Software Updates Coming

This upcoming weekend will be updates to the BETA versions of all of the Android Apps.  I have been working on an issue with the Temperature sensor and the Power Monitor where at the about the one hour mark, the Android App will freeze up or crash because of a memory leak.  Have greatly improved performance and reliability.  Please look for this.

Final Platform Connector

I have built the final angular platform connector I need.  While the underlying structure is the same, the detailing is different in all of them.  Mostly it has to do with power connection between the platforms.  Below is a series of pictures as it is built.

The two above are the base structure.

These show the beginnings of the detailing, using TAN pieces to keep with the sand motif.

Here you can see the common details o fthe Tans Light Blue round plates on the front and the 1X8 bars as power conduits.

Here the theme is beginning to take shape.

The last two show the completed detailing.  Lighting this will be interesting.

Bricks by the Bay Display

Have been working on various parts of the display.  Looks like it will be six platforms wide when I am done.  Here is the original platform that I use for display at trade shows.  Slowly converting everything over to tan and sand green.

This is the horizontal generator, not much progress here yet,  Still thinking of what goes on here besides the horizontal generator.  The inspiration has not happened yet.

The main tower is progressing.  Planning on placing royal guards on the path up to the tower.  Just about finished the side control areas.  Not sure what goes in the left and right front sections yet.  I want some low profile scene elements.  So I am looking around for some ideas.

The vertical generator has made some progress.  Playing around with conduits to power the whole platform.  Looking at two small cranes to lower the energy containers into the generator compartments.  Then some kind of a moving section in the front center.

The large gun Turret still needs work, but I am now researching a studless design housing.

The last blank one will be a large housing similar to the first one.  That way I will have two units to take to trade shows.

The connectors are all different, just to hide that it is a modular system. 

Light Controller Firmware (Part 9)

Finally received the test boards for this.  Here are a series of pictures as I assemble the first PCB for test.

A blank PCB

The Red, Green, Blue LEDs are installed

Finally the connectors for the ribbon cable are installed.

 And this is what it looks like assembled.  Finally a short video showing the LEDs cycling through.  Unfortunately the LEDs are very close together and bright.  They are overwhelming the camera sensor on my phone.

The basic on/off functionality works along with the intensity control of each light through the LP5569 PWM feature.  Next I am going to implement the random PWM and cycle functions on a select set of LEDs.  Then I can setup the scripting language to control this.  Finally implementing the programming function of the LP5569.  That is going to be a little more complex.

Firmware Upgrades

So my day job really got in the way and had to go to Washington State for a few days.  Have posted new software for the Power Monitor and the Dual LiPO charger to the web site.  Mostly it is cleanup for minor glitches in the USB HID connection and including built in upgrade capability.

Here is how you FW upgrade and this applies to both.

On the side of the module is a button.  Hold this button down while you plug in the module.  When you start the PC software a screen similar to this will appear.

Press the folder speed button and chose the .hex file for the module you are upgrading.  The screen will now look like this.

Now press the program speed button (next to the folder) and the device will program and verify the programming.

It is done.  You can either press the exit speed button or unplug and plug back in the device to use the device.

One change with the new PC software is the ability to place the device directly into upgrade mode.  This is accomplished by either using the options menu and selecting Firmware upgrade or fof the Dual LiPO charge pressing F11.  All modules will enter the Firmware upgrade mode when the button is pressed while plugging in the device to a USB port.

Updating Software

All of the software we provide is being upgraded this week.  Look for new software on the website this weekend.

What changed?
Dual LiPO charger, Power Monitor and BrickBuddy PC software programs and PIC firmware have been upgraded into a common set of software.  Mostly what this includes, other than some HID interface improvements, is a self contained method for upgrading the PIC firmware.

Power Monitor and BrickBuddy Android apps will move to the Play Store for download.  Additionally the TDust temperature probe  will be available in BETA for eventual release in May.

The LightBuddy is still on track for release in late June in time for Bricks by the Bay.  We will be there as a vendor and as s MOC exhibitor.

The Big Gun Turret

Still looking to build a big cannon type rail gun with lights and movement.  To this end I bought a small turntable and large turntable to be used a s base.  Here is the beginnings of using the large turn table.

Sine the turntable is essentially 9x9, I had to bigger base for it to sit on.  Two 6x10 plates tied together with two extensions.

This shows using the same technic connectors as in the horizontal generator to secure the turntable to the base.  

The slot in the bottom side is for the gearing system that will drive the turntable. 

The next set of pictures show the casing as it is built up around the turntable.

The final picture shows the circular edge put around it with the tiles on top to make a smooth surface. The circular edge is 4 brick round corners (48092) inter-spaced with 1x1 bricks.  

The final consideration will be how to only turn 180 degrees.  Either a clutch or a rubberband drive will have to be used so that when it runs up against the hard stop, the motor will not keep driving against it.