We’ve been hard at work in the shop, building the prototype for our new V3 Hydrogen Bubble Machine and testing a voice control interface for Kurt’s candelabra project. We now have 3 fire tubes connected via USB interface to our flame simulator software. When input comes through the microphone, it is analyzed for amplitude averages over short time periods. This is essentially a VUMeter algorithm. The analysis is displayed on the screen and simultaneously sent to a Measurement Computing USB-1024LS Digital I/O board. The pin-outs 0-5V are connected to Kurt’s amplifier board which boosts the voltage range to 0-24V. This then controls a set of solenoids connected to our 1/2″ copper flame tubes.We have been working on a good ignition system and just had some luck using nichrome wire to form a hotwire ignitor on about 8A of current. But for now, in the lab, it doesn’t seem to matter since each of the candelabra’s flame tubes seems to stay lit long enough after the solenoid closes to relight the next time it opens.Here’s some video of our 3-tube voice-controlled Candelabra demonstration:

And here’s a clip showing propane ignition with nichrome wire: