Print PDF
Favorite
Email
This tutorial will show you how to build a jacket with turn signals that will let people know where you're headed when you're on your bike. We'll use conductive thread and sewable electronics so your jacket will be soft and wearable and washable when you're done. Enjoy!
A version of this tutorial is also on my website.
A version of this tutorial is also on my website.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Supplies
.
Get your supplies. You need:
-- LilyPad Arduino main board
-- FTDI connector
-- mini USB cable
-- LilyPad power supply
-- 16 LilyPad LEDs (note: these aren't available from SparkFun yet, but will be soon)
-- 2 push button switches
-- a spool of 4-ply conductive thread
-- a digital multimeter with a beeping continuity tester. This is the one I have.
-- a garment or a piece of fabric to work on
-- a needle or two, a fabric marker or piece of chalk, puffy fabric paint, a bottle of fabric glue, and a ruler
(Available at your local fabric shop or Joann Stores.)
-- a pair of scissors
-- double sided tape (optional)
-- a sewing machine (optional)
disclosure: I designed the LilyPad, so I'll make some $ if you buy one.
Get your supplies. You need:
-- LilyPad Arduino main board
-- FTDI connector
-- mini USB cable
-- LilyPad power supply
-- 16 LilyPad LEDs (note: these aren't available from SparkFun yet, but will be soon)
-- 2 push button switches
-- a spool of 4-ply conductive thread
-- a digital multimeter with a beeping continuity tester. This is the one I have.
-- a garment or a piece of fabric to work on
-- a needle or two, a fabric marker or piece of chalk, puffy fabric paint, a bottle of fabric glue, and a ruler
(Available at your local fabric shop or Joann Stores.)
-- a pair of scissors
-- double sided tape (optional)
-- a sewing machine (optional)
disclosure: I designed the LilyPad, so I'll make some $ if you buy one.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
I'm really excited for this project. I'm using a Mac 10.6.8. I'm following the directions on the arduino page, but I didn't notice where or how to install the drivers and the lilypad arduino is not being recognized as a serial port. Any suggestions?
Can you upload code again?
I'm sure there are other cool differences, but those two are the biggest ones to note.
Thank's - all drivers pass me by safely during night ride
Congratulations!
it is pretty awesome.
I tested resistance, all was fine, so I went into the code and first changed left to right signals.
Once I was sure I had not messed up with the sewing, I modified the loop code so that both blink when testing, helping me make sure that connections are correct.
I wanted to share it here, in case someone else is testing it and wants both signals to flash:
int ledPin = 13; // the LED on the LilyPad
int leftSignal = 9; // my left turn signal is attached to petal 9
int rightSignal = 11; // my right turn signal is attached to petal 11
int signalLow = 10; // the - sides of my signals are attached to petal 10
void setup()
{
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // sets the ledPin to be an output
pinMode(leftSignal, OUTPUT); // sets the leftSignal petal to be an output
pinMode(rightSignal, OUTPUT); // sets the rightSignal petal to be an output
pinMode(signalLow, OUTPUT); // sets the signalLow petal to be an output
digitalWrite(signalLow, LOW); // sets the signalLOW petal to LOW (-)
}
void loop() // run over and over again
{
delay(1000); //wait for 1 second
digitalWrite(rightSignal, HIGH); // turn the right signal on
delay(1000); // wait for 1 second
digitalWrite(rightSignal, LOW); // turn the right signal off
delay(1000); // wait for 1 second
digitalWrite(leftSignal, HIGH); // turn the left signal on
delay(1000); // wait for 1 second
digitalWrite(leftSignal, LOW); // turn the left signal off
delay(1000); // wait for 1 second
}
I love the project, but I'm wondering about the design. Each LED looks like it takes 20mA. Putting 7 in parallel means each of the two pins will be sourcing 140 mA. Is that driving the chip too hard? Does it get hot?