A pet pixel is a portable frosted cube that lights up with a selected color, similar to a smart bulb, except it’s portable and contains its own power source. The pixel can be “trained” by holding it over a color swatch or natural element to learn the color of that item or it can learn by either WIFI, Bluetooth, or USB, whichever is the cheapest for the pixel developer or most convenient for the pixel owner. Pixels can be grouped together or used independently, and while there is no theoretical limit to the number of pixels that can be grouped together, there are practical limits. Equally there is also no theoretical size limit to how large or small a pixel can be, but there are practical limits. For example my 3D printer can print a maximum size of 11cm³ so that’s as big as they’re going to get right now.

Each pixel is indivdiually trainable which allow artists to create boards of pixel art displays in either single or animated formats. Create pixel art in square or hex grids and even have it wrap around surfaces. Pixels sizes are flexible so each pixel can be a different size or the shape customized to fit anywhere.

While Pet Pixels are cute on their own, what they allow is fungibility in displays. By creating each pixel in the display as a 'smart' autonomous unit it means each pixel in the display is interchangeable. No more dead pixels. Just pull the defective pixel out and replace it with a new one and the display will continue uninterrupted. Display size can be adjusted by adding more pixels. Pixel size itself can be adjusted. A 1" pixel can be removed from the display, put into an 1ft cube and function independently, lighting that cube for as long as the battery lasts. It can then be put back into the hub to charge.

Pixel Sketch

Parts:

Arduino RGB LED Battery & Power Management Color Sensor Input button 3D Printed Form Factor Acrylic Diffuser

Functionality

Receive and store color values via USB input Color sensor input

Color Sensor Press Button Light Sensor Input Routes to LED Output Button Release Store Last Input Output on loop

Press button twice to store another color (3, 4, etc up to device capacity)
When colors are input with the button, the interval is fixed instead of variable (based on config or default value)

USB Input Accept RGB Value Accept File of Looped Values (RGB, Interval) Accept Current Time and Set System Clock Accept Start Time Charge Battery

USB Disconnect Play Looped File (if available) Hold last value if no file

Hub Sketch

Parts: Raspberry Pi Powered USB Hub (# of pixels + 1) Power splitter for 16 pixel model

Functionality:

Assigned a block number and downloads data for a set number of pixels Controls groups of 4, 7, 9, or 16 pixels Manages pixels via USB Connects to other controllers via WiFi Mesh Connects to image server via WiFi Syncs with time server and sets clocks on pixels If pixels are missing, those pixels are ignored but the data is still requested as if it were there

Software:

As a hub comes online, it requests Find image server (config) Current time from the server RGB and duration values for the total number of pixels that it manages If a group number is assigned, it requests the pixels for its assigned group number If no group number is specified, the server will send one along with the data for the pixels File is confirmed as received (checksum) or re-requested If this fails, re-boot the box and try again All the data for the stream should be downloaded before the success code is sent to the server Set clocks on all connected pixels Set clock on pixel plug/unplug Send data to all pixels Poll server for start time Send start time to all pixels

Request: Hub UUID Number of Pixels Hub Number (optional) Hub numbers are initially assigned by the server but can be set via config

Response: Pixel data for the hub number Start time (if available) The next available hub number (if unspecified)

Start:

Set clock
Send time to USB
Send color values to USB
Send start time to USB
Wait for interrupt