Running Shoe With Step Counter and Light Shows

Hi my name is Spencer Pett and welcome to my instructable for my Running Shoe with Step Counter and Light Shows!! We can accomplish this amazing project through the power of the Circuit Python Blue Fruit and its built in capablities, and with a little help from an attached Neo Pixel Strip. Throughout this instructable you will learn the process into creating this fun and decorative machine which incorporates tons of different tech elements and will make your footwear fabulous! The project includes some percision in both the physical world woth painting and cutting while also having a major component in the metaverse with coding in python. Let's get crafty as we dive into making this interactive piece!

These are the list of Supplies Needed for this build:

1. Circuit Playground Express(1): https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333 (Installed with CircuitPython
2. LED Strip (20-LEDS): https://www.adafruit.com/product/363
3. Power bank to power the cpb
4. Micro usb data cable to put code into cpb and arduino
5. Any type of exacto knife or precision knife
6. uxcell #6-32 x 1/4 Inch Phillips (With matching bolts) https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Phillips-Machine-Screws-Fasteners/dp/B0143E0HW4/ref=sr_1_2?content-id=amzn1.sym.918a99dd-4826-4c0a-be33-a6705d69c4cf%3Aamzn1.sym.918a99dd-4826-4c0a-be33-a6705d69c4cf&keywords=Screws&pd_rd_r=f1b942c4-8559-4d99-a4c1-d7a25582987e&pd_rd_w=zkFiM&pd_rd_wg=czsz5&pf_rd_p=918a99dd-4826-4c0a-be33-a6705d69c4cf&pf_rd_r=EW85NYBYMJBKWAZGTHP3&pid=5knH5aP&qid=1667396128&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2LjY5IiwicXNhIjoiNC43NyIsInFzcCI6IjQuMzYifQ%3D%3D&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A3177285011%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A2292862011&s=industrial&sr=1-2
7. Posca Pens https://www.amazon.com/Uni-posca-Paint-Marker-Pen-PC-5M15C/dp/B001ANVDMU/ref=asc_df_B001ANVDMU/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=238492153588&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18124128614574788754&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002072&hvtargid=pla-391238558606&psc=1
8. Running Shoe of Choice: I choose the New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo https://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-Tempo-Fresh-Running/dp/B0815Q7S6X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2FKTEBZLR3ZKF&keywords=new%2Bbalance%2Bmen%2Bfresh%2Bfoam%2Btempo&qid=1667333965&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjE4IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=new%2Bbalance%2Bmen%2Bfresh%2Bfoam%2Btempos%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

This first step is the most dangerous because of the Exacto knife. So please *****PROCEED WITH CAUTION*****. First, we want to measure out the middle of the shoe's foam. The shoe's middle was haft an inch from the base for the New Balance Fresh Foam Tempo I used in this build. With them, you draw a line with either a Sharpie or an end to indicate where the cut should be made. This will give us an excellent visual representation of where the lights will be inserted into the shoe without texting me off the cut. MEASURE TWICE, AND CUT ONCE. Second, we will carefully insert the Exacto knife until the line has been drawn and cut 1/4 of an inch into the shoe. Using a popsicle stick or the back of a spoon, follow the cut that you are making to open up the gap so the Neopixel lights can fit. Third, test your incision with neopixels wrapping around the shoe to indicate how many new pixels in the Strand can be visible. Once you have the lights, insert them into the shoe and make one small incision on the front toe to insert the data cables into the top of the shoe where the CPB will be sitting. Now the Builder can decide whether to cut the Neopixels off at the end or make another small incision into the top of the shoe to feed the remaining unused Neopixels into the center of the shoe. Once you have completed this step, it is time to paint.

In this step, It is time to show your excellent artistic skills and do some painting. Since you have the cut already done, you can paint and dip. Splatter, cut, change, move, or spray anything you want onto the shoe. Make it your own! I know you can do it. The New Balance Fresh Foam is very good at receiving most types of paint. I went with something that our Makers Space here at Boston College has, which is Posca Pens. These pens are fun, easy to use, and require minor cleanup. An added benefit is that they quickly stick to the surface of the fresh food and the logo, as you can see. Make sure you let to shoe dry for 12-24 hours to make sure everything is dry. During this step, you can also work on your coding, which will be explained in step three. 

The code run-through sets up all equipment used surrounding the CPB. This includes the neopixel, the circuit bluefruit app, and the accelerometer. When you first turn on Circuit Bluefoot and connect to the app, the color will be AQUA, but that can be changed in the color picker section of the app. The app has set up four buttons, each of which has a different function corresponding to a certain code. The One button will play the Sparkle feature that will randomly turn a light in the light strip in color AQUA and quickly turn it off. The Two buttons are programmed to do return back to your prepicked color in the code settings so you always can return to your favortie color. The Three button uses the Rainbow code to turn on the rainbow lights from one side of the shoe to the other. Finally, the Four button activated the accelerometer in the CPB to flash Green when you take a “Step.” But, in your code, you can set up a step limit, and when you exceed that limit, the shoe will light up Red when you step. Comments will be in the code, where you can adapt it to your liking.

Circuitpython: https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpytho...

Mu editor: https://codewith.mu/

Once the app is downloaded you can connect to your boat by finding the user name under visible devices after your boat is connected to power. Most of the time it is difficult to see the true name of your device so look for the device that is Uart capable and this will most likely be your device as long as you don't have multiple shoes or Uart programmed devices around. Once connected you can navigate to the control pad and color picker. The control pad has 4 working buttons. The 1 arrow does the sparkle, the 2 makes the soild color, the 3 makes the rainbow, and the 4 makes the Green and Red step. If you go to the color picker menu, you can change the base color to anything you chose. To change the color of the shoe you will need to navigate to the color picker, choose a color, and then make sure you Send Selected Color using the button at the bottom. You are now ready to have your set up your radiant running shoe!!!

Attach wires to correct outputs on the CPB based on the code you received earlier Power, Ground, and A1. Cable management is critical throughout this piece due to a shortage of size. Fitting everything into the Shoe without shorting is essential. After you have your wires where you want them, set up your battery pack so everything works outside the Shoe; you can table the CPB to the top of the inside, so it is not rattling around. It is easier to insert the CPB in the Shoe and feed the lights through the slit we cut earlier. Then once you have provided your lights through the slit, start to implant them into the foam around the slit that we cut out. If you have excess lights, put them back into the Shoe through the separate slit.