This is my first time to try to make something about physical computing. :)
Concept
Most of the time, people will dance when they are listening to the music. So music would play first then people will dance. My project idea is about people dance first then the body movement can make different sounds or music. I will use some distance sensors. There are two ways to present this project. Like the sketch below:
Primary Parts
- 4 Arduino Uno
- 4 Distance sensors
- 4 Leds
- 4 Speakers
First, I tested the distance sensor to record the data and tried some code use the “NeoPixel” library.
Then I tested the single one can work using the distance sensor change the led color and make different sounds. Then put 4 speakers and 4 Leds together, but maybe something wrong with my code, the speakers can not work all at the same time… Only 1 or 2 can work…
Preview Presentation
After that I still want to improve my project. Make the sounds can work all at the same time. And I want to try to change sounds to different kind of sounds like piano or guitar not only the easy speaker tone.
Then I keep doing my project, not only the code but also the appearance. I want to improve that more pretty, so I think about that maybe like this.
Because it can not work using 4 speaker and 4 sensors only with one arduino, so I think about that maybe I can separate them, only a sensor, a led and a speaker using one arduino, like this.
Then I start to make the ball which I want to put sensor, led and speaker all in. I bought four balls in Michaels. And Because the speakers I used before were too big to put in the ball, I bought four smaller speakers.
I drilled the balls to make the sensor and wires can pass through. Put the sensor, led and speaker in the ball.
Then I worked on my code, tried to find some ways can make different sounds… I found using PCM Library can only use arduino make any mp3 sounds you want, so I tried it. But it only can load 1 mp3 music because the memoryof arduino is too small. Then I tried to use the mp3 shield to make different sounds. Because of the distance sensor was so sensitive, the sounds changed so fast and frequent. So I give up to use the mp3 shield.
Finally, I only use the tone function to let four speakers make different notes sounds…
What I want to improve next step
- Keep trying to change sounds. (Maybe Midi things, just know a little about before)
- Try another led or led strip…