@tutorial:
Homemade Arduino 3D Printed Daft Punk Helmet Bluetooth RGB strip
This is a very simple project that uses the Adafruid library to control a RGB adressable LED strip that will eb inside of a Daft punk Helmet. In this tutorial you will find the STL files to 3D print the plastic helmet, the schematic for the LED control with Bluetooth and the Android App that I've made to control it. All the information is below. Let's start.
by: ELECTRONOOBS on 2026-08-21
The design of the helmet is not mine. I've downlaoded the original files from this page here. So, thanks to Ruiz Brothers for their work, the helmet is awesome and very easy to print and glue togehter. Go to the link below and downlaod the files. The helmet is made out of 4 parts, 3 for the helmet and one more for the shades. You will need a big printer, more than 25x25cm of printing area.
So, we need to print 3 parts for the helmet body and one for the shades (visor). I've used black PLA for the helmet case with 2 perimeters, 15% infill, 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height. For the visor I've used translucent clear PLA and I've printed 2 visors. One to put the LEDs on and the other one to cover the LEDs and by that give a better look. If you ahve translucent dark PLA, it's better to use that.
As you can see in the picture above, once we have the files printed, we haev to use a bit of sandpaper and clean the edges. Then, if you have a primer, use that as well. Once we haev smooth surface, we can paint the helmet since the Daft Punk helmet is metalic grey. I've used a basic metalic spary paint to do taht. Cover your table with newspaper, protect your hands, eyes and mouth and apply a first layer of paint. Once it is dry, I've applied a second layer of paint.
Last part is to glue all parts together but leave the visor aside for later. I first glue the bottom part and the middle part using super glue but later some hot glue as well on the inner side of the helmet. If you look close, as in the photo below, you can see some small holes. Place a small part of polastic, metal or wood and glue that part in that hole. That will help you join the parts together.
Below you have the simple schematic that I've used for my project. First, check the part list in order to know what you need. You will need an WS2812 adressable LED strip, an Arduino NANO, a small microphone module, a Bluetooth module, some connectors and a LiPo battery of 11.1V (3S).
1 x Arduino NANO: LINK eBay
1 x HC-06 Bluetooth module: LINK eBay
1 x Microphone module: LINK eBay
2m x WS2812 RGB LED strip: LINK eBay
1 x microb USB connector: LINK eBay
1 x 3S LiPo battery: LINK eBay
1 x HC-06 Bluetooth: LINK eBay
1 x 10uF capacitor: LINK eBay
1 x 3D helmet: LINK
1 x Android App: LINK
1 x code: LINK
Wire, soldering iron, solder, etc...
You will see that the LED strip has a small arrow on it. That will show you the dirrection of the input and output. I've made a zig-zag configuration. We start with the input on the bottom row on the right. The second row will have the input on the left and so on as in the schematic above.
To supply the circuit, just connect 11V from the battery to the Vin pin of the Arduino. Connect the microphone to analog input A0 and the Bluetooth module to the Rx and Tx pins but just after we uplaod the code.
I've cut 7 rows of 15 LEDs each of the adressable LED strip. Peal the back glue cover and place each row on one of the plastic visors we've printed. Then make the connections between eeach row for 5V, GND and signal uisng thin wires. To the first input of the LED strip solder longer wires since those will go to the Arduino.
Once I have the connections for each row, I connect the LED strip matrix to an Arduino UNO, connect the modules and upload the code in order to test it. You can download the code from below in this tutorial. I alos install the Andrid app that you could also download from a section below. I test if it works and if yes, I can put everything inside of the helmet.
Below you haev the code I've made for this project. It has a few modes such as text scroll, eyes, robocop LED, rainbow and microphone control where you can change the LED color and amplitude with your voice. Downlaod the code, make sure the Bluetooth module is not connected to the Tx and Rx pins and uplaod the code. Make sure you isntall all the needed libraries that you could also find on the link below.
