6 ms·

Hacking Washing Machines [video]

222 points by clausecker 9mo ago

landr0id 9mo ago
Pretty cool for BSH and Miele to hop on a call with the researchers just to make sure there were no issues they were unaware of. Sounded like it was productive and positive for everyone involved. Hopefully they don't start doubling down on hardware security though :p The optical communication for the Miele was pretty interesting too. I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. Does anyone know of other devices this is used in or other benefits to this?
- opello 9mo ago
  > I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. The primary value discussed in the talk was electrical isolation since there's mains voltage in the appliance and the potential for shorts or inadequate isolation would require some kind of isolation, so a path that optically isolates the communication makes quite a bit of sense. I'm also curious if other devices have gone this route.
  - bri3d 9mo ago
    LG appliances at least used to use acoustic signaling for diagnostics: hold a phone up and the washer makes some modem-esque (I think it’s 4-tone / 4-FSK) noises and the app or technician can diagnose issues. It was originally engineered to even work over voice codecs, so a customer without a smartphone could relay the diagnostic session to a technician.
    - opello 9mo ago
      That's pretty cool. I found a write-up[1] on it but unfortunately didn't come across any examples of the communication. [1] https://github.com/kabelincho/LG-Smart-Diagnostics-modem https://github.com/kabelincho/LG-Smart-Diagnostics-modem
      - bri3d 9mo ago
        There are lots of examples on YouTube, this one seems succinct: https://youtube.com/shorts/3Eb315vL9uw https://youtube.com/shorts/3Eb315vL9uw . They picked good tones to make it satisfying IMO. I don’t know of anyone who’s reversed the bitstream in public, though, but it doesn’t seem like it should be very hard.
        opello 9mo ago
        That's a great example, thanks! I was looking for "LG Smart Diagnostics" and "audio" and then "LG Acoustic Diagnostics" and found TVs calibrating their audio playback but not this. Trying "LG Audible Diagnosis" found a bunch like yours.
    - imglorp 9mo ago
      That's some advanced gatekeeping right there. Where other appliances might have a blink code or several digit error display (Miele) to look up in a manual, the phone method tires you to the manufacturer.
      - noAnswer 9mo ago
        The support hotline will ask you to hold your phone towards the device. It is less error-prone (than a human) and contains more info than a blink code. I find it really clever.
        deleted 9mo ago
        [deleted]
        imglorp 9mo ago
        Sure it's clever. But it also means you can't repair the appliance without the manufacturer's server to decode it for you.
        grepfru_it 9mo ago
        Owner of an LG washer that failed here. All the same diagnostics you can do at the machine, the phone home service allowed a remote engineer to diagnose as well. Things like drum rpm, tilt/knock sensors, uneven balance detection. Instead of paying a human $250 to come out and press buttons, they can do it remotely. I understand in the pessimistic age of John Deere, all remote diagnostics are bad, but that is not the case here. I was able to do all of the diagnosis myself to determine it was a bad stator and then replace it myself.
        yhager 9mo ago
        How were you able to diagnose it yourself? Just through the error codes, or is there another interface available for non-technicians?
        9mo ago
    - landr0id 9mo ago
      >so a customer without a smartphone could relay the diagnostic session to a technician Do you mean by mimicking the noises themselves?
      - wpm 9mo ago
        No you see you just need to buy specially marked boxes of Cap'n Crunch that have a plastic whistle in them that plays the tones for you.
        userbinator 9mo ago
        I wonder how many HN readers still get that reference (and 2600, etc.)
        hunter2_ 9mo ago
        We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons...
        Y_Y 9mo ago
        I'm merely middle aged, but I've read the hacker lore. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box
      - notpushkin 9mo ago
        By holding their phone up to the machine.
    - atoav 9mo ago
      The absolutely "leetest" thing I have ever seen was a device where the firmware update was to be done by: 1. Hold a button while booting (pretty normal) 2. This reconfigures the circuit path of one of the LEDs so it is reverse-biased to VCC via its resistor and switches one of the microcontroller GPIOs to ADC input 3. You go to a website that plays a strobe pattern (encoding the firmware) 4. You hold that website in front of the LED till other LEDs blink, signifying a successful update They could have done this using a photodiode, but no, they had to abuse an LED. Not many people are aware that LEDs can in a certain configuration be used to measure light.
      - nicolaslem 9mo ago
        Another example of firmware update reusing something that is already there: some electric guitar effects from TC Electronics can be reprogrammed by bringing a phone close to the guitar pickups. The phone app encodes the data as sound that is picked up by the guitar pickups and sent down the chain to the effect.
        atoav 9mo ago
        Ahh good example I remember having done that myself before!
