New Project

[Chris Savage]

This is a bit of a teaser...I was suddenly struck by a project idea that I wanted to implement once before, but moved and never got back to it. Now the interest in it has been brought up again recently and now I have decided to push this project to the front of the line. To that end, I placed and Amazon order, which came in today. You're welcome to make guesses on what the project is. Obviously some parts were bought in bulk to bring pricing down.

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[JKnightandKARR]

Buttons make me suggest mobile gaming device? But probly not

[Jeff_T]

I'm trying to make out what all the components are, I see microcontrollers a case a couple of power supplies the servos and df players there are a couple of objects I can't see well.

So it has moving parts, sound either music or questions/instructions  or scary stuff, there is going to be user interaction with the buttons perhaps a keycode. Yes I need a clue   

[Chris Savage]

Admittedly, the photos are just copied / pasted from the order screen on Amazon, and so not very detailed (or sized). Going down the left side from top to bottom, then the right side from top to bottom we have:

(5) DFPlayer Mini
(12) NRF24L01 Transceiver
(2) 2-Packs DC 5V@2A Power Adapter
(2) 3-Pack ELEGOO Nano Board CH 340
(1) 40-pc 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC Power Jack
(3) Wooden Storage Box w/Hinged Lid, Rosewood (10.79" x 7.8" x 2.4")
(1) 10-Pack SG90 Micro Servo
(1) 8-pc 12mm Momentary Push Button Switch (NO, 4 red / 4 silver)

As with any prototype, parts are subject to change and I am already reconsidering the push buttons and DC jacks due to the thickness of the wooden box, which I did not know when I ordered them. There is also a vinyl decal not shown, because it would totally give away the project, which I am not ready to do yet.

I am currently working on the electronics and source code, then the mechanical stuff will come after. Here's what I will say. There will be a second box which I am still deciding on due to design requirements. The wooden box shown will have two different colored push buttons, one Nano, a transceiver and a power pack.

The second "box" will have a Nano, transceiver, DFPlayer Mini, NeoPixel ring and a servo.

I know it's not much, but this is a priority project at the moment and I am still working out a few design aspects.

[Chris Savage]

Here's a video talking about connecting the transceiver to the Arduino Nano, as well as a connection diagram using an adapter that I have since ordered.

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[Chris Savage]

Communications test was a success tonight!

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The left Arduino Nano is the transmitter, while the right Arduino Nano is the receiver.

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The transmitter is sending, "Hello World", and the receiver is displaying it on the serial monitor.

Next test will be to connect the two pushbuttons to the transmitter and properly display which button is pressed using LEDs on the receiver.

Finally I will, based on which button is pressed, on the receiver play one of two WAV files, move a servo to one of two positions and activate a NeoPixel ring / bar.

[Jeff_T]

Looking good Chris, I still have no idea what the final product will be , I am following with interest.

[Chris Savage]

Looking good Chris, I still have no idea what the final product will be , I am following with interest.

I am definitely putting the utmost priority into wrapping three units A.S.A.P. I just realized I never ordered the case for the receiver side.    I will do that shortly.

I will add the following details of the functionality...

Transmitter Side:
One of two buttons is pressed. Not sure if I will implement any sort of acknowledgement system that the receiver has received the signal.

Receiver Side:
The DFPlayer Mini will play one of two preprogrammed MP3 / WAV files. A servo will move one of two flags to the up position. A NeoPixel ring / bar will light up.

I may offer more as I get closer. There is a project stub, however it is not yet published. It is a draft. Don't want to give away the project before I post it. 

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Here the Transmitter has been updated with two pushbuttons and a piezo speaker (something I am testing). The Receiver has been updated with two LEDs (Red / White) and a signal wire has been run for the servo, though the current prototype setup doesn't have the power to drive the servo, so it's not currently connected.

[Chris Savage]

I spent my evening last night merging the different pieces of code for the hardware. As I said, the original prototype demo was just a "Hello World" from one module to another. As of last night, I added constants and setup for the buttons and piezo on the transmitter side. I'm intending to use the piezo as a feedback mechanism to let the sender know that their message was received, and subsequently when it was acknowledged.

I also added constants for the receiver side for the LEDs and servo, though I still need to add a button and eventually the LEDs will be a NeoPixel string of some sort. So yeah, still in the "testing hardware" phase, but soon ready to develop the final code.

[Jeff_T]

Hmm perhaps a seasonal thing, valentines or easter maybe?

[Chris Savage]

Hmm perhaps a seasonal thing, valentines or easter maybe?

It's a great guess. Currently this is slated as a test-pilot product, based on current pop-culture references. I will release three units, then post the project with some options / modifications. I am hoping to post the first three units on eBay in less than a month. Once I do, I will link them here. I rarely do things for profit, however, in this case it's a matter of timing.

now, on the other hand, you mentioned Valentine's / Easter. Years back I had hoped to replicate someone else's project you may recall, The Original Reverse Geocache, with my own modifications, of course. But alas, Wendy was diagnosed with cancer and I never got back to it before she passed. But I have been thinking of something equally unique, but different. I am still working on some ideas.

As for Easter, same thing. I remember one year before Parallax laid me off we were supplying parts for an organization that was doing an easter egg hunt for the blind. So the eggs were plastic with a beeper in them to make it easier for blind people to find them. It was a great idea / project. I was hoping to make something unique for everyone. I even posted a message about it at the time. I'm always on the hunt for great project ideas, be it for the holidays or whatever.

UPDATE: My receiver enclosures came in today, so I am very close to getting all three initial units ready.

[JKnightandKARR]

Puzzle box then?

[Chris Savage]

Puzzle box then?

No, but now I am compelled to ask...do these puzzle boxes have more than one box (transmitter / receiver) that work together? I've never done one, except the old wooden ones from the 60s/70s/80s. Those were a single box made up of multiple interlocking wood parts.

UPDATE: The receiver boxes came in last night.



These boxes are (obviously) designed for a completely different application as they are ballot / donation boxes. However, I needed an enclosure with a slot in the top and these are already setup that way.



This is the second style, I wanted to check out more than one option.

[Chris Savage]

Been working on the code tonight. I made a lot of progress. 

[Chris Savage]

One of the issues that I have been dealing with regarding the wooden box is that it is ~10mm thick, which is how deep the threads are on both the push buttons and then DC barrel jack. So I have been researching options on how to handle this and I think I finally have a solution for the push buttons. Still working on options for the DC jack.