The Internet of Holiday Lights - We Have (a) Winner(s)!

6 Feb 2015

Many thanks to all who participated in the Internet of Holiday Lights RoadTest Plus. In a little over 6 weeks, 112 fascinating, interesting and challenging blog posts were created and we got to see a glimpse of the future of Holiday Lights applications.

It hasn't been easy to select a winner. Indeed, it was so problematic that we have picked two grand prize recipients.

Grand Prize Winner #1: Peter Oakes

Peter Oakes' BYOB Party was an inspiration to others, and indeed a lot of other competitors cited his work in their builds. It is our pleasure to follow up his coterie of Holiday Lights Party-goers with a Robox 3D printer.

Grand Prize Winner #2: Inderpreet Singh

Inderpreet Singh has turned his living room into a permanent holiday lights display, complete with dancing minions. Such dedication and single-mindedness deserves recognition with the 3D printer.

And finally...

Thank you to all our participants. Those who finished their projects will receive a copy of The Internet of Things with the Arduino Yún by Marco Schwarz. I encourage everyone who found this challenge intriguing and exciting to participate in our now enrolling Enchanted Objects IoT Challenge.

Top Comments

dragonstyne over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

I controlled mine with an Arduino Uno.

The LEDs I used were repurposed GE G35 Christmas lights.
However, the same process could be used on any addressable LED strings.

All you need is the protocol for the pixel addressing, color and intensity.
This, along with sketches and code can be found online, as well as, from the manufacturer of the chipset used to drive each pixel.

[][][] Steve
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to ipv1

I have an UNO on order. and hope to put it to good use when it arrives :-)
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to dragonstyne

Steve,
Your light displays are pretty awesome. I look forward to being able to do something similar when I become a bit more versed in the Rpi. I currently have a B+ I also have an UNO on order that I hope to get lots of use out of when it arrives..
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
dragonstyne over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

http://www.element14.com/community/people/mikejn1 mikejn1

Greetings Mike,

Please see
Holiday Lights

I controlled my lights with an Arduino Uno. Its programming language is a derivative of C. The RPi can be programmed to send out control data via the GPIO ports the same way.
I have heard the RPi has timing issues that could affect light control. I can't say for sure but, for the moment we will consider this rumors and propaganda.

-Steve
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
ipv1 over 11 years ago in reply to dragonstyne

Thanks Steve Sir,
Much Appreciated.

Mike,
You can either use an RGB LED driver like the Infineon Shield OR
you can use an Arduino to control RGB LEDs and talk to it via serial or I2C- Consider Seeedstudios Grove System
Cheers,
IP
- Cancel
- Vote Up +1 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel