Project Reference – Richard's Website

Load a text file from the SD card for the Adafruit PyPortal.

This is some basic code that will print a list of files on the SD card and load a given text files contents. Then it converts the JSON text into a dictionary that makes it easy to list out and display values.

import time
import json

import os
import board
from adafruit_pyportal import PyPortal

# Create the PyPortal object
pyportal = PyPortal(status_neopixel=board.NEOPIXEL)

# Default location to look is in internal memory
FILE_DIRECTORY = "/sd"

RECIPE_FILE = "Cookies"

def print_directory(path, tabs=0):
    for file in os.listdir(path):
        stats = os.stat(path + "/" + file)
        filesize = stats[6]
        isdir = stats[0] & 0x4000

        if filesize < 1000:
            sizestr = str(filesize) + " by"
        elif filesize < 1000000:
            sizestr = "%0.1f KB" % (filesize / 1000)
        else:
            sizestr = "%0.1f MB" % (filesize / 1000000)

        prettyprintname = ""
        for _ in range(tabs):
            prettyprintname += "   "
        prettyprintname += file
        if isdir:
            prettyprintname += "/"
        print('{0:<20} Size: {1:>6}'.format(prettyprintname, sizestr))

        # recursively print directory contents
        if isdir:
            print_directory(path + "/" + file, tabs + 1)

try:
    print_directory(FILE_DIRECTORY)
except OSError as error:
    raise Exception("No files found on flash or SD Card")
    
try:
    with open("/sd/" + RECIPE_FILE + ".txt", "r") as fp:
        x = fp.read()
        # parse x:
        y = json.loads(x)
        ingredients = y["ingredients"]
        for i in ingredients:
            print('{} - {}'.format(i.get("quantity"), i.get("ingredient")))
        
except OSError as e:
    raise Exception("Could not read text file.")

On the MicroSD card there is a file named Cookies.txt that is made up of the following JSON.

{
   "ingredients":[
      {
         "quantity":"1 cup",
         "ingredient":"butter, softened"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"1 cup",
         "ingredient":"white sugar"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"1 cup",
         "ingredient":"packed brown sugar"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"Two",
         "ingredient":"eggs"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"2 tsp",
         "ingredient":"vanilla extract"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"1 tsp",
         "ingredient":"baking soda"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"2 tsp",
         "ingredient":"hot water"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"1/2 tsp",
         "ingredient":"salt"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"3 cups",
         "ingredient":"all-purpose flour"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"2 cups",
         "ingredient":"semisweet chocolate chips"
      },
      {
         "quantity":"1 cup",
         "ingredient":"chopped walnuts"
      }
   ]
}

This should result in the following output:

code.py output:
ESP firmware: bytearray(b'1.2.2\x00')
Set background to  0
Coleslaw Dressing.txt Size: 426 by
Bread Dough.txt      Size: 426 by
Pancakes.txt         Size: 426 by
Cookies.txt          Size: 1.0 KB
1 cup - butter, softened
1 cup - white sugar
1 cup - packed brown sugar
Two - eggs
2 tsp - vanilla extract
1 tsp - baking soda
2 tsp - hot water
1/2 tsp - salt
3 cups - all-purpose flour
2 cups - semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup - chopped walnuts

PyPortal MQTT controller

This tutorial was created for Adafruit’s Learning Guide system. Click the link below to see the guide.

PyPortal MQTT Sensor Node/Control Pad for Home Assistant

Pi Zero FPV robot on Hackaday

This looks like a cool and simple FPV robot for me to build some time soon.

https://hackaday.io/project/25092-zerobot-raspberry-pi-zero-fpv-robot

TV and Stereo control for IOT

I found this project and it is exactly what I have been looking for. A way to copy then emit signals via IR burst for my TV and surround sound.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Using-an-ESP8266-As-a-WiFi-Enabled-Universal-Remot/

I will make an update when I have done this and integrated it into Home Assistant.

How to add Sound Effects to a Costume

From time to time I am asked about adding sound to a prop or costume. Thankfully, Adafruit has made this supper easy for all of us with a line of Audio FX boards that can be triggered without writing a single line of code.

