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Illume
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Overview
This remote control moving light was able to adjust the pitch, color, and intensity of the light, creating dynamic effects and adding to an immersive experience. This interdisciplinary project combined my love for technical theatre with my passion for engineering.
Role
- Designer
- Builder
Team
Individual
Course
Personal Project
Date
Sep. 2018
Problem
The venue at which the theatre competition took place only provided general wash lighting for the shows. The director wanted special lighting on certain actors and props but could not request that the venue provide additional lighting fixtures.
Constraints
Design and build a moving light that could be controlled from at least 50ft away, with the following constraints:
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Small and portable
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Battery operated
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Able to change pitch, color, and intensity
Design
I decided to use a Chauvet DJ Freedom Par-Quad 4 LED lighting fixture that my school had previously purchased, which could be controlled via the FlareCON mobile app. Then, using spare VEX Robotics materials, I shaped a jig that held the fixture securely in place and suspended it in the center of the device. A motor on each side worked together to adjust the pitch angle of the light. Since the motors were too weak to turn the 2.8kg fixture, I used a 25:1 gear ratio to increase the torque. The motors were controlled by the VEX robot brain, which had its own remote control and battery power. The device was programmed in C++.
Final Product
The final product was a true culmination of the knowledge I had gained from working in technical theatre and robotics for the past few years. It received the 2018 Annual Technical Theatre Award at the Virginia Theatre Association theatre competition.
What I Learned
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Gear ratios
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C++ programming
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