Final Project: "Whispers"
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After speaking with Neil, seems
that the best option for the communications mechanism would be to use a short
range magnetic or electric field.
Relevant links:
- As of 12-11-06:
Alyssa and I are pushing on with the original final project idea of
having glowing cubes/orbs communicate with each other by touch, and
propagating colors from one to another.
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Project Details
There will be *at least*
2 types of devices - regular cubes, that can only display color and pass
messages to one another, and "master" cubes that can receive input and change
their color manually, and then pass it on to the rest.
The different parts of the project:
- Networking
a) physical layer communication - Several options:
i) capacitance
ii) inductance: neil
iii) ultra-sonic
iv) optical
v*) linx: grace* - need to reduce rate - "bad antenna"
b) Low level protocol - most likely Interntet Zero
c) Medium Access Control
Phase 0 - pass a message by wire (or by copper trace, to be exact)
Phase 1 - start small - just pass a message through the physical
layer and make a change in another
Phase 2 - more complex message format ( device addresses, control
information )
Phase 3 - try to handle issues like collisions, mutual
transmissions, and so on
- Output
Tri-Color, RGB LED's on each device. Each is color controlled by a separate
PWM signal.
For the final version - need a model that has enough illumination to nicely
fill the cube space, or use multiple LEDs
Specific models:
XXXX
Issues related to the material over the LEDs - see section about the
packaging of the devices.
- packaging--physical packaging
- Shape:
- Zero level prototype - use the
development boards, with some basic cover for the LEDs
- First real version - cube
- Material
i) silicone: elastak, smooth-on, etc.
ii) transparency - but a good diffusion of the RGB ligts
iii) feels fun to touch
- Need to account for the battery,
board, and placement of the LEDs
- Input ("master" devices only)
- human sensing - temperature or
capacitance
- central control panel - possibly
potentiometer for setting each color's pwm (map voltage to PWM values)
- optional for next phase: predefined
color pallet - when device is placed on a color, it would receive it.
- Information processing - controls the
devices
- On master device - Translate input
voltages to PWM signals
- Receive incoming messages, and process
them, and update RGB color
- Initially - no processing of
messages - simply display colors
- Options for later - fade colors,
mix colors, timeout colors, random change of colors, etc.
- Format and send out messages to other
nodes
- Information flow:
Timeline:
sunday
1) /timeline/
2) /website/
3) /finalize 4 boards/
i) solder
ii) test rgb
iii) read 3 pots
iv) pass info to led
v) out to rgb
4) material experiments
5) begin linx
monday
1) start integrating linx
i) see if we need to order more, inventory of parts
2) sketch movement of information
3) start human input (capacitance)
i) move from pots to final sensor
4) list of final materials, including resistors
tuesday
1) /finish human
input/
2) start physical packaging
3) begin: redo circuit and/or possible hardware
wednesday
1)buffer time
2) website update
//
thursday
/1) finish physical packaging/
2) linx
friday
1) /done with wireless communication
/2) almost done circuit/hardware
3) website update
saturday
1) make new boards
2) testing
sunday
1) buffer time
2) website updates
monday
due
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Prototyping on Bigger Bertha - the
develpment board
Playing with materials and light diffusion:
