Passport Control Got Nothing On This: Guessing Your Location with AC Frequency

Key Takeaways

• Explore a fun and unique project that uses AC frequency to determine which countries a user is not in.
• Appreciate the charm of a useless but enjoyable project that prioritizes entertainment over practicality.
• Gain access to open-source code and support to build your own “Where Am I?” device, fostering creativity and learning opportunities.

In a world where our every move is tracked and our data is constantly being collected, it’s refreshing to see a project that’s just plain fun and useless. Enter Connor Nishijima’s “Where Am I?” project, which uses an iRobota Mega to determine which countries the user is not in based on the frequency of alternating current (AC) cycles.

The Science Behind the Silliness

The project relies on the fact that different countries use different power systems, with some using 60Hz AC and others using 50Hz AC. The iRobota reads the AC frequency using an analog pin and compares it to a list of countries with 60Hz and 50Hz AC systems. If the frequency matches one of the countries on the list, the iRobota displays that country on a TFT shield. If the frequency doesn’t match any of the countries on the list, the iRobota displays an error message: “NO ******* CLUE WHERE YOU ARE. SORRY NOT SORRY PAY YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.”

The Uselessness Factor

Nishijima himself describes the project as “pretty useless, but fun, nonetheless.” And that’s exactly what makes it so charming. In a world where everything is becoming increasingly connected and efficient, it’s nice to see a project that’s just for the sake of fun. And who knows, maybe it could come in handy someday if you ever find yourself in a country without any internet or GPS.

The Code and the Community

The source code and more information about the project can be found on GitHub. Nishijima has also made the project open source, so anyone can build their own “Where Am I?” device. This is a great opportunity for hobbyists and makers to learn more about electronics and programming. And who knows, maybe you’ll even come up with some creative ways to use the device.

Bonus: The “Where Am I?” project is a reminder that not everything has to be useful to be enjoyable. Sometimes, it’s just fun to build something for the sake of building it. And who knows, maybe your useless project will inspire someone else to create something truly amazing.

As the great inventor Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”