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Post by dbrodz on Jun 1, 2014 15:05:43 GMT -5
Hey there guys! I thought I would share this with any Pyrotechnic Canadians who are interested! My Pyro "buddies" and I are looking at building a new firing system, a 21st century, easy to use, pyromusical, digital, wireless system that would appeal to Hobbyists and Professionals alike. Were working on conceptualization right now (drawing schematics, part shopping, things like that!) and we hope to have a working prototype this summer. If the prototype looks good, we might consider selling them. But before i go and upload any images of plans or anything of that sort... What I would really love to know from you guys is- What would you like to see in a firing system? Thanks!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 15:21:20 GMT -5
didnt cobra already do this?
lol jk
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2014 16:41:30 GMT -5
Something good and not expensive is what i want to see !
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Post by dbrodz on Jun 2, 2014 14:27:09 GMT -5
Well thats our goal, Good and affordable! I'll give you a run down of what we have planned: Imagine setting up your fireworks and then sitting back with your audience and launching an entire show all from your iPhone or tablet or laptop? Thats what were working on- a 32 cue slat system expandable up to 3000+ cues, a simple, inexpensive, multi purpose transceiver and a pyro musical software system. Really we just designed this for ourselves but like I said! If it turns out all right we might make more lol! Heres an demo image of the slat box i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag244/dbroda/3rdDegreeSlatBox_zps56391827.jpg |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2014 15:40:46 GMT -5
Wow looks awesome...let us know when there is more news  |
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Post by khogan on Jun 2, 2014 18:47:17 GMT -5
How do you plan on connecting the tablet/iphone/pc to the receiver? One thing I was thinking would be cool is if you had some type of USB to 2.4Ghz antenna so that you could plug that into a laptop and connect directly. Or you could have the ability to hook up the existing transmitter to a PC so you don't need a separate device. I think this would be great because the software could show you a lot more info if you have more screen space. I could picture having all your modules up on the screen and get a full overview on something like a continuity test.
Something to put in the software that I would like to see, how about the ability to lay out where your modules will go and where you will place any items to light. The system could ensure that you will not have any wire runs that are too long or too many igniters that it would cause a problem.
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Post by dbrodz on Jun 2, 2014 19:01:21 GMT -5
Well the transceiver is a small device that hosts its on WIFI network to which you securely log into with any device that has the app- so if your a Novice you can use your iPhone to cue and sequence your effects while connecting your laptop gives you full access to see your modules and customize your show! I love the software ideas, I will have to talk to my programmer and see if we can implement a "sand box" like environment, a sort of top down view of your location as well as useful information about what fireworks and modules are where. Any other suggestions would be fantastic!
Thanks!
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Post by dbrodz on Jun 2, 2014 19:03:00 GMT -5
By the way we call the receiver a transceiver because it transmits communication between the computer WIFI link and the 2.4ghz modules.
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Post by khogan on Jun 2, 2014 19:47:23 GMT -5
The transceiver idea sounds cool. I hope it will also have the ability to hook up to a laptop via USB so you could avoid the wifi network if possible. You could probably do the same with Android but I doubt you could direct connect to an Apple device.
In the software it would be nice if you could program the queues in steps and each time you press a button it fires the queues in order. For example:
1) Fire queue 1
2) Fire queue 2&3 at the same time
3) Fire queue 4-7 1 second apart
Each time you press a single button it would step through.
I would like to see all parts with a USB port to allow updating of firmware without having to send in or buy an additional device.
At least some type of software for free that does not have a yearly cost. You could charge yearly for extra features or charge for updated software with new functionality but I would like to see at least something basic for free that comes with the system.
Will you have the ability to make products or will there be premade products to use? Are we just going to be able to assign a time to fire a queue, or will there be an inventory system to fully setup the show?
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Post by dbrodz on Jun 2, 2014 22:26:57 GMT -5
I am hoping to provide a software package as a standard when the system is purchased, no additional fee's. The concepts we are working on for the software are that you have three primary elements within the window: An effects pane to the left containing fireworks that you have pre entered values, labels and colours for. You have the ability to drag and drop the firework into the sandbox window, the sandbox takes up the most space, it displays all the modules currently on the field. Right clicking a module in the sand box will give you the options for it (you can change a modules channel simply by right clicking it). You can drag your fireworks and modules around to represent your real life set up. The modules will alert the computer when battery is low, and will highlight fireworks on screen that have no continuity. Lastly within the software we intend to have a timeline which can be synced to an mp3 music track via whole beats, half beats, and quarter beats- once a firework is dropped into the sandbox a marker representing the fireworks' duration will appear on the timeline where you can then drag it or snap it to the position of your choice.
