Beacon4

From Hackstrich
Revision as of 03:22, 18 June 2012 by SarahEmm (talk | contribs) (All pieces are now assigned to a reel. I don't like the one piece that has 4 separate bits though, need to try to work that out.)

Beacon4 will be the fourth incarnation of the flagpole beacon (after Beacon2 and Beacon3), for Burning Man 2012. This year the plan is to take a different approach, and light the entire scaffold tower rather than just a beacon on top of the flagpole.

Project Status

  • 2012-06-17: Hardware bring-up and firmware writing continuing. Lightjams is almost certainly going to be the software of choice. Lighting design is coming along.
  • 2012-06-07: Work on StrichLux continues. Evaluated lots of software, Lightjams is looking the best at this point, though would require Windows.
  • 2012-05-27: Completed rev. 1 StrichLux system design of all modules required for this project and sent all boards off for manufacturing.
  • 2012-04-30: Started planning the power architecture for the project.
  • 2012-04-29: Work continuing on IO-DMX module.
  • 2012-04-24: Permission received!
  • 2012-04-23: Requested permission from NeonBunny to attach LEDs to the tower.
  • 2012-04-22: Started putting together idea.

Outstanding Issues

  • Software evaluation:
    • QLC
      • Max of only 4 universes, which rules it out
    • MagicQ
      • Very complex and more geared toward theatre setups than VJ setups
      • Supports up to 16 universes over Art-Net
      • x86-only
      • Advanced features like sound-reactiveness or remote control require a very expensive license dongle
    • Lightjams
      • x86/Windows-only
      • Supports up to 16 universes over Art-Net
      • Sound reactiveness, remote control, Wiimote control, and everything else is included for a low price

Ideas/Plans

  • Main idea is to cover most of the scaffold tower in addressable LED strips, driven by multiple StrichLux modules
  • Art-Net will be used between the controller and the StrichLux box
    • Backup plan is to have a USB hub and one OpenDMX USB interface per universe, driving the StrichLux boxes via IO-DMX input modules
    • IO-DMX input module could be brought along either way and swapped to manually control the "display"
  • Fit-PC 2i is being looked at to control the whole thing
    • As nice as ARM would be power-wise, x86 will be much more flexible software-wise
    • Need to make sure it will be powerful enough before we order
  • Need to find a fanless very low power 4 or 5 port Ethernet switch
    • Allied Telesis AT-FS705LE V5 might work, it's rugged, low power (1.5-2.5W), and cheap
      • But it takes 7.5V which would be another regulator and is a potential point of failure that would bring the entire system down
    • Alternative option is the GarrettCom S14H-Hi, it takes 8-15V in via screw terminals and is ruggedized, but $140 and draws 4W
    • Best option may be the Sixnet SL-5ES-1, it's $100, rugged, takes 10-30VDC via screw terminals, and only draws 2W

System Components

  • Fit-PC 2i (controller)
  • 4-port fanless Ethernet switch
  • 3 StrichLux boxes (driver, each with:
  • Many LED strips (need to work out dimensions)
  • Power setup (need to work out power details)
  • Debugging terminal (XO-1?)

Power Details

  • Power requirements (peak)
    • Fit-PC 2i - ???
    • Ethernet Switch - ???
    • StrichLux box(es) - ???
    • LEDs - 10W/m (~1.8A/m at 5V measured, so 10W/m after losses is reasonable)

