Dr. Peter Jansen has created his very own working tricorder, which was first featured in Star Trek as a stage prop and spawned the Tricorder X Prize. This competition offers a massive $10 million to anyone who can create a fully functional tricorder device.
Jansen’s tricorder is still a little way from winning the prize at the moment. However, it is still a fantastic device, and Jansen has now made available all the instructions and open-sourced the software. This means that anyone with the right skills and materials can build their very own tricorder.
The Evolution of Jansen’s Tricorder
Jansen has been building tricorders since 2007, but the latest device, called the Tricorder Mark 2, is a significant advancement. The Tricorder Mark 2 is built around a 180MHz Atmel AT92RM9200 microcontroller, two 2.8 inch, 320 x 240 pixel OLED displays, and resistive touchscreens. It is equipped with 32MB of RAM and a microSD card for the Linux operating system and data storage.
The device is capable of measuring various environmental parameters, including atmospheric temperature and humidity, pressure, magnetic fields, ambient light, and colors. This makes it a versatile tool for scientific exploration and data collection.
Open Source and Community Involvement
One of the most exciting aspects of Jansen’s tricorder project is its open-source nature. By making the instructions and software available to the public, Jansen has invited a community of developers, hobbyists, and scientists to contribute to and improve upon his design. This collaborative approach has the potential to accelerate the development of tricorder technology and bring us closer to the dream of a fully functional tricorder.
The open-source community has already shown great interest in the project, with many individuals and groups working on their own versions of the tricorder. This collective effort not only fosters innovation but also makes the technology more accessible to a wider audience.
Watch the video after the jump to see Peter Jansen talk about developing the tricorder and see it in action.
The Tricorder Mark 2 is not just a gadget for Star Trek fans; it represents a significant step forward in portable scientific instruments. The ability to measure and record environmental data in real-time has numerous applications, from field research to educational purposes. For example, students can use the tricorder to conduct experiments and gather data for science projects, while researchers can use it to monitor environmental conditions in remote locations.
In conclusion, Dr. Peter Jansen’s tricorder is an impressive achievement that brings us closer to the futuristic technology envisioned in Star Trek. By making the project open-source, Jansen has created an opportunity for widespread innovation and collaboration. As more people get involved and contribute to the project, we can expect to see even more advanced and functional tricorders in the future.
Source: Lilputing
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