I am trying to make a matrix on a model rocket for night flying. would anybody be willing to help a newbie?
what do you mean, please tell the whole story. (>300 words 
what sort of matrix,
what does it do
etc
I am sorry for the short post. I wanted to see how active this form actually was. I work at a hobby store and my boss and I are having a competition on who can make the best flying night rocket. we are going to be using large diameter rockets. I would like to build a led matrix that would wrap around the rocket so i could make it flash and be super bright maybe even do designs. I want to use RGB LEDs. I have an arduino Uno i would liek to use. Any help is great.
Brandon
Have you considered the weight penalty.
Also what type of rocket.
Large diameter implies high inpulse and high g forces.
I wanted to see how active this form actually was
Try here
AWOL Thank you. I have considered the weight. this rocket has a payload section so it will not be a problem.
Brandon
Hi Brandon,
I would consider using ws2821B leds, also known as "NeoPixels". These are bright, RGB with built-in drivers and a string of them can be run using a single data line from the Arduino (plus 5V and ground connections).
You can buy them in strips of 30, 60 or 144 per metre, or mounted on individual pcbs for more flexibility (click on those links).
No extra driver chips are needed and they can be run by ATtiny85 instead of a full Arduino to minimise size/weight. You can use your Uno to develop the sketch, then use the Uno to program that final sketch into the tiny85 for deployment.
There are a couple of libraries, called "NeoPixel" and "FastLED" to make driving them easy.
Paul
PS. Some of the strips are self-adhesive, but I would not trust the glue used if attached to a rocket! Use your own, stronger glue!
Paul,
Thank you so much for the insight. I have been researching the ws2821B leds. That actually might be the way to go. I like that the wiring is simple and the ATtiny85 is small. Now i need to decide to do strips or the individuals. If you do the strips can you control each of them on the strip? What if I wanted to make a arrow pattern that traveled up? or a wave? can this be done?
Brandon
If you do the strips can you control each of them on the strip?
Yes that is the whole point of them.
What if I wanted to make a arrow pattern that traveled up? or a wave? can this be done?
Yes it is just a matter of writing the appropriate bit patterns to the strip.
Thank you for your help. I will keep you guys posted. What is the best source for the strips of ws2821B?
Brandon