Power Architecture

http://www.asciiflow.com/#4007824742034929919/13747898[YOB-2]
                                                                              +--------------+
                                                                         +--->| LED Strip  0 |
                                                                         |    +--------------+
                                                                         |
                                                                         |    +--------------+
                                                       +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  1 |
                                +--------------+       |               +-+ |  +--------------+
                                |              |       |   StrichLux   +---+
                                |     Dome     |    +->| Controller A  +---+  +--------------+
                                |   Lighting   |    |  |               +-+ +->| LED Strip  2 |
                                |              |    |  +---------------+ |    +--------------+
                                +--------------+    |                    |
                                        ^           |                    |    +--------------+
                                        |           |                    +--->| LED Strip  3 |
                             +----------+---------+ |                         +--------------+
                             |                    | |
                             |                    | |                         +--------------+
                             |                    +-+                    +--->| LED Strip  4 |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |    +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  5 |
    +---------------+        |                    |    |               +-+ |  +--------------+
    |               |        |    Distribution    |    |   StrichLux   +---+
    |    Battery    +=======>|                    +--->| Controller B  +---+  +--------------+
    |               |        |        Box         |    |               +-+ +->| LED Strip  6 |
    +---------------+        |                    |    +---------------+ |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      |
                             |                    |                      |    +--------------+
                             |                    |                      +--->| LED Strip  7 |
                             |                    |                           +--------------+
                             |                    +-+
                             |                    | |                         +--------------+
                             +--+-------+---------+ |                    +--->| LED Strip  8 |
                                |       |           |                    |    +--------------+
                      +---------+       |           |                    |
                      v                 v           |                    |    +--------------+
              +--------------+   +--------------+   |  +---------------+ | +->| LED Strip  9 |
              |              |   |              |   |  |               +-+ |  +--------------+
              | Convienience |   |    System    |   |  |   StrichLux   +---+
              |   Outlets    |   |  Controller  |   +->| Controller C  +---+  +--------------+
              |              |   |              |      |               |   +->| LED Strip 10 |
              +--------------+   +--------------+      +---------------+      +--------------+

Lighting Layout

Random Notes

  • Decided on 60m length total (3 StrichLux boxes)
    • That's 1920 RGB LEDs and ~600W peak!
    • Will need to come up with a lighting layout/design that will fit within this

Dimensions

Main Module (4 of these vertically, 2 of which will be lit)
-----------------------------------------------------------

+-----D-----+------E------+       |\                                   /|
|           |             |       |    \                           /    |
|-----D-----|             |       |        F                   /        |
|           H             |       |            \           /            |
|-----D-----|             |       |                \   /                |
|           |             |       |                /   \                |
|-----D-----+------E------|       |            /           \            |
|                         |       |        F                   \        |
A                         A       A    /                           \    A
|-----------B-------------+       |/                                   \|


Top Module
----------

|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|                         |       |                                     |
|-------B-----------------|       |------------------C------------------|
|            |            |       |  /                               \  |
|            G            |       |------------------C------------------|
|            |            |       |                                     |
A============B============A       A                                     A
|                         |       |                                     |
  • A - Module Height (5ft 1in)
  • B - Module Width (5ft)
  • C - Module Depth (7ft)
  • D - Ladder Width (2.5ft)
  • E - Beside-Ladder Width (B - D) (2.5ft)
  • F - Cross-brace Length (7.37ft)
  • G - Top Rail Support Height
  • H - Ladder Section Height (3.5ft)
  • n - Number of Modules (3)
  • x - Number of Main Modules (2)

Idealized Layout

  • Vertical Mains: A * 4 * n = 5.083 * 4 * 3 = 61ft (done piecing)
  • Beside-Ladder Boxes: (E * 2 + H) * 2 * x = 34ft (done piecing)
  • Cross-braces: F * 2 * 2 * x = 7 * 2 * 2 * 2 = 59ft (done piecing)
  • Top Rail: B * 2 + C * 2 = 24ft (done piecing)
  • Top-Middle Rail: C * 2 = 14ft (done piecing)
  • Toe Board: B * 4 = 10ft (done piecing)
  • Total: 202ft / 61.5m

Actual Layout

  • Vertical Mains: 4.5m each * 4
  • Cross brace tubes: 1.125m each * 8
  • Toe board: 1.5m each * 2
  • Top middle rail: 2.1m each * 2
  • Top rail long side: 2.1m each * 2
  • Top rail short side: 1.5m each * 2
  • Ladder box vertical: 1m each * 4
  • Ladder box horizontal: 0.75m * 8
  • Total: 60.00m

