ArduiNIX + EZ-B Robot Controller + BlinkM MinM + NL-7153 Nixies = NIXIE EYES

[radmeck]

Updated on 9/9/2011 - Go to end of thread for more...
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I originally created a post on the EZ-B forums for this little project.  So far this is just an EZ-B Robot Controller mated to an ArduiNIX as I haven't quite decided what I'm going to use it for yet. I did, however, finally have time to hook up an IN-4 Nixie to test everything out and she works beautifully!  Enjoy...

EZ-B on the Bottom


One Ribbon to Light Them All


All Wired and Ready


Flip the switch Leon!


All Fired Up

[radmeck]

This is a pair of Russian IN-4 Nixie tubes mounted sideways in my Omnibot's eye sockets.  I'm waiting on bare socket boards from KOSBO (thank you Konstantin!) to complete the initial design and add color-changing LED back-lighting for mood indication.  Check out the video to see it in action...









Here's Rico!

[radmeck]

Quick test of Vanilla's fancy new IN-4 Nixie Tube Eyes, installed in his recently restored Omnibot head/body!

Also installed and functioning are the 7 light pipes and LEDs that comprise his brain and are connected to an internal, WiFi, 7-antenna array by Ruckus Wireless - the LEDs visually represent the activity occurring on each antenna. And yes, this means he's an autonomous roaming WiFi access point!

Vanilla Ice Omnibot Project (ez-robot.com)
Retrobright Whitening Tutorial (ez-robot.com)

[SuperNova]

Very Cool, keep on the good work!

[radmeck]

Upgraded Vanilla's eyes from standard-size IN-4 Nixies to the larger and quite rare National Electric NL-7153 Super Nixies.  Digit height is now 20.5 mm vs 17 mm for the IN-4's.

Also added a BlinkM MinM I2C Controlled RGB LED to each eye for dynamic back-lighting.  The BlinkM's are running the Thunderstorm script throughout the video but will eventually be controlled and scripted for emotive effect...

Vanilla Ice Omnibot Project (ez-robot.com)
Retrobright Whitening Tutorial (ez-robot.com)









Sattelite

[nonentity]

Very cool! Love the new bigger digit characters, also the LED behind the eyes looks great reflecting off of the glass and the housing and everything.

Is that an RGBLED?  How hard would it be to mimic the color of the neon?

[radmeck]

Yep, RGB with full real-time control via I2C...  There's actually a stock script called Old Neon that matches fairly well out of the box.  However, during my testing it looks like I may have jacked something up as one of the LED's appears to be stuck on the R while the other is stock on G!  Hopefully I didn't burn anything out on them and they just need reset.  I have more on order but I should be able to troubleshoot the ones I have over the next few days.

The last thing I need to do is build servo mounts to independently rotate the eyes.  Been working over a few different concepts in my head but haven't settled on one to actually start building yet.  Any ideas?