Cool DIY: A developer has created an LED face mask that looks like something straight out of a dystopian sci-fi film. The device can display custom images and animations, turning the user into anything imaginable.
The Become Anyone mask, created by Sean Hodgins, is a true feat of DIY engineering, combining expertise in electronics, 3D design, 3D printing, and more. The LED matrix panels that make up the mask were designed and built specifically for the project. The electronic wearable has 9,000 programmable lights, which Hodgins sourced from Alibaba.
The assembly process was a massive undertaking. Hodgins used a pick-and-place machine to position all those tiny LEDs onto the custom panels. Then he reflowed the entire build using a humble $20 toaster oven to solder the whole thing together.
Connecting the panels into the 3D mask shape was no easy task either. To achieve the desired effect, Hodgins soldered the panels together at precise angles using tiny tabs and wires. He had to be extremely careful since any mistake risked ripping the delicate solder pads clean off the boards.
However, controlling all those lights was the most difficult challenge. Hodgins cleverly mapped each LED onto a Google Sheets spreadsheet to create a programmable matrix. He used a Raspberry Pi with assistance from a specialized Pixelblaze LED controller to manage the panels.
In the end, after what must have been countless hours of work, the final product does not disappoint. The mask can display various static or animated images with stunning brightness and clarity. Hodgins demoed the mask, depicting an animated Doomguy. It can only operate at eight frames per second, but this is "good enough." What the mask lacks in frames, is made up for in coolness.
The Become Anyone mask's juice comes from a pocket-sized battery pack, providing up to "nine hours of face-warming goodness."
While the programming details aren't public yet, Hodgins has promised to release the source code and more info on a GitHub page soon. In the meantime, you can see his epic LED mask on his YouTube channel, along with an oddly engrossing video documenting the entire design and assembly process (above).