontroller which takes commands from the computer, and gives them to the motor speed controller. The microcontroller is able to do fancy fades between speeds with only 1 command from the computer, and to maintain these speeds without the computer constantly re-sending the requests. This takes a lot of pressure off the computer (washing machine doesn't 'freeze' if another program is busy on the computer, and there is less CPU usage).

The microcontroller uses the 9V battery, and the motor speed controller uses the NiCd battery for itself and the motor.

The boards used are the 'SSC-32' (32-channel microcontroller) and the 'SyRen 10' (10-amp single motor speed controller). You can find these on lynxmotion.com.

- - - - ! ! ! ! ! - - - -
Sorry, this video is completely UN-EDITED, which explains its length and boring parts.
- - - - ! ! ! ! ! - - - -

I have a feeling that there are going to be more mods made to this washing machine, since the microcontroller can control 32 things, and yet is only being used for 1 at the moment. :P