Retro-Skater 5000
Retro-skaters are interactive roller-skates that react to your movement characteristics and generates it's own energy needs. Being self aware of it's own energy performance and urges you to use them if battery level goes too low. Gliding around like a dream with recognised tricks like backward skating or cross-overs, makes skates excited. Perfect companion for Roller Derby or just to be the life of the party.
A Lilypad, voltage regulator, 3-axis accelerometer and 3.7V LiPo battery is build inside skates between truck frame and shoe sole. A small hole was adapted for easy access to reprogram Lilypad's chip. 13 LED's and 1 vibration motor per skate are used to show the sense of activity. A DC-motor attached to one of the skate wheels charges the battery via a voltage regulator and battery charging IC chip. A 3-axis accelerometer is used to detect body and skating gestures, like skating backwards, braking, jumps or even if you happen to fall down.
Pictures:
A DC Motor attached to the bottom of skate frame generates energy when rolling either ways.
A "perfect" place for Lilypad and some cabling going trough shoe base for LED's, reed switch & vibration motor.
All packed up. From right to left: power regulator (red chip), diode (in middle covered with tape), 3-axis accelerometer & LiPo coin battery.
