Build an Easy ISS Notifier

Tokymaker is a microcomputer from TokyLabs that letsyou create inventions in 5 minutes by mixing electronics, programming, and IoT— with no prior engineering knowledge. Electronic modules connect withoutsoldering, and everything is open source. It’s programmed from a website, whichsends code over Wi-Fi — no cables, software, or plugins. Using the graphicallanguage Google Blockly, even non-programmers can easily create code.

1. Set up Adafruit IO feed

Create a cloud account at io.adafruit.com. Then click onFeeds→Actions→Create a New Feed. Name it “ISS.” Click the View AIO Key button, then copy your unique key somewhere safe — you’ll needit later to link your Tokymaker to your Adafruit IO feed.

2. Set up IFTTT action

Create an account at ifttt.com. This site links Internet servicesin a very simple way. In our case: If the ISS passes over aspecific address, then send the number 100 to your AdafruitISS feed.

First you’ll choose the trigger.Select New Applet, then click on “+ this” and type “Space” in the search bar.Click the Space icon, then choose “ISS passes over a specific location, ” thentype your address and click on “Create trigger”.

Next, create the action: sendingthe number 100 to the Adafruit IO feed. Click on “+ that” and choose Adafruit.Click the Connect button and complete the fields in the popup window. Then, click on “Create action.” The cloud setup is done!

3. Program the Tokymaker

Now for the physical part: Every time the number 100is in the Adafruit IO feed, your Tokymaker will run a program to turn on alight, move a motor, whatever you want. Go to tokylabs.com/ISS and download the basicISS Notifier code to your Tokymaker. (Or make it yourself at create.tokylabs.com!)

4. Build your ISS Notifier

Find or make your own image of the space station, cutit out, and tape the Tokymaker onto the front. Glue the battery pack on theback. Plug the servomotor into Output 1, wrap its cable around, and glue theservo on the back so it’s standing up. Find our create your own astronaut imageand tape the printed astronaut to one end of the stick. Cut the stick to size, then glue the other end to the servo arm so the astronaut faces the front.

Spacewalk!

Now whenever the ISS passes over your location, your Tokymaker will move the servo to raise the astronaut, light up an LED, and showa message on the OLED screen with the number of orbits that day!

TokyLabs

Based in Shanghai and Barcelona, TokyLabs envisions technology not as a final objective but as a tool to achieve creative goals.