Posts by Brian
Pi-hole on Google Wifi
One of the first projects I wanted to try with my new Raspberry Pi was running Pi-hole. Pi-hole is a software tool that blocks Internet ads before they ever download – not just on a s...
In electronics, May 21, 2020
Headless Raspberry Pi Zero W Setup
The Raspberry Pi Zero W is the smallest standalone RPi board, and includes built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. It has the same 40-pin GPIO pinout as the full-featured Raspberry ...
In electronics, May 20, 2020
RV-8 Flight Performance Analysis
I had to write a short paper for my propulsion class, so I put together a quick and dirty performance analysis of a garden-variety RV-8. I used the open source Jupyter Notebook and th...
In engineering, Jan 11, 2017
3D Statics Problem
The following three-dimensional statics problem is taken from the book Engineering Mechanics: Statics, 8th edition, by J. L. Meriam, et al. The solution algorithm was created using th...
In Engineering, Dec 08, 2015
Finite Difference Method
This document uses the open source Jupyter Notebook and the Python programming language to demonstrate a finite difference numerical method for solving a differential equation.
In Engineering, Nov 26, 2015
Arduino-Processing Serial Communication
Over the last few weeks I’ve been messing around quite a bit with the Processing programming language. I was drawn to it initially because it is a close cousin to the Arduino language...
In electronics, Apr 06, 2011The Future of Earth-to-Orbit Propulsion
Author’s NoteThis is probably my favorite article on rocketry and engineering. I initially found this on Rocketry Online way back in 2001 or 2002, and have re-read it many times since...
In rocketry, May 25, 2009
Beginning SSH on Ubuntu
Let’s say you have a private LAN running in your secret underground lab. Maybe you’ve got a Linux box hardwired to a WiFi router, and maybe a Mac or Linux laptop floating around somew...
In linux, May 29, 2008
Arduino-Python 4-Axis Servo Control
Although the Arduino platform is ideal for standalone applications, it really comes to life when interfaced with a PC. Connect Arduino to a personal computer and you instantly add a t...
In electronics, Apr 08, 2008
Why I Use Linux
My first computer was an Apple IIc. I was thirteen years old and, at that age, it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. It had a gorgeous, green-on-black display scree...
In linux, Mar 18, 2008
Arduino Serial Servo Control
One of the cool features of the Arduino platform is its ability to talk to other electronic devices using standard protocols. The big draw of physical computing, in my opinion, is the...
In electronics, Dec 09, 2007
Arduino Pulse-Width Modulation
The digital pins on the Arduino board can be set (with code) to output either HIGH (5V) or LOW (0V) — essentially ON or OFF. This is great for applications like blinking LEDs or activ...
In electronics, Dec 08, 2007
CATO: Catastrophic Engine Failure
The Rocket-Mounted Video Camera Project came to an abrupt end as the V-2 model rocket Prima Donna suffered a catastrophic failure (CATO) on its first launch attempt. Although tragic, ...
In rocketry, Oct 13, 2007
Rocket Stability and Performance
The Rocket-Mounted Video Camera project is nearing completion. Prior to the flight test phase, however, prudence demands that we run a few simulations to ensure that the rocket will h...
In rocketry, Oct 12, 2007
Rocket-Mounted Digital Video Camera
The idea comes from MAKE Magazine, Vol. 7: Hack a $30, “single-use” camcorder and fly it on a model rocket. The project involves disassembly of the plastic camera housing, soldering a...
In rocketry, Oct 11, 2007