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• PoC Firmware Feature Complete

  Dustin Johnson • 11/03/2024 at 19:48 • 0 comments

  2 days of hacking at Supercon8 tables and what do we have?!

  ... PoC Feature-Complete!

  - RP2040 Slave PoC firmware feature-complete? Yes.

  - RP2040 Master PoC firmware feature-complete? Yes.
  
  

  - FUFF transport-layer protocol over-I2C implemented? Yes.
       - payloads (file xfer) working from RP2040 master to slaves? Yes.
       - RPC commands working from master to slave (activates SAO features)? Yes.
  
  

  - Circuit mounted on Supercon8 SAO protoboard, demoing on badge? In-progress...
  
  

  - Custom PCB? No. Focused on the comm stack, as is the theme of the SAO contest.
  
  Git repo (includes example code for RP2040 I2C Slave):

       - https://bitbucket.org/di0/fuff-over-i2c
  
  Video:

• Porting from Arduino (C++) to RP2040 (MicroPython)

  Dustin Johnson • 10/25/2024 at 06:24 • 0 comments

  I needed to port my Arduino design onto the RP2040. I was going to use a boost converter, but I don't have one, so I just decided to use the 5V rail on the RP2040-One that gets "populated" on the RP2040 when powered over USB. If I take care of the 5V rail on the circuit later, the code should be the same either way.

  We can see I have another rp2040 "SAO" connected via a directly soldered I2C bus ;) I'm working on the I2C communication -- the disconnected rp2040-Matrix you see connected will be pretending to be the conference badge (the I2C master), for now.

  Pics of the updated prototype circuit:

  A video of the same animations playing, but now through micropython:

  The ported code is as follows:

  # Arduino code ported to RP2040 micropython
  # -----------------------------------------
  import machine
  import neopixel
  import time
  import random
  
  LED_PIN = 8
  LED_COUNT = 14
  LED_BRIGHTNESS = 0.05  # Start with 0.1 to check visibility; adjust to preferred level
  LED_CENTER_LEFT = 0
  LED_CENTER_RIGHT = 7
  LED_LEFT_MIN = 1  # Exclude center LED (left spool)
  LED_LEFT_MAX = 6  # Exclude center LED (left spool)
  LED_RIGHT_MIN = 8  # Exclude center LED (right spool)
  LED_RIGHT_MAX = 13  # Exclude center LED (right spool)
  
  # Initialize NeoPixel
  np = neopixel.NeoPixel(machine.Pin(LED_PIN), LED_COUNT)
  
  LED_LEFT_INDEX = random.randint(LED_LEFT_MIN, LED_LEFT_MAX)
  LED_RIGHT_INDEX = random.randint(LED_RIGHT_MIN, LED_RIGHT_MAX)
  
  # Original colors
  FOREGROUND_COLOR = (0, 0, 0)  # Black
  BACKGROUND_COLOR = (255, 165, 0)  # Orange
  CENTER_COLOR = (255, 0, 0)  # Red
  
  # Function to adjust brightness with minimum scaling effect
  def set_neopixel_color(color, brightness_factor):
      return tuple(max(int(c * brightness_factor), 1) for c in color)
  
  
  # Animation functions with brightness adjustment
  # ----------------------------------------------
  def animation_play(millis_delay=130):
      global LED_LEFT_INDEX, LED_RIGHT_INDEX
      
      # Play animation for left spool
      if LED_LEFT_INDEX < LED_LEFT_MAX:
          np[LED_LEFT_INDEX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_LEFT_INDEX + 1] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_LEFT_INDEX += 1
      else:
          np[LED_LEFT_MAX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_LEFT_MIN] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_LEFT_INDEX = LED_LEFT_MIN
  
