An Arduino-based system for room-scale interactivity

The Octduino system is comprised of an Arduino Shield which provides power and buffered digital communication to eight runs of cable. Modules, performing a variety of functions, can be quickly attached anywhere along these cable runs, allowing these modules to be quickly deployed into a room-scale environment. The Octduino is ideally suited for creating interactive environments, interactive installations, and general purpose wired sensor and actuator networks.

The Octduino was originally designed for a particular interactive multimedia installation called The Seathesizer. This installation required accelerometers to be attached to each of 96 seats in a theater. As people sat in the various seats, or even just moved the seats up and down like piano keys, the music in the theater and the visual graphics projected on the screen, would be altered according to the speed and direction of each particular seat’s motion. The Octduino Prototype was designed for this specific purpose. This first version of the Octduino could support four cables with four accelerometer modules on each cable. For the theater installation, six Octduinos attached to an Arduino Ethernet w/POE were deployed, covering all 96 seats with accelerometers.

The POE cables powered all the Arduinos, Octduino shields, and accelerometer modules, as well as allowed the Arduino Ethernet to transmit the data from the accelerometers to a Processing sketch on a networked computer. Thanks to the Octduino’s use of quick to crimp on connectors, the installation was able to be deployed in the short time between the previous show in the theater and the opening of the Seathesizer installation.

After the successful deployment and field test of the Octduino, it was clear that it is a useful platform for deploying room-scale interactive installations. The Octduino was promptly redesigned to make it even easier to use and to support a wider range of applications. The Octduino v1.0 was born, including the original 3-axis accelerometer and seven additional new modules.

The image above shows PCBs for the following modules:

• a) Octduino Shield
• b) 3-axis Accelerometer
• c) Swipe
• d) I2C
• e) ADC/DAC
• f) PWM/LED
• g) Motor/Relay
• h) Digital I/O
• i) Touch

The Octduino v1.0 has the following features:

• Octduino shield provides power and buffered digital communication
  out eight cable ports, each with a keyed and shrouded connector,
  supporting cables of up to 100ft in length
• Cables are 10-pin ribbon cables
• 2x5 IDC connectors can be slid on to the cables anywhere and crimped
  with the included crimp tool, or since all modules have two
  connectors, modules can be daisy-chained
• The Octduino shield can power, select, and communicate with up to 27
  modules, and these modules can be on any of the cables in any
  combination
• Arduino firmware is provided to communicate with all of the modules,
  send data from the modules out the UART/USB or Ethernet, utilize the
  data directly in the firmware, as well as send control commands to
  the modules from the internal application or received from the
  UART/USB or Ethernet
• Example Processing application is provided to communicate with the
  Octduino system
• All Octduino modules are solderless and provide screw terminals
  where a connection to an additional system or component is necessary
• Current Octduino modules:
  • 3-axis Accelerometer module, with Tap and Motion detection
  • 3-axis Swipe module, detects direction of a hand or object moving
    across (or towards/away from) the module
  • Touch module, allows the connection of 12 capacitive touch probes,
    which can be as simple as anything metal
  • Digital I/O module, provides 8-channels of digital input and/or
    output
  • Analog module, provides 4-channels of ADC input and 1-channel of
    DAC output
  • PWM/LED module, provides 6-channels of PWM controlled current
    source output
  • I2C module, allows the connection of any I2C device
  • Driver module, allows the push-pull driving of two motors,
    solenoids, or relays

Due to the relatively high BOM cost of the Octduino system, mainly stemming from its large connector count and the requirement of a specialized buffering chip on each module, we are seeking your support to get the first batch built and out the door, and hopefully build a support community around the Octduino.

Product Specifications

• Arduino Shield form factor, compatible with Arduinos, Maples, and
  any other platform that conforms to the Arduino form factor.
• Supports 8 cables, each with 10 wires, each up to 100ft in length
• Uses crimp on 2x5 IDC connectors
• 27 modules can be used by a single Arduino
• Modules can be place on any of the 8 cables, daisy-chain or bus
  wired
• Arduino software included to select a module and communicate with it
• Processing software included to talk to Arduino via UART/USB or
  Ethernet, and get data from the Octduino and its modules

Premiums & Pledge Levels

Octduino Kit ($220)

For your support, we are offering the Octduino v1.0 Kit. All kits will include the Octduino Shield, one of three combinations of 16 modules, a spool of ribbon cable, a bag of crimp-on connectors, the crimp tool, and the required source code to get running right out of the box. The three available combinations of 16 modules are:

The Accelerometer Package

Contains 16 Accelerometer modules. This kit is ideal for room-scale interactive multimedia installations such as the Seathesizer shown above. It would allow the creation of installations where visitors could “play” parts of the architecture like it is a piano key.

The Input Package

Contains 12 Accelerometer modules, 2 Swipe modules, and 2 Touch modules. Very similar in application to the all accelerometer kit, this kit adds some additional input modalities that would support the addition of things like a control panel to select instruments to your room-scale accelerometer-based installation.

The Assortment

Contains:

• two accelerometer modules
• two digital I/O modules
• two PWM/LED modules
• two ADC/DAC modules
• two touch modules
• two swipe modules
• two I2C modules
• two motor driver modules

The possibilities are endless with the Assortment, and hopefully the modules will be available individually in the future, making this the ideal kit for those who want to try out all of the modules.

Manufacturing Plan

Futuruption has active accounts with Printed Circuit Board manufacturers, electronics assembly companies, and components distributors in the United States and abroad. The specific manufacturers used for the Octduino will depend on the quantity of the production run.

Shipping

Shipping is free within the US and Canada. For international shipping options, e-mail us your location and the pledge level you are interested in.

Risks & Challenges

• The BOM cost is fairly high due to the required buffering components
  and connectors per module.
• Some kit parts, such as the cable, connectors, and crimp tool, do
  not scale that well with quantity.
• To be an active platform, the Octduino will require a support
  community.