Victory! Our prototype is completed, ready and all set to go on exhibition this weekend. I feels weird not to be all stressed this last day of development, we even have time to write a small rundown on the project and hopefully give you a look into what problems we faced and how we tackled them.

The Concept
Our vision was to give the user the feel of orchestrating light and sound by the sole movements of his or her hands. Design wise we came up with the idea to control cubes of light and a deep base sound, the cubes were to respond on four channels: red, green, blue and alpha.

The Tools
At our service we had the really flexible Arduino Decimilia card, Erik Sjödins AS3 Library called Glue and as a proxy we used Arduino2Flash.

Why? We quickly saw the weakneses of Arduino, it only had a really small amount of memory to play with so all the calculations was to be made by flash and Ardunio had to feed flash with values. We could not use the proxy that came with the AS3 Glue since it had problem communicating with Intel MacBooks, instead our savior went by the name Arduino2Flash.

We found out that the standard firmata did not support our ultrasonic ping sensors so we had to modify the standard firmata a bit and create a mashup between the standard firmata and this solution by James Alliban. This way we could read the values of the pingsensors separately and still communicate with our LEDs via AS3 Glue and keep our deadline.

Feel free do download our source code and have a look.

And have a look at Sanna Wickmans photos of our prototype

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/*
Light and sound installation in October 2008 by the Hyper Island Students of Digital Media 2010 Stockholm:
Kristofer Forsell
Sanna Wickman
Fred Bergman
Fred Weinestad
Harald Hammar
 
Check out the project on:
http://techexp2.wordpress.com
http://kristoferforsell.com/blog
 
Thanks to:
Erik Sjödin
Hannes Netzell
*/
 
package
{
	// Import as3Glue
	import net.eriksjodin.arduino.events.ArduinoEvent;
	import net.eriksjodin.arduino.Arduino;
	// Import Flash classes
	import flash.display.Sprite;
	import flash.display.MovieClip;
	import flash.display.Stage;
	import flash.text.TextField;
	import flash.net.Socket;
	import flash.media.Sound;
    import flash.media.SoundChannel;
	import flash.net.URLRequest;
	// Import Flash classes (events)
	import flash.events.MouseEvent;
	import flash.events.TimerEvent;
	import flash.events.Event;
	import flash.events.ProgressEvent;
	// Import Utils & Timer
	import flash.utils.*;
	// Import TweenMax and easing
	import gs.TweenMax;
	import gs.easing.*;
 
	public class lightController extends Sprite
	{
		//Define as3Glue Arduino variable
		private var a:Arduino;
 
		// General variables
		public var s01_var:Number;
		public var s02_var:Number;
		public var sens01Var:Number;
		public var sens02Var:Number;
		public var sens01VarMax:Number;
		public var sens02VarMax:Number;
		public var randomNr:int = Math.random();
		public var pulsewidth:Number;
 
		// as3Glue define LED sockets
		public var blue2:int = 11;
		public var blue1:int = 10;
		public var green2:int = 9;
		public var green1:int = 6;
		public var red2:int = 5;
		public var red1:int = 3;
 
		// Define seperate connection and values for the Ping sensors
		public var s:Socket;
		public var prevInput1:String = "0";		// The previously processed input (returned value)
		public var currInput1:String = "0";		// The currently processed input
		public var finalInput1:String = "0";		// The input after processing
		public var prevInput2:String = "0";		// The previously processed input (returned value)
		public var currInput2:String = "0";		// The currently processed input
		public var finalInput2:String = "0";		// The input after processing
 
		// LED values
		public var r1_var:int;
		public var g1_var:int;
		public var b1_var:int;
		public var r2_var:int;
		public var g2_var:int;
		public var b2_var:int;
 
