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USELESS DEVICES

A useless machine or useless box is a device which has a function but its direct purpose is deliberately unknown. Here is a basic useless box.Fun Fact! A normal useless box goes for around 3.5k on Amazon. Useless box

The following Table lists out the different components of a basic useless box

Sl No Electronic component Mechanical component Mechanism / working principle Links
1 Arduino Mega - Is a low-cost, flexible, and easy-to-use programmable open-source microcontroller board Check here
2 Common Anode RGB LEDs - RGB LED products combine these three colors to produce over 16 million hues of light Check here
3 - Heavy Duty Toggle Switches A toggle switch is a digital on/off switch Check here
4 Savox SA1230SG Digital Servo - is ideal for those requiring extra torque, but not using high voltage as a power source. Check here
5 - M3 Bolts with Nuts Are a set of nut and bolt usually used to secure or fasten materials together Check here
6 - M8 Bolts with Nuts and Washers Are a set of nut and bolt usually used to secure or fasten materials together Check here
7 - Padauk Wood (I used an 12in x 1in x 8ft board) A plank of wood Check here
8 Electrical Tape - A tape used for electrical purposes Content Cell
9 USB Cord - Normal USB cord Check here
10 - Base Plate , Base Rotating Arm Base plate for arm and a rotating arm Check here
11 - Actuating Cross Member 3 Hole Rotary actuator with hole-in-the-wall for fail safe Check here
12 - Switch Hitting Knob Knobs are mechanical components which allow efficient tightening and loosening of screws. Check here
13 - Servo Arm Short (45mm),Servo Arm,Short Arm Different mechanical components required to make the arm Check here

Images containing design and circuit

Solutions available

Currently there are many commercial useless devices available in the market, you can buy some online on websites like Amazon where you get the most basic useless device with a single switch for about 3.5k INR. Below are some links to useless devices available online.

Do not touch box

Useless box

Relevant and similar ideas

  • One unique Idea can be to make a useless trash bin which instead of storing trash, litters it.
  • To make it more intense we could add a randomizer where it doesn't let you open the lid of the bin every time, this can be achieved by having a button to open the lid and it is coded such that it opens after certain number of attempts.

References: