I haven't been able to get much done in the past day. I did ask grok how to make Theo flash and play audio clips via a raspberry pi. This will be done before I go full AI driven smart speaker device. After some tweaking of requirements
Here is what grok said
Let’s tweak the flashing sequence for your Dr. Theopolis prop. Now, when idle, the 4 soft white perimeter LEDs and 6 normal white eye LEDs will stay on. When speaking (button pressed), the eyes will alternate flashing with the remaining red LEDs (mouth, upper eyebrow, large eyebrow, chin). This adds a dynamic, conversational feel while keeping the idle state glowing and alive. Here’s the updated build.
### Materials (Unchanged)
- **Prop Base**: 9-inch disc, clear acrylic face (~8.5-inch), paint, hot glue, etc.
- **Electronics**:
- Raspberry Pi (Zero 2 W or 3/4).
- Speaker (3-5W, USB or 3.5mm).
- Push button.
- **LEDs**:
- 4 soft white LEDs (perimeter, always-on).
- 6 normal white LEDs (eyes, 3 per eye, on when idle, flashing when speaking).
- 4 red LEDs (mouth).
- 6 red LEDs (upper eyebrow).
- 8 red LEDs (large eyebrow).
- 3 red LEDs (chin).
- Resistors: 220Ω for each LED (31 total).
- Wires, breadboard (optional), soldering kit.
- **Power**: 5V USB power bank (5000mAh+).
- **Audio**: MP3 clips.
### Step-by-Step Build (Adjusted)
#### 1. Design the Prop
- **Face Layout**: Same as before:
- Perimeter: 4 soft white LEDs at 12, 3, 6, 9 o’clock.
- Eyes: 3 normal white LEDs per eye (left ~10 o’clock, right ~2 o’clock).
- Upper Eyebrow: 6 red LEDs above eyes.
- Large Eyebrow: 8 red LEDs below upper eyebrow.
- Mouth: 4 red LEDs, lower center.
- Chin: 3 red LEDs below mouth.
- **Mounting**: Glue LEDs behind the acrylic, wires to the back.
#### 2. Wire the Electronics
- **Always-On Perimeter LEDs (4 Soft White)**:
- Parallel wiring:
- Positive legs to Pi’s 3.3V (pin 1).
- Negative legs to GND (pin 6) via 220Ω resistors each.
- On at power-up.
- **Idle-On & Flashing Eye LEDs (6 Normal White)**:
- Left eye (3 LEDs) to GPIO 18.
- Right eye (3 LEDs) to GPIO 23.
- Wire in parallel per eye, 220Ω resistor per LED to GND.
- Controlled by script to stay on when idle, flash when speaking.
- **Flashing Red LEDs (21 Total)**:
- Mouth (4 LEDs) to GPIO 12.
- Upper Eyebrow (6 LEDs) to GPIO 24.
- Large Eyebrow (8 LEDs) to GPIO 25.
- Chin (3 LEDs) to GPIO 16.
- Wire each group in parallel, 220Ω resistor per LED to GND.
- **Button**: GPIO 17 and GND.
- **Speaker**: Pi’s 3.5mm jack or USB.
#### 3. Update the Script
- New logic: Perimeter and eyes on when idle; when button pressed, eyes alternate flashing with red LEDs during audio:
```python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import random
import os
# GPIO setup
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
BUTTON_PIN = 17
EYE_PINS = [18, 23] # Left eye, right eye (normal white)
RED_PINS = [12, 24, 25, 16] # Mouth, upper eyebrow, large eyebrow, chin (red)
GPIO.setup(BUTTON_PIN, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_UP)
for pin in EYE_PINS + RED_PINS:
GPIO.setup(pin, GPIO.OUT)
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.LOW)
# Note: 4 perimeter soft white LEDs wired to 3.3V and GND, always on
# MP3 files directory
AUDIO_PATH = "/home/pi/theo_clips/" # Update with your path
clips = [f for f in os.listdir(AUDIO_PATH) if f.endswith(".mp3")]
def flash_sequence(duration):
end_time = time.time() + duration
while time.time() < end_time:
# Eyes on, red off
for pin in EYE_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.HIGH)
for pin in RED_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.LOW)
time.sleep(0.2)
# Eyes off, red on
for pin in EYE_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.LOW)
for pin in RED_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.HIGH)
time.sleep(0.2)
try:
# Idle state: eyes on
for pin in EYE_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.HIGH)
while True:
if GPIO.input(BUTTON_PIN) == GPIO.LOW: # Button pressed
clip = random.choice(clips)
print(f"Playing: {clip}")
os.system(f"mpg123 {AUDIO_PATH}{clip}") # Play MP3
flash_sequence(3) # Alternate eyes and red LEDs for 3 seconds
time.sleep(0.5) # Debounce delay
# Return to idle: eyes on, red off
for pin in EYE_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.HIGH)
for pin in RED_PINS:
GPI
utput(pin, GPIO.LOW)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
GPIO.cleanup()
```
- **Install**: `sudo apt-get install mpg123`. MP3s in `/home/pi/theo_clips/`.
#### 4. Assemble and Test
- **Mounting**:
- Glue 4 soft white perimeter LEDs at 12, 3, 6, 9 o’clock.
- Position face LEDs: 3 normal white per eye, 4 red for mouth, 6 red for upper eyebrow, 8 red for large eyebrow, 3 red for chin.
- Mount Pi, speaker (back/bottom, with holes), and button (side/back).
- Organize wires.
- **Power**: 5V power bank. Perimeter and eye LEDs glow on startup; red LEDs stay off until triggered.
- **Test**:
- **Idle**: 4 perimeter and 6 eye LEDs on, red LEDs off.
- **Button Press**: Audio plays, eyes flash for 0.2s, then red LEDs (mouth, eyebrows, chin) flash for 0.2s, alternating for 3 seconds. Eyes return to on afterward.
#### 5. Finish
- Seal back with a removable panel.
- Paint rim silver/metallic, letting perimeter LEDs shine subtly.
### How It Looks and Works
- **Idle**: 4 soft white perimeter LEDs and 6 normal white eye LEDs glow steadily, giving Theo a “powered-on” look.
- **Speaking**: Audio plays (e.g., “Greetings, Buck”), and eyes flash on/off (0.2s), alternating with all red LEDs (mouth, upper eyebrow, large eyebrow, chin) for 3 seconds. Post-audio, eyes stay on, red LEDs turn off.
### Tips
- **Timing**: Adjust `time.sleep(0.2)` in `flash_sequence` for faster/slower alternation (e.g., 0.1s for quicker flashes).
- **Power**: 31 LEDs, but only 15 on at once (4 perimeter, 6 eyes, 5 red avg. when flashing)—~300mA max, Pi-safe.
- **Balance**: If eyes look dim next to red, lower red resistors to 180Ω or test eye LEDs at 3.3V.
This gives Theo a lively speaking pattern. Need help with the alternating sequence or a visual of the effect? Let me know how it’s coming!
Of course there will be needed tweaking and editing but this give a starting point for a dumb old man like me.
-Bobby
