What’s better than 1 string of LED lights? 96. That’s how many. Each string of the 96 has 60 ws2812b LEDs, for a total of 5760 individually addressable RGB LEDs. That’s not the cool part of [jaymeekae]’s Space Tunnel installation, the cool part is that they’re interactive.
Starting out with some PVC piping, dark cloth was used as a backdrop and the LED strips were attached to it. Several power supplies are used to supply the voltage necessary and each strip controlled by FadeCandy chips which connect to, in this case, a Windows PC via USB. Initially, computer power supplies were used, but they couldn’t supply the current necessary. [jaymeekae] used them for the first installation, but switched to better power supplies for further installations.
Once the lights were up and powered, [jaymeekae] started work on the interface to control them. Starting with a used bureau, [jaymeekae] cut out a section for the touchscreen, and installed the controlling computer in the bottom half. Processing is used to interface with the FadeCandy controllers and HTML is used for a user interface. Each mode runs a different Processing program for different effects, including audio visualization, a space tunnel mode (hence the name) and a cool drawing app where the user draws on the touchscreen and sees the results in the lights overhead.
Over several iterations, the Space Tunnel has evolved, with better power supplies and a better interface. It’s a great art installation and [jaymeekae] takes it to festivals, including one in Spain and one in the UK. There are some other LED string projects at Hack-a-Day, including this one with ping-pong balls, and this one that involves drinking a lot of beer first.
[via Reddit]
I hope the videos don’t do it justice. How about moving back and showing the whole thing?
Agreed…..
There’s a lot of videos and pictures on Amy’s Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/amy_goodchild/
Hey im the creator of this and youre right, it really is better than on video! It’s super difficult to film, but i have a slightly better video here:
https://youtu.be/mBGz8s1um10
And there’s more here: http://www.spacetunnel.co.uk
A few shots of reality, really cool but then it’s back to putting out the everywhere fire with the fire hose of a camera’s view. Hurry hurry show it all in many sweeps.
Round the world and home again
That’s the sailor’s way
Faster faster, faster faster
There’s no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There’s no knowing where we’re rowing
Or which way the river’s flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing
Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they’re certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing
*manic loud screaming*
{yawn}
Suppose it depends on the perspective of who is the “user”… but these are more reactive than interactive.
reminds me of the “tunnel of questionable enlightenment ” at a regional burning man event ( diffraction grating glasses makes it incredible… uh, Im told )