		// Define sound variables
		public var MusicPlayer:Sound = new Sound (new URLRequest ("loop.mp3"));
		public var songChannel:SoundChannel;
		public var musicplayed:int = 0;
 
		public function lightController()
		{
			// Setup as3Glue
			this.setupArduino();
		}
 
		private function setupArduino(): void
		{	
			// Connect to a serial proxy on port 5331
		 	a = new Arduino("127.0.0.1", 5331);
			s = new Socket("127.0.0.1", 5331); // Connect to the Ping sensors
 
		 	// Listen for connection 
		 	a.addEventListener(Event.CONNECT,onSocketConnect); 
			a.addEventListener(Event.CLOSE,onSocketClose);
 
		 	// Listen for data
		 	a.addEventListener(ArduinoEvent.FIRMWARE_VERSION, onReceiveFirmwareVersion);
		 	a.addEventListener(ArduinoEvent.DIGITAL_DATA, onReceiveDigitalData);
		 	a.addEventListener(ArduinoEvent.ANALOG_DATA, onReceiveAnalogData);
 
			// Flash listners on enter frame
			stage.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME,loopFunction);
		}
 
		// Triggered when a serial socket connection has been established
		public function onSocketConnect(e:Object):void {
			trace("Socket connected!");
 
			// Request the firmware version
			a.requestFirmwareVersion();
		}
 
		// Triggered when a serial socket connection has been closed
		public function onSocketClose(e:Object):void {
			trace("Socket closed!");
		}
 
		// Trace out data when it arrives
		public function onReceiveAnalogData(e:ArduinoEvent):void {
			//trace("Analog pin " + e.pin + " on port: " + e.port +" = " + e.value);
		}
 
		// Trace out data when it arrives
		public function onReceiveDigitalData(e:ArduinoEvent):void {
			//trace("Digital pin " + e.pin + " on port: " + e.port +" = " + e.value);
		}
 
		// The firmware version is requested when the Arduino class has made a socket connection.
		// When we receive this event we know that the Arduino has been successfully connected.
		public function onReceiveFirmwareVersion(e:ArduinoEvent):void {
			trace("Firmware version: " + e.value);
 
			// The port value of an event can be used to determine which board the event was dispatched from.
			// This is one way of dealing with multiple boards, another is to add different listener methods.
			trace("Port: " + e.port);
 
			// Do some stuff on the Arduino.
			initArduino();
		}
 
		public function initArduino():void {
			// Setup Arduino outputs
 
			// Output green 1
			a.setPinMode(green1, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(green1, Arduino.HIGH);
			// Output blue 1
			a.setPinMode(blue1, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(blue1, Arduino.HIGH);
			// Output red 1
			a.setPinMode(red1, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(red1, Arduino.HIGH);
 
			// Output green 2
			a.setPinMode(green2, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(green2, Arduino.HIGH);
			// Output blue 2
			a.setPinMode(blue2, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(blue2, Arduino.HIGH);
			// Output red 2
			a.setPinMode(red2, Arduino.PWM);
			a.writeDigitalPin(red2, Arduino.HIGH);
 
			// Init UI
			initUI();
		}
 
		public function initUI():void {
 
			// Start a 1 second timer
			var myTimer:Timer = new Timer(1000);
			myTimer.addEventListener("timer", timedFunction);
			myTimer.start();
 
			// Play sound
			songChannel = MusicPlayer.play();
			songChannel.addEventListener(Event.SOUND_COMPLETE, loopMusic);
			musicplayed = 1;
 
		}	
 
		public function loopMusic(event:Event) {
			// Loop music
			songChannel = MusicPlayer.play();
			songChannel.addEventListener(Event.SOUND_COMPLETE, loopMusic);
		}
 
		public function loopFunction(e:Event):void {
 
			// Sensor values
			s01_var = Number(s01_value.text);
			s02_var = Number(s02_value.text)/100;
			// Sensor bars
			s1_mc.height = s01_var*2.55;
			s2_mc.height = s02_var*255;
 
			// Get values from sensors
			sens01VarMax = Number(s01_MaxValue.text);
			sens02VarMax = Number(s02_MaxValue.text);
			sData(null);
 
