This workshop is all about having fun with an Arduino Nano & individually addressable RGB LED's using the FastLED library. Each attendee receives an Arduino Nano, a strip of 20 APA102 LED's, a battery back and batteries. We'll be programming the Arduino with some awesome animations and attach it to a hat. It was created for scouting youth in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada.

1. Having fun with an Arduino Nano & FastLED
By: Andrew Tuline
Programming Addressable LED Strips
or

2. Overview
• Introductions
• To program or not to program
• Install IDE and check out drivers
• Included examples
• More examples
• Some reference material
• Create your own project
Work on your own or with partners, and help each other out.

3. This Workshop
If you wish to program:
• Assumes you’re familiar with .zip files, folders
• Basic C++ programming
• We’ll try several cool lighting examples
Your Arduino is already programmed with an awesome
demo, so you don’t NEED to re-program it.

4. Installing Arduino Software
• On Windows 7
• Installs to C:Program Files (x86)Arduino
• Your programs are in C:UsersuseridDocumentsArduino
• ‘Tools | Board’ should be changed to say ‘Arduino Nano w/
ATmega328’
• In Device Manager, see ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’
• Device drivers in C:Program Files (x86)ArduinodriversFTDI
USB Drivers (we may be using another set of drivers)
Are you running 32 bit or 64 bit?

5. Touring the IDE
• ‘File | Examples’ includes lots of examples
• ‘File | Upload’ is how we compile and upload our program to
the Arduino
• ‘Help | Reference’ includes a local copy of the Language
Reference
Make GOOD use of those examples!

6. Test the Drivers
Declare constants & global variables
One time setup of ports
Continuous loop
Test your drivers by compiling and uploading Blink.ino

7. Arduino Nano Pins
• Digital pins (input/output)
• Analog pins (input/output)
• Vin, Ground pins
• 5V, 3.3V pins
• Analog out is PWM
• Most pins support other functions
This project uses Vin, 5V, Ground and a few digital pins

8. Addressable LED Strips
• Traditionally, we assign output values to each
R, G and B pin on each LED
• This can use up a LOT of pins
• Addressable LED strips provide circuitry to
communicate serially

9. LED Strip Connections
D12 –
D11 –
5V –
Gnd –
D6 –
Vin –
Data in
Clock in
5V
Gnd
Button
Battery +
We’re using APA102 LED’s, aka DotStars

10. What is FastLED?
• FastLED is a fast, easy-to-use Arduino library
for programming addressable LED strips.
• FastLED is used by thousands of developers.
• It’s FAST!
Do a YouTube search for ‘FastLED’

11. Downloading FastLED
• The latest version is on GitHub at:
https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED
• Download the zip file.
• Extract the directory FastLED-master.
• Rename the directory from:
FastLED-master to FastLED
• Place that directory into:
C:Program Files(x86)Arduinolibraries

12. FirstLight Example
• In the Arduino IDE, select
‘File | Examples | FastLED | FirstLight’
• We need to change the type of LED’s.
• We need to change the data (and clock) pins.
• We need to change the number of LED’s.
• We then need to change the definition.
We may need to change colour order!

13. FirstLight Code
#include "FastLED.h"
#define NUM_LEDS 20
#define DATA_PIN 12
#define CLOCK_PIN 11
uint8_t max_bright = 64;
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
void setup() {
FastLED.addLeds<APA102, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
FastLED.setBrightness(max_bright);
}
void loop() {
for (int whiteLed = 0; whiteLed < NUM_LEDS; whiteLed++) {
leds[whiteLed] = CRGB::White;
FastLED.show();
delay(100);
leds[whiteLed] = CRGB::Black;
}
}
The white LED should march across the array. Try red!
// Include the library
// Number of LED’s
// Our data pin
// Our clock pin
// Define brightness limiter
// Define the LED array
// Run once
// Initialize the LED array
// Limit the brightness
// Run continuously
// Cycle through each LED in the array
// Set the current one white
// Show it
// Wait for a bit
// Set it to black

14. Setting LED values
• leds[9] = CRGB::Cyan; // Web colours
• leds[9].g = 255; // Just set green
• leds[0] = CRGB(255,0,0); // CRGB values (red, green, blue)
• leds[0] = 0x0000ff; // Use a hex #
OR
• leds[9] = CSHV(hue, sat, bright); // Each goes up to 255
FastLED provides lots more ways to assign colours to LED’s

