Automated stair lighting project

For poorly illuminated stairs to a lower level, I wanted to create automated lighting that would add a ‘wow’ factor and be fun and very different.

Yes, of course, it would have been possible for some sort of normal overhead lighting controlled by a switch, but that requires someone to do something (simple enough, I know, to flip a switch) but it’s boring. I wanted something different. Admittedly, my project is overkill but fun and presented a number of challenges.

So, first, let’s review the project specs.

Lighting for an 11-step staircase leading to the lower level that turns on and off automatically‘Wow’ factor that would make people realize a very different and fun experience

The challenges were:

Advancements in LED Drivers for Next-Generation Automotive Exterior Lighting09.18.2023

Reducing the Production Cost of Integrated Circuits in the Integration Era09.14.2023

Democratizing Edge AI and ML with a No Code Approach09.12.2023How to make the lights come on and off automatically using some sort of sensory inputNot altering the structure of the staircaseNot having to invent a new system for every step while having each step perform as part of an overall systemHaving the ability to make changes, updates and perform maintenance easily on the overall system–and not 11 times for each step

My solution involved a staircase illuminated with LEDs, a sensor at each step connected to an independent board with all the boards connected and communicating with each other to form the system.

The result is:

Each step is independent but can interact with othersEasy updates to the systemsAbility to change lights or add something new with no changes to the existing boardsSystem can be managed from any computer to make changes, updates, perform maintenance

Here is a short video demonstration of the project:

Nicolas Rabault is the co-founder and CEO and Luos. He has experience in robotics and as a research engineer in real-time embedded systems.

Related articles:

Teardown: Cool LED lightingThe Lampshade LEDening: LED project #1The Ensconced LEDs: LED project #37 things you (probably) didn’t know about lighting