			// Values for bar tweens
			r1_var = 255 - r1_mc.height;
			r2_var = 255 - r2_mc.height;
			g1_var = 255 - g1_mc.height;
			g2_var = 255 - g2_mc.height;
			b1_var = 255 - b1_mc.height;
			b2_var = 255 - b2_mc.height;
 
		}
 
		public function timedFunction(e:TimerEvent)
		{
			// This function is called once every second
 
			// Patterns
			if(s01_var >= 0 && s01_var <= 20) { 
			    // 0-20
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 21 && s01_var <= 30){
				// 21-30
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 31 && s01_var <= 40){
				// 31-40
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 41 && s01_var <= 50){
				// 41-50
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 51 && s01_var <= 60){
				// 51-60
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 61 && s01_var <= 70){
				// 61-70
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*Math.random()*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 71 && s01_var <= 80){
				// 71-80
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:255*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 81 && s01_var <= 90){
				// 81-90
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:255, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 91 && s01_var <= 100){
				// 91-100
				TweenMax.to(r1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut, onUpdate:updateLEDs});
				TweenMax.to(g1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b1_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(r2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(g2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
				TweenMax.to(b2_mc, 0.9, {height:0*s02_var, ease:Quad.easeInOut});
			}else if(s01_var >= 100){
				// Stop values greater than 100
				s01_value.text = String(100);
			}else {
				// Nothing happens?
			}
 
			//Volume
			TweenMax.to(songChannel, 0.9, {volume:Number(sens01Var)/100});
 
			// Values for LEDs
			r1_text.text = String(r1_var);
			g1_text.text = String(g1_var);
			b1_text.text = String(b1_var);
			r2_text.text = String(r2_var);
			g2_text.text = String(g2_var);
			b2_text.text = String(b2_var);
 
 
		}
 
		public function updateLEDs(){
			a.writeAnalogPin(red1, r1_var);
			a.writeAnalogPin(red2, r2_var);
			a.writeAnalogPin(green1, g1_var);
			a.writeAnalogPin(green2, g2_var);
			a.writeAnalogPin(blue1, b1_var);
			a.writeAnalogPin(blue2, b2_var);
		}
 
		public function sData( e:ProgressEvent ) : void
		{
 
			// Read the correct data from the socket.
			// Preceeded by "A" and "B".
			var sData:String = s.readUTFBytes( s.bytesAvailable );
			if (isDataCorrect(sData)) {
 
				// Catch all values preceeded by the letter "A" and strip it from the indicating letter.
				if (sData.indexOf( "A" ) == 0) {
					prevInput1 = currInput1;
					currInput1 = sData.substr( 1 );
				} else {
					currInput1 += sData;
				}
				// Catch all values preceeded by the letter "B" and strip it from the indicating letter.
				if (sData.indexOf( "B" ) == 0) {
					prevInput2 = currInput2;
					currInput2 = sData.substr( 1 );
				} else {
					currInput2 += sData;
				}
 
				// Raw number values
				s01_Ard.text = String(currInput1);
				s02_Ard.text = String(currInput2);
 
				// Strip out bad values from sensor 1
				if(isNaN(Number(currInput1))){
					s01_value.text = String(sens01Var);
				}else {
					sens01Var = (Number(currInput1)/sens01VarMax)*100;
					s01_value.text = String(sens01Var);
				}
 
				// Strip out bad values from sensor 2
				if(isNaN(Number(currInput2))){
					s02_value.text = String(sens02Var);
				}else {
					sens02Var = (Number(currInput2)/sens02VarMax)*10;
					s02_value.text = String(sens02Var);
				}
 
			}
		}
 
 
		function isDataCorrect( sData:String ) : Boolean
		{
			// Occasionally, between real results the data returned consists of a carriage return less than zero.
			if (parseInt(sData) == 0 && sData.length > 1) return false;
			// Another occasional unwanted reult
			if (sData == "") return false;
			if (sData == "0") return false;
			if (sData == "1") return false;
 
			return true;
		}
 
	}
}