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Aug 27, 2015 | By Alec

As a web full of 3D printable projects illustrates, most creations are only as fun as the electronics incorporated inside of them. And while the availability and affordability of tinkering electronics has never been better than today, there is always more room for improvement. And while LEDs are already readily being incorporated in 3D printing projects, we were still very impressed by the release of Pulsar: a set of smart, wireless and wearable LED pixels that, as its makers ACROBOTIC illustrate with a 3D printed soundless alarm clock, is perfect for 3D printing.

To give a little background info, ACROBOTIC is an open-source electronics startup based in Pasadena, California, whom you might have seen with some of their other projects. They specialize in the development of fun and accessible hardware and software for DIY projects, art, education and more. Over the last year or so, they have turned to Kickstarter a few times as a method for catching preorders and attention, and that is again the case with the Pulsar. We turn to Kickstarter because it represents an easy and efficient way to process the pre-orders for our products,’ they say. Most recently, they have been successful with a tracking system for the International Space Station as it passes over us, called the ISS Above HD +.

And it looks like the Pulsar LED system is heading down the same way, as this is a truly exploitable set of electronics. The guys from ACROBOTIC have been working on it for a few years, and have now finally reached a point where the Pulsar is a perfect addition to any making arsenal. 'The Pulsar is a wearable electronic device that allows you to wirelessly control bright, colorful LEDs from any computer or mobile! It includes a rechargeable, long-lasting, pocket-sized battery, a tiny microcontroller with Bluetooth LE, a real-time clock, and 24 smart, multi-colored (RGB) LEDs,’ they say. In a nutshell, everything you need to create amazing light effects, provided you download the free control apps too.

That essentially, is what it’s all about and that should be enough to set the minds of many makers racing with ideas. And that is exactly what it was built for: ‘To be honest, we didn't design the Pulsar with a specific use in mind.  We simply wanted a way to include multi-colored lights in our projects without too much hassle, and be able to control them wirelessly,’ they say. Those readers can be immediately directed to Kickstarter here, where you can get a Pulsar set for just $35. As the Kickstarter itself just covers the production costs, shipping will begin in December 2015.

However, for us less talented makers, it is always fantastic to see a couple of applications of the Pulsar, which the ACROBOTIC guys have provided. The most simple one is quite clever: simply attach it to an Iron Man shirt for a simple costume solution. ‘From Comic-Con to Maker Faire, the Pulsar allows us to build costumes of varying degrees of complexity. An Iron Man t-shirt works great when you're in a pinch for a costume party!’ they say. With the help of a Raspberry Pi and a USB Bluetooth adapter, they have also combined the Pulsar with their ISS Above project to count down the LEDs until the next passing.

However, we were especially impressed by the 3D printed soundless alarm clock they built with the Pulsar. Developed in collaboration with the engineers behind Deezmaker 3D-Printers, this is essentially a 3D printed translucent housing that holds the Pulsar. In this case, it has been programmed from a Bluetooth-capable device to wake you with its lights. While they don’t add how effective it is at waking people in the morning, the idea itself is very impressive. It’s just one of the many things you can build when you have a 3D printer, a Pulsar, and some inspiration.

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

 

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