Comments on: Synchronizing Fireflies NG

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:11:21 +0000

Hi Matt,
I haven’t tried AVR studio. Please check which version of gcc it is using. Most of the time gcc version 3 makes smaller binaries than version 4.
Cheers,
Alex

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:31:48 +0000

we have been trying to buid this circuit at school and have run into problems trying to load the program onto the chip. We bought AT tiny13V 10 PU chips to use and are using AVR studio to load the program. Whenever we try to open the program using AVR it says the file size exceeds the memory size of the chip. Any help??

By: projects » RGB Firefly Sync

projects » RGB Firefly Sync — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:51:18 +0000

[...] RGB Firefly Sync, originally uploaded by mdshaub. My circuit board-to-be. I’m working on a new project based on the great work here: tinkerlog.com/2008/07/27/synchronizing-fireflies-ng/ [...]

By: lightsink

lightsink — Sat, 01 May 2010 23:38:11 +0000

“sorta in sync” and then they drift apart. Subjectively, it seems like they drift more than I saw in your vids. No difusers yet; I’ll add some and see if that helps. Once I have my small flock of them built I hope the emergent behaviour is more obvious.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:33:14 +0000

Three should be enough to notice it. Maybe try a piece of cardboard to separate the fireflies to see the difference. What do you mean by “sorta”? Not in sync? Nearly in sync? Hard to see, but not in sync?
And what are you using as diffusor?

By: lightsink

lightsink — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:29:00 +0000

Alex, great project!

How many fireflies does it take to notice the synchronizing behavior? I have three so far and they only sorta sync up. (I know the sensors are working because they all get nervous and blink green in bright light)

I plan to build at least ten more, thats how much fun they are!

By: Esmaeil

Esmaeil — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:11:51 +0000

Alex,

Its been a long time since I’ve seen a firefly swarm, but if memory serves, they go in and out of sync with one another. Would there be an easy way to replicate this behavior? Perhaps putting creating a small random chance each cycle that a unit will change its flash to an arbitrary time?

Thanks much, and keep up superb work,
Esmaeil

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:54:20 +0000

Hi Qubock,
oh, you want to go SMT? Want to share your design?
The SFH 3710 looks like the same component with another package. It should work perfectly.
Cheers,
Alex

By: Qubock

Qubock — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:45:32 +0000

Can I use SFH 3710 ( http://catalog.osram-os.com/catalogue/catalogue.do;jsessionid=CED1EEED201BA8E0D06D3A7EF0CDEE2D?act=downloadFile&favOid=0200000200009155000200b6 ) instead of SFH 3310

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:01:39 +0000

I have been thinking about this project being applied to a grander scale. I think it would be interesting to adapt an xbee or other wireless technology to this so that the synchronization can take place from farther away.

You could also incorporate color change into the algorithm so that as the wireless signal strength increases the RGB led moves across a predetermined spectrum to indicate relative proximity to another unit. Its use would be similar to a homing beacon. In this way many separate units from greater distances could coalesce into one synchronous throbbing group.

Many of these could be deployed at gatherings where there are lots of people so that a group who is together can find their mates in the crowd.