  - netsharc 9mo ago
    [flagged]
  - mjochim 9mo ago
    Electric meters often blink a signal LED for every X kWh, so other devices can read the signal. I'm not sure if this is used for bidirectional communications, though.
    - bigfatkitten 9mo ago
      No, but they also have a separate infrared interface for this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_62056 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_62056
    - NegativeLatency 9mo ago
      Smart meters have a whole protocol
  - eru 9mo ago
    Alternatively, I guess you could also use really thin cables to carry the low voltage paths; and that act as fuses, if ever a lot of current at high voltage was flowing across them? But probably not very reliable both in regular operation and as fuses. We have a Miele washing machine and a Miele dryer. Solid machines all around even after years of use.
    - bdonlan 9mo ago
      Fusible traces aren’t uncommon - but they would effectively destroy the device if current limits are exceeded, and they certainly would be if the power supply is non-isolated, so it wouldn’t actually be a solution to the firmware update problem. The usual solution here is an optical coupling of some kind - optocouplers (a box with a LED, photodiode, and air gap between them) are very common for this purpose, and are an inexpensive and effective option for digital signaling across an isolation boundary. In this case they’ve basically built a custom optocoupler out of discrete components, which is a bit unusual, but makes sense when you consider the risk of corrosion due to water ingress at the diagnostic ports, and the need to access it while - for example - a dishwasher cycle is running.
- MisterTea 9mo ago
  > The optical communication for the Miele was pretty interesting too. I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. IRDA was very popular at one point and still lives on in applications like these. It's an IR serial port hung off a UART. It's stupid simple requiring no cables, pairing, or complex protocol stacks. Some smart phones have IR blasters built in so its a total win for ease of deployment in cases like these.
AdieuToLogic 9mo ago
Whenever someone brings up washing machines and software, I am always reminded of Forth[0]: As an example, imagine a microprocessor-controlled washing machine programmed in Forth. The ultimate command in your example is named WASHER. Here is the definition of WASHER, as written in Forth: : WASHER WASH SPIN RINSE SPIN ; 0 - https://www.forth.com/starting-forth/1-forth-stacks-dictionary/ https://www.forth.com/starting-forth/1-forth-stacks-dictiona...
deleted 9mo ago
[deleted]
kh2engab 9mo ago
When I read 'Hacking washing machines' the first thing that came to mind was how to open that damn thing once the program had finished.
- mikeayles 9mo ago
  Most washing machines use a wax motor to lock the door, it heats up wax to cause it to expand when it melts, which drives a pin. They're fairly failsafe as if you kill power, they will open no matter what. Latching relays/(technically solenoid) could be driven on/off fast, the downside is in a power cut or an emergency, the relay wouldn't release unless specifically driven so. So the third option is a momentary solenoid, which would need to be powered the whole time the door is shut, and they require a surprisingly significant amount of power. Typically 10-20w. Negligible when it compares to the KW+ heating elements, but they do add up for the energy ratings.. Fwiw, I currently have a haier, which does have one of the second options, and opens immediately after a wash and it's amazing. Can't go back. But, wax motors continue to be used because they're just the right tool for the job.
  - bob1029 9mo ago
    You can still buy machines without the lid lock. They use an alternative design that can stop motion quickly enough to meet safety standards. I can open the lid on my washer in the middle of a heavy spin cycle at max RPM if I want to, but it will brake aggressively and come to a halt within 1-2 seconds. Being able to add laundry mid-cycle without asking permission from the computer is really nice.
- DemocracyFTW2 9mo ago
  > how to open that damn thing "I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that"
gorgoiler 9mo ago
We already know that hackers from NSA / FSB / PLA are working day and night on nation-state level attacks. They divert toilet tissue deliveries and hack traffic signals to raise my blood pressure to a tipping point where, presumably, I am supposed to demand local regime change? Now I have to worry about passing drones using blinkenlights to Stuxnet my wool wash and shrink my merino socks? Brilliant. Bloody brilliant. It’s like the most banal version of Battlestar Galactica ever but instead of an alien intelligence leveraging computer integration to attack mankind from within, it’s a guy in a t-shirt in a sweaty bunker filling my dishwasher to the brim with cold water then laughing at me via my Ring camera as he watches me flood my kitchen. [Very cool talk, thanks for sharing :) ]
letmetweakit 9mo ago
I'm "fearful" of a future where every random appliance needs to be connected to the internet in order to function at all. I hope some legislation gets passed (in the EU in my case) that forces manufacturers to ensure the machine works offline and connecting it is purely an opt-in feature.
- euroderf 9mo ago
