Isabel - Ambient Orb | Project

Intention

While the main intention of this project was to create an ambient light effect as a response to a google calendar alert. I struggled to get the IFTTT to work, and resorted to creating a different alert system that is based on the period of time in which someone is holding the pressure sensor. Much like how a calendar has different alerts and settings, this creates a different signal light based upon the period of time you hold the pressure sensor.

Process

As I worked through the assignment. I began by creating a basic circuit that connected purely the neopixel to the board, and tested the rainbow code on my board to see if the wiring was correct. However, while I was trying to implement this test code to my original code, I found myself being consistently faced with the error of the neopixel library not being found. After many attempts, I finally was able to get some help and learned how to add this library to my board, and was happy to see this work. From here, I wanted to explore a new way to interact with the light, and added a pressure module to my board, so that when pressed at different pressures there would be a different light setting that is triggered. Organizing the code in different events, I could then create specific light patterns within each and call them based on the amount of pressure that was applied.

Ambient orb Skill Dev

Isabel Fleck - https://youtu.be/tUxMzLHG2Rk

Outcome

In the end, I was able to produce a pattern of light sequences that were triggered at different pressures. I was happy with the response of the pressure and the light, as the pressure was quite finicky for some time, but after carefull readjusting of the values, I was able to produce a decent outcome.

#include "Particle.h"
#include "neopixel.h"

SYSTEM_MODE(AUTOMATIC);

// Define pin and NeoPixel configuration for Photon 2
#if (PLATFORM_ID == 32)
#define NEOPIXEL_PIN SPI // Use MOSI for Photon 2
#else
#define NEOPIXEL_PIN D3 // Use D3 for other Particle devices
#endif

#define NUM_PIXELS 8     // Number of LEDs in the NeoPixel strip
#define PIXEL_TYPE WS2812B // Specify the NeoPixel type

// Pressure sensor pin
#define PRESSURE_PIN A0

// Create a NeoPixel object
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(NUM_PIXELS, NEOPIXEL_PIN, PIXEL_TYPE);

void setup() {
    strip.begin();   // Initialize NeoPixel strip
    strip.show();    // Turn off all LEDs initially
    Serial.begin(9600); // Debugging
    
    // Subscribe to events from the Particle Cloud
    Particle.subscribe("weatherEvent", weatherEventHandler);
}

// Function prototypes for weather effects
void thunderEffect();
void rainEffect();
void cloudyEffect();
void sunnyEffect();

// Function to publish weather events
void publishWeatherEvent(const char* eventName) {
    String event = String("weatherEvent/") + eventName;
    Particle.publish(event);  // Publish the event with the prefix
    weatherEventHandler(event.c_str(), ""); // Call event handler immediately
}

// Particle event handler
void weatherEventHandler(const char* event, const char* data) {
    String eventString = String(event);

    if (eventString == "weatherEvent/sunny") {
        sunnyEffect(); // Call sunny effect function
    }
    else if (eventString == "weatherEvent/cloudy") {
        cloudyEffect(); // Call cloudy effect function
    }
    else if (eventString == "weatherEvent/rainy") {
        rainEffect(); // Call rainy effect function
    }
    else if (eventString == "weatherEvent/thunder") {
        thunderEffect(); // Call thunder effect function
    }
}

void loop() {
    // Read the pressure sensor value
    int pressure = analogRead(PRESSURE_PIN);
    Serial.println(pressure); // Debugging the sensor value

    // Check how long the pressure is held
    static unsigned long pressStartTime = 0;
    static bool isPressed = false;

    if (pressure > 1000) { // Threshold for detecting a press
        if (!isPressed) {
            pressStartTime = millis(); // Start timing
            isPressed = true;
        }
    } else {
        isPressed = false;
    }

    if (isPressed) {
        unsigned long pressDuration = millis() - pressStartTime;

        if (pressDuration > 5000) {
            publishWeatherEvent("thunder");
        } else if (pressDuration > 3000) {
            publishWeatherEvent("rainy");
        } else if (pressDuration > 2000) {
            publishWeatherEvent("cloudy");
        } else if (pressDuration > 1000) {
            publishWeatherEvent("sunny");
        }
    } else {
        strip.clear(); // Turn off LEDs when not pressed
        strip.show();
    }
}

// Thunder: Blue and yellow flash
void thunderEffect() {
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
        strip.clear();
        if (i % 2 == 0) {
            strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 128)); // Dim blue
        } else {
            strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(128, 128, 0)); // Dim yellow
        }
        strip.show();
        delay(50);
    }
    strip.clear();
    strip.show();
}

// Rain: Light dim blue light
void rainEffect() {
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
        strip.clear();
        strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 128)); // Dim blue
        strip.show();
        delay(100);
    }
}

// Cloudy: Dim violet/lavender light
void cloudyEffect() {
    static int brightness = 0;
    static int direction = 5;

    brightness += direction;
    if (brightness >= 100 || brightness <= 0) {
        direction = -direction;
    }

    uint32_t color = strip.Color(75 + brightness, 50 + brightness, 150 + brightness); // Dim lavender/violet
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i, color);
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(50);
}

// Sunny: Warm orange light
void sunnyEffect() {
    static int brightness = 0;
    static int direction = 5;

    brightness += direction;
    if (brightness >= 255 || brightness <= 50) {
        direction = -direction;
    }

    uint32_t color = strip.Color(255, 140, 0); // Warm orange
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++) {
        strip.setPixelColor(i, color);
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(50);
}

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