      # Play animation for right spool
      if LED_RIGHT_INDEX < LED_RIGHT_MAX:
          np[LED_RIGHT_INDEX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_RIGHT_INDEX + 1] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_RIGHT_INDEX += 1
      else:
          np[LED_RIGHT_MAX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_RIGHT_MIN] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_RIGHT_INDEX = LED_RIGHT_MIN
  
      np.write()
      time.sleep_ms(millis_delay)
  
  
  def animation_rewind(millis_delay=50):
      global LED_LEFT_INDEX, LED_RIGHT_INDEX
      
      # Rewind animation for left spool
      if LED_LEFT_INDEX > LED_LEFT_MIN:
          np[LED_LEFT_INDEX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_LEFT_INDEX - 1] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_LEFT_INDEX -= 1
      else:
          np[LED_LEFT_MIN] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_LEFT_MAX] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_LEFT_INDEX = LED_LEFT_MAX
  
      # Rewind animation for right spool
      if LED_RIGHT_INDEX > LED_RIGHT_MIN:
          np[LED_RIGHT_INDEX] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_RIGHT_INDEX - 1] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_RIGHT_INDEX -= 1
      else:
          np[LED_RIGHT_MIN] = set_neopixel_color(BACKGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          np[LED_RIGHT_MAX] = set_neopixel_color(FOREGROUND_COLOR, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
          LED_RIGHT_INDEX = LED_RIGHT_MAX
  
      np.write()
      time.sleep_ms(millis_delay)
  
  
  # Blink to indicate function triggered
  def animation_function_triggered(color):
      np[LED_CENTER_LEFT] = set_neopixel_color(color, LED_BRIGHTNESS)
   np[LED_CENTER_RIGHT] = set_neopixel_color(color,...

  Read more »

• Coding The Animations

  Dustin Johnson • 10/16/2024 at 09:19 • 0 comments

  I enhanced the prototype code to implement animations for PLAY, PAUSE, REWIND, and FASTFORWARD -- video of latest functionality is at the bottom of this project log.

  I included an indexing offset to imitate the asymmetric spinning of the rotational indicator on tape spools, as seen here: 

  Here is the code:

  // neopixel code
  // --------------
  #include <FastLED.h>
  #define LED_PIN 5
  #define LED_COUNT 14
  #define LED_BRIGHTNESS 5 // max 255 which is blinding
  #define LED_CENTER_LEFT 0
  #define LED_CENTER_RIGHT 7
  CRGB leds[LED_COUNT]; // must be lowercase and this variable name or the compilation fails
  int LED_LEFT_CENTER = 0;
  int LED_RIGHT_CENTER = 7;
  int LED_LEFT_MIN = 1; // exclude center LED (left spool)
  int LED_LEFT_MAX = 6; // exclude center LED (left spool)
  int LED_RIGHT_MIN = 8; // exclude center LED (right spool)
  int LED_RIGHT_MAX = 13; // exclude center LED (right spool)
  int LED_LEFT_INDEX = random(LED_LEFT_MIN, LED_LEFT_MAX); // index for rotation animations (left spool)
  int LED_RIGHT_INDEX = random(LED_RIGHT_MIN, LED_RIGHT_MAX); // index for rotation animations (right spool)
  CRGB FOREGROUND_COLOR = CRGB::Black;
  CRGB BACKGROUND_COLOR = CRGB::Orange;
  CRGB CENTER_COLOR = CRGB::Red;
  
  
  // function prototypes
  // --------------
  void animation_play(int millisDelay = 130); // function prototype to accept optional argument
  void animation_rewind(int millisDelay = 50); // function prototype to accept optional argument
  
  // main setup
  // --------------
  void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, LED_PIN, GRB>(leds, LED_COUNT);
    FastLED.setBrightness(LED_BRIGHTNESS);
    animation_bootup();
  }
  
