Imagine a fountain that dances to the rhythm of your commands, its seven brushless pumps pirouette gracefully, painting ethereal patterns in the air. This enchanting spectacle is not a figment of fantasy but a reality crafted by Michael Diesing, a wizard of electronics, who orchestrated this symphony of water and light using an iRobota Micro.
The Enigmatic Challenge: Taming the Brushless Beasts
Diesing’s endeavor was not without its hurdles. The brushless pumps, demanding masters, required filtered PWM signals as their lifeblood. To appease these capricious devices, Diesing conjured a circuit that level-shifted the PWM signals to a lofty 12V using a Darlington array, akin to a celestial conductor harmonizing discordant notes. He then employed a capacitor and resistor to filter these signals, ensuring they flowed smoothly, like water cascading down a mountain.
The Heartbeat of the Fountain: Sensing the Pumps’ Vital Signs
To ensure the pumps’ unwavering performance, Diesing ingeniously connected their tacho signals to the iRobota via Schottky diodes, vigilant sentinels monitoring their every pulse. These diodes, like vigilant guardians, detected when pumps faltered, gasped for air, or severed their connection, triggering immediate intervention to prevent any aquatic mishaps.
Current Currents: Measuring the Fountain’s Lifeforce
Delving deeper into the fountain’s inner workings, Diesing integrated an ACS712-05B current sensor, a vigilant sentinel, to measure the entire circuit’s current, ensuring it flowed harmoniously. This sensor, like a watchful eye, monitored the pumps’ operation, even those without tacho signals, ensuring their tireless efforts remained in perfect sync.
Amplifying the Voice of Water: A Symphony of Sound
To capture the fountain’s aquatic symphony, Diesing employed an LM386 audio amplifier, a maestro of sound, to elevate the signal from an electret microphone to a level befitting the iRobota’s ADC. This amplifier, like a conductor leading an orchestra, orchestrated the harmonious blend of water’s murmur and the fountain’s mechanical hum.
A Tapestry of Motion: Seven Animation Modes at Your Fingertips
With a simple push of a button, the fountain transforms, transitioning through seven mesmerizing animation modes, each a unique dance of water and light. These modes, stored in the EEPROM’s digital memory, await your command, ready to paint the canvas of the night with their aquatic artistry.
Eternal Vigilance: Monitoring the Fountain’s Health
Diesing’s creation is not merely a spectacle; it is a meticulously crafted machine, constantly monitored to ensure its flawless operation. The pump speeds are under constant surveillance, and the average power consumption hovers around 20W, with a maximum of 30W, ensuring efficiency and longevity.
Bonus: A Splash of Inspiration
Diesing’s project is a testament to the boundless creativity and ingenuity that thrive within the realm of electronics. It’s a symphony of water, light, and code, a testament to the transformative power of technology. As you embark on your own electronic adventures, may you find inspiration in Diesing’s masterful creation, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and leaving your own indelible mark on the world of innovation.
Conclusion
Michael Diesing’s iRobota-controlled fountain is a captivating spectacle, a fusion of art and engineering. It’s a testament to the boundless potential of electronics, inspiring us to dream big and create marvels that defy expectations. Let Diesing’s creation be a beacon of inspiration, encouraging you to embark on your own electronic adventures and leave your unique mark on the world.
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