01-22-12, Futzing with Digikey
In trying to plan for how I might fabricate light/sound bots (I think I've decided servos are probably too expensive/high powered for my purposes), I've spent a lot of time looking around on Digikey for parts. I've started a materials page which enumerates the things I'm planning on buying. I'm planning on ordering some of the parts either today or tomorrow, depending on how things go.
Here's some of my brainstorming/planning:
I want to make multiple independent low power units that have both an input channel and an output channel.
Types of input{
sound{
Pezio{
use a pezio element as a knock sensor.
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knock
perhaps using a variant of the example program that would hold
the most recent highest value for a certain length of time and
pair its output to the pwm-ed output of an LED.
This could be paired with a servo that knocked on the same
surface or something that beeped and/or buzzed.
}
}
light{
}
vibration {
}
movement of servo or small dc motor{
}
}
If it outputs sound it cannot receive sound, otherwise, feedback loop.
light -> photodiode -> LED held then decreasing over time after a (random?) pause.
LEDs would be positioned to not affect photodiode.
light -> photodiode -> servo knocks on table,
Piezo element is tuned to pick up knocks from only a certain distance away.
+------------------------------+
| |
| O O |
| O O |
| |
| |
| O O |
| O |
| O |
| O |
| O |
+------------------------------+
Random or deterministic? Random pauses after input would make the system seem more organic.
Types of input:
light (detected by photocell)
sound (detected by piezo)
motion (detected by breeze detector or switch)
types of output:
light from LED of other bot
viewer using flashlight
sound from servo knocking on table
sound from peizo click
motion created by breeze in room (viewer)
motion created by breeze in room (oscillating fan on floor)
simple servo fan (arm of servo attached to lightweight counterweighted arm.
Brainstorming for breeze detector:
2 strips of conductive cloth close together hung on a fork of doubled stiff insulated wire.
loop of wire with other wire in middle with small sail at the top
With two inputs and one output, this allows for three types of bots:
receives light and sound, outputs motion (M)
receives light and motion, outputs sound (S)
receives sound and motion outputs light (L)
piezos are multi purpose. Produce a knock type sound with the peizo?
Given a strong enough clicking pulse, could the peizo signal through air?
+------------------------------+
| S |
| |
| M |
| M |
| L |
| L L |
| S M |
| |
| |
| S |
+------------------------------+
