Finally got a full mockup of my bike lights POV project going!
I wrote a small Python app that takes images and “unrolls” them so that they will display properly on the wheel, ultimately storing RGB pixel values into a unique text file. The text files are then stored on a micro SD card that is loaded into the reader within the wheel itself.
When the lights are turned on they automatically load a “default” picture but I wrote a companion Android app that can connect to the bluetooth module in the wheel, receive a list of all the files (images) on the SD card, and then select which one should be loaded into RAM and displayed (as seen in the video).
The project is built around a Teensy 3.1 and utilizes a bluetooth module, a hall sensor, a micro SD reader, and the ever-wonderful FAST_LED to bit bang a bunch of 8806s (ws28*s weren’t fast enough for this application). I’m hoping to get some custom 8806 strips going to increase the pixel density 2-3x in order to further improve the image replication.
A whole bunch of finalizing needs to be done to turn this from cardboard and duct tape to a reliable, waterproof implementation that I can strap to a bike, but at least that gives me something to do for a few weeks. Once I’m done I’ll put together diagrams and all of the code involved in case anyone is curious. I know video cameras can’t capture POV very well, you’ll have to trust me when I say it looks totally wicked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu0mKToSdps
I’m not sure about the Micro but I know on the Nano that the serial TX/RX pins are shared with the USB port, meaning that if you have a USB cable plugged in to the Nano there’s no way you’re going to be able to transmit or receive any intelligible data from the TX/RX pins. If you’re doing your testing using the USB as a power source or serial monitor this could be a problem.
The monkey lights actually served as inspiration, I loved the functionality but hated the price (almost a grand per wheel!) so I set off to make my own
