Uncategorized

Gimbal: Off the shelf parts have arrived

2012-05-16 Dan


I’ve also got an Arduino, some motor drivers, a 9DOF sensor, and a mess of wires. I’ll probably need at least one more trip to Lee’s for a few more bits and bobs and then I’ll be able to assemble the first test rig.

Would you like to know more? Contact me or comment below.

Uncategorized

Addressable LED strips for your funky lighting projects

2012-05-14 Dan


These babies are run from an Arduino which means they can be made to react to their environment. Want to add a clapper? Change the colors based on who is in the room? Show the traffic on your WAN as a decibel meter? Strips can be cut and soldered to make different patterns, or flexed in different directions to wrap around shapes.

$300+S&H. Comes with 5m strip, 12v5a power supply, Arduino UNO, wiring diagram, and software (via download). Custom programming services extra. Contact me and lets light up your life.

Uncategorized

Gimbal: Updated design

2012-05-13 Dan

Malcolm, a talented local artist and director of the New Forms Festival came to me and asked if I could make a camera gimbal.  Can I ever!  I struggled with simplifying the old design for several days before deciding I needed to go back and do my homework.  Then I remembered this video

The original developers were balancing a robot on a ball.  …but notice the first 15 seconds when the robot is upside down and just turning the ball?  That’s exactly what I’m looking for, and almost all the parts are off the shelf. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with this

The ball in the center is a glass lamp shade. I’m going to add an X-shaped camera mount inside the globe. The Mecanum wheels can turn the globe any way I choose. I’m going to put a little 9DOF sensor inside so the Arduino can keep track of the ball’s orientation and adjust it accordingly.

Parts have been ordered, delivery is pending, and this thing should start being assembled in the next few days.

Also, I’m working a little bit every week to improve the website. Is it getting better? You tell me.