| Question: |
Can the Wizard -1 board be operated
from a Battery Power Supply? |
| Answer: |
Yes, the Wizard -1 board can be
operated from a 5 Vdc battery, or a combination of R/C battery
pack, and 9 Vdc battery. You will not get as much operating time
from the battery as from the wall power supply, but for remote
operation a battery will work. The amount of operation time will
be based on the size of the battery and the configuration used
to power the servos and Wizard Board. ( Hook-up and configuration
drawing are included with the "Wizard Board".) |
|
Question: |
I would like to operate the servo
and digital output playback motion manually as people pass near
a booth. Can I do this, and how could I start the manual playback? |
| Answer: |
The "Wizard -1 board " has a built
in connector where a remote switch can be attached. The remote
switch can be as simple as a toggle switch that is pressed manually
to start the playback, a floor mat switch that someone might
step on or a complex system such as a laser, or optical beam
switch placed between a door way frame, that would activate the
"Wizard playback program" when triggered. |
| Question: |
Can the "Wizard -1 board " operate
my sound system and fog machine I use in my haunted house set? |
| Answer: |
Yes, the "Wizard -1 board " can operate
those devices and others through the digital outputs. The digital
outputs can be programmed to turn ON and OFF when needed. By
using optional accessory boards available to add to the "Wizard"
or with your own parts set-up, you can control 115 VAC devices,
activate relays, turn on 5 Vdc LED effects, control the direction
CW, CCW of a DC motor or even activate pneumatic valves to operate
a cylinder connected to that skeleton prop. ( Hook-up and configuration
drawing are included with the "Wizard - I Board" on
how to use the digital outputs). |
| Question:: |
Do I need to purchase special servos to use with the "Wizard
-1 board "? |
| Answer: |
No, you can use standard R/C servos found in
most hobby shops or R/C centers. The "Wizard -1 board "
servo outputs provide standard pulse coded signals of between
1 msec and 2 msec duration repeated every 20 msecs making it
suitable for all standard hobby +5 Vdc R/C type servos found. |
| Question: |
Will I need a joystick or other special
device to operate the servos and do programing? |
| Answer: |
No, you won't need any other devices connected
to the "Wizard -1 board " to control or program it.
The "Wizard - I Board" has a potentiometer build onto
the board that works like a joystick, in that it allows you to
control the motion of a servo during recording, manual operation,
and also sets the delay rate between automatic playback loops.
The "Wizard - I Board" also has a set of built in key
buttons that help you in programming, playback activation and
selecting of servo and digital channels. All the parts needed
to program, playback, and control the "Wizard - I Board"
are built into the board. |
|
Question: |
If I spend a lot of time creating the perfect
show program, how can I protect the recorded program from not
being erased and what if I want to make other animatronic characters
I have use the same program show recorded.? |
|
Answer: |
The "Wizard -1" has several options
that you can use to protect your recorded program.
There is a jumper block that can be moved or removed to prevent
the EEPROM with the recorded program in memory from being erased
accidentally. Using the Blue Point Engineering EEPROM copy service,
or purchasing your own very low cost EEPROM burner from Blue
Point Engineering, you can remove the programmed EEPROM and make
copies of it to use with other "Wizard -1 board " connected
to animatronic characters you have. The ease of programming,
copying the EEPROM and placing a copy into another "Wizard
- I Board" controlled animatronic character makes mass producing
animatronic products and shows very easy to do. |
| Question: |
If Power is turned OFF to the "Wizard
-1 board " will my recorded program be lost? |
| Answer: |
No, the program is stored in the EEPROM
memory, ready to use, or until you erase it |
| Question: |
How can I get the "Wizard -1 board
" to start up automatically and play my recorded program. |
| Answer: |
The "Wizard -1 board " has an
optional auto feature switch that can be selected that will automatically
start up and run the recorded program when power is first applied.
By selecting the optional "Auto and Loop" switch combination
settings you can get your program to start and loop automatically
or start and wait for the trigger switch to be activated. This
"Wizard - I Board" feature is especially handy if you
have a room of animatronic characters running from several "Wizard
- I Boards" and you need the ability to power on everything
with a master switch and be ready to operate in a few seconds
without having to go around an start up your animatronics or
attached devices. This feature is also very handy when power
is unexpectedly turned OFF and then back ON again. |
| Question: |
What comes with the "Wizard -1 board "
when I purchase one? ......[
[ Purchase
Wizard - I Board ] |
| Answer: |
The "Wizard -1 board " comes ready to use with all
the components assembled onto the interface board, a detailed
instruction guide, illustrated guide on hooking up the board
to various digital outputs, schematics and ideas for accessory
device control and technical support from the Blue Point Engineering
team.
You will only need to purchase Servos (1-4) and a power supply
(5 Vdc- 2 Amp) to get started immediately in controlling servos.
These items can also be purchased from Blue Point Engineering
if wanted and can be put together as a complete system ready
to use. You can also purchase optional accessory boards to connect
to the "Wizard -1 board " if you need a quick digital
control set-up or don't want to do it yourself in connecting
digital output devices together.
Later on you may want to purchase a few parts as listed in
the user guides to do some advanced digital output control. The
illustrated guide show you how to hook up the board to do some
advanced device control methods as well as identifying parts
needed.
|
| Question: |
How can I add recorded sound to the Wizard -1 board
to make my character come alive?
( I would like to use digital voice and / or sound effects ) |
|
Answer: |
By combining the "Sound Boards" ( 120
Sound Module ) or ( Sound
Board 60 ) with the "Wizard -1 board " and using
the digital outputs, you can turn ON and OFF the sound card when
needed. This combination allows you to create a character that
has motion and recorded sounds.
You can also add your own CD player or sound system and using
the digital outputs switch ON and OFF the CD player or sound
system from the Wizard - I digital drivers.
|
| Question: |
I need to operate 8 Servos, but the "Wizard
-1 board " has only 4 servo outputs. What can I do? |
|
Answer: |
By combining,, stacking together two "Wizard
-1 board " you can get the needed number of servo outputs.
A single power source can be used to power both boards, as well
as a single switch can also be used to trigger both boards simultaneously.
This method has several advantages in that you can place a board
close to where the servos are needed, without having to run a
lot of extension wires. (Example: One board in animatronic character
head, operating eyes, mouth, other board placed in body to operate
arms, neck motion, both synchronized and working together as
needed.) |
| Question: |
I need to operate an Animatronic head, that
has eye motions, expressions and I need a mouth movement that
is directly synchronized to a voice track or live sound. I will
need to operate 5 servos also, what can I do? |
|
Answer: |
By using the"Wizard -1 board" and
the "AutoTalker
Board" together, you can get the effect you want and
the number of servos needed. The "Wizard - I Board"
can control the eyes and expression motions and the AutoTalker"
connected to the mouth / jaw servo can be connected to a sound
system or microphone giving motion directly synchronized to a
voice track or live sound.
A single power source can be used to power both boards, as well
as a single switch can also be used to trigger the "Wizard
- I Board and sound system simultaneously. |
|
Question: |
I hear that a new advanced "Wizard board is available.
Where can I find information on the advanced "Wizard - II
Board" |
|
Answer: |
We have several new "Family of Wizard Boards coming
out. The Wizard - II board is now available, and our other unique
Wizard Boards will be released from our R&D department very
soon.
You can now find information on the Wizard - II board at:
Wizard - II Board
Information
Wizard - II Board pdf file
Blue Point Engineering
|