  This might also need some kind of certification. Some sort of independent industry-financed lab atmosphere. I think UL (Underwriters Laboratories) worked that way.
rasyidi 9mo ago
[flagged]
moooo99 9mo ago
Very interesting talk! I think it is quite cool that Miele and BSH reached out when they saw the event announcements to make sure there are not any issues they're not aware of. Seems like a productive experience for all involved! The WiFi implementation was interesting to me, I am glad that it is reasonably safe. I understand much of the skepticism around these kinds of features, but I also see the value in many settings. As long as they remain optional, I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Kudos for BSH having good developer documentation and a local mode. I feel like a local mode should be mandatory, for safety and support reasons
nephihaha 9mo ago
What is the point in the WiFi? All I am interested in is something that washes my clothes. Not something with endless updates and glitches that ger fixed in post.
- barrkel 9mo ago
  It'll tell you when your clothes have finished washing so you can transfer them to the dryer and/or start a new load.
  - nephihaha 9mo ago
    I can do that without WiFi. So what is the point other than data harvesting?
    - bigstrat2003 9mo ago
      Depending on your house setup you might not be able to. My washer and dryer are in my basement, and I can't hear them at all (neither when they are running, nor the sound they make when they finish). Moreover, the timer listed on the machine when you start the cycle is not accurate (particularly for the dryer, which is frequently off by 30+ minutes). This means that I have no idea when my clothes are done except by going to the basement to check. That's not the end of the world, but it would be genuinely nice to be able to get them on my wireless network and have them send me a notification. Perhaps that doesn't apply to you and how your home is set up. Fair enough. But that doesn't mean the use case doesn't exist.
      - nephihaha 9mo ago
        I'd just time it and go down. I wouldn't want my devices to start messaging me. Already have enough problem with vague acquaintances doing so.
- stevenjgarner 9mo ago
  As we enter a world of robotics, some users may also find it useful to have their robots directly access their "appliances", including with "retro" appliances that do not adhere to some future interoperability standard. I remember way back when I had a Heathkit HERO-1, it had a built-in solderless breadboard on the robot’s head. I remember the total thrill of programming it that and the Radio Frequency (RF) Remote Control to turn off my bedroom light. Kind of a "hello" program moment for me.
megous 9mo ago
Makes me appreciate our landlord's electro-mechanical "music-box" washing machine. It has been working for 25 years with no servicing, except when it "broke" once about 5 years ago. So I just opened it, stared at it for a while, and after considering the symptoms (no click in the door locking mechanism but power indicator light turning on), I realized the issue will be with something very early on in the fixed washing cycle, before the timing motor gets activated, and there will be no serious electrical damage elsewhere (fuse intact). So I looked at the door locking mechanism (bi-metalic thing) and noticed that the cable connector leading to it was slightly shifted. Re-seated the connector, and the machine started working again. While it was open, I didn't notice anything horrible (corrosion, leaks, nothing). Probably the next thing that will "break" will be when the motor's carbon brushes will "run out". :) You can understand and diagnose these things even without knowing too much. That's how obvious, simple, and accessible the electro-mechanical design is.
donjoe 9mo ago
The video brought me back to my internship in the early 2010s. My job was testing the new US ovens (which for us Europeans are massive). The bus was amazing. Integrated into a LabView setup, you could basically collect any readings from the oven as well as remotely control it. Also, it was super easy to confirm "manual" actions (e.g. soleniods pushing buttons/motors turning knobs). A few other interesting tasks I was involved back then were: - smashing an oven's door until the hinges would give up - testing new heating elements in the open (basically, building a gigantic grill) - appliance transport packaging tests - cooking and baking on a daily basis to make sure food turns out as expected Overall, home appliances are a great product as an engineer to work on. It is a product you usually use multiple times a day. And if you love cooking yourself, even better :-)
puskavi 9mo ago
Neat, now I can diagnose whats going on with my 20y old Miele dishwasher when it does weird things!
ThomasMidgley 9mo ago
We have a Thermomix TM31 which I repaired a few weeks ago. On the control board I found an IR module and a LED beside that which both are visible from outside (left side of the display), but are not labled. Until now I couldn't find any documentation or information about this IR interface. It would be nice if someone will reverse engineer this. And maybe also an integration into the BSH-App. Then you could remotely start the cooking process when leaving the office... :-)
ThePowerOfFuet 9mo ago
I haven't had time to watch the video yet, but I will tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll leave this here: https://github.com/medusalix/FreeMDU https://github.com/medusalix/FreeMDU

