You can build a glowing collar for your best friend with the help of Adafruit Flora and colour-changing neopixels. Whether you\u2019re looking for extra cool points at the park or you\u2019d like the added safety in the dark, here\u2019s how to get started:<\/p>\n
Suitable for:<\/strong> beginners<\/p>\n Time required:<\/strong> 2 hours<\/p>\n Budget:<\/strong> \u00a380-100<\/p>\n The tech you need: <\/strong><\/p>\n You will also need: <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Before construction starts it’s important to understand how the components will connect to the Adafruit Flora. In this project, we’ll connect our components using conductive threads. This way we ensure that the transmission of the signals or the current transmission work. Alternatively, it is possible to use stranded wires, which connect the components via solder points. Here’s a guide to help you (the letters stand for the connection points of the individual components and the mainboard):<\/p>\n Accelerometer:<\/strong><\/em> Series connection of NeoPixels:<\/strong><\/em> Caution:<\/strong> <\/span>Always make sure you are working on a non-conductive surface. It’s important to check your work for short circuits before connecting the Adafruit Flora to the battery or computer.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n First, choose where you’d like to place the neopixels, Adafruit Flora and accelerometer on the collar. When you are happy with the neopixels’ placement, sew on the mainboard and accelerometer making sure they are close together. Use the opposite connections GND and 3.3V for the Adafruit Flora. Then connect the Flora and the accelerometer with a conductive thread.<\/p>\n The next step is to connect the neopixels to the mainboard. Start from the D6 connector of the mainboard wheel. Lead the conductive thread to the connector with the inward arrow of the first neopixel. From the opposite connector with the arrow pointing outwards, guide the conductive thread to the next neopixel. Repeat until you have reached all neopixels.<\/p>\n Now take two more conductive threads and sew the ground line and the power connection between the mainboard and the neopixels.<\/p>\n Now the mainboard is connected to the computer with a USB cable. Open the Adafruit Arduino IDE, which contains the NeoPixel library and follow these steps:<\/p>\n #include <Wire.h><\/span><\/p>\n #include <Adafruit_Sensor.h><\/span><\/p>\n #include <Adafruit_LSM303_U.h><\/span><\/p>\n #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \/\/ Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ Parameter 2 = pin number (most are valid)<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz bitstream (e.g. FLORA pixels)<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (e.g. High Density LED strip)<\/span><\/p>\n Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(6, 6, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);<\/span><\/p>\n Adafruit_LSM303_Accel_Unified accel = Adafruit_LSM303_Accel_Unified(54321);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \/\/ Input your favorite colors here, these will appear on the collar!<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ just add new {nnn, nnn, nnn}, lines. They will be picked out randomly<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ R G B<\/span><\/p>\n uint8_t myFavoriteColors[][3] = {{200, 0, 200}, \/\/ purple<\/span><\/p>\n {200, 0, 0}, \/\/ red <\/span><\/p>\n {200, 200, 200}, \/\/ white<\/span><\/p>\n };<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ don’t edit the line below<\/span><\/p>\n #define FAVCOLORS sizeof(myFavoriteColors) \/ 3<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \/\/ mess with this number to adjust TWINklitude \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ lower number = more sensitive<\/span><\/p>\n #define MOVE_THRESHOLD 45<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n void setup() <\/span><\/p>\n {<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.begin(9600);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ Try to initialise and warn if we couldn’t detect the chip<\/span><\/p>\n if (!accel.begin())<\/span><\/p>\n {<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.println(“Oops … unable to initialize the LSM303. Check your wiring!”);<\/span><\/p>\n while (1);<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n strip.begin();<\/span><\/p>\n strip.show(); \/\/ Initialize all pixels to ‘off’<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n void loop() <\/span><\/p>\n {<\/span><\/p>\n \/* Get a new sensor event *\/ <\/span><\/p>\n sensors_event_t event; <\/span><\/p>\n accel.getEvent(&event);<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.print(“Accel X: “); Serial.print(event.acceleration.x); Serial.print(” “);<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.print(“Y: “); Serial.print(event.acceleration.y); Serial.print(” “);<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.print(“Z: “); Serial.print(event.acceleration.z); Serial.print(” “);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \/\/ Get the magnitude (length) of the 3 axis vector<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Euclidean_vector#Length<\/span><\/p>\n double storedVector = event.acceleration.x*event.acceleration.x;<\/span><\/p>\n storedVector += event.acceleration.y*event.acceleration.y;<\/span><\/p>\n storedVector += event.acceleration.z*event.acceleration.z;<\/span><\/p>\n storedVector = sqrt(storedVector);<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.print(“Len: “); Serial.println(storedVector);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ wait a bit<\/span><\/p>\n delay(100);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ get new data!<\/span><\/p>\n accel.getEvent(&event);<\/span><\/p>\n double newVector = event.acceleration.x*event.acceleration.x;<\/span><\/p>\n newVector += event.acceleration.y*event.acceleration.y;<\/span><\/p>\n newVector += event.acceleration.z*event.acceleration.z;<\/span><\/p>\n newVector = sqrt(newVector);<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.print(“New Len: “); Serial.println(newVector);<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ are we moving <\/span><\/p>\n if (abs(newVector – storedVector) > MOVE_THRESHOLD) {<\/span><\/p>\n Serial.println(“Twinkle!”);<\/span><\/p>\n flashRandom(5, 1); \/\/ first number is ‘wait’ delay, shorter num == shorter twinkle<\/span><\/p>\n flashRandom(5, 3); \/\/ second number is how many neopixels to simultaneously light up<\/span><\/p>\n flashRandom(5, 2);<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n void flashRandom(int wait, uint8_t howmany) {<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n for(uint16_t i=0; i<howmany; i++) {<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ pick a random favorite color!<\/span><\/p>\n int c = random(FAVCOLORS);<\/span><\/p>\n int red = myFavoriteColors[c][0];<\/span><\/p>\n int green = myFavoriteColors[c][1];<\/span><\/p>\n int blue = myFavoriteColors[c][2]; <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \/\/ get a random pixel from the list<\/span><\/p>\n int j = random(strip.numPixels());<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/Serial.print(“Lighting up “); Serial.println(j); <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ now we will ‘fade’ it in 5 steps<\/span><\/p>\n for (int x=0; x < 5; x++) {<\/span><\/p>\n int r = red * (x+1); r \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n int g = green * (x+1); g \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n int b = blue * (x+1); b \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n strip.setPixelColor(j, strip.Color(r, g, b));<\/span><\/p>\n strip.show();<\/span><\/p>\n delay(wait);<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ & fade out in 5 steps<\/span><\/p>\n for (int x=5; x >= 0; x–) {<\/span><\/p>\n int r = red * x; r \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n int g = green * x; g \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n int b = blue * x; b \/= 5;<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n strip.setPixelColor(j, strip.Color(r, g, b));<\/span><\/p>\n strip.show();<\/span><\/p>\n delay(wait);<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n \/\/ LEDs will be off when done (they are faded to 0)<\/span><\/p>\n }<\/span><\/p>\n You can tweak this code again and again until you find the perfect setup for you and your pup!<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n After configuration, you need to install the battery. Securely fasten a small battery or cloth bag to your dog collar. Make sure that the battery is close to the Adafruit Flora motherboard so that the connection is short and stable. When the battery case is fixed, you can connect the battery and the mainboard.<\/p>\n When you are happy with the light frequency and colour design then there\u2019s just one thing left to do… get outside and show everyone who has the coolest dog gadget!<\/p>\n\n
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How to connect Adafruit Flora to an accelerometer and neopixel<\/h2>\n
\nGND \u2192 GND
\nSCL \u2192 SCL
\nSDA \u2192 SDA
\n3.3V \u2192 3.3V<\/p>\n
\nVcc (Power) \u2192 FLORA VBATT
\nIN (Data Input) \u2192 FLORA D6
\nGnd (Ground) \u2192 GND<\/p>\nPlacement of neopixels and Adafruit Flora<\/h2>\n
Connect neopixels to Adafruit Flora<\/h2>\n
Make the neopixels glow<\/h2>\n
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\nNow for the battery<\/h2>\n
Glow in the bark!<\/h2>\n