Fading LED strip / Follow individual as you move past

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

So this is something my kids wanted to try and do, we say the project on the main page where LED strip was installed under a bed and it was turned on by PIR sensor.. We already have one of those LED strips that is multi-color and has a remote to change the color and so on.

BUT they wanted to take it a step further..

So similar to how movie theaters have the low lights down the stairs, they want to setup similar light strip down the hall and have the lights walk with you thru the hall, basically when you walk within range, turn on the lights, but as you walk down the hall the lights are lighting up next to you so instead of just simply turning on and off the lights when you come into range, they wanted to see if we could have the lights follow you down the hall and light the way as you walk.

Does that make sense? If we get it working, they already have other ideas to do outside the house..

So with that said, any suggestions for actual components required would need to be weather proof or capable of being used outside in a enclosure of some sort..

So what I'm looking for is what if anything would we need to get started?

I have a lot of components and will to get a few more if we don't already have them.

Would a range sensor be used? How can we setup so that the LED's turn on where you are close to? I would think that I need some form or LED strip that I can control individual LED's within the strip to give that affect of following.

So I found this project where they are controlling an LED strip, but this is fed data from a source, not a sensor, so may be a start, but being able to determine where the individual is in order to light up the appropriate LEDs on the strip is where I'm looking for suggestions..

LED_Bandwidth_Monitor

Our hallway is about 15ft long give or take, so we'd like to sense when you walk within range, and start lighting the strip as you walk down the hall and have a delay behind you to turn off the LEDs behind you and just light the way..

2

So here are examples ive reviewed and like, but seems most if not all are just on off, fancy light show when turned on.. I guess this would work with a small delay per led to give the illusion that the light is following you as you walk, BUT it would be nicer to have the leds actually follow you as you walk in any direction, so if you stop half way down the hall, the leds in the middle next to you are lit, then they move with you until you leave the hall..

LED Stair #1

LED Stair #2

3

if you put either a reflector or a second row on the opposite wall, you can put in a beam break type of sensor.

if you use PIR, you need multiles.
if you use range finding with ultrasonics, you need to use multiples.

what if walk slowly or run ?

4

I think you need addressable led strips so you can switch the leds individually on and off; that way you can make it 'follow'.

5

ok, so the plan would be to install on both sides.. and walking slow or running not so much concerned about accuracy, just looking to do something with the kids that they want to do.. I'm sure they would be amazed if the lights followed them slow or fast..

ive seen addressable LED strips, but is there something to consider when researching those? And is there specific type I should focus on looking into?

If we get this working I'm already thinking of how I can use this for my own project on holiday decorations outside.. :slight_smile:

6

The easiest way might be to use switchmats under a carpet, and feed those to an arduino to do your LED fading with PWM.....

millions of burglar alarms can't be all wrong!

regards

Allan.

7

well funny you should say under carpet switch mats, because back in april we were flooded, so all flooring had to be removed, so right now no carpet, no laminate just concrete slab.

So for wiring now is the time to run anything I want since there is no trim down the hall and can do everything I want before the new flooring is installed.

Found these at adafruit if they would work under say tile or laminate flooring

8

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