222 points by clausecker 9mo ago

Pretty cool for BSH and Miele to hop on a call with the researchers just to make sure there were no issues they were unaware of. Sounded like it was productive and positive for everyone involved. Hopefully they don't start doubling down on hardware security though :p The optical communication for the Miele was pretty interesting too. I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. Does anyone know of other devices this is used in or other benefits to this?

opello 9mo ago
> I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. The primary value discussed in the talk was electrical isolation since there's mains voltage in the appliance and the potential for shorts or inadequate isolation would require some kind of isolation, so a path that optically isolates the communication makes quite a bit of sense. I'm also curious if other devices have gone this route.
- bri3d 9mo ago
  LG appliances at least used to use acoustic signaling for diagnostics: hold a phone up and the washer makes some modem-esque (I think it’s 4-tone / 4-FSK) noises and the app or technician can diagnose issues. It was originally engineered to even work over voice codecs, so a customer without a smartphone could relay the diagnostic session to a technician.
  - opello 9mo ago
    That's pretty cool. I found a write-up[1] on it but unfortunately didn't come across any examples of the communication. [1] https://github.com/kabelincho/LG-Smart-Diagnostics-modem https://github.com/kabelincho/LG-Smart-Diagnostics-modem
    - bri3d 9mo ago
      There are lots of examples on YouTube, this one seems succinct: https://youtube.com/shorts/3Eb315vL9uw https://youtube.com/shorts/3Eb315vL9uw . They picked good tones to make it satisfying IMO. I don’t know of anyone who’s reversed the bitstream in public, though, but it doesn’t seem like it should be very hard.
      - opello 9mo ago
        That's a great example, thanks! I was looking for "LG Smart Diagnostics" and "audio" and then "LG Acoustic Diagnostics" and found TVs calibrating their audio playback but not this. Trying "LG Audible Diagnosis" found a bunch like yours.
  - imglorp 9mo ago
    That's some advanced gatekeeping right there. Where other appliances might have a blink code or several digit error display (Miele) to look up in a manual, the phone method tires you to the manufacturer.
    - noAnswer 9mo ago
      The support hotline will ask you to hold your phone towards the device. It is less error-prone (than a human) and contains more info than a blink code. I find it really clever.
      - deleted 9mo ago
        [deleted]
      - imglorp 9mo ago
        Sure it's clever. But it also means you can't repair the appliance without the manufacturer's server to decode it for you.
        grepfru_it 9mo ago
        Owner of an LG washer that failed here. All the same diagnostics you can do at the machine, the phone home service allowed a remote engineer to diagnose as well. Things like drum rpm, tilt/knock sensors, uneven balance detection. Instead of paying a human $250 to come out and press buttons, they can do it remotely. I understand in the pessimistic age of John Deere, all remote diagnostics are bad, but that is not the case here. I was able to do all of the diagnosis myself to determine it was a bad stator and then replace it myself.
        yhager 9mo ago
        How were you able to diagnose it yourself? Just through the error codes, or is there another interface available for non-technicians?
        9mo ago
  - landr0id 9mo ago
    >so a customer without a smartphone could relay the diagnostic session to a technician Do you mean by mimicking the noises themselves?
    - wpm 9mo ago
