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Sparkfun hacking challenge: turn a laser tape measure into Lidar

Posted by Dimitar Kolev on November 10, 2011 at 2:30am

3689432275?profile=originalFrom Sparkfun, a $100 prize if you can decrypt the serial output from a commercial laser tape measure so it can be possibly hacked into a sensor useful for robots: 

"This tutorial, "Laser Tape Measure Hacking," comes from SparkFun CEO Nate Seidle (aka, El Queso Grande). Nate was intrigued by the idea that if he could hack a laser tape measure, it could be used in autonomous vehicles, 3D scanning, or any number of other applications. So Nate set out to hack the device. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to wrangle the serial controls and hit a wall. That's where you come in."

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  • Dean Lamborn November 15, 2011 at 7:35pm

    Or you could just buy one with RS232 output. Ok, it is $539.

    Optilogic Laser Range Finder with RS232

  • Dimitar Kolev November 11, 2011 at 4:05am

    Yes Kamu, likely does not mean easily :-)

  • Russkel November 11, 2011 at 2:23am
    So if it has encrypted serial output, what is actually reading and decrypting it? Is it software? The software could likely be reversed...
  • YureZzZ November 10, 2011 at 11:20pm

    'm willing to hack that thing - but are they providing such device or I have to buy one myself? My postage rates will be much bigger than the device itself =(

     

    LCD hacking can be done - but it is not the best way, believe me - I've tried it once on Bosch laser ruler - it is so messy. Better to hack serial.

  • Dimitar Kolev November 10, 2011 at 11:47am

    Thanks to the moderator for editing my boring copy and poste post - it is looking better now.

    Here is another two devices - "doppler speedmeters" - How wheels radar gun - http://www.edparadis.com/radar/ and pocket radar http://pocketradar.com/ which are just asking for such serial hacking :-)

    Hacking the Hot Wheels Radar Gun
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