USB IR emitter

Asp Explorer · Mar 13, 2014

I was wondering if anyone knew of a USB infra-red emitter that's programmable, and if FD could find it in their hearts to code in basic support for it.

The reason is simple, I have one of those IR controlled LED lamps, and getting Elite to turn the lights red, off, flash white and orange with explosions or blue shield effects would just be awesomely immersive

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001JHZSEG

Cheap as chips too!

Ratio · Mar 13, 2014

OMG OMG OMG
I have roles of LED strip lights.. and would totally make a SIM pit if this was happening.

Thinking about it, I am sure I have seen a Rasberry Pi controlling a rear LED screen lighting system...

You could link that in as well for further immersion!

Asp Explorer · Mar 14, 2014

Ok I tried to take some photos of what I am trying to say - but it simply didn't work out with only two hands lol. It also doesn't work out because my craphone 4 is simply awful at low light shots.

So my idea of fancy combat shots is out the window, so here are the only pictures that I managed to get that look nearly acceptable.

It's much, much better when you see it in real life. If only there was a simple way to send the colour commands via USB.

the light and remote.

Staring at the Sun

Feelin Blue

Whiter than white

I have to change the colours myself of course, but an automated way of telling the light how to change could end up in all types of awesome.

The light itself is about 10 metres away and mounted on the ceiling (which is why it's off centre), easily reachable with it's remote, but any closer and the screen reflections are overwhelming.

metatheurgist · Mar 14, 2014

There seem to be quite a few programmable usb IR transmitters on the market. I guess you'll have to convince FD to create an interface that'd work with one of them.

Ratio · Mar 14, 2014

AH HA!
I found it all, I think the USB light would be good..
BUT
What we really want is a full AMBILIGHT set up (that was the term I was looking for)..

Now it looks like you can use a rasberry Pi to control the LED set up, but this is when the Pi is playing the video.

Tutorial here

Example of system running playing Avatar

I have also see an example of a Arduino system taking info from a monitor and doing the same, however i am sure they said there was a limit in this due to Direct X.. (can not find it now) anyway full details are here

I will keep digging as this is definitely the way forward for me...

PIXEL · Mar 14, 2014

If Frontier implement force feedback for joysticks you could tap off from that output to an infra red emitter for your bulbs - or even directly to a board that controls leds directly?

Alternatively just turn the sound up and use a sound-to-light setup

Dejay · Mar 14, 2014

Anyone has an ambilight setup and can speak if it really works well?

Ah what am I saying I'll be playing with OR anyway!

Asp Explorer · Mar 14, 2014

After looking at a few possible solutions, I plopped on a set of gaming lights from Mad Catz. Will let you know how it turns out

All we need to do now is persuade Frontier to code in amBX support in Elite

Rog · Mar 14, 2014

Asp Explorer said:
After looking at a few possible solutions, I plopped on a set of gaming lights from Mad Catz. Will let you know how it turns out

All we need to do now is persuade Frontier to code in amBX support in Elite

Great idea!

Winterwalker · Mar 14, 2014

metatheurgist said:
There seem to be quite a few programmable usb IR transmitters on the market. I guess you'll have to convince FD to create an interface that'd work with one of them.

Surely the Raspberry PI force feedback route would be good synergy (especially on Pi day) .. shortly followed by seedcorn/ catapult competitions for finding the best engineers and concepts, for creating immersive designs that can add to FD's licensing options?? (hint hint)

Rog · Mar 14, 2014

Presumably some sort of basic serial output over USB would do it with a cheap arduino (£8 pro micro?) clone to read the data?