Here are a few kits that I have picked out for anyone looking to add such a device to their outfit or prop. Continue reading How to add Sound Effects to a Costume

OpenCV and Python Color Detection – PyImageSearch

I am working on some stuff at the Makerspace that involves computer vision. Hopefully this information will help. Currently we are trying to do this another way, but it is just getting to be more complicated than I think it should be.

Python code for taking a photo and saving it:

Import picamera
camera = picamera.PiCamera()
camera.capture('image.png')

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/usage/camera/python/README.md

Button Pressed code:

import os
import time
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(23, GPIO.IN)
GPIO.setup(18, GPIO.OUT)

def loop():
    if (GPIO.input(23) == False):
        os.system('Enter the command to execute your code')

    if Test == "open":
        GPIO.output(18, True)
    else:
        GPIO.output(18, False)
loop()
finally:
    GPIO.cleanup()

This should listen for the button to be pressed, then it will run your code. If the code returns Test as “open”, Pin 18 goes high.

The image detection part of the code. I have yet to get this going.

http://www.pyimagesearch.com/2014/08/04/opencv-python-color-detection/

Coding for the LEDiva™

Tonight I got some real headway on my small LED driver. I added the ability to change the number of NeoPixels that are displayed, then update the onboard flash memory so that the ATtiny remembers what you selected even after a power cycle.

So now if you press and hold either of the two buttons, then turn the board on, it will let you select the number of LEDs to use. Just press the Color or Mode buttons to add or remove an LED address.

Q: why would I want to change the number of LEDs that I am using on the fly?

A: Basically, the LEDiva™ is intended to be a generic all purpose NeoPixel driver. You could use 140 NeoPixels, or just one. Some of the animations, like colorWipe();, start with the first LED address and loop until it gets to the last LED, as defined by the number of Pixels the NeoPixel library was told are available on startup. There is no way for the LEDs to tell the micro controller how many of them you just connected. So the animations will just run all the way out to 140 LEDs be damned. This can slow things as down if you are only using 3 physical LED. To fix this I simply tell the NeoPixel library that I want to use all 140, but make it so that the loop that updates the LEDs stops when it reaches the user defined number of LEDs.

So if you use the new sequence to tell the LEDiva™ that you want to use 3 LEDs, it will only loop LED updates 3 time rather than 140. Now that I have added storage to the EEPROM, it will remember the number of LEDs you selected the next time you turn it on. Are it and forget it.

Here is the latest code I have:

//Color and Pattern Mode selector for NeoPixels
//Uses C_BUTTON to cycle through 9 colors and P_BUTTON to select any of the 8 pattern sequences.
// 64 total options are available
//code by Richard Albritton

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include <avr/power.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>

// Interrupt Code start
#ifndef cbi
#define cbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) &= ~_BV(bit))
#endif
#ifndef sbi
#define sbi(sfr, bit) (_SFR_BYTE(sfr) |= _BV(bit))
#endif
// Interrupt Code end

#define PIN 0
#define Sensor 1
#define C_BUTTON 4
#define P_BUTTON 3
#define Pixels 60

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(Pixels, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

int C_MODE = 1; // Current color mode.
int P_MODE = 5; // Current pattern mode.
int Cn = 9; //The number of Color options.
int Pn = 10; //The number of Pattern options.
int STrigger = 0; // This tells us if the sensor interrupt was triggered.
int LEDs = 5;
int R;
int G;
int B;
long randNumber;
int wait = 10;

void setup(){
     // This is for Trinket 5V 16MHz, you can remove these three lines if you are not using a Trinket
#if defined (__AVR_ATtiny85__)
  if (F_CPU == 16000000) clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);
#endif
  // End of trinket special code

  pinMode(C_BUTTON, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(P_BUTTON, INPUT_PULLUP);
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  if (!digitalRead(C_BUTTON)||!digitalRead(P_BUTTON)){
    colorChange(strip.Color(50, 50, 50));
    delay(500);
    LESsetup(1);
  }
  if(EEPROM.read(0)>0){
    LEDs = EEPROM.read(0);
  }
  pinMode(Sensor,INPUT); // Interrupt Code
  sbi(GIMSK,PCIE); // Turn on Pin Change interrupt
  sbi(PCMSK,PCINT1); // Which pins are affected by the interrupt

