I have been also working on a (possibly DMX based) protocol for brolly flock communication and co-ordination.

I’m also working on a life-tracking app in rails so I can graph my life and make sure I’m having as much fun as possible.  Considering mongo db for that.

The interface is still primitive.

Dang, do I love ruby.

I have finished the first few data structures for the go AI I’m building.  Saving and loading are next, then I start to tackle the hard stuff.  This is all a way to reinvigorate my set theory knowledge while also sharpening my Ruby fangs.

Fishbug wiring diagram by Don Cain

Don, Tad and I have completed the fishbug robotics unit and done a systems test.  Don is getting everything inside nice and neat and I’ll be doing a complete test of the code tonight. This thing was much harder than I expected, but also a lot of fun.  I wish I were going to the kiddie rave with the fishbug, but there is too much to do for Apple.  Oh well, I’ll see it out someday.

The fishbug robotics unit with most of the electronics removed. Photo by Jess Hobbs

Tad, Don and I are in the process of creating the fishbug robotics unit.  We are using an arduino as the brains of the operation.  We are driving a stepper motor, solenoid valves and a dimming unit.  We also set up two potentiometers so we can vary the timing of the fishbug on site.

Don is a wicked fabricator, and has come up with a really great way for the stepper motor to drive a butterfly valve for the propane.

Tad is an excellent electrical engineer, and helped us put snubbers on the pots, as well as coming up with a good design for the stepper drivers and cables.

I’m mostly cheerleading and soldering.  This sure is fun, though!  We expect a full systems test on Saturday.

LEDs in mutopia tendrils photo by Anthony Asterisk

I have been busy with the FLG making sure Mutopia is rockin’ and rollin’ for the summer festival season.  There are a bunch of LEDs in there, both in steel tendrils as you see here, and in strings that go under the roots.  Each LED and cable must be tested, and the whole of pod 5 must be working for beyond wonderland.  Things are in remarkably good shape.  I have a feeling that Nondas is in no small part responsible for that.

Fishbug manifold photo by Jess Hobbs

Fishbug work continues.  With Tad’s help I made a working solenoid driver and wrote some arduino code to drive it.  I now need to rewrite the code to interleave pulses to both stepper drivers so we can control the breathing and flame independently.  We also powder coated the gas manifolds (originally made by HazMatt).  That is an amazing process.  Don Cain put together the powder coating setup for his motorcycle restoration shop, and was kind enough to let us use it.  I really want to powder coat all the metal in my life now.

Mutopia geek box photo by Anthony Asterisk

Mutopia control boxes contain all kinds of different relay boards (designed by David), LED controllers, power converters and even some unused sound equipment.  We will be cleaning up the insides and taking out unneeded components this week.  We are also clickey testing (technical term) all of the solenoids for the flame effects.  I am especially excited about the cross training the plumbers and geeks are doing.  I expect to come out of this a much better fire artist.

Photo by Marc Hertlein

Photo by Jess Hobbs

The Fluxers went and installed the fluxberg in a permanent collection Sunday. A lot of folks worked harder than I did, but I’m pretty sore. It was a good time all around, though, and there is now space in the yard for ongoing fishbug work.

Photo by Melissa Higuchi

We laser cut a bunch of acrylic last night. Here you can see two small flux logos in red plastic.  The edges are really crisp, and you get both the negative and the positive, so I have two presents to give out for the price of one. I got this acrylic from tap plastics.  They are very friendly and helpful.

Photo by Melissa Higuchi

I also worked on a technique for making laser cuts and etchings look like an inky brushstroke.  It came out OK.  I will probably space out the streaks and vary them more next time

The laser cutter is really fun and inspiring to use.  The techshop just got two more of the (for a total of four).  They can cut acrylic, leather, cotton fabric, cardboard and paper.  You can etch all those things and glass.

Photo by Melissa Higuchi

I’m super excited about getting back to making physical things.  This kind of activity is really good to do as a couple, too. One of us will watch the laser cutter while the other person gets the next cut ready.  Of course, there is a lot of experimentation still to do.  A jewelry box and a light up squid are next, along with little cat cameos.

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