I have built two animatronics and currently control the servos through programming on an Arduino computer. However, I’m interested in a product which will allow for faster and more fluid programming for animating motion. Does Visual Show Automation have the ability to export code which can be imported by an Arduino? I am aware that Bottango does this, but I find that program rather challenging to get onboard with and subsequently export the results. I need to programming to run resident on the Arduino.
1 Like
Hi @GariRWall and welcome to our forum!
According to this topic I found on Arduino forum, Visual Show Automation (VSA) - #2 by robtillaart - Interfacing - Arduino Forum , VSA is not compatible with Arduino.
You might want to try using SSC-32U:
Or maybe even Pololu Maestro:
I hope this helps.
Decades ago, I sort of worked out a system for animatronics using MIDI data for playback. MIDI is a standard use for electronic music keyboards. The reason I wanted MIDI at the time, was that there were already digital MIDI sequencers as stand-alone devices. Nowadays, I would probably go with DMX, which is a standard for theatrical lights.
Perhaps a decade ago, I tried to set up a DMX interface for an Arduino, but found that it was a lot more complicated than I had hoped. But, perhaps now, that is no longer the case. I don’t know.
I didn’t actually end up making either of the above systems.
DMX (full name DMX-512) is electrically a RS-485 interface. Though, the protocol is specific to the lighting industry. DMX control boards are available for under $50 USD, that provide 8 sliders to program shows.
There are ample low-cost and even free software out there to record DMX shows, and even incorporate sound and video cues. But, most are for PCs, not something like an arduino. I think there are some for Android or Apple phones. Also perhaps some on Linux, which can be done on a Raspberry Pi. You might even consider buying an older model tablet or laptop computer to run it. Another plus, is that if it were to break, it may be easy to get something else to run the animation. There are also stand-alone boxes designed just to playback DMX shows. [ Chauvet DJ DMX-RT4 or Enttec S-Play Nano - both around $200 ]
-Joe
1 Like