Also a word about the modules, we hope to implement them with 99 channels each, so if each 32 cue slat is programmed to a different channel respectively you will see those modules on screen with a number above them indicating which channel they are on. If all modules are set to the same channel, then they would all fire the same cue when triggered.
Cool eh? We hope to start construction on some prototypes real soon, I am glad your taking in interest though we'll keep you posted!
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Post by dbrodz on Jun 2, 2014 22:30:11 GMT -5
We also have an idea for the less creative pyros out there, or the less experience. Every year before special events we release a pre packed pyro musical file for our system with a shopping list of fireworks required. Simply plug in the fireworks per instruction, upload the file to the program and press start! What do you think?
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Post by khogan on Jun 5, 2014 8:45:08 GMT -5
I like the premade show idea, it would be cool if you could make a few different ones based on your budget, or if the show could be adjusted by removing/adding other items based on budget. It would be really cool if you could somehow make a deal with a larger company like Mystical / Phatboy (They are the same company I am pretty sure) so that we could get some discount (and maybe you could get some commission on the sale)
If you need anyone to help with testing let me know. I don't have any experience using firing systems, but will soon as I just bought the rfRemotech MB32Q, which is capable of making a pyromusical, but from what I have seen so far the software looks pretty limited.
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Post by Pyro Boss on Jul 5, 2014 22:29:02 GMT -5
Anymore news or update on this system?
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Post by dbrodz on Aug 24, 2014 15:08:57 GMT -5
Nothing too new yet. Although I've been working largely on the software portion of this venture. I'm working on a show designer to work in conjunction with this system called Back Burner. Maybe I'll post some images up soon!
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Post by huggyd on Nov 19, 2015 10:31:04 GMT -5
what happened with this idea any one know??
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Post by khogan on Nov 19, 2015 20:43:43 GMT -5
I was wondering as well. I actually started making a system with arduino and nRF24L01 2.4 ghz for fun. It works somewhat but I did not finish it. If you are interested I can share more.
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Post by huggyd on Nov 20, 2015 11:15:48 GMT -5
I am always interested!!!
Right now I have WAY TO MANY things going on, but on my project list is to make a nail board, not sure if I could add the audio fire to it but its so far down on the list I haven't made a plan for it nor got the parts together.
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Post by khogan on Nov 30, 2015 11:34:05 GMT -5
Sorry I did not respond back. I have been a little busy but will get this setup and then make a new thread to show it and see if anyone has any suggestions or wants to help work on it.
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Post by dbrodz on Dec 17, 2015 2:09:28 GMT -5
Ah yes. The Third Degree Firing System.. I'll get back to it one day.
I have show planning software designed as well that let's you place your exact fireworks where you want on a grid, representing your fireworks positions in real time. The fireworks are also linked to a timeline below which has a snap system that automatically analyzes your music for beats and lines up your effects to those beats which you can toggle on or off (gird / slip). To the left is an inventory updated via the web, you can select your fireworks based on what other people have specified or make your own to match the product you have. Each firework has a time specified, the number of tubes, the name, and brand. You can then drag and drop your firework onto the grid / sandbox area - Doing this automatically adds the firework to the Cue List and the timeline below. Once you have designed your show you can connect your Cobra or 3rd Degree Firing system and it will show you in real time in the sandbox grid which cues have continuity. You can right click on a firework to arm individually or delete. You can then also use the controls up top to arm your show and play it too. The entire software is an all in one suite for planning, creating and firing your show. Connect all you need is your laptop, a link to an external speaker system and a link to the firing system, it takes care of the rest. No timecode, no audio mishaps, all controllable form your laptop. You can also save all of your show files and share them online, furthermore you can download other people show files. The show file comes with the list of product names and brands with the layout of the show physically as well as a cue sheet and music. An all in one package. Design shows for yourself, and or design shows for others.
The Software is called BackBurner and If anyone is interested I'll finish coding it.
This could even be moved to a separate thread.
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Post by huggyd on Dec 18, 2015 16:37:59 GMT -5
sounds kind of cool.
how far from completion is it?
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Post by Xplode on Dec 19, 2015 0:07:33 GMT -5
Got some juicy screenshots to share? |
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