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Billie Jean Staircase

Former Member

If any of you have seen Micheal Jackson's music video for Billie Jean you'll know what I'm talking about, but if not here's a link to the video, and start it at 3:40.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5rK8ajlhNg

 

I would like to mod my staircase to light up like the one in the video. I'm thinking i'd for sure like to make it light up when you step on it, but i'd also like to program it to pulse up and down to some music. I'm wondering what you guys think. I'd like to do it for as cheap as possible but it also needs to be able to handle constant foot traffic and rain.

 

My first goal is to build a module that rests on top and cover's a step. Im thinking this module will have a hard translucent plastic face with a source of lights underneath it. I'm not sure what sort of light source I should use (most likely LED's ?) but I'm pretty certain that I will need to add some sort of surface coating to the face so that it will scatter light nice and evenly (I know I've worked with plastic sheets that have a white film that you can peel off, but forget what its called, or maybe i should just use a paint or just sand the surface rough). My next question is how the stairs will be activated. I have some ideas floating around in my head (IR sensors, pressure sensors, button switches?) but nothing seems to be the obvious choice(modify a DDR dance pad?). If I make it some sort of anolog switch that is activated by weight, I'm thinking i'll have to have a second electronic path and program in order to address each module digitally so i can make the stairs light up regardless of whether or not some one is on the stair.

 

My next goal will be how to interface the step modules to an arduino and how to best supply this all with power ( i would love to beable to plug it into a wall outlet.)

 

This is my first real project and I would really love any input at all. I may be in a little over my head taking this on as my first project but I would really love for this to work out. Who knows, it might even make for a good episode. I am currently a 3rd year ME student at UCSB and I think this staircase would be the bee's knees here in Isla Vista.

 

- Wyatt

  • Wyatt,

     

    About 10 years ago Dance Dance Revolution, the game, was at the height of its popularity. People were building their own "dance mat" controllers all over the place.

    I build one for a friend of mine too. The one I made had the various squares light up when stepped on. The design was simple.

     

    1. Light scattering plexiglass, top layer (regular type would work too)

    2. LEDs, of any color, around the outside edges of the plastic. When on, it scatters into the plastic and the whole plate glows.

    3. Two metal layers separated by a buffer material around the periphery placed underneath the clear plastic top layer. (I used a dense rubber foam that was approximately 2mm thick.)

      This sandwich layer is act as a switch. Two metal contacts that connect to the ground when closed.

    4. The swtich then activated a transistor that would turn on the LEDs and provide the contact for the game console controller.

     

    In your case, you remove the game controller.

     

    This is all you need. The "load" is your LED array.

    image

     

    Hope this works out.

     

    Cabe

    http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • in reply to Catwell

    Thanks a ton, that sounds like the best way to do it. Should be thin and i can water proof it this way. Do have any idea where you found the light scattering plexiglass or what its called?