BlinkyTile Beta Workshop, Oct. 25, 2014

# BlinkyTile Beta Test Workshop

## October 25, 2014 · Baltimore Node

## Marty McGuire · Amy Hurst

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# Welcome!

???

1. Welcome to the Node
2. What is the Node?
3. Who are you?
  * Who has experience in electronics?
  * Programming?
  * Who has soldered before?

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# Meet the BlinkyTile

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# Meet the BlinkyTile

???

BlinkyTile is a pentagonal circuitboard with a programmable RGB LED

Tiles are soldered together by 5 connections along their edges

A controller board tells each tile what color to be

Each tile has an ID that is its address

**Note:** This is BETA hardware
* We need your feedback and any ideas you're willing to share
* The controller is not the final version

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# What is This Stuff?

## Meet the BlinkyTile

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# What Can We Make?

![BlinkyTile Picture Frame and Dodecahedron Lamp](blinkytile-frame-lamp.jpg)

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# What Can We Make?

![BlinkyTile Abstract Sculptuer](blinkytile-sculpture.jpg)

Abstract Sculpture (up to 14 tiles)

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# Agenda

* ## Prep and Solder Tiles Together

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* ## Attach Controller Board

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* ## Program Controller Board

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* ## Make our First Animation

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* ## Questions and Next Steps

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# Tile Prep

1. ## Cut or snap each tile from the circuit board
2. ## Use snips to remove leftover bits along edges
3. ## Use file or sandpaper to smooth down any stubborn bits

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# Soldering

.center.middle[<iframe id="soldering-video" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>]

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# Soldering

1. ## Use soldering iron to “weld” two tiles together along the edge.
2. ## **Pro-Tip:** Start with only one connection on each edge so you can make adjustments.
3. ## [Demo!]

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# Attach Controllers

1. ## Cut and strip 3 wires (red, black, and yellow) to go between your controller and sculpture.
2. ## Solder wires to controller.
  * ### Black for GND
  * ### Red for 5V
  * ### Yellow for SIG
3. ## Choose a tile edge and solder the other side of each wire.
  * ### Black for GND
  * ### Red for 5V
  * ### Yellow for SIG

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# Power it Up!

1. ## Wrap your USB cable around a sturdy part of the sculpture for strain relief.
  * ## **NEVER HANG YOUR SCULPTURE BY THE SOLDERED WIRES**
2. ## Plug in your USB cable into your laptop.
3. ## Watch it light up!

# Troubleshooting

* ## Not lighting up at all?
  * ### Quickly unplug in case of a short!
  * ### Check connections between controller and tile.
* ## Some tiles not lighting up?
  * ### Check connections between tiles.

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# Programming — download all the things

1. ## Arduino — Download it at [arduino.cc](http://arduino.cc)

2. ## Blinkinlabs 32u4 Board definitions — Download it [from GitHub](https://github.com/Blinkinlabs/Blinkinlabs32u4_boards)
  * ### https://github.com/Blinkinlabs/Blinkinlabs32u4_boards
  * ### Choose **"Download ZIP"** link

3. ## Example Code — Download it [from GitHub](https://github.com/martymcguire/BlinkyTile_Arduino_Example)
  * ### https://github.com/martymcguire/BlinkyTile_Arduino_Example

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# Programming — Program the Controller

1. ## Plug in your controller to your computer via USB.
1. ## In the `Tools | Board` menu, choose `"BlinkyTape"`
1. ## Choose the right entry from the `Tools | Serial Port` menu
  * ### This varies by OS X vs. Windows vs. Linux

# Upload the Program (Tricky)

1. ## Unplug the USB from your computer
2. ## Click the `"Upload"` button (➡)
3. ## As soon as you see `"Binary sketch size: x,xxx bytes (of a xx,xxx byte maximum)"`, plug the USB back in!
4. ## If successful, you will see a "`Finished Uploading`" message.
5. ## This may take several tries.

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# Your First Program

Edit the code in `color_loop()`

```
void color_loop() {
  static uint8_t i = 0;
  static int j = 0;
  static int f = 0;
  static int k = 0;

static int pixelIndex;
  
  for (uint16_t i = 0; i < maxPixel*10; i+=10) {
    writePixel(i/10+1,
      128*(1+sin(i/30.0 + j/1.3)), // Red
      128*(1+sin(i/10.0 + f/2.9)), // Green
      128*(1+sin(i/25.0 + k/5.6))  // Blue
    );
  }

j = j + 1;
  f = f + 1;
  k = k + 2;
}
```

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# Thank You!!

## Troubleshooting, Advanced Topics, Program Ideas, Other Questions…