The sword Sting from Lord of the Rings needs no introduction. Its blue glow in the presence of orcs is burned into our minds, and Instructables user Markus Opitz decided to be inspired by it to create WiFi Sting, a simple WiFi detector in the environment. The detector uses a combination of LED lights, an ESP8266 or ESP32 module compatible with Arduino, a handful of LEDs, and other common materials.
The scene where Bilbo gives Frodo the sword Sting and the mithril coat is one of the most moving and terrifying (with Bilbo exposed to the Ring), but it installs an essential piece of the story: the sword's blade turns blue when orcs are near.
Unsurprisingly, this gave rise to all kinds of replicas that light up in the dark. But the truth is that there is ample room to explore DIY solutions, which don't necessarily have to end in a sword. That brings us to Markus Opitz's profile on Instructables, who created WiFi Sting, a WiFi detector inspired by Sting from Lord of the Rings.
How to Create a WiFi Detector Inspired by Sting from Lord of the Rings
Fortunately, we don't need much in terms of materials. The heart of the project is an ESP8266 or ESP32 module compatible with Arduino (remember you can use an ESP32 to create a clock with an old TV), which you can buy online for less than 10 euros. The rest of the electronics are spread across four blue LED lights, a 100-ohm resistor, a 9V battery with its connector, a switch, and some white wire. Markus makes the connections with a wire winder and heat-shrink tubing to avoid the soldering iron. However, nothing stops us from using solder and getting stronger connections.
The physical part of the detector is nothing more than a jar filled with transparent film, and a wooden base. The key is to remove the crystal-clear profile of the LEDs with a bit of sandpaper to create a more diffuse and uniform light. We load the .ino file with the Arduino code into the ESP8266, connect all the components following the circuit, and turn on the switch. The LED lights will shine depending on the number of WiFi networks present in the area.
The code for the WiFi Sting is simple, and I imagine no one will have too much trouble if the plan is to increase the number of LEDs. However, this is an economical and easy-to-reproduce project, ideal for surprising the little ones at home this weekend.
Official site and code: Click here
