Sunday, December 24, 2017

Remote Control Tree Ornament with Circuit Playground Express

Have you put up with non-interactive, regular, old, low-tech tree ornaments for too long? Yes you have! But, this is where things change! It's time to build your own Remote Control Tree Ornament with Circuit Playground Express!!

The Circuit Playground Express (CPX) has a built in infrared (IR) sensor, and it's very simple to decode the signals using CircuitPython, thanks to the Adafruit IR Remote library.

We'll program the CPX to read IR blasts from the mini remote control, and use these commands to change the bright, beautiful NeoPixels. Plus, we'll defuse the light and dress it up with an inexpensive hobby store ornament and festive puff balls!

Or, optionally, to get most of those parts in a single pack, and then just add the remote!

Materials

In addition to the electronics, you'll need:

  • Clear 4" ball ornament from a hobby store that opens into two halves, such as this one
  • White iridescent pom poms, such as these
  • Ribbon or tree hanger hook

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