  // main loop
  // --------------
  void loop() { 
    
    animation_function_triggered(CRGB::White);
    for (int i=0; i < 20; i++) {
      animation_pause();
    }
  
    animation_function_triggered(CRGB::White);
    for (int i=0; i < 50; i++) {
      animation_play();
    }
  
    animation_function_triggered(CRGB::White);
    for (int i=0; i < 150; i++) {
      animation_fastforward();
    }
  
    animation_function_triggered(CRGB::White);
    for (int i=0; i < 50; i++) {
      animation_play();
    }
  
    animation_function_triggered(CRGB::White);
    for (int i=0; i < 50; i++) {
      animation_rewind();
    }
  }
  
  // blink to indicate function triggered
  void animation_function_triggered(CRGB color) {
    // on
    leds[LED_LEFT_CENTER] = color;
    leds[LED_RIGHT_CENTER] = color;
    FastLED.show();
    // sleep
    delay(100);
    // off
    leds[LED_LEFT_CENTER] = CRGB::Black;
    leds[LED_RIGHT_CENTER] = CRGB::Black;
    FastLED.show();
  }
  
  void animation_pause() {
    leds[LED_LEFT_INDEX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
    leds[LED_RIGHT_INDEX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
    FastLED.show();
    delay(100);
  }
  
  void animation_bootup() {
  
    // illuminate left spool
    for (int i = LED_LEFT_MIN; i <= LED_LEFT_MAX; i++) {
      if (i == LED_CENTER_LEFT) { continue; }
      leds[i] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      FastLED.show();
      delay(50);
    }
  
    // illuminate right spool
    for (int i = LED_RIGHT_MIN; i <= LED_RIGHT_MAX; i++) {
      if (i == LED_CENTER_RIGHT) { continue; }
      leds[i] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      FastLED.show();
      delay(50);
    }
  }
  
  
  void animation_fastforward() {
  
    animation_play(40);
  
  }
  
  // speed is delay, so more is slower
  void animation_play(int millisDelay) {
   
    // animation: PLAY (left spool)
    if (LED_LEFT_INDEX < LED_LEFT_MAX) {
      leds[LED_LEFT_INDEX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      leds[LED_LEFT_INDEX+1] = FOREGROUND_COLOR;
      LED_LEFT_INDEX++;    
    } else {
      leds[LED_LEFT_MAX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      leds[LED_LEFT_MIN] = FOREGROUND_COLOR;
      LED_LEFT_INDEX = LED_LEFT_MIN;
    }
  
    // animation: PLAY (right spool)
    if (LED_RIGHT_INDEX < LED_RIGHT_MAX) {
      leds[LED_RIGHT_INDEX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      leds[LED_RIGHT_INDEX+1] = FOREGROUND_COLOR;
      LED_RIGHT_INDEX++;    
    } else {
      leds[LED_RIGHT_MAX] = BACKGROUND_COLOR;
      leds[LED_RIGHT_MIN] = FOREGROUND_COLOR;
      LED_RIGHT_INDEX = LED_RIGHT_MIN;
    }
   
    FastLED.show();  
    delay(millisDelay);
  }
  
  // speed is delay, so more is slower
  void animation_rewind(int millisDelay) {
   
    // animation: REWIND (left spool)
    if (LED_LEFT_INDEX > LED_LEFT_MIN) {
   leds[LED_LEFT_INDEX]...

  Read more »

• Prototype Assembly: Part 3

  Dustin Johnson • 10/16/2024 at 04:15 • 0 comments

  Now I just need to code the demo:

  // neopixel code
  // --------------
  #include <FastLED.h>
  
  // neopixel code
  // --------------
  #define LED_PIN 5
  #define LED_COUNT 14
  #define LED_BRIGHTNESS 5
  #define LED_CENTER_LEFT 0
  #define LED_CENTER_RIGHT 7
  
  // neopixel code
  // --------------
  // must be lowercase and this variable name or the compilation fails
  CRGB leds[LED_COUNT];
  
  // di0_demo1 code
  // --------------
  // exclude center LED
  int LED_LEFT_MIN = 1;
  int LED_LEFT_MAX = 6;
  // exclude center LED
  int LED_RIGHT_MIN = 8;
  int LED_RIGHT_MAX = 13;
  // keep the indexes for which LEDs are off (CRGB::Black)
  int LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX = LED_LEFT_MIN;
  int LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX = LED_RIGHT_MIN;
  
