Oct 14, 2007
I Can
The working title of my project is I Can. This might be regarded as the can equivalent of I, Claudius, in the sense that it has something to do with I-dentity. The idea is to make a musical instrument out of a beer can and discover what its potential for sonic performance might be (er). If a performance is forthcoming, it will surely have something to do with the metaphor of ease vs. effort, i.e. the I Can constrasting with the I Cannot. In any case, the can will have to have some life of its own, otherwise it will not be its own I.
I would like to put a wireless Arduino inside, along with a battery box, some sensors and a servo motor to make the beer can shake (rhythmically?)
What sounds will I control with it? Maybe Offenbach’s Can-Can. OK, as yet I have no idea.
The programming of the beer belly to go with the instrument is another long term project. More on that when I know how many beers I had to drink before I found the ideal can for the prototype.
Nice description. As you defined the size of your work and how it should work, it is easy for me to give some possible solutions.
Arduino BT – You can start with Arduino USB. When you managed to make everything working then you can switch to the Arduino BT. When you still have some bugs and errors, it is difficult identify where the error comes from. Errors are often caused by the wireless.
Battery – There is no problem to install a battery to run Arduino and some electronic components in the can.
Touch – I can think of QT113 touch sensor. This sensor is very small and low cast sensor.We have some in Media Lab Helsinki.
http://mlab.uiah.fi/paja/?p=26
Servo motors – The servo motors itself won’t create any shakes unless you create mechanical structure with the motor. You can first use a vibration motor from broken phones. Otherwise you can purchase this.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8449
Velocity – You can use a Memsic2125 accelerometer to measure the velocity. Although there is an example Arduino code for this, you have to spend a lot of time for coding Arduino in order to utilize all sensors you mentioned.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AccelerometerMemsic2125
Orientation – I can think of a digital compass module or a gyro. But there is anyone hasn’t made any example using these in the Arduino community. I usually another microcontroller BASIC Stamp for these sensors though. It will be very complicated to implement these sensors on Arduino.
Hitachi HM55B Compass Module
http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=29123
Gyro Breakout Board – ADXRS150
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=396
Microswitch – There are huge number of switches. I recommend to go some electronics shops in Helsinki to find the right switches specifically for your project.
Partco Oy – offers components reasonable price. Catalog is available form the web.
http://www.partco.fi/
pdf catalog
http://www.partco.fi/luettelot/sivut/
Bebek Electronic – unorganized junk shop compared to Partco Oy. Sometimes you get unexpectedly interesting stuff.
http://www.bebek.fi/
YE International – sells components relatively expensive but you can buy RS Finland (UK electronics components shop) from them. RS has a huge collection of components.
http://www.yeinternational.fi/
Radioduo Oy – I bought components only once so I don’t know much of their offers.
http://www.radioduo.net/
If you make your project only with touch sensor, vibration motors and switch, you can use Maxduino and no Arduino coding required. If you want to measure velocity or orientation, you have to learn and spend a lot of time for Arduino coding. You first have to be very patience with programming.