Our Technology

Home grown, to enable large-scale 3D LED strip projects

The LED Zeppelin uses a fully custom technology stack, including our in-house developed hardware, software and firmware. If you are interested in collaborating or using our technology, please contact Uriel Guy.

This technology stack has proven VERY reliable in running our project of 29,000 addressable WS2815 LEDs using 85 parallel strips at 50FPS. We would love to discuss it with you!

LED Controller

Our controller includes a few features we haven't seen on other products, such as:

• Ethernet connectivity, with up to 128 parallel controllers.

• Support of up to 32 parallel WS2811/2/3/5/8 strips, with the hardware ready to support SPI strips as well

• On board power distribution, with a separate power supply for each 8 strips. Tested for 40A per bank

• Support for 5-24V LEDs

• A fuse for each strip, and a fuse test button for each power bank

• Per strip JST VH connectors, for up to 10A per strip

• A per strip test switch, to troubleshoot wiring issues

• Minimal configuration required, done with a DIP switch.

Software

The software used to create the Zeppelin animations is also very powerful:

• Simple yet powerful YAML configuration file to define the mapping

• 3D rendering of the scene, for easy offline development of animations

• Runs on Windows, Mac, Linux (including Raspberry Pi)

• Supports dividing a scene to zones with different modes

• A powerful UI for manipulating all of the parameters

• Auto generated Web UI, with a simple mode for guests, and full access to all parameters for administrators

• Support for projecting a 2D animation on a 3D scene

• Automatic analysis of the 3D shape to generate a graph of LEDs for supporting modes

• Strong infrastructure for multi-threaded modes

• Works seamlessly with our controllers - just connect them to the same network and they just work.
  

Other stuff

Some other specs of the LED Zeppelin are:

• It's based of a 2008 Ford E450 bus, which used to be the mobile locksmith workshop of Suffolk county in New York.

• We added about 1700 pounds of steel, welded and bolted to form the frame that holds the Zeppelin together.

• The diffusing pipes making the Zeppelin shape are 2" HDPE conduit, generously donated by Premier Conduit of Eerie, PA. Thank you so much!

• Some of the pipes are internally supported by 1/2" fiberglass poles to hold their shape.

• The PA speakers were donated too, and belonged to an SF concert venue in their previous life.

• There are thousands of 3D printed parts, either holding the LED strips in place, or connecting conduit pieces together.

• It is all run by a pair of 3500W generators. They're struggling and should be replaced.

• Some other tools used to build this: angle grinders, a welder, a power stapler (fun!), a rivnut puller, an aluminum ferrule crimping tool, miter saws with steel cutting blades, a mallet, wrenches, impact drivers, pipe benders, jawlock pliers, טוסטר משולשים, an under-powered drill press, a chain hoist, a spare climbing rope, and much more