This is really cool! I've spent the last few years debugging lots of PDFs while working on DocSpring, so I'm always looking for new tools to make this easier. Thanks for working on pdfsyntax!
I installed a custom firmware on my ESP32-powered smart kettle and made it respond with the HTTP status code "418 I'm a teapot". [1]
I used an ESP32 to automate my kitchen rangehood light and fan [2].
I've flashed ESPHome on few smart outlets and powerboards. A lot of WiFi enabled devices that you buy in stores are actually white-labelled "Tuya" products, and there's a big community effort to hack the ESP32 chips and run your own custom firmware, such as ESPHome and Tasmota. Most off-the-shelf WiFi products don't work without the manufacturer's cloud services and apps. ESPHome means that everything works locally and it doesn't need to make any requests to the public internet.
I have KC868-AG IR/RF hubs in every room [3]. I found an awesome supplier on AliExpress who builds products specifically for ESPHome. They're quite expensive but they work really well. I mainly use them to control our air conditioners. I use one in my workshop to control an old CRT TV. And I also use them as "Bluetooth Proxies" [4] for Home Assistant. This means that I don't have to worry about range for bluetooth devices (temp/humidity sensors, switchbot, and LPG gas tank sensor.)
I run WLED [5] to control a few LED strips. I like using QuinLED controllers [6], which have an ESP32 chip plus some extra hardware for powering LEDs. I have one behind my desk in my office, and one on a board gaming table. I use Zigbee LED controllers for most of my LED lighting, but I like all the effects and patterns you can do with WLED.
I have a lot of ESP32 boards around my house running ESPresense [7]. They track the signals from our phones and watches and try to figure out which rooms are occupied, so the timers don't automatically turn off the lights. I use the ESPresense-companion app, which works ok, but I've been wanting to experiment with AI to make it more reliable.
I've been wanting to hack my espresso machine and get some feedback from the status LEDs, but I'm just using a SwitchBot to push the button [1] to turn it on. I use a smart wall plug that I use to turn it off. (It has a push button to toggle on/off, so turning it off at the wall means that the state never gets out of sync.) I also avoid the SwitchBot cloud app by communicating with the device directly via Bluetooth. YOu can also get cheaper alternatives on AliExpress.
Aww man, I added this idea to my project todo list last month when I saw another string art post: https://imgur.com/gallery/ljoJeal
I have a small CNC engraving machine that I'm planning to use for this. I'm sure I'll get around to it one day
Thanks for the tip about FreeCAD. I actually love OpenSCAD and have developed a really nice workflow in VS Code using some extensions (format on save, live preview, GitHub Copilot, etc.), but I would still like to learn some other tools as well. It looks like FreeCAD can do some really advanced things.
I have no experience with it yet but I have build123d[1] in my list of stuff to check out, it's basically OpenSCAD but in python and it seems quite more powerful (plus, fillets/chamfers/etc are built-in). It also seems to have VSCode integration through OCP CAD Viewer.
Great post. I've spend a lot of time reading through the PDF specification over the last ~5 years while building DocSpring [1], and I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface. qpdf is a great tool. One of my other favorites is RUPS [2], which really lets you dig into the structure of a PDF.
I wonder if we can use these superconducters on spacecraft and probes. Maybe we can place superconducting links on the outer hull of a spacecraft heading to Mars, or a probe heading into outer space.
Cooling them would still be a problem.
The sunny side might not be the best place for them.
They might find a niche in some instruments in probes, but for wiring it does not make sense.
The rest of the probe electronics don't like being that cold.
This company is pretty awesome! I lived in Chiang Mai for a few years and the burning seasons were absolutely horrible. I will never live there again. I bought an air quality sensor from a makerspace in Chiang Mai, and I was a bit frustrated that they kept it closed source so I couldn't get the data into Home Assistant.
I currently have TuYa TS0601 Zigbee air quality sensors in every room of my house. I don't think the data is very accurate, but I just use it to automatically turn on the rangehood fan when the PM25 spikes in the kitchen, and an extractor fan in the workshop. Also to monitor CO2 in the bedroom and our offices and turn on the nearby bathroom fans. So I use them more as a boolean sensor and don't really need precise measurements.
I live in New Zealand and fortunately our outdoor air quality is very good all year. If I lived somewhere with frequent wildfires (e.g. Sydney or Melbourne), then I'd probably upgrade to the airgradient indoor sensors.
New Zealand is small and we have a lot of problems (cost of living, housing crisis, low salaries, etc.) so we've been thinking about moving somewhere else, but I don't know if I can give up the clean air. It's actually a pretty nice place to live.
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