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  • Author Author: dougw
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Sammy Semaphore Torso Demo - (Blog 4)

dougw

Intro

While waiting for components I've been busy designing some 3D printed parts and wiring up some of the connectors that I do have. The first section of this blog shows one of my favorite types of connector from TE Connectivity, actually the MTA series from their AMP brand. The last section shows the robot torso design and demonstrates its display.

MTA Connector Assembly

image

Sammy Semaphore Torso Design

Sammy was going to be blue, but orange is what I have available for my printer. This is the torso design:

That is the hard part of the design, so it is good that it is printed and functional.

Software

Here is the little brute force program to display "TORSO":

//Arduino UNO 8x8 NEO pixel display "TORSO" demo
//by Doug Wong 2022

#include <FastLED.h>
#define NLEDS 64
#define LEDpin 2

CRGB leds[NLEDS];

byte AL[26][8] = {
{129, 129, 129, 255, 129, 129, 66, 60},     //A0
{127, 129, 129, 129, 127, 129, 129, 127},   //B1
{124,  130, 1, 1, 1, 1, 130, 124},          //C2
{63, 65, 129, 129, 129, 129, 65, 63},       //D3
{255, 1, 1, 1, 63, 1, 1, 255},              //E4
{1, 1, 1, 1, 63, 1, 1, 255},                //F5
{124, 130, 129, 225, 1, 1, 130, 124},       //G6
{129, 129, 129, 129, 255, 129, 129, 129},   //H7
{28, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 28},                 //I8
{30, 33, 33, 32, 32, 32, 32, 248},          //J9
{129, 65, 33, 17, 31, 33, 65, 129},         //K10
{255, 129, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1},               //L11
{129, 129, 129, 129, 153, 165, 195, 129},   //M12
{129, 193, 161, 145, 145, 137, 133, 131},   //N13
{126, 129, 129, 129, 129, 129, 129, 126},   //O14
{1, 1, 1, 1, 127, 129, 129, 127},           //P15
{190, 65, 161, 129, 129, 129, 129, 126},    //Q16
{129, 65, 33, 127, 129, 129, 129, 127},     //R17
{126, 129, 128, 64, 62, 1, 129, 126},       //S18
{8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 127},                 //T19
{126, 129, 129, 129, 129, 129, 129, 129},   //U20
{24, 36, 36, 66, 66, 129, 129, 129},        //V21
{129, 195, 165, 153, 129, 129, 129, 129},   //W22
{129, 66, 36, 24, 24, 36, 66, 129},         //X23
{16, 16, 16, 16, 24, 36, 66, 129},          //Y24
{255, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 255}             //Z25
};

int abc, rc, cc;

void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, LEDpin, GRB>(leds, NLEDS);
  FastLED.setBrightness(50);
}

void loop()
{
//  for (abc = 0; abc < 26; abc++)
//  {
  DisplayChar(19);
  delay(600);
  DisplayChar(14);
  delay(600);
  DisplayChar(17);
  delay(600);
  DisplayChar(18);
  delay(600);
  DisplayChar(14);
  delay(600);
  BlankDisplay();
  delay(1000);
}

void DisplayChar(int abc){
  for (rc = 0; rc < 8; rc++)
  {
    for (cc = 0; cc < 8; cc++)
    {
       if (bitRead(AL[abc][rc], cc) == 1)
       {
        leds[rc + cc * 8] = CRGB::Green;
       }
       else
       {
        leds[rc + cc * 8] = CRGB::Black;
       }
    }
  }
    FastLED.show();
}

void BlankDisplay()
{
    for (int ac = 0; ac < 64; ac++)
    {
      leds[ac] = CRGB::Black;
    }
    FastLED.show();
}

Discussion for Blog 4

The project is starting to come together, but there are still many pieces to arrive or resolve. At least the concept is starting to look real.

Relevant Links:

Twist, Turn and Move Design Challenge with TE Robotics
Sammy Semaphore - blog 1
Connector Tester - blog 2
NEO Pixel Display - blog 3
Sammy Semaphore Torso Demo - Blog 4
I Am Sam I Am - Blog 5
TE Connectivity Connector Tester Blog 6
Sammy Semaphore Fully Functional Blog 7

  • in reply to robogary

    I do set up carefully, with markers to cue me about what the field of view envelope is, to try and get it all in one take, but inevitably all those problems you mentioned, and more, crop up. I just keep rolling, hoping I can cut out the crappy sections. If I know there was a problem I will redo it (if possible) without stopping the camera. The camera definitely can have issues staying in focus and sometimes it is so bad, I have to redo a whole take. It is possible to move the camera back 15 feet and zoom in on the action - this would keep everything in focus at all times, but I don't have the space to do that. I always use a tripod, but it is also always in the way. I'm still pondering how to improve the video process.

  • in reply to javagoza

    > What does  think of this?

    We're limited by the API that's available for the online store. It was changed when we went from Jive to Verint.

    The problem is when someone inserts a product link, they need to provide the product code / SKU for both Newark and for Farnell when they insert the link, as you've found, but there's no 'good' mechanism to handle when only one product SKU / code is provided. 

    We also no longer have the ability to 'search' and recommend a product code, like we used to have.

    I want to raise this again with the developers to see if they can revisit it and do something about it, because it's not a great experience if you're not in the region the product link is for.

    Until then members (and staff) using the functionality need to be aware of the limits (and it'd probably help if there was messaging for that in the tool).

  • The video does a good job of keeping focused and centered while you are doing the crimps. Do you video in one take ? Even when using a tripod, I cant seem to keep centered, the action drifts out of frame,  I drop stuff, knock over things, etc :-)   Kudos on the camera work.

  • in reply to javagoza

    It is a definite missed opportunity to not automatically cross-reference part numbers. However, when I order from Newark, they often automatically ship stock from Farnell in the UK if there is no stock over here, so somewhere in their system the stock is cross referenced already.

  • in reply to javagoza

    Without farnell part number

    image

    Adding the farnell part number

    image