Lux Swarm

2019

Lux Swarm is a set of tools and techniques for creating impromptu lighting installations. The system is based around DIY wireless LED modules that can be controlled from a central laptop Because the lights are wireless and battery-powered, it’s possible to create temporary media facades, simple wearables, or make other creative ideas on the fly.

With a backpack full of Lux Swarm lights, you can quickly change a space by creating a spatial light installation.

Technology

Lux Swarm isn’t tied to a particular technology, per se Instead we combine various pieces of hardware and software together, swapping out different pieces where appropriate

Lux Swarm uses ESP8266 modules running Arduino software using the built-in WiFi Any LEDs using the common WS2811 (NeoPixel) protocol can be used USB battery packs can be used to power the lights, giving a wide range of run time depending on the size of battery and the application. A WiFi access point is used to connect the laptop to to the Lux Swarm nodes. The open source ESPixelStick firmware turns the ESP8266 modules into wireless DMX lighting nodes that can be controlled from most lighting and VJ software.

For more details on the tech, and to build your own, see the GitHub repository: https://github.com/mangtronix/LuxSwarm

Or better yet, ask me to give a workshop