HacDC

Rolando Quintanilla on how hackerspaces can help NASA:

In order for space exploration to prosper and become cost-effective robotic technology will need to be created and adapted to develop infrastructure that is necessary for human space exploration and industrial exploration. Concepts like those behind the RepRap, will be required to be further developed so that it is possible to automatically manufacture goods as needed in space. The RepRap technology in part has driven the conception of a previous future technology I proposed in “Future Tech: Spider-bots dial Home”. I imagine developing Spider-bots that can manufacture themselves, manufacture other things and can also be used for surveillance and exploration. Now if the technology required to do space exploration is developed in open-source/Creative Commons type methodologies, then groups of people will be able to work together in Hackerspaces, Universities and Industry to propel innovations forward that are created at NASA making space exploration cheaper.

The search for alien life just got even more interesting.

16 AVR programmer kits walked into a room in anti-static bags last night.  16 fully assembled and tested programmers walked out.  Many people learned to solder and the sweet smell of flux filled the air.  It doesn't get better than that. Except that next week, it will. Special thanks to Mitch for the cool demos, soldering coaching, and endless enthusiasm. If you couldn't make it last night, don't fret.  The course will run again at a later date. Head on over to the wiki for class notes and downloadables. 

• By hexagon5un at 09/09/2008 - 4:23pm
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What: A five-part microcontroller course, taking you from zero to hero in just 30 days! Where: The space. When: Monday nights, 7:00pm to 9:00pm (nominally).  Sept 8 through Oct 6. Syllabus: Each class will be about 30 min introductory lecture, 20 min lab, 20 min lecture, 20 min lab.

Come check out our sound system for our first ever HACDC movie night before we take it down!  You don't have to bring one-hundred-thousand marks to the phone booth outside the Spirale Bar by noon, but you do need to bring youself to HACDC by 9:00pm tonight (Saturday, July 26). BYOP (Bring Your Own Popcorn) Email

• By Alli at 07/26/2008 - 4:47pm
• "Grand Opening Week"
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Last night, Ash came to the meeting with an RFID reader and a couple cards and an idea to turn it into an automatic door locker/unlocker by hooking it up to a motor and a small microprocessor. I liked the idea enough to toss it up as a project. The reader speaks 2400 baud 8N1, so it's a piece of cake to interface, and the cards are only $1.19 each.

(Please distribute widely to interested parties!) The Washington DC Area has a Hacker Space: HacDC. We have a space, tools, equipment, donated resources and a growing crop of enthusiastic participants who are ready to launch the organization. We've seen the need for a space to collaborate on all forms of technology, culture and craft in new and interesting ways. That space is now a reality. The response from the community proves it's sustainable.

Come to our first public event this Sunday! April 27 from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM (or possibly later!) 1525 Newton St NW, (located within the St Stephen & Incarnation Church). Cost:    FREE, but please bring a tool/furniture/electronic scrap to donate! Why:    We started HacDC to give the Washington DC area a place to make, build, disassemble, code, learn and do all the awesome things you can do in a "hacker space".  Like

• By nickfarr at 04/23/2008 - 4:20pm
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More on this later!