  // main setup
  // --------------
  void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, LED_PIN, GRB>(leds, LED_COUNT);
    FastLED.setBrightness(LED_BRIGHTNESS);
    di0_demo1_setup();
  }
  
  // main loop
  // --------------
  void loop() {
    //di0_demo0();
    di0_demo1_loop();
  }
  
  // di0_demo1 code
  // --------------
  void di0_demo1_setup() {
  
    // illuminate left spool
    for (int i = LED_LEFT_MIN; i <= LED_LEFT_MAX; i++) {
      if (i == LED_CENTER_LEFT) { continue; }
      leds[i] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      FastLED.show();
      delay(50);
    }
  
    // illuminate right spool
    for (int i = LED_RIGHT_MIN; i <= LED_RIGHT_MAX; i++) {
      if (i == LED_CENTER_RIGHT) { continue; }
      leds[i] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      FastLED.show();
      delay(50);
    }
  }
  
  // di0_demo1 code
  // --------------
  void di0_demo1_loop() {
  
    // animation: PLAY (left spool)
    if (LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX < LED_LEFT_MAX) {
      leds[LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX] = CRGB::Blue;
      leds[LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX+1] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX++;    
    } else {
      leds[LED_LEFT_MAX] = CRGB::Blue;
      leds[LED_LEFT_MIN] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      LED_LEFT_OFF_INDEX = LED_LEFT_MIN;
    }
  
    // animation: PLAY (right spool)
    if (LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX < LED_RIGHT_MAX) {
      leds[LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX] = CRGB::Blue;
      leds[LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX+1] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX++;    
    } else {
      leds[LED_RIGHT_MAX] = CRGB::Blue;
      leds[LED_RIGHT_MIN] = CRGB::WhiteSmoke;
      LED_RIGHT_OFF_INDEX = LED_RIGHT_MIN;
    }
    FastLED.show();  
    delay(100);
  }

  ... and voila:

• Prototype Assembly: Part 2

  Dustin Johnson • 10/16/2024 at 01:09 • 0 comments

  I've completed my test circuit as follows:

  Arduino 

  - Digital Pin 5 --> LED Module 1: DIN

  - 5V --> Breadboard Positive Rail

  - Gnd --> Breadboard Negative Rail

  LED Module 1:

  - DIN --> Arduino: Digital Pin 5

  - DOUT --> LED Module 2: DIN

  - PWR --> Breadboard Positive Rail

  - GND --> Breadboard Negative Rail

  LED Module 2:

  - DIN --> LED Module 1: DOUT

  - DOUT --> Disconnected

  - PWR --> Breadboard Positive Rail

  - GND --> Breadboard Negative Rail

• Prototype Assembly: Part 1

  Dustin Johnson • 10/15/2024 at 22:57 • 0 comments

  Let's keep it stupid-simple with the big ole trusty Arduino Uno for the PoC / breadboarding, especially since these RGB arrays want 5V. I will port this prototype to an RP2040-based design with a boost converter on the custom-printed PCB for the con, as time / blockers allow.
  

  I broke apart and soldered some headers on the RGB LED arrays, so they'd fit in the breadboard. I arranged to represent the Cassette Tape Spools in the same way the PCB will have them reverse-mounted against the prepreg diffuser. 

  The pinouts on these WS2812B modules fit exactly across the breadboard gap. There is an extra middle pin for ground, but I don't think I need it.

  Adding this log on the GPD Win Max 2 (2024) and messing with my RP2040-based Thumby. Also, to the left we can see the RP2040-One connected to an RP2040-Matrix, which are my other silly SAO prototypes, which I'd like to use as placeholder SAOs to demo on the Jacana FUFF Mux (https://hackaday.io/project/198240-fuff-mux-sao).

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