/* Daft punk helmet code with Bluetooth control and microphone
* Tutorial webpage: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_tut62.php
* Schematic: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_tut62_sch1.php
* Part list: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_tut62_parts1.php
*/
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h> //Downlaod: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_Adafruit_GFX.php
#include <Adafruit_NeoMatrix.h> //Downlaod: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_Adafruit_NeoMatrix.php
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h> //Downlaod: https://www.electronoobs.com/eng_arduino_Adafruit_NeoPixel.php
#ifndef PSTR
#define PSTR // Make Arduino Due happy
#endif
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////EDITABLE VARIABLES///////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
#define PIN 9 //Select here the digital pin used for the LED strip data pin
#define NUMPIXELS 105 //Amount of LEDs. I have 7 row of 15 LEDs wit a total of 105 LEDs
Adafruit_NeoMatrix matrix = Adafruit_NeoMatrix(
15, //Select LEDs of each row (15 in my case)
7, //Select amount of rows (7 in my case)
PIN,
NEO_MATRIX_BOTTOM + NEO_MATRIX_RIGHT + //Define first data pin (right bottom corner is my first pin)
NEO_MATRIX_ROWS + NEO_MATRIX_ZIGZAG, //Define the type of connection (in a zig zag connections and divided by rows not columns)
NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
String text = "ELECTRONOOBS SUBSCRIBE"; //Put here the default text to be printed on the LED matrix when it's powered on
int Delay = 5000; //Delay for the eye movement
int brightness = 10; //Defaulst brightness
int min_adc = 690; //min range of the microphone ADC read
int max_adc = 840; //max range of the microphone ADC read
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/* * I defien 2 matrices because I've used two different code exampels to create my scroll text, eyes, etc..
That's why below I define a NeoPixel matrix and a simple matrix controlled LED by LED, one by one.
matrix 1 is "pixels" and matrix 2 is called "matrix"
*/
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
const uint16_t colors[] = {
matrix.Color(255, 0, 0), matrix.Color(0, 255, 0), matrix.Color(0, 0, 255) };
//More variables
int string_length = 0;
static byte byteRead=0;
bool print_text = true;
bool print_eyes= false;
bool print_rainbow = false;
bool print_side_to_side = false;
bool print_spectrum = false;
bool print_Chase = false;
bool print_off = false;
unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////ADC config//////////////////////////////////////////////////
//ADC sampling variables
int adc_in = A0;
int adc = 0;
#define ADC_MULTISAMPLING 2
#define ADC_MULTISAMPLING_SAMPLES (1 << ADC_MULTISAMPLING)
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void setup() {
pinMode(adc_in,INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600); //Start the serial communication for the BT module
matrix.begin(); //Start the LED matrix 1
matrix.setTextWrap(false);
matrix.setBrightness(20);
pixels.setBrightness(20);
matrix.setTextColor(colors[0]);
pixels.begin(); // This initializes the NeoPixel library. //Start the LED matrix 2
}
int x = matrix.width();
int pass = 0;
void loop()
{
if(Serial.available()>0)
{
byteRead = Serial.read(); //Read data from the BT module
if(byteRead=='T') //If we receive a "T", then we gen into text scroll mode
{
text = Serial.readString(); //Store the bluetooth received text
print_text = true;
print_eyes= false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = false;
}
if(byteRead=='E') //If we receive a "E", then we gen into eyes mode
{
print_eyes= true;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = false;
}
if(byteRead=='B') //If we receive a "V", then we change brightness to the received value
{
String Received = Serial.readString();
int brightness = (int(Received[0])-48)*10;
if(brightness == 0)
{
brightness = 100;
}
brightness = constrain(brightness,0,100);
matrix.setBrightness(brightness);
pixels.setBrightness(brightness);
Serial.println(brightness);
}
if(byteRead=='O') //If we receive a "O", then we turn off the LEDs
{
print_eyes= false;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = true;
}
if(byteRead=='R') //If we receive a "R", then we get into rainbow mode
{
print_eyes= false;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = true;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = false;
}
if(byteRead=='S') //If we receive a "S", then we get into robocop mode
{
print_eyes= false;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = true;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = false;
}
if(byteRead=='P') //If we receive a "P", then we get audio power mode (microphone control)
{
print_eyes= false;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = true;
print_Chase = false;
print_off = false;
}
if(byteRead=='C') //If we receive a "C", then we get into random mode
{
print_eyes= false;
print_text = false;
print_rainbow = false;
print_side_to_side = false;
print_spectrum = false;
print_Chase = true;
print_off = false;
}
}//end of serial read
if(print_text && !print_off)
{
string_length = text.length();
matrix.fillScreen(0);
matrix.setCursor(x, 0);
matrix.print(text);
if(--x < -(string_length*6)) {
x = matrix.width();
if(++pass >= 3) pass = 0;
matrix.setTextColor(colors[pass]);
}
matrix.show();
delay(60);
}//End of print text
if(print_eyes && !print_off)
{
int y = -3;
int i = 0;
unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
if(currentMillis - previousMillis >= Delay)
{
previousMillis += Delay;
while(y < 3)
{
while (i < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
i = i + 1;
}
i=0;
pixels.setPixelColor(33+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(34+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(40+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(41+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(47-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(48-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(49-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(50-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(54-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(55-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(56-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(57-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(63+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(64+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(70+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(71+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
delay(150);
y = y + 1;
}
//delay(1000);
y = 2;
while(y > -3)
{
while (i < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
i = i + 1;
}
i=0;
