Real Working Sonic Screwdriver



This is a fully functional electronic multi-tool modeled after the Sonic Screwdriver used in the hit series Dr. Who. This screwdriver is built using an Arduino Pro Mini to control it. Among the various features and functions that this device has are an EMF (electromagnetic field) meter, voltage detector, dog whistle, brown note tone generator, sound level meter, ohm meter, volt meter, and an IR universal remote. It can also serve as a laser pointer or a flashlight and of course there is several settings for making the LED pulse dramatically. The device can also be configured to have an electromagnet or output voltage supply if necessary.

Video of this working on youtube: http://youtu.be/zqc8fmZKMMI



30 comments:

  1. This is a pretty awesome prop. Do you have schematics and/or a bill of parts for the actual electronics somewhere? (Or did I just miss the link?)

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  2. Any plans on releasing a step by step blueprint for this?

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  3. Anonymous12/18/2012

    You should make some more and sell them on Ebay, I personally would adore one of these. :)

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    1. Not a bad idea. I will definately consider it.

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  4. Anonymous12/19/2012

    This is awesome! I wonder what exactly your "brown note tone generator" consists of, and have you tested its effects?

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  5. The brown note tone generator uses a piezoelectric speaker and produces a tone at 10000 hz which oscillates once every 500 milliseconds. The tone is uncomfortable and will make most people feel sick.

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  6. This looks like a fun project, I cant wait to see the complete BOM.

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  7. YOU SIR
    deserve a cookie (::)

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  8. Anonymous1/22/2013

    Any progress on the blueprint and hardware list?

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  9. Anonymous1/24/2013

    I'm definitely waiting for blueprints and part list to try and make one which won't be "just an eye candy for the wandering Whovian"...

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  10. Anonymous3/08/2013

    Nice, I know just the person who'd like one of these...

    also, have you considered adding some other features such as logic tester (handy), scanning RV laser projector using PS3 diodes, and possibly a Li-Ion and LED tester/recovery tool would be handy.
    I'd current limit it to 100mA though...

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    1. Fantastic ideas! I will definitely try to incorporate them into a future update. I also want to design a metal detector circuit that is small enough to fit on the screwdriver. I like the idea of the logic probe because it wouldn't take too much to add that in with the current state of the screwdriver.

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  11. Anonymous3/08/2013

    This is a lovely bit of kit. Just needs a housing and be available on eBay (my electronics skills are second to everyone, including creatures without opposable thumbs). Great work.

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  12. Anonymous3/08/2013

    google "superprobe" for the non-'Dr. Who' version of this tool

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  13. Anonymous3/31/2013

    This is great, I can barely wait for the plans. I am by no means an electronic person, but I could try building one for myself.

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  14. cool, now it needs a brass case to look beautiful!

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  15. Any way for you to provide the plans?

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  16. Nouman Uz Zama4/15/2013

    I made this for my own use :). These types of













    handy tools


    always useful.

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  17. That would likely be the next step. I have also thought of creating an open source project around is similar to the Tricorder Project.

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  18. Alex Cruz10/15/2013

    one open source version will add new features, would replace components, would improve in less time, you can sell the starter kit and let open source, could help you implement this in Mexico

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  19. There is definitely pros and cons for each option. I have no experience with running a business myself but it is definitely something that I would like to do. My plan at this point is to try to make a few of these and sell them, from there I can decide what the best course of action will be.

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  20. DarkHood2/18/2014

    Planning to make one, but a schematic would be nice.

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  21. I'm just curious and I promise not to steal the blueprints because I just know I would be completely rubbish at even beginning to try to make it but are you going to release how you made it? I just think its so totally awesome that it would be really cool to figure out how to make it. Sorry if I am offending you or anybody else by asking that I am just really impressed by it. Nice work!!!!

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  22. Gunther,
    Would you consider making me one and letting me buy it? I personally don't care if its a premature version. Just need one soon.

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  23. David Justen6/02/2014

    You used to have the schematics up for this. Is there any chance that they will be returning?

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  24. Hi David, I use to have one of the early conceptual sketches available but it was more artistic then it was technically accurate. If your looking for some ideas there is some good schematics available through the Seattle Robotics Society website: http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/200012/logicprobe.htm. It is unlikely that the schematics will be returning as they caused a lot of confusion.

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  25. David Justen6/03/2014

    Okay, thanks!

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  26. Paul Bagley8/26/2014

    don't know a pip circuit from a diod but totally awesome

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