Horse Tornado

Usage

The current version is pure python+numpy. If you need numpy, run one of

sudo pip install numpy
sudo apt-get install python-numpy

The horse_tornado script is used as follows:

./horse_tornado config data                # Cycle through a directory
./horse_tornado config data/red-circle.gif # Use a specific image

where config is an ini style configuration file (an example is checked in) and the image is displayed via persistence of vision.

Configuring the PixelPushers

Included in this repository are the files pixel[1-4].rc, which are the configuration files corresponding to pixelpushers 1 - 4. They should only differ by the start[1-2] settings which set the startup colors for the strips.

To load a config file on pixelpusher, use the configtool that is checked out under PixelPusher-utilities/configtool/configtool. If the PixelPusher-utilites folder is empty run:

git submodule update --init --recursive

Otherwise from the configtool directory run (on mac):

./configtool /dev/tty.usbmodem12341 ../../pixel1.rc

To configure the 1st pixelpusher. The number after usbmodem will change from computer to computer.

Which strip is which?

The above configuration assumes you know which PixelPusher is which in terms of their ordering around the circle. If you do not know this, set the following two lines in the [all] section of config:

mode = rainbow
animate = 0

This will display a color ramp (upwards from red to green to blue) on part of each strip. If the ordering is correct, the ramp will move upwards as you rotate left to right around the circle. If this isn't the case, adjust the config file accordingly.

Aspect ratio

Conceptually, POV wraps an image around an imaginary cylinder, spins it to match the spin of the viewer, and treats the LED strips as windows onto the cylinder. The wrapping is aspect-ratio dependent, and the code can optionally account for this. To enable aspect ratio support, put the following in the [all] section of config:

aspect = 1
height = <strip-height>
radius = <radius-out-to-the-strips>

Only the ratio height/radius matters, so units are arbitrary.

PixelPusher and Processing documentation:

Somewhat obsolete, since we're no longer using Processing.