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Sci Fi Your Pi - Prince Dakkar's patent log taking chart compass
Sci Fi Your Pi - Prince Dakkar's patent log taking chart compass - Functional Design
Route Selection and Indication
One of the main elements that makes up the design is the indication of the route that will be taken from the current location to reach the destination. This works in two parts the selection of the route and then the indication on the map.
To select the route I wanted to use some suitably dramatic wheels that turn a location roll with a selection of locations and destinations listed. These wheels will not directly drive the rolls as this would move them too quickly so the will be connected via a small cog on the wheel and a large cog on the roll. This will give a large number of turns needed to move the roll using the wheel. This will also add to the Steampunk aesthetic by adding functional cogs to the design.
The selection of the destination and start point will be handled by a wheel for each. The rotation of the wheel will connect different circuits which consist of strings of LEDs which will sit underneath the map to show the route to be taken.
Each tube will have a connector running from one side of the roll to the other. This will connect with some brushes or sprung contacts to complete the circuit with the correct string of lights.
There will probably be some resistors required to ensure this does not fry the RPi, the diagram is to indicate how the idea works rather than being and exact schematic. Essentially each of the circular rolls shown in section have a connection that links two contacts to select the correct string of LEDs.
This selects the correct circuit then the RPi program when triggered (through suitably dramatic methodology) will light up the string of LEDs to show the route to be taken. The plan to make this work is to have the strings of LEDs mounted flush in a bed on which the map will sit. Thus when the LEDs are illuminated it will show the route son the map. TO make this work some suitably bright and Small LEDs will be required to make the lights look right when under the map (which will diffuse the light slightly depending on the paper used to print the map).
The LEDs for the non selected routes should not be visible with only the selected route illuminated. For stylistic reasons the routes may be indicated on the maps (like the trade route shown on old types of map. The map will also be a slightly (OK a lot) more accurate rendering and will be a world map rather than just part of it.
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