Hi Guys,

This month I am putting out some new firmware for the Arduino-based OSR2s ahead of the upcoming ESP32 firmware. I also have some general updates.

First of all apologies for the gap between posts. To add to the personal stuff that's going on I have been quite sick over the last few weeks and that's put a dent in my schedule. As my benefactors ($16 tier) will have noticed I have used that time to get up to catch up on my four-month backlog in my Benefactors newsletter. Once I have written October's newsletter, which is now due, I will be up to date!

I have been promising some new ESP32 firmware and this is in the works, but it is taking me longer than expected. I do, however, think it's a good time to introduce some of the same functionality I want to add to my devices to the Arduino version, which is for the more basic OSR2 builds. I basically haven't touched this code since March 2022.

I am going to be adding buttons to my devices. These will ultimately be able to help adjust features internally on the device, but their primary function will be to trigger TCode messages that simply tell whatever player is being used that a button is being pressed and released. I am starting with: Previous; Play/Pause; Next. I am also adding an edging button, which can be used to convey an important message to whatever software is controlling the device!

I will be releasing a super dumb, basic button mount for the OSR2, along with a wiring diagram for it, this month as a hardware release for my maker ($8 tier) subscribers. The four button setup does require a bit of soldering because it uses an analog pin and a resistor ladder, however there is also the option for a much simpler arrangement that's just the edging button.

The new open source Arduino firmware is now available on GitHub, for those who like to Git, and I've attached it to this post for everyone else.

I have a significant hardware release coming up, which is the squeezer mechanism. Those of you who saw my last livestream will have seen it in action. I still have to work out the last of the bugs, but my plan is to get that out before Christmas.

Looking to the future longer term I have quite an exciting AI-related collaboration project going on. It's early days, but I've already had some results and I should have something to show my supporter ($2 teir) subscribers later this month. As a teaser: the edging button is definitely involved!

I am also behind on livestreams but given the state my throat is in currently I will be announcing the dates for those in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on discord for updates!

Thanks guys for all your support!

All the best,

Tempest

(Edit 9-11-23: Arduino firmware updated to v3.6. Buttons renamed to more generic "left/ok/right".)

This month I have something of a freebie on offer. As many of us have moved away from using the Romeo BLE mini to the ESP32 I was wondering if there might be another application for those discarded boards. At the same time I became aware that the erotic hypnosis community, in particular an artist called Shibby, are starting to make audio files with scripted "haptics". I guess a bit of positive reinforcement goes a long way in hypnosis.

Anyway, the T-Code tech that we have in this little community is a perfect match. T-Code players like Khrull's XTP and Yoooi's MFP work just as great with hypnosis audios as they do with video content. I felt like the obvious thing was to make a little box to put the Romeo in, and create some build instructions. Thus the T-Vibe was born! Now anybody who wants to can put together a script controlled vibrator of their choice. It's much cheaper than a $100 luxury bluetooth vibrator too.

You can find the T-Vibe STLs, Arduino code and build instructions attached to this post.

Also attached is the latest update to the OSR2 firmware - Release 3.3. This is a minor upgrade to the vibrator control code that pulses the power to get the motor moving if the power setting is low. Hypnotists like the subtle power settings it seems! I discovered an issue with the motors sticking with the old control code when I was testing the T-Vibe, and this change seems to do the trick.

Finally some more news on the SR6 Beta. Last month I released the new SR6 Beta enclosure, which has been very popular with my patrons. I had planned to release the full build plans for SR6 this month, however I am now planning to slip that back to December. Instead I have something else for the $8 tier this month, I have been experimenting with a significant upgrade to the SR6 linkages and it's looking very promising. I think that I would like to get that released first, so that I can then incorporate it into the official design. $2 subscribers will of course get the first look at this too. Hopefully I can do a video this time!

Happy building!
Tempest

Hi guys,

The T-wist is now much simpler!

This month's update is the best kind of design update: one where have been able to drastically reduce the complexity!

Those of you who have been following my recent design updates on discord and on my development blog here on Subscribestar will know that I have recently been able to get rid of the L-bracket and the potentiometer. This is thanks to one of the guys on my discord server discovering a special servo (Parallax Feedback 900-00360 360° Servo) that has an extra wire, which offers a much easier way to track rotation.

The result is a twist receiver that has much fewer parts, and is literally just plug-and-play into the Romeo. It's also now capable of double the rotation speed of the old T-wist.The twist receiver was already a very popular add-on to the OSR2 experience, but this version takes that to a whole new level, especially as it's now much easier to use!

This month's $8 release is the complete set of STLs for this upgrade, along with a parts list and build document.

As usual I have attached the firmware for the new T-wist enabled OSR2 to this post. This new code has a couple of changes that are worth noting.

First, the left servo should now be plugged into digital pin 8, as the t-wist servo's tracker wire now needs to use the hardware interrupt function on the Romeo's pin 2. The right arm still uses pin 3 as before.

Second, this firmware incorporates an experimental servo control code, which my subscribers will know I introduced in version 2.6. The default Arduino servo library operates at 50Hz, but this code increases the servo update rate to 250Hz. In theory this should create much smoother movements, especially for those of you watching scripted videos, and I've had pretty positive feedback. Always willing to hear more though.

I would like to say thanks again to my supporters who make all of this possible. I intend to come back later this month with an update on the new design I am working on, the SR6.

In the meantime, happy building!