Keybanging
Enjoy code-free home
automation using
prop controllers.
BY WILLIAM GURSTELLE
Despite the unfortunate experiences of Dr. Frankenstein, I think
adding life to inanimate things is one of most interesting types
of automation. Thanks to the current generation of easy-to-use
programmable animation controllers, making an articulated
figure move like a person, giving jets of water “personality” as
they stream out of a fountain, or sequencing holiday lights to
musical beats isn’t just for theme park set designers anymore.
Of course, making all that happen requires
computer programming. I may be limiting
my opportunities to tackle the most involved
projects, but I don’t want to be a computer
programmer. If a project includes stuff like:
Sure, microcontrollers like Arduino and
BASIC Stamp can perform a million automation tasks a million different ways, but usually
that’s overkill for what I need. Instead, I use
a far simpler method of adding life to props,
displays, and room environments that doesn’t
require coding or digital programming.
It’s called keybanging. A keybanger is a
standalone, controllable programming device
that allows the automation of complex tasks
through a simple pushbutton programming
interface. Born in the animatronics industry,
Besides animatronics, keybangers are used
to automate water fountains, fireworks, lighting displays, sound systems, slide and movie
projectors, window displays, signs, or just
about anything else that can be controlled by
an electrical on-off signal.
Say, for example, you had a 6-pump water
fountain and you wanted to coordinate the
fountain sprays to the rhythm of a particular
piece of music. If you used a typical microprocessor, this would require some elaborate
I/O programming. Further, turning the water
jets on and off to coordinate with the music
equates to some fancy sequencing and timing.
But programming a keybanger for this job
is quite simple. Just play the music and then
push the buttons when you want the foun-
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