15. Variable Types
Variable types include:
– int (-32768 to 32767 is 16 bit signed)
– uint (0 to 65535 is 16 bit unsigned)
– uint8_t (0 to 255 is 8 bit unsigned)
– long (is 32 bits signed)
– and many more. . .
Variable scope can also be important as well

16. Random Numbers
long num = random(); // 32 bit
uint8_t unum = random8(); // 8 bit
int inum = random16(0, 1023); // 16 bit
• The ‘long’ can be used to assign random RGB colours
• The ‘uint8_t’ can be used to assign hue, brightness values
• It can also refer to LED elements in your strip
random8() and random16() are FastLED functions

17. If Statements
This example occasionally flashes a random colour on a random LED.
void loop() {
uint8_t j = random16(0, 100); // Which LED will we light up
if ( j < NUM_LEDS ) { // Only display if that number IS in our array
leds[j] = random(); // 32 bit randomizer for colour
FastLED.show();
delay(100);
leds[j] = CRGB::Black; // Make that LED black again
}
}

18. For Loops
This example sets each LED a different colour, waits 2 seconds and repeats.
void loop() {
for (int i = 0; i < NUM_LEDS; i++) { // Last element is leds[NUM_LEDS-1]
leds[i] = random(); // A 32 bit random number
}
FastLED.show();
delay(2000);
}

19. We’re Just Getting Started
FastLED contains a LOT of functions including:
• Random number generation
• Fast 8 and 16 bit basic math functions
• Fast trigonometry
• Setting RGB and HSV values
• fill_rainbow, fill_gradient, fading, scaling, blending, noise,
palettes
• Power management
We’re talking FAST

20. Rainbow March
#include "FastLED.h"
#define LED_DT 12 // Data pin
#define LED_CK 11 // Clock pin
#define NUM_LEDS 20 // Number of LED's
#define COLOR_ORDER GRB // Change the order as necessary
#define LED_TYPE APA102 // What kind of strip are you using?
uint8_t max_bright = 64; // How bright do we want to go
struct CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS]; // Initialize our array
uint8_t thisdelay = 8; // A delay value for the sequence
uint8_t thishue; // Starting hue value.
uint8_t deltahue = 5; // Difference in hue between LED’s
Use variables where possible

21. Rainbow March cont’d
void setup() {
LEDS.addLeds<LED_TYPE, LED_DT, LED_CK, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
FastLED.setBrightness(max_bright);
}
void loop () {
rainbow_march();
FastLED.show();
delay(thisdelay);
}
void rainbow_march() {
thishue++;
fill_rainbow (leds, NUM_LEDS, thishue, deltahue); // FastLED does the heavy lifting
}

22. More FastLED Demos
• There’s also several 3rd party demos at:
https://github.com/atuline/FastLED-Demos
• Unzip and store them in:
C:users<username>DocumentsArduino

23. Try More Demo’s
• Try one_sine
• Try one_sine demo
• Try pop_fade_demo
• Try ripple
• Try two_sin_demo
• Try noise16_demo
• Try three_sin_demo
• Try rainbow_march_demo
Don’t forget the FastLED examples

24. Google for more FastLED

25. Arduino Research
• www.fastled.io
• github.com
• arduino.cc/tutorial
• playground.arduino.cc
• tronixstuff.com/tutorials
• learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials
• oomlout.com/a/products/ardx
Don’t forget the examples included with the Arduino software

26. Inspirational Web Sites
• www.instructables.com
• www.tindie.com
• www.makershed.com
• www.makezine.com

27. Sources for Parts
• www.robotshop.ca
• www.sparkfun.com
• www.leeselectronics.com
• www.gravitech.us
• www.adafruit.com
• www.ebay.ca
• www.aliexpress.com
• www.amazon.com
• www.dealextreme.com
All it takes is a VISA card and your imagination

28. Local Events
• North Delta Luminary Festival
• Vancouver Mini Maker Faire
• WestSurDel Fun Night
• Vancouver Bike Rave
• Christmas events
• Any night market
Then there’s Burning Man

29. University

30. Hardware Hacker
https://diy.org/skills/hardwarehacker

31. Light Something