Piece List

  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel C)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel D)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel E)
  • Vertical Main: 450cm (Reel F)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel G)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel G)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel H)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel H)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel I)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel I)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel J)
  • Cross brace tube: 220cm (Reel J)
  • Toe board: 150cm (Reel A)
  • Toe board: 150cm (Reel A)
  • Top middle rail: 210cm (Reel K)
  • Top middle rail: 210cm (Reel K)
  • Top long rail: 210cm (Reel L)
  • Top long rail: 210cm (Reel L)
  • Top short rail: 150cm (Reel B)
  • Top short rail: 150cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel A)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel A)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box vertical: 100cm (Reel B)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels C, D)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels E, D)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reel K)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reel L)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels G, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels I, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels J, H)
  • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm (Reels F, H, K, L)

Reel Assignment

  • Reel A (100% used)
    • Toe Board: 150cm
    • Toe Board: 150cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
  • Reel B (100% used)
    • Top short rail: 150cm
    • Top short rail: 150cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
    • Ladder box vertical: 100cm
  • Reel C (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel D (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 25cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 25cm (chunk 2)
  • Reel E (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel F (100% used)
    • Vertical Main: 450cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 50cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel G (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel H (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
    • Ladder box horizontal: 15cm (chunk 2)
  • Reel I (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel J (100% used)
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Cross brace tube: 220cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 60cm (chunk 1)
  • Reel K (100% used)
    • Top middle rail: 210cm
    • Top middle rail: 210cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 5cm (chunk 3)
  • Reel L (100% used)
    • Top long rail: 210cm
    • Top long rail: 210cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 75cm
    • Ladder box horizontal: 5cm (chunk 4)

StrichLux Enclosures

  • Each StrichLux controller with its 4 output modules, 1 input module, and 1 power module will need an enclosure of some kind.
    • Pelican case? Could do one larger one with all 3 controllers in it, or 3 smaller ones
    • Assuming each StrichLux box has its own enclosure, would need a bunch of connections made through it:
      • Power - 2x12V @ 20A each - 4 20A power pins
      • Ethernet input - RJ45 - 1 RJ45
        • Connec has plastic bayonet-style IP67 industrial Ethernet connectors which are somewhat reasonably priced, so far this looks like the best option even though it is a lot more expensive than regular non-weatherproof Ethernet
      • Strip outputs - SPI+5V - 2 signal pins, 2 10A power pins each x 4
        • JAE SRCN2A16-7S / SRCN6A16-7P would be good and extremely rugged, but the cost may be too high
  • Need inter-strip connectors too
    • Molex MX150 or Amphenol ATP connectors look good, sealed high-current automotive connectors that aren't too expensive

Test Equipment

  • Want to be able to power the whole setup from AC power for configuration/testing/programming
    • ATX power supplies provide plenty of +12V which could feed the PWR-DC5 modules
      • A modular supply like the OCX ZT-series would be cleanest, could modify the cables with Sabre connectors on the ends
      • Need 100W per channel, 200W per board, 600W total @ 12V
      • 100W per channel @ 12V means 8.33A
      • PCI-E and 8-pin CPU power connectors on ATX PSUs provide 6 amps per pin
        • PCI-E connectors have 3 pin pairs each
        • 8-pin CPU power connectors have 4 pin pairs each
      • Need four pins per board
        • Two boards get 8-pin CPU power -> Sabre connectors
        • The last board gets a 2xPCI-E power -> Sabre connector
      • OCZ ZT-series 750W power supply has all the required connectors

Cost

Item Status Cost
IO-DMX + IO-BO Rev. 1 PCBs Obtained $40.69
IO-DMX + IO-BO Parts Obtained $18.31
IO-SPI Rev. 1 PCBs Obtained $49.65
CORE + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 PCBs Obtained $454.66
CORE + IO-SPI + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 Parts Obtained $184.40
Test LED Strip Obtained $25.00
OCZ ZT 750W Test PSU Obtained $107.34
60m LPD8806 LED Strip Future $1320.00
Fit-PC 2i Future ~$350.00
Lightjams License Future $149.00
Ethernet Switch Future ~$100.00
2 sets of StrichLux IO-CORE + IO-ETH + PWR-DC5 Parts Future ~$350.00
Enclosures Future ???
Enclosure Connectors Future ???
Inter-Strip Connectors Future ???
Total Obtained $880.05
Total Future ~$2269.00
Grand Total ~$3149.05