    colorMode(C_MODE);
  colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
}

void loop(){
// Change the line below to alter the color of the lights
// The numbers represent the Red, Green, and Blue values
// of the lights, as a value between 0(off) and 1(max brightness)
ColorSelect(); 
PatternSelect();
    //colorMode(C_MODE);
    patternMode(P_MODE);
    STrigger = 0;
}
void ColorSelect(){
  while (digitalRead(P_BUTTON) == LOW) {
    colorChange(strip.Color(R/4, G/4, B/4));
    while (digitalRead(C_BUTTON) == LOW) {
      delay(500);
      C_MODE += 1;
      if (C_MODE > Cn) {
        C_MODE = 1; 
      }
      colorMode(C_MODE);
      colorChange(strip.Color(R/4, G/4, B/4));
    } 
  }
} 
void PatternSelect(){
  while(digitalRead(C_BUTTON) == LOW) {
    //colorChange(strip.Color(R/4, G/4, B/4));
    while(digitalRead(P_BUTTON) == LOW) {
      delay(500);
      P_MODE += 1;
      if (P_MODE > Pn) {
        P_MODE = 1; 
      }
      patternMode(P_MODE);
    }
  }
} 
// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorChange(uint32_t c) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
  }
  strip.show();
}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void colorWipe(uint32_t c) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
      strip.show();
      
      delay(50);
  }
}

// Fill the dots one after the other with a color
void Sparkle(uint32_t c) {
  for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, c);
      strip.show();
      delay(50);
  }
}

void colorMode(uint32_t m) {
  switch (m) {
    case 1: // Red
      R = 100;
      G = 0;
      B = 0;
      break;
    case 2: // Orange
      R = 75;
      G = 25;
      B = 0;
      break;
    case 3: // Yellow
      R = 50;
      G = 50;
      B = 0;
      break;
    case 4: // Green
      R = 0;
      G = 100;
      B = 0;
      break;
    case 5: // Sky Blue
      R = 0;
      G = 50;
      B = 50;
      break;
    case 6: // Blue
      R = 0;
      G = 0;
      B = 100;
      break;
    case 7: // Violet
      R = 25;
      G = 0;
      B = 75;
      break;
    case 8: // Pink
      R = 50;
      G = 0;
      B = 50;
      break; 
    case 9: // White
      R = 34;
      G = 33;
      B = 33;
      break;     
  }
}
void patternMode(uint32_t p) {
  switch (p) {
case 1: // Solid bright
      colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
      break;
    case 2: // Solid dim
      colorChange(strip.Color(R/2, G/2, B/2));
      break;
    case 3: // Slow strobe
      wait = 800;
      colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
      delay(wait);
      colorChange(strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      delay(wait);
      break;
    case 4: // Fast strobe
      wait = 300;
      colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
      delay(wait);
      colorChange(strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      delay(wait);
      break;
    case 5: // Pulsate
      wait = 100;
      uint16_t i;
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        if (STrigger) wait = 20;
        strip.setBrightness(255-(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        if (STrigger) wait = 20;
        strip.setBrightness(0+(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      break;
    case 6: // Tracer
    for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(R, G, B));
      strip.show();
            PatternSelect();
          if (P_MODE != p) break;
      delay(50);
    }
    for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
        strip.show();
              PatternSelect();
            if (P_MODE != p) break;
        delay(50);
    }
      
      break;
    case 7: // Sparkle
      randNumber = 300;
      for(uint16_t i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
        if (STrigger) randNumber = 60;
        if (random(randNumber) < 50) {
          strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(R, G, B));
        } else {
          strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
        }
                strip.show();
        delay(20);
      }