      No you see you just need to buy specially marked boxes of Cap'n Crunch that have a plastic whistle in them that plays the tones for you.
      - userbinator 9mo ago
        I wonder how many HN readers still get that reference (and 2600, etc.)
        hunter2_ 9mo ago
        We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons...
        Y_Y 9mo ago
        I'm merely middle aged, but I've read the hacker lore. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box
    - notpushkin 9mo ago
      By holding their phone up to the machine.
  - atoav 9mo ago
    The absolutely "leetest" thing I have ever seen was a device where the firmware update was to be done by: 1. Hold a button while booting (pretty normal) 2. This reconfigures the circuit path of one of the LEDs so it is reverse-biased to VCC via its resistor and switches one of the microcontroller GPIOs to ADC input 3. You go to a website that plays a strobe pattern (encoding the firmware) 4. You hold that website in front of the LED till other LEDs blink, signifying a successful update They could have done this using a photodiode, but no, they had to abuse an LED. Not many people are aware that LEDs can in a certain configuration be used to measure light.
    - nicolaslem 9mo ago
      Another example of firmware update reusing something that is already there: some electric guitar effects from TC Electronics can be reprogrammed by bringing a phone close to the guitar pickups. The phone app encodes the data as sound that is picked up by the guitar pickups and sent down the chain to the effect.
      - atoav 9mo ago
        Ahh good example I remember having done that myself before!
- netsharc 9mo ago
  [flagged]
- mjochim 9mo ago
  Electric meters often blink a signal LED for every X kWh, so other devices can read the signal. I'm not sure if this is used for bidirectional communications, though.
  - bigfatkitten 9mo ago
    No, but they also have a separate infrared interface for this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_62056 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEC_62056
  - NegativeLatency 9mo ago
    Smart meters have a whole protocol
- eru 9mo ago
  Alternatively, I guess you could also use really thin cables to carry the low voltage paths; and that act as fuses, if ever a lot of current at high voltage was flowing across them? But probably not very reliable both in regular operation and as fuses. We have a Miele washing machine and a Miele dryer. Solid machines all around even after years of use.
  - bdonlan 9mo ago
    Fusible traces aren’t uncommon - but they would effectively destroy the device if current limits are exceeded, and they certainly would be if the power supply is non-isolated, so it wouldn’t actually be a solution to the firmware update problem. The usual solution here is an optical coupling of some kind - optocouplers (a box with a LED, photodiode, and air gap between them) are very common for this purpose, and are an inexpensive and effective option for digital signaling across an isolation boundary. In this case they’ve basically built a custom optocoupler out of discrete components, which is a bit unusual, but makes sense when you consider the risk of corrosion due to water ingress at the diagnostic ports, and the need to access it while - for example - a dishwasher cycle is running.
MisterTea 9mo ago
> The optical communication for the Miele was pretty interesting too. I'm assuming it's to prevent moisture from corroding a port of some kind. IRDA was very popular at one point and still lives on in applications like these. It's an IR serial port hung off a UART. It's stupid simple requiring no cables, pairing, or complex protocol stacks. Some smart phones have IR blasters built in so its a total win for ease of deployment in cases like these.