pixels.setPixelColor(33+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(34+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(40+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(41+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(47-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(48-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(49-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(50-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(54-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(55-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(56-y, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.setPixelColor(57-y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(63+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(64+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(70+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(71+y, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
delay(150);
y = y - 1;
}
y = -2 ;
}//end of current millis
}//end of print eyes
if(print_rainbow && !print_off)
{
rainbow(1);
}
if(print_Chase && !print_off)
{
theaterChase(pixels.Color(127, 127, 127), 50);
}
if(print_side_to_side && !print_off)
{
int x = -3;
int i = 0;
int k = 0;
int Delay_time = 20;
while (k < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(k, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
k = k + 1;
}
k=0;
while(i < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(60-i, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(59-i, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
delay(Delay_time);
i = i + 1;
}
i = 14;
delay(100);
while(i >= 0)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(58-i, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
pixels.setPixelColor(59-i, pixels.Color(255,255,255));
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
delay(Delay_time);
i = i - 1;
}
i = 0;
delay(100);
}//end of side to side
if(print_spectrum && !print_off)
{
int val = read_adc();
int level = map(val,min_adc,max_adc,1,7);
Serial.println(val);
analogWrite(13,level);
//delay(1);
if(level==1)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 1
if(level==2)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 2
if(level==3)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 45)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 3
if(level==4)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 45)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 60)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,150,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 4
if(level==5)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 45)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 60)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,150,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 75)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,75,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 5
if(level==6)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 45)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 60)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,150,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 75)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,50,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 90)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,25,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 6
if(level==7)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
while (r < 15)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 30)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(150,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 45)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,255,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 60)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,150,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 75)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,50,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 90)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,25,0));
r = r + 1;
}
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(255,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
r=0;
pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.
}//end of level 7
}//end of print spectrum
if(print_off)
{
int r = 0;
while (r < 105)
{
pixels.setPixelColor(r, pixels.Color(0,0,0));
r = r + 1;
}
pixels.show();
r=0;
}
}//end of void loop
void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
uint16_t i, j;
for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
for(i=0; i<pixels.numPixels(); i++) {
pixels.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
}
pixels.show();
delay(wait);
}
}
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
if(WheelPos < 85) {
return pixels.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
}
if(WheelPos < 170) {
WheelPos -= 85;
return pixels.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
}
WheelPos -= 170;
return pixels.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}
float read_adc()
{
// Filter the ADC by multisampling with the values defined at the beginning
adc = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < ADC_MULTISAMPLING_SAMPLES; ++i)
adc += analogRead(adc_in);
adc = adc >> ADC_MULTISAMPLING;
return(adc);
}
//Theatre-style crawling lights.
void theaterChase(uint32_t c, uint8_t wait) {
for (int j=0; j<10; j++) { //do 10 cycles of chasing
for (int q=0; q < 3; q++) {
for (uint16_t i=0; i < pixels.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
pixels.setPixelColor(i+q, c); //turn every third pixel on
}
pixels.show();
delay(wait);
for (uint16_t i=0; i < pixels.numPixels(); i=i+3) {
pixels.setPixelColor(i+q, 0); //turn every third pixel off
}
}
}
}
Above you can find the .aia file and the apk file for the Android app that I've made in AppInventor. This App will connect to the Bluetooth module and send different bytes depending on the presed button. It will send a "T" each time the text button is pressed. It will send a "E" each time the eyes button is pressed. It will send a "B" when the brightness is changed. It will send a "O" to turn everything off, an "R" for rainbode mode selected, a "S" for robocop mode selected and a "P" for miorophone control mode selected. Also a "C" for random mode.
Now we have the LED matrix inside of the helmet witht the Arduino NANO, the BT module and the microphone. Connect the LiPo battery and start the LED strip. Install the DaftPunk App on your smartphone. Open Bluetooth settings and search for devices. When the HC-06 is found, pair to it using "0000" ir "1234" password. Now open the App and click the bluetooth icon in the top left corner. Select HC-06 and connect. Now touch the modes of the app and test how it works.
That's it. This is how my Daft Punk helmet works. You have the part lsit, the STL 3D files, the schematic, the code and App ready to dwonload here in this tutorial. Im ope that you like it and if you consider supporting my work, here is my PATREON page. Thank you!
Comments
Leave a comment
Please login in order to comment.