Burning Man 2022 Project

Start the collector program

python3 conversation_collector

To auto run at boot (from usb-drive, or modify the script to run a local program):

Copy the scripts/auto_run_from_usb.sh to pi's Desktop

cp -r /etc/xdg/lxsession ~/.config/ only If you don't have ~/.config/lxsession already

nano ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

Add @lxterminal -e sh /home/milton/Desktop/auto_run_from_usb.sh

Set system default volume level

Set the volume level manually then run this: sudo alsactl store

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Sculpture

fully assemble the sculpture

• button
• solar
• light (battery leds)

Supporting Hardware

Install a collar on the base of the pole, round plate with holes where you can bolt it on the ground - people may knock it over

How to prevent this from being stolen

Modular design for swappable top solar panel but secure against wind etc.

Gameday

Make sure power solution works - test outside for 3+ days

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Notes

Package Dependency

• Stable OS: Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) Release 2022-04-04; installed with Raspberry Pi Imager v1.7.2
• wave sudo pip3 install wave
• RPI.GPIO sudo pip3 install RPi.GPIO
• numpy sudo pip3 install numpy
• pydub sudo pip3 install pydub
• pyaudio sudo pip3 install pyaudio
• Rubberband sudo apt-get install rubberband-cli && sudo pip3 install pyrubberband
• BiblioPixel sudo pip3 install bibliopixel
• RPiWS281x sudo pip3 install rpi_ws281x
• ESPEAK-NG see below instructions:
  • sudo apt install espeak-ng espeak-ng-data libespeak-ng-dev
  • sudo pip3 install py-espeak-ng
  • Open /etc/modprobe.d/raspi-blacklist.conf and add blacklist snd_bcm2835
  • Open /lib/modprobe.d/aliases.conf and comment out the line options snd-usb-audio index=-2
  • sudo nano /boot/config.txt then comment out this line: dtparam=audio=on
  • sudo reboot. Then check with aplay -l

Hard-wiring / Setup

• Make sure to update the hard-coded path in files_manager.py ROOT_PATH and create sub-directories
• Also updates DEVICE_NAME if you use a different speaker-mic than Jabra SPEAK 410

Design

Installation Design

Software Design, but mostly outdated

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Old notes below

6/5 BM art team requirements

• Hardware: install a collar on the base of the pole, round plate with holes where you can bolt it on the ground
• Hardware: make the entire pole well lit - use BATTERY powered LEDs

Priorities

[Prio] until 5/31

Software

• [MEDIUM][---] Sound sculptor - add different sound effects per hour in day / special for burn night etc.
• [MEDIUM][---] Breathing light POC: different patterns for different states. random brain dump:
  • playing: pulsing yellow
  • idle: glow white
  • recording: blinking green
  • acknowledging button pressed: red single pulse
• [LOW][---] Sound sculptor - make it cooler
• [LOW][---] UI/UX - add more ideas / poems to the Poet

Hardware

• [HIGH][milton] Design & implement power solution - solar / batteries
  • Current bug: solar doesn't work :(
  • References
    • https://hive.burningman.org/posts/14167796
    • https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=96544
    • https://howchoo.com/g/mmfkn2rhoth/raspberry-pi-solar-power
• [MEDIUM][---] Breathing light POC: single LED or LED strip
  • This looks cool
  • reference https://www.admfactory.com/breathing-light-led-on-raspberry-pi-using-python/
• [LOW][---] Make a robust and aesthetically pleasing shell
  • Ideally we can have some artist to do this
  • Directly out of wood? or 3D printed w/ heat-resistant materials?
• [LOW][---] Playa installation solution: Harsh environment
  • the whole thing needs to be resistant to STRONG wind / heat / rain
  • https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=54812
  • https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=44684

Known bugs

• [MEDIUM][---] Raspberry Pi changes path to the USB device randomly sometimes, breaking run from usb drive function
  • 1. implement a more robust usb drive scanning logic
  • 2. failback to run from desktop files if usb not detected

UX Improvements

• [MEDIUM][---] Raise voice UI volume to the same level of the playback volume
• [MEDIUM][---] Some people inclined to long press the button thinking they need to
  • with current logic this will continually spawn one recording session after another, which is not ideal
  • 1. make sure we don't record button press during recording time
  • 2. figure out a way to stop people from long pressing

Production Checklist

• [todo] private beta indoors for 3+ days
• [todo] public beta outdoors (with & without sunlight) for 24+ hours