Skip to content

Commit

Permalink
Reorder for flow
Browse files Browse the repository at this point in the history
  • Loading branch information
Jonty committed Mar 18, 2024
1 parent aac3ada commit 589fbeb
Showing 1 changed file with 34 additions and 27 deletions.
61 changes: 34 additions & 27 deletions _posts/2024-03-15-tildagon.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -7,49 +7,29 @@ Every EMF has featured a unique electronic badge, but from 2024 we're taking a d

Badges are a wonderful way to encourage experimentation and collaboration, but often end up forgotten in a drawer after the festival has finished. We want this to change, and we want you to bring your badge back to the next EMF.

**Introducing the Tildagon**: A reusable badge with modular components upgraded at each event, and hexpansion slots for you to fill with your own creations.
**Introducing the Tildagon**: A reusable badge with modular components upgraded at each event, and hexpansion slots to fill with your own creations.

![An x-ray of the Tildagon, with hexpansions inserted in the right and bottom right slots, protruding out over the edge of the main PCB.](../../../../images/2024-badge-photos/xray.png "A Tildagon x-ray")

The Tildagon is hexagon shaped with a slot on each side to plug a "hexpansion" into. Hexpansions are 1mm thick objects with a particular shape on one edge - it can be a circuit board to add new features, or it can be made of cardboard (so you can quickly add cat ears).

For the first time we are charging a small amount for the badge in advance - it does not cover the full cost of production, but it means we only produce badges for those who want them and rely on sponsorship less.
**For the first time we are charging a small amount for the badge in advance** - it does not cover the full cost of production, but it means we only produce badges for those who want them and rely on sponsorship less.

The badge will be reusable for multiple events with only a small part of the badge being replaced each year - if you bring your badge back to EMF 2026 you will not need to pay for the upgrade modules.
**The badge will be reusable for multiple events** with only a small part of the badge being replaced each year - if you bring your badge back to EMF 2026 you will not need to pay for the upgrade modules.

The Tildagon costs £13 with a battery. We intentionally designed the badge to be compatible with the EMF 2016 and 2018 badge batteries, so you can also order one without a battery for £10 - we encourage you to do this if you can.

If you have a ticket to EMF 2024 you will be able to order your badge on the website shortly.
**If you have a ticket to EMF 2024 you will be able to order your badge on the website shortly.**

Unlike previous years we're publishing information well ahead of the festival so that you can build applications and hardware hexpansions before we get to the field. You can expect things built for this year's badge to work at future events too!

We're opening our work-in-progress repositories today, and everything except the final artwork will be public before the event. We're also providing templates for people to make their own hexpansions.

* Hardware - [emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware](https://github.com/emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware)
* Software - [emfcamp/badge-2024-software](https://github.com/emfcamp/badge-2024-software)
* Documentation - [emfcamp.github.io/badge-2024-documentation](https://emfcamp.github.io/badge-2024-documentation/)

## Badge specs

The badge processor is the same as in 2022, and it will run [MicroPython](https://micropython.org/).

* ESP32-S3 microcontroller with 2MB of PSRAM and 8MB of flash
* USB-C connector
* WiFi
* Bluetooth
* Six hexpansion connectors
* Round screen
* Six buttons
* Power management
* Motion sensing
* Many, many LED's

## Hexpansions

![Two hexpansions, one a render of an example circuit board, the other a small spirit level, attached to a 3D printed hexagonal mount with notches to attach it to the badge.](../../../../images/2024-badge-photos/hexpansion_pair.png "Two hexpansions")

Hexpansions are things that plug into the badge's expansion connectors. Almost anything can be a hexpansion - the simplest hexpansion is a just piece of 1 mm card cut into the right shape.

Your Tildagon badge will be supplied with some hexpansions, and we will issue new hexpansions at each event. We hope that you'll create some to give away too!

Hexpansion connectors provide:

* Up to 600mA of 3.3V power (current-limited)
Expand All @@ -62,7 +42,19 @@ A hexpansion can optionally provide an I2C EEPROM from the list of approved devi

The hexpansion technical documentation, pinout, and PCB templates are available in this repository: [emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware](https://github.com/emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware).

We will soon have paper templates as well!
We will soon have paper templates as well! ✂️


## Make a thing

Unlike previous years we're publishing information well ahead of the festival so that you can build applications and hardware hexpansions before we get to the field. You can expect things built for this year's badge to work at future events too!

We're opening our work-in-progress repositories today, and everything except the final artwork will be public before the event. We're also providing templates for people to make their own hexpansions.

* Hardware - [emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware](https://github.com/emfcamp/badge-2024-hardware)
* Software - [emfcamp/badge-2024-software](https://github.com/emfcamp/badge-2024-software)
* Documentation - [emfcamp.github.io/badge-2024-documentation](https://emfcamp.github.io/badge-2024-documentation/)


## Why are we doing this?

Expand All @@ -78,6 +70,21 @@ At future events we will reuse the base part and maintain compatibility for exis

We hope you find this as exciting as we do.

## Badge specifications

The badge processor is the same as in 2022, and it will run [MicroPython](https://micropython.org/).

* ESP32-S3 microcontroller with 2MB of PSRAM and 8MB of flash
* USB-C connector
* WiFi
* Bluetooth
* Six hexpansion connectors
* Round screen
* Six buttons
* Power management
* Motion sensing
* Many, many LED's

## A list of variously realistic hexpansion ideas

* GPS / compass / IMU (for joust)
Expand Down

0 comments on commit 589fbeb

Please sign in to comment.