Gyroscopic Lamp

cults3d

The S.T.E.A.M technology challenge, Light It Up, was designed with a singular focus: to replicate the mesmerizing dance of swarming fireflies. This lamp, featuring gyroscopic moving parts, is intended for use both indoors and outdoors - although its design falls short in water resistance, rendering it unsuitable for prolonged outdoor exposure. The lamp's overall aesthetic is inspired by a classic spherical screw cap bulb. A key consideration during the design process was to ensure that the lamp appears equally stunning when operational as it does when dormant. Given the relatively even duration of day and night, this aspect proved crucial in achieving a cohesive visual identity. ## How It Works: The lamp's core components include four rings and a central orb, connected via axles and bearings through which electrical current flows. Each ring features 12 yellow flicker LEDs, while the orb boasts an impressive 48 yellow flicker LEDs. The outer ring is linked to a motor concealed within the screw cap of the bulb shape, responsible for spinning the rings. Additionally, a motor inside the orb controls a weight that counterbalances the rings' alignment when rotating horizontally. Concealed within the screw cap lies all the lamp's circuitry. The IR sensor embedded in the nipple of the bulb shape triggers the lamp's sequence. Two voltage ramp circuits power the main motor and LEDs/orb motor, causing the outer ring to gradually accelerate while the LED lights fade on. Once the IR circuit cuts the power after a predetermined time, the outer ring slows down, and the LED lights fade off. ## Confessions: The design requires further refinement, as electrical current is struggling to reach the center due to poor connections between bearings, resulting in a significant voltage drop-off. Despite this setback, I am submitting the project as it stands, acknowledging that it still presents an intriguing display of moving parts and lighting effects. ## Future Revisions: In the coming weeks, I plan to address these issues by implementing a slip ring to ensure a stable connection into the largest ring. I will also refine the bearing and axle connections to improve electrical current flow. Furthermore, I intend to replace the resistors in the rings with larger values for the outermost rings and reduce their values as they approach the center, allowing for safer operation of the LEDs at higher voltages. The lamp operates on 12V (3A approximately), with an inbuilt DC regulator powering the LEDs/orb motor at 4.5V. The design was crafted using Rhino, ensuring that all meshes are manifold and watertight. ## Videos: Operational: http://youtu.be/thDSA45_KGY What it should look like fully illuminated (minus rotation): http://youtu.be/S3ub-kNEwfA