- by Vi
How to make a computer (in particular, my laptop) to perform some mechanical movements without buying anything $5, soldering things inside computer or creating big sophisticated circuits?
Traditionally CD-ROM tray is used to make computer do some movement IRL by, for example, SSH command, but in laptop tray is one-shot (unless manually reloaded) and also not very comfortable [mis]usage.
Some assistance circuits can be in use too, but not complex. For example, there is a little motor that can work on USB power.
Devices in my computer:
DVD-ROM tray: one-time push.
USB power: continuous power to the motor or LEDS or relay that turns on something powerful.
Audio card. 3 outputs (modprobe alsa model=test can set Mic and Line-in as additional output). One controllable DC output (microphone) that can power up LED and some electronic (may be even mechanic?) relay. Also with sophisticated additional circuiting can control a lot of devices with a good precision. Both input and output support. Probably the most useful object in computer for radio ham.
Modem. Don't know about this much, it doesn't work because of hsfmodem crashes kernel if memory is = 1GB. May be it's "pick up" and "hang up" can turn on and off power taken from USB port?
Video card. VGA port? S-Video port? Will them be useful?
Backlight. Tunable, but probably unuseful.
CardBus (or some) slot. Nothing interesting for the task probably (is it?).
AC adapter and battery. Probably nothing programmable here. /* My AC adapter already have additional jacks to connect extra devics */
Keyboard. No use.
Touchpad. Good sensor (synclient -m 1), but no output.
Various LEDs inside laptop. Probably too weak and requires soldering.
Fans inside laptop. Poor control over them, requires soldering and dangerous to tinker.
HDD (internal and external) that can be spin down and up (hdparm -Y, cat /dev/ubb). But connecting anything serially with it's power line makes HDD underpowered... And too complex.
Is something are missed? Any ideas how to use described components? Any other ideas?
May be there are easily available /* in developing countries */ cheap devices like "enhanced multimeters" that are controllable from computer and can provide configurable output and measure current and other things? Things to aid pushing many physical buttons with computer. Isn't this a simple idea and implementation and a lot of use in good hands?
