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10

Minor Versionm

by Joshua

Introduction

Stop using weak, organic, pumpkins for your Halloween decorations! Instead create a cold, robotic pumpkin that will never let you down.

This project creates a simple Larson Scanner out of four LEDs. The Larson Scanner effect was seen in such classic TV shows as Battlestar Galactica and Knight Ridder. Since we don't have a talking car we're putting our scanner into a pumpkin body made out of LEGOs.

Video Overview

Featured Document

  1. Use an 8x16 sized base plate as your build platform. We used a wide variety of orange and black pieces. The most important are some 1x2 or 1x4 sized clear bricks for the "eyes."
    • Use an 8x16 sized base plate as your build platform.

    • We used a wide variety of orange and black pieces.

    • The most important are some 1x2 or 1x4 sized clear bricks for the "eyes."

    • The second most important brick is a right angle brick, so we can stick our LEDs on vertically.

    • If you need to buy specific bricks in specific colors, try BrickLink or BrickOwl.

  2. Build your Pumpkin. Notice how we use 2 wide bricks on the bottom half, and 1 wide bricks on the upper half.
    • Build your Pumpkin.

    • Notice how we use 2 wide bricks on the bottom half, and 1 wide bricks on the upper half.

  3. Use a right angle LEGO piece and a 2x8 plate to create the LED holder. Use standard bricks to build the tower that holds everything. Use standard bricks to build the tower that holds everything.
    • Use a right angle LEGO piece and a 2x8 plate to create the LED holder.

    • Use standard bricks to build the tower that holds everything.

  4. Stick your tower to the base plate. Stick on the LEDs and Robotics Board. Stick on the LEDs and Robotics Board.
    • Stick your tower to the base plate.

    • Stick on the LEDs and Robotics Board.

  5. Connect the Grounds between each of the LEDs.
    • Connect the Grounds between each of the LEDs.

  6. Run a long line of tape from the far left LED to Pin 2 on the Robotics Board. Run a long line of tape from the far left LED to Pin 2 on the Robotics Board.
    • Run a long line of tape from the far left LED to Pin 2 on the Robotics Board.

  7. Run a line of tape from the 2nd LED back around the LED holder. Connect to Pin 3 on the Robotics Board.
    • Run a line of tape from the 2nd LED back around the LED holder.

    • Connect to Pin 3 on the Robotics Board.

  8. Do the same thing with the 3rd and 4th LEDs. They connect to Pins 4 and 5 on the Robotics Board.
    • Do the same thing with the 3rd and 4th LEDs.

    • They connect to Pins 4 and 5 on the Robotics Board.

  9. Run a long line of tape from your 4th LED to the Ground hole on your Robotics Board. Put on the LEDs when finished.
    • Run a long line of tape from your 4th LED to the Ground hole on your Robotics Board.

    • Put on the LEDs when finished.

  10. Pop on the Robotics Board. Double check your connections to make sure you're using Pin 2-5, and that you're also hooked up to Ground. If your board isn't popping on check to make sure your tape ends are not too long.
    • Pop on the Robotics Board.

    • Double check your connections to make sure you're using Pin 2-5, and that you're also hooked up to Ground.

    • If your board isn't popping on check to make sure your tape ends are not too long.

  11. If you've never used our Robotics board before, STOP! Read the Robotics Board User Guide. You'll need it to download all the right software and drivers.
    • If you've never used our Robotics board before, STOP! Read the Robotics Board User Guide. You'll need it to download all the right software and drivers.

    • Open up the Arduino software and open up a new project window. Copy and Paste this code into the project window.

    • Upload the code.

    • You can add more LEDs to your project by changing just a couple of lines of code. On line 2 you can change the number of LEDs you're using. Then on line 6 add the other LED Pins that you're using.

  12. Once the code is uploaded it will run every time it is powered on.
    • Once the code is uploaded it will run every time it is powered on.

    • Use a USB wall adaptor to power it independently from a computer.

    • You can use a 4 AA or AAA battery holder and attach it to the 5V and Ground on the board. This can be done with the help of a Screw Terminal chip.

Finish Line

Joshua

Member since: 11/16/2017

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