Comments on: Boot Alarm – Part 1: Introduction http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/ You can learn from our mistakes. Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:33:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Joshua http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1670 Joshua Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:11:35 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1670 Chief, I showed your comment to the Senior Chief I've been working with on this project (and many others). He's a Builder and can do amazing things with mainly wood but also basically any other material. I need to get the innards done because I definitely would like his help with making the boot a good cradle for the electronics. Unfortunately, he has been unable to help too much on the technical side, but I figure that's why we work well together. I like your thoughts, I think you just missed the next post: http://www.ece101.com/2010/03/boot-alarm-part-2-brainstorming/ I'll add a link in the text of this post. Sadly, though I've been working on this for the Boot, somebody stole my bull horns while I was gone for two weeks. I guess when this is done I'll have to put together another version for the horns. And I still don't know who it was who stole it... Chief, I showed your comment to the Senior Chief I’ve been working with on this project (and many others). He’s a Builder and can do amazing things with mainly wood but also basically any other material. I need to get the innards done because I definitely would like his help with making the boot a good cradle for the electronics. Unfortunately, he has been unable to help too much on the technical side, but I figure that’s why we work well together.

I like your thoughts, I think you just missed the next post: http://www.ece101.com/2010/03/boot-alarm-part-2-brainstorming/ I’ll add a link in the text of this post.

Sadly, though I’ve been working on this for the Boot, somebody stole my bull horns while I was gone for two weeks. I guess when this is done I’ll have to put together another version for the horns. And I still don’t know who it was who stole it…

]]> By: Chief http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1662 Chief Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:08:48 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1662 Ensign, I'm sure that by now you should know that if you have a problem you can always find a Chief Petty Officer to show you the way to enlightenment. Instead of a proximity alarm why not something that requires the boot to actually be stolen before it alarms. If the boot doesn't leave your presence it can't actually be said to have been stolen. The high tech / high dollar / Navy way would be GPS but I think that RFID would be a more 'elegant' way. An RFID tag that 'The Boot' keeps on his person and an alarm that trips when the tag is out of range might work. An even simpler method would be a vibration or tilt alarm that you could turn on or off. SPST, Battery, piezo alarm and mercury switch... Ensign, I’m sure that by now you should know that if you have a problem you can always find a Chief Petty Officer to show you the way to enlightenment. Instead of a proximity alarm why not something that requires the boot to actually be stolen before it alarms. If the boot doesn’t leave your presence it can’t actually be said to have been stolen. The high tech / high dollar / Navy way would be GPS but I think that RFID would be a more ‘elegant’ way. An RFID tag that ‘The Boot’ keeps on his person and an alarm that trips when the tag is out of range might work.
An even simpler method would be a vibration or tilt alarm that you could turn on or off. SPST, Battery, piezo alarm and mercury switch…

]]> By: Joshua http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1653 Joshua Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:13:42 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1653 This is my fault for leaving out some of the requirements. A false positive is much worse than the boot actually getting stolen. The Seabee Lounge, where our weekly meetings are held, is fairly small (and ghetto), meaning the boot is in relatively close proximity to people. If it starts making sounds while one of the Captains is speaking, we'll probably get a pass the first time because it's a novelty. The second time and there'll be repercussions. But a less sensitive circuit (starting a couple of inches out), while not much of a deterrent, would be unbelievably cool. This is my fault for leaving out some of the requirements. A false positive is much worse than the boot actually getting stolen. The Seabee Lounge, where our weekly meetings are held, is fairly small (and ghetto), meaning the boot is in relatively close proximity to people. If it starts making sounds while one of the Captains is speaking, we’ll probably get a pass the first time because it’s a novelty. The second time and there’ll be repercussions. But a less sensitive circuit (starting a couple of inches out), while not much of a deterrent, would be unbelievably cool.

]]> By: Brian C http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1652 Brian C Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:43:53 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1652 The field will extend quite a distance from the antenna (ever see someone play a Theramin?). If anyone gets within a foot of the boot, you'll be able to detect it. You could also add a capacitive circuit since the sole of the boot is an insulator. The field will extend quite a distance from the antenna (ever see someone play a Theramin?). If anyone gets within a foot of the boot, you’ll be able to detect it. You could also add a capacitive circuit since the sole of the boot is an insulator.

]]> By: Joshua http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1651 Joshua Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:07:07 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1651 Nice. I like the idea because it is definitely another level of ECE geekiness. Unfortunately, it only stops someone from touching the rebar, the boot itself can be picked up from the soles and spirited away. I'm currently writing the next post on the brainstorming process and I'll definitely include this in there. If time/budget permits, maybe I'll include a Theremin circuit just for the coolness. Nice. I like the idea because it is definitely another level of ECE geekiness. Unfortunately, it only stops someone from touching the rebar, the boot itself can be picked up from the soles and spirited away. I’m currently writing the next post on the brainstorming process and I’ll definitely include this in there. If time/budget permits, maybe I’ll include a Theremin circuit just for the coolness.

]]> By: Brian C http://www.ece101.com/2010/02/boot-alarm-part-1-introduction/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Brian C Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:57:09 +0000 http://www.ece101.com/?p=1341#comment-1649 I don't know about you, but when I saw that rebar sticking out of the boot, my first thought was: Antenna! An oscillator attached to the rebar, and a small speaker would alert you with a nice squeal when anyone gets close to the boot. Take a look at Theremin circuits for some ideas I don’t know about you, but when I saw that rebar sticking out of the boot, my first thought was: Antenna! An oscillator attached to the rebar, and a small speaker would alert you with a nice squeal when anyone gets close to the boot. Take a look at Theremin circuits for some ideas

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