yet another source of inspiration…
In this post, we’re developing a Happy Cube solver using a mixed integer linear program (MILP). Previously, we tackled this problem on a micro:bit using dynamic programming and backtracking. Now, we’re trying a different approach by creating a mathematical model to solve this combinatorial challenge. The idea is to structure the MILP so that it… Read more A MILP based Happy Cube©® Solver
In today’s blog post, let’s dive into the fascinating realm of solving Sudoku puzzles using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP). Check this previous post to see how a sudoku solver can be developed in python using dynamic programming and backtracking. Sudoku, a classic logic-based number placement puzzle, has long captivated minds around the globe with… Read more How to Develop a Sudoku Solver Using Mixed Integer Linear Programming
Two Poems by Heinz Erhardt
I dedicate this post to one of my favorite composers, Johann Sebastian Bach. I was walking through Paris years ago when I approached a cathedral where someone had played this piece. It is the fugue of the Bach Toccata, BWV 565. At first, I thought that a virtuos organist must be at work here. Only… Read more micro:bit plays Bach
I owe this task to Ruedi, a regular tennis player. The Tennis Court Problem (TCP) is about the following task. At the beginning of outdoor tennis, the court lines must always be cleaned first. The sweeping set is often placed in one of two typical locations, usually either on one side of the net or… Read more The Tennis Court Problem (TCP)
In this post I’ll demonstrate the results of my most recent fun project on the micro:bit: An app to solve Happy Cubes®, a set of puzzles created in 1986 by the Belgian toy inventor Dirk Laureyssens. My kids were playing with these cubes and I was wondering, if the micro:bit could solve these cubes in… Read more Solving Happy Cubes® on A micro:bit
In this post I will demonstrate a “Hello, World!” example for the micro:bit to light up some Neopixels. Neopixels are individually-addressable RGB LEDs and can come in various forms. The most common form is the chain having all units connected serially. It was invented by Adafruit, an open-source hardware company based in New York City. Why did I… Read more Neopixels with micro:bit
In this post I’ll show you the simplest setup to generate synthetic sound using an Arduino Pro Mini. Of course you can also run it on a Leonardo or on an Arduino UNO R3. The project is inspired from a project from the official arduino project hub and you can get the sourcecode here. What… Read more Happy Birthday Duino
In this post I’ll show you how to build an arduino based math training console based on simple standard components. The app is suitable for training math in lower and middle school. It allows configuring difficulty level as well as operations and lets the player choose the correct result from a selection of 4 outcomes… Read more An Arduino based Math Trainer
It was the machine one wanted to own as a boy back in the eigthies, long before the Amiga had been acquired by Commodore Inc. – the Commodore 64. At that time, PCs were presenting monochrome character-art pictures, games had to be played using the cursor keys and from time to time one could hear… Read more Ode to a Legend of the Eighties – The Commodore 64