      break;
    case 8: // Rainbow (This will not use the selected colors)
        uint16_t j;
        for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
          for(i=0; i<LEDs; i++) {
            strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
          }
          strip.show();
          PatternSelect();
          if (P_MODE != p) break;
          delay(20);
        }
      break;
  case 9: // Color Pulsate
      wait = 100;
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        if (STrigger){
          C_MODE += 1;
          if (C_MODE > 10)C_MODE = 1;
          colorMode(C_MODE);
        }
        strip.setBrightness(255-(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        if (STrigger){
          C_MODE += 1;
          if (C_MODE > 10)C_MODE = 1;
          colorMode(C_MODE);
        }
        strip.setBrightness(0+(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      break;  
  case 10: // red/white
      wait = 100;
      colorMode(1);
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        strip.setBrightness(255-(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        strip.setBrightness(0+(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      colorMode(9);
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        strip.setBrightness(255-(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      for(i=0; i<7; i++) {
        strip.setBrightness(0+(36*i));
        colorChange(strip.Color(R, G, B));
        delay(wait);
      }
      break;  
  }
}

// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
   return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  } else if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
   return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  } else {
   WheelPos -= 170;
   return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
  }
}
// Set the number of LEDs that will be used
void LESsetup(int l) {
  uint16_t t=0;
  while(l){
    t++;
    if (digitalRead(C_BUTTON) == LOW) {
        delay(250);
        LEDs += 1;
        t=0;
    } 
    if (digitalRead(P_BUTTON) == LOW) {
      delay(250);
      LEDs -= 1;
      t=0;
    } 
    for(uint16_t i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      if (i<LEDs){
        strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(50, 50, 50));
      }else{
        strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));
      }
    }
    strip.show();
    if (t>1000){
      EEPROM.update(0, LEDs);
      l=0;
    }
  }
}
ISR(PCINT0_vect) {
        STrigger = 1;
}

Now I just need to save the color and mode to EEPROM, but I will save that for another day 🙂

Watch “The LEDiva™ project update 12/29/2015” on YouTube

LEDiva™ rev A sent to FAB

Yesterday I sent a new revision of my drop-in NeoPixel board, the LEDiva™, that included the new service mounted battery connector as well as a six pin programming connection.

This is the first step in getting the chip as small as possible. The next revision will replace the through hole version of the ATTiny 85 with a surface mounted version. After that, I will try to add a charging circuit to the board so that the battery can be charged via micro USB cable.

I do still need to work on the firmware to save data to the EPROM so it will remember the last color and pattern selected on startup. I have also thought of a way to select the number of LEDs that are being used so that the more elaborate animations look better.

The LEDiva™ is made to be used with up to 140 LEDs with unique addresses. Since I am mostly just going to sell the controller board, I do not know how many LEDs any one person will be using. So I will like have the default LED number set as 30, then create a scenario were you can use the two buttons to turn more LEDs on or off. Once you exit the LED selection mode, it will remember the number of LEDs. The sequence will likely be something like; press and hold one of the buttons on startup, then press and hold both buttons for 5 seconds to lock in the new settings.

I will do a video of me assembling the first rev A board when it comes back from OSH Park.

Super Low Budget Wearable Tech

I love doing wearable electronics and the price of entry for making wearable tech is supper low. Anyone can make something cool with the Adafruit GEMMA for about $20. However, my work with STEM Paths presents the challenge of trying to create an interesting project with a shoestring budget.

So, with that in mind, I give you my plan for the ~$2 wearable electronics kit. Well… this dose not include the price of conductive thread, and it dose require some pre soldering for the sensor… but $2 for a kit that will light up 6 LEDs when the lights go out.

So here is how I plan to do it:

I found this lovely battery holder on Mouser that has the perfect holes for stitching to fabric.
Then I found these $0.08 LEDs in Red, Green, and Yellow.
That is enough to make a light up wearable, but I really want this kit to do something other than just turn on when a battery is added.

Thanks to Evil Mad Scientist, I added a phototransistor, NPN transistor, and a 1K resistor that will create an ambient light sensor. So now the LEDs will only light up when it is dark or during the night time.

Click the URL for a full list of parts that can be ordered from Mouser.com

http://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=8a33709065

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