LanLight

aka. RGB Lanyard

A wearable embedded system that executes bytecode on a custom virtual machine (using an ESP32 or designated MCU) to render real-time LED animations on a LED strip or matrix.

Toolchain: video/animation input -> Parser -> bytecode -> VM execution -> hardware output. It includes an SDL-based simulator for debugging before deployment.

Demo

Full assembly running rainbow_trail.bin in Example Binaries.

Overview

This project implements a custom virtual machine running on an ESP32 to execute animation bytecode in real time. The Parser converts video or animations into bytecode. The bytecode can be executed either:

• on hardware (ESP32 or any MCU driving WS2812B LEDs)
• in a desktop SDL simulator for debugging and preview

Documentation

• Assembly Guide - Hardware assembly instructions with pictures
• Example Binaries - Prebuilt bytecode samples for testing

Components

• Parser
  Converts video input and animations into bytecode for execution on the microcontroller.

• Display Test
  SDL-based simulator for executing and visualizing bytecode before deployment to hardware.

• Firmware
  Microcontroller firmware implements a custom virtual machine that executes bytecode and generates a precisely-timed data stream to drive WS2812B LEDs using a single-wire serial protocol.

• App
  Android application used to control the microcontroller remotely over bluetooth.

• Wiring schematic Wiring schematic for the Lanyard.

• KiCad Wiring schematic Schematic in KiCad

• Virtual machine Virtual Machine I made and used in the MCU.