Hello all!

I am working at a lightning design company named Manooi, and we got a new interesting project for what I could use your help!

The light rods would be split in a space on both x,y,z axis, for the best visual effect there would be overlappings if you view from the bottom or the front. On the attached picture you can see a basic explanation about our expectations for the LEDs and the layout! The rods will only be lit on their bottom plane.

The LED strips should change gradient together continously while beeing in different positions of space. If it can work towards x axis, its enough for right now, but it would be much better if it could rotate to y and z axis too.

We are looking for ready to use solutions about software control of the lights, where we could define the positions of the strips and play the desired effect like it would be continously filled as a LED advertising panel with empty spots and overlaps.

Furthermore if there isn’t any ready solution, companies, maybe individuals who could write the program, help to design or select the necessary drivers, controllers, and the electrical setup, with written order, contract, and ofcourse payment!

I have been surfing the internet for a few days now, and still couldn’t come up with anything but to program the whole thing LED by LED (which I cannot do) ….

We got no programmers at all, nor anyone who could do the electrical setup!

I need your help!

So the questions:

Is it even possible to synchronise them as planned?

Does it require Digital RGB LEDs or could work with simple RGB with the correct driver and software (Size matters most, should be as small as possible!)?

Is there any ready to use software on the market with the given requirements?

Do you know any companies or individuals who could write and deliver the software as a product?

Furthermore if i skipped something what should be asked in this scenario, please correct me!

 

Just so that we understand the set up, each rod has a number of individual LEDs?
How many LEDs in each rod, or what is the linear spacing of the LEDs?
What is the length of the rod?

Are you changing the intensity of each LED within one rod in a linear fashion?
What is the cycle period from minimum to maximum?

What is the typical current and voltage of each LED or each strip?
Where do you intend to locate the controlling circuitry?
How will everything be interconnected with respect to cables?

 

Should have started with this image also inserted in the post, it describes the composition properly. Each item has its bottom cross section lit.

+ By gradient change I mean that for example the colour red would be moving from left to the right side of the whole composition followed by purple etc. So not a static lightning rather a Dinamic effect should be achieved.

"Each rod has a number of individual LEDs?"
Each "rod" (i've been explaining them as rods because that's the part that has lightning, the other dimensions of the objects doesn't really matter as far as i am concerned), would have a LED strip taped on the inside.

"How many LEDs in each rod, or what is the linear spacing of the LEDs?"
It's not exact on the numbers of the LEDs, depends on the strip, should it be a Digital strip or simple RGB depends on the possibilities of the programming if I am correct. But so far seems to be for me that a WS2812 based Digital LED strip would be the good choice for this kind of operation.

"What is the length of the rod?"
The lenght of the strips inside the "rod" would be in centimeters: 13;20;26;78;98;122

"Are you changing the intensity of each LED within one rod in a linear fashion?"
Yes, linear fashion. If I understood the question right.

"What is the cycle period from minimum to maximum?"
Not defined yet.

"What is the typical current and voltage of each LED or each strip?"
Not defined yet. Will be working from 220V AC standard european input with transformators where it is necessary.

"Where do you intend to locate the controlling circuitry?"
It will be located inside a cover box in the ceiling of an atrium, controlled by any kind of means (not defined yet) from the ground.

"How will everything be interconnected with respect to cables?"
The whole composition will have a box ontop with its transformators all the cables will be connected there, with the controlling circuitry.

 

WS2812 or SK6812 LED strips seem to be the way to go.

 

Looking at your post my guess is you are going to consider marketing this. Should that be the case I suggest you take a look here. These guys market LED Lighting effects for Motorcycles, RV Motor Homes and Trucks & Automobiles. I believe the business is now run out of Kentucky, US but is important to see what they offer. My friend recently got a light kit for his motorcycle. The kit was well packed with goodies and I noted the connectors, LED strips and overall quality. This was really good stuff and well thought out. My point here is everything was made not in Kentucky, US but in China. All the cables, light strips and hardware is made in China. You tell them what you want and they deliver.

That said I took enough interest in my friends kit to invest a few bucks in some RGB LED Strips on Amazon. Starting out with RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LEDs it is not difficult to make other colors by mixing colors. Then you get into not just mixing solid colors to make other colors but how to fade colors in and out and do just about anything you want depending on imagination. I used an Arduino Uno board but a single chip is the heart of things. The programming is not that difficult with dozens of code examples published online. For me it was merely a curiosity thing and retired people have a surplus of time on their hands.

A few simple Googles and some very basic wiring will get you started.

Ron