AdieuToLogic 9mo ago

Whenever someone brings up washing machines and software, I am always reminded of Forth[0]: As an example, imagine a microprocessor-controlled washing machine programmed in Forth. The ultimate command in your example is named WASHER. Here is the definition of WASHER, as written in Forth: : WASHER WASH SPIN RINSE SPIN ; 0 - https://www.forth.com/starting-forth/1-forth-stacks-dictionary/ https://www.forth.com/starting-forth/1-forth-stacks-dictiona...

deleted 9mo ago

[deleted]

kh2engab 9mo ago

When I read 'Hacking washing machines' the first thing that came to mind was how to open that damn thing once the program had finished.

mikeayles 9mo ago
Most washing machines use a wax motor to lock the door, it heats up wax to cause it to expand when it melts, which drives a pin. They're fairly failsafe as if you kill power, they will open no matter what. Latching relays/(technically solenoid) could be driven on/off fast, the downside is in a power cut or an emergency, the relay wouldn't release unless specifically driven so. So the third option is a momentary solenoid, which would need to be powered the whole time the door is shut, and they require a surprisingly significant amount of power. Typically 10-20w. Negligible when it compares to the KW+ heating elements, but they do add up for the energy ratings.. Fwiw, I currently have a haier, which does have one of the second options, and opens immediately after a wash and it's amazing. Can't go back. But, wax motors continue to be used because they're just the right tool for the job.
- bob1029 9mo ago
  You can still buy machines without the lid lock. They use an alternative design that can stop motion quickly enough to meet safety standards. I can open the lid on my washer in the middle of a heavy spin cycle at max RPM if I want to, but it will brake aggressively and come to a halt within 1-2 seconds. Being able to add laundry mid-cycle without asking permission from the computer is really nice.
DemocracyFTW2 9mo ago
> how to open that damn thing "I'm sorry Dave but I'm afraid I can't do that"

gorgoiler 9mo ago

We already know that hackers from NSA / FSB / PLA are working day and night on nation-state level attacks. They divert toilet tissue deliveries and hack traffic signals to raise my blood pressure to a tipping point where, presumably, I am supposed to demand local regime change? Now I have to worry about passing drones using blinkenlights to Stuxnet my wool wash and shrink my merino socks? Brilliant. Bloody brilliant. It’s like the most banal version of Battlestar Galactica ever but instead of an alien intelligence leveraging computer integration to attack mankind from within, it’s a guy in a t-shirt in a sweaty bunker filling my dishwasher to the brim with cold water then laughing at me via my Ring camera as he watches me flood my kitchen. [Very cool talk, thanks for sharing :) ]

letmetweakit 9mo ago

I'm "fearful" of a future where every random appliance needs to be connected to the internet in order to function at all. I hope some legislation gets passed (in the EU in my case) that forces manufacturers to ensure the machine works offline and connecting it is purely an opt-in feature.

euroderf 9mo ago
This might also need some kind of certification. Some sort of independent industry-financed lab atmosphere. I think UL (Underwriters Laboratories) worked that way.

rasyidi 9mo ago

[flagged]

moooo99 9mo ago

Very interesting talk! I think it is quite cool that Miele and BSH reached out when they saw the event announcements to make sure there are not any issues they're not aware of. Seems like a productive experience for all involved! The WiFi implementation was interesting to me, I am glad that it is reasonably safe. I understand much of the skepticism around these kinds of features, but I also see the value in many settings. As long as they remain optional, I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Kudos for BSH having good developer documentation and a local mode. I feel like a local mode should be mandatory, for safety and support reasons

nephihaha 9mo ago

What is the point in the WiFi? All I am interested in is something that washes my clothes. Not something with endless updates and glitches that ger fixed in post.

