Make A Remote Control Ring

Movement of a finger or a hand can control a robot, PC, TV, or other device. This button less remote control ring measures human movement to remotely operate devices.

For possible uses for the sick or impaired, see step 8.

The video below shows the ring being used to control a robot ant to pick up a block.

or go to youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbazbiOjS9k

Step 1: Materials

Pic 2 shows the different circuit layers that make up the ring.
Total cost of parts is about $45 US not including shipping

Available from www.hvwtech.com/
08m SOIC Picaxe microcontroller

Available from www.pololu.com/
MMA7260QT 3-axis accelerometer
5 volt boost regulator

Available from www.mouser.com
2-infrared LEDs
3mm blue LED
CR1220 3volt lithium battery and holder
30 gauge magnet wire
resistors

Available from www.allelectronics.com/
solid line perfboard

1" key chain ring

Comments

[R.A.T.M]

2 much work for such a small payoff

[ALogan97]

could i use an arduino instead of the picaxe microcontroller? i have an arduino but not the picaxe and want to make something like this after seeing the kymera wand (way too expensive, i only get stuff if its pretty much free :D) but can't find a remote control thing like thisthat works off arduino...

[Project D]

Arduino would be too large to wear as a ring. Perhaps as a gauntlet.

[ALogan97]

Yeah, that could work, I'll probably either do that or make it into a bracelet of some sort.

[jelly9]

wowo keren gan,,

[gorgo333]

Just out of curiosity, have you thought about trying some type of free-form circuitry here? It seems like if you went without a PCB you could save quite a bit of space on this part of the build, at least. But maybe doing it free-form would be more hassle than it's worth?

[bull660]

this gives me ideas :)

[330]

cool but it needs a cover

[demonsonic1]

Can you post an Instructable on how to make that robot ant also?

[karossii]

with a pair of these rings working in tandem; either on two fingers of the same hand or one on each hand... you could exponentially expand the number of controls... I can envision some very interesting uses for this!

Now, to miniaturize the ring so it looks like normal jewelry!

[Eirinn]

It could be done... however the power source will probably be the largest problem (largest in terms of most problematic and size wise).

[columna1]

isn't there some way to harness electricity from your body i thought i saw this somewhere i know touch on lamps use this... somewhat but i am sure you can even if thay are minute you probably can

[karossii]

The amount of electricity produced by the human body is so negligible, that it must be amplified quite a bit to register on EEG/EKG machines (as one example). Several creatures (I use the term loosely, including plants, and cellular organisms such as mitochondria and bacterium) have modified cellular and/or muscular structures which allow them to convert solar or chemical energy into electrical potential; sometimes on an order strong enough to kill a human. So it is feasible that one day we will discover a method of enhancing our body's conversion process to generate electricity on an appreciable scale, but in today's science... we won't be powering any devices soon. As to the touch lamps, they use capacitance, not generated electricity. This is the same technology used to make safe tools such as table saws (where the blade stops and drops when something with capacitance touches it), certain types of touch screens, etc. And just like those devices, an object with the right capacitance such as a stylus or a hot dog could be used in place of the flesh.

[SumGie]

I saw a device - I think it was called a Khyber wand - in another instructable.  The wand was a trainable remote control that recognized 13 different gestures, so it could be used to control your tv, etc... A real-life magic wand.  Great idea, but overpriced for me.  The instructable concerned was about 'antiquing' it.  I'm thinking it might be fun to try adapting this project to make a DIY version of the wand I saw.

[Eirinn]

Kymera Magic Wand, my girlfriend has been wanting one for ages - she doesn't even have a TV. I guess she's got the Harry Potter fever :) As i remember the Kymera is even running an arduino for a brain, so one could hack it :D

[DarkRubyMoon]

This is a great instructable and will be lots of use to someone with a disability! Thank you so much for sharing it with everyone, and congratulations!

[wcb]

This instructable is by far the most useful of all.  I want to thank you for sharing it with us. Although only a neophyte electronics person I am going to build this item and present it to someone who needs the additional help in life. Thank you for using your expertise and talent to invent such an item.
Respectufully..
William C. Bowser
Global Internet Video
World Video Access
VidProd Global

[mark28]

hi this project is great and it seems interesting if i wanna control  a pc is it the same program code that you made for the robot?

thanks for youy soon answer

[mikey77]

No, each receiving device requires its own microcontroller and custom code.

[roadieflip]

Some mighty fine (in both senses) soldering there.

[ppatches24]

 Sooooo AMAZING i love this i want one sooo coool great job

[D5quar3]

 Cool you should win

[me]

 wauw that looks awesome, as does your robot. I'm surprised by how accurate you can control the robot with the ring