Minecraft controls this LED array

A standard query requested by new makers is “what’s the distinction between a microcontroller growth board and a single-board pc?” Or, in additional widespread phrases, “what’s the distinction between an Arduino and a Raspberry Pi?” There are various technical variations, however persons are actually asking about why you’ll use one over the opposite. The reply, typically, is that you just use an Arduino to deal with low-level management of sensors, motors, and so forth, and you utilize a Raspberry Pi for computing processor-intensive duties. If, nevertheless, you want each, then MrDemonFrog’s Minecraft-controlled LED array illustrates how to take action.

MrDemonFrog’s undertaking is straightforward. The {hardware} consists of an Arduino Uno board and 4 LEDs: purple, blue, inexperienced, and amber. These LEDs gentle up relying on what the participant seems at inside Minecraft. MrDemonFrog constructed a particular map to exhibit this. It has 4 large partitions in these major colours. If the participant seems on the purple wall, then the purple LED illuminates. The identical is true for the opposite colours.

This undertaking is fascinating as a result of it exhibits how customers can mix the ability of a pc (together with a Raspberry Pi) with Arduino’s skill to interface with {hardware} elements. MrDemonFrog makes use of a Python script and OpenCV to detect the colour in entrance of the Minecraft participant. As soon as it determines the colour, it sends a command to the Arduino by means of the Serial communications port. As an alternative of the Arduino making choices by itself, as you most likely skilled in newbie tutorials, it offloads that decision-making to the pc and easily acts as an interface for the low-level {hardware} (the LEDs).