barrkel 9mo ago
It'll tell you when your clothes have finished washing so you can transfer them to the dryer and/or start a new load.
- nephihaha 9mo ago
  I can do that without WiFi. So what is the point other than data harvesting?
  - bigstrat2003 9mo ago
    Depending on your house setup you might not be able to. My washer and dryer are in my basement, and I can't hear them at all (neither when they are running, nor the sound they make when they finish). Moreover, the timer listed on the machine when you start the cycle is not accurate (particularly for the dryer, which is frequently off by 30+ minutes). This means that I have no idea when my clothes are done except by going to the basement to check. That's not the end of the world, but it would be genuinely nice to be able to get them on my wireless network and have them send me a notification. Perhaps that doesn't apply to you and how your home is set up. Fair enough. But that doesn't mean the use case doesn't exist.
    - nephihaha 9mo ago
      I'd just time it and go down. I wouldn't want my devices to start messaging me. Already have enough problem with vague acquaintances doing so.
stevenjgarner 9mo ago
As we enter a world of robotics, some users may also find it useful to have their robots directly access their "appliances", including with "retro" appliances that do not adhere to some future interoperability standard. I remember way back when I had a Heathkit HERO-1, it had a built-in solderless breadboard on the robot’s head. I remember the total thrill of programming it that and the Radio Frequency (RF) Remote Control to turn off my bedroom light. Kind of a "hello" program moment for me.

megous 9mo ago

Makes me appreciate our landlord's electro-mechanical "music-box" washing machine. It has been working for 25 years with no servicing, except when it "broke" once about 5 years ago. So I just opened it, stared at it for a while, and after considering the symptoms (no click in the door locking mechanism but power indicator light turning on), I realized the issue will be with something very early on in the fixed washing cycle, before the timing motor gets activated, and there will be no serious electrical damage elsewhere (fuse intact). So I looked at the door locking mechanism (bi-metalic thing) and noticed that the cable connector leading to it was slightly shifted. Re-seated the connector, and the machine started working again. While it was open, I didn't notice anything horrible (corrosion, leaks, nothing). Probably the next thing that will "break" will be when the motor's carbon brushes will "run out". :) You can understand and diagnose these things even without knowing too much. That's how obvious, simple, and accessible the electro-mechanical design is.

donjoe 9mo ago

The video brought me back to my internship in the early 2010s. My job was testing the new US ovens (which for us Europeans are massive). The bus was amazing. Integrated into a LabView setup, you could basically collect any readings from the oven as well as remotely control it. Also, it was super easy to confirm "manual" actions (e.g. soleniods pushing buttons/motors turning knobs). A few other interesting tasks I was involved back then were: - smashing an oven's door until the hinges would give up - testing new heating elements in the open (basically, building a gigantic grill) - appliance transport packaging tests - cooking and baking on a daily basis to make sure food turns out as expected Overall, home appliances are a great product as an engineer to work on. It is a product you usually use multiple times a day. And if you love cooking yourself, even better :-)

puskavi 9mo ago

Neat, now I can diagnose whats going on with my 20y old Miele dishwasher when it does weird things!

ThomasMidgley 9mo ago

We have a Thermomix TM31 which I repaired a few weeks ago. On the control board I found an IR module and a LED beside that which both are visible from outside (left side of the display), but are not labled. Until now I couldn't find any documentation or information about this IR interface. It would be nice if someone will reverse engineer this. And maybe also an integration into the BSH-App. Then you could remotely start the cooking process when leaving the office... :-)

ThePowerOfFuet 9mo ago

I haven't had time to watch the video yet, but I will tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll leave this here: https://github.com/medusalix/FreeMDU https://github.com/medusalix/FreeMDU