How I Built the Star Trek control panel of my dreams

The creator of the home automation system, who has ADHD and finds Home Assistant to be a valuable tool for managing executive dysfunction, recently made a remarkable achievement: building an authentic-looking LCARS control panel inspired by the Star Trek franchise.

The author's love affair with Star Trek began at age eight, when they became enamored with the show's sleek and organized computer interface known as LCARS. The aesthetic has stuck with them ever since, and they have always dreamed of replicating it in their home automation system.

To achieve this goal, the author turned to ESPHome, an open-source firmware framework that allows users to program Wifi-enabled microcontrollers like the ESP32, ESP8266, and RP2040. They used LVGL (Light and Versatile Graphics Library) to create a highly customizable interface for their system.

The creator spent hours scouring the internet for screenshots and fan recreations of LCARS panels from Star Trek, and eventually settled on a design inspired by Tuvok's quarters in Star Trek: Voyager. The panel features colorful buttons, rounded corners, and two gauges at the top that reflect and control the brightness of lamps.

To bring this vision to life, the author used LVGL widgets to recreate the LCARS interface. They specified dimensions, colors, and shapes for each button using YAML, a markup language that is more forgiving than C, which is the programming language used by LVGL.

The final piece of the puzzle was connecting the panel to their home automation system. The creator configured buttons to turn lights on or off, adjust brightness levels, and display status information about their home's operating mode.

While the resulting panel may not be practical for everyday use, it is undeniably beautiful and a testament to the author's dedication to recreating their childhood heroes' control panels. For them, this project has become a symbol of the intersection between technology, creativity, and fandom, bringing joy and satisfaction to an otherwise mundane aspect of life.

In conclusion, the author's journey from enthusiast fan to skilled DIY home automation expert is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of passion and innovation. Their LCARS control panel is more than just a novelty – it represents a dream realized and a testament to the boundless possibilities of technology and creativity when combined with love and dedication.
 
I gotta say, dude 🤔, building an actual LCARS panel is like, super impressive! I mean, who wouldn't want a Star Trek-esque control panel in their home automation system? 🚀 The creator's dedication to recreating the iconic interface from Tuvok's quarters is pretty cool. It's awesome how they used LVGL and ESPHome to bring it to life 🎨.

But, let me ask you, did they even check if the panels actually worked correctly? 😅 I mean, I'm sure it looks amazing, but functionality is key, right? 💡 Also, isn't that just a fancy way of saying " DIY project gone wrong"? 😉
 
OMG I'm literally freaking out over this!!! 🤯 Someone actually took their childhood fandom seriously enough to create an authentic-looking LCARS control panel for their home automation system?!?! That's just... wow! I mean, who needs practicality when you can have a Tuvok quarters-inspired panel that makes your heart skip a beat? 😍 It's amazing how they used ESPHome and LVGL to make this happen. The attention to detail is insane! I love how they scoured the internet for inspiration and finally settled on a design that made them happy. And can we talk about the joy it brings to their life?! This project is literally a symbol of fandom coming full circle, and I am HERE. FOR. IT!!! 💖
 
OMG, I mean, congrats to this person on finally finishing their project 🤩. Like, it's not every day you see someone go from being an avid fan of Star Trek to creating an actual LCARS panel that's almost as cool as the show itself 😎. I'm sure it took a lot of time and effort to get it just right, especially with ADHD involved - shoutout to home automation tools like Home Assistant for helping them stay organized 🤓. The design is actually pretty nice too! It's not like they were trying to hide their fandom or anything 💯. Anyway, I guess this is a reminder that with enough passion and dedication, you can turn your weird interests into something amazing 🎨.
 
idk why ppl waste their time making something like this, sounds like a bunch of hooey 🤣 esp home and lvgl are cool n all but who cares about an lcars panel in ur house? its just gonna collect dust or be used as a novelty for guests. the author's skillz is impressive i'll give them that, but is it really worth the time & effort?
 
Dude, this creator's passion project is like, totally inspiring! I mean, who wouldn't want an authentic-looking LCARS control panel in their home automation system? It's amazing how they were able to recreate that sleek and organized design from Star Trek: Voyager. The attention to detail, the use of LVGL widgets... it's just, wow 😮.

And you know what's even cooler? That this creator has ADHD and found Home Assistant to be a valuable tool for managing their executive dysfunction. It's a great example of how technology can help us overcome our challenges and live more fulfilling lives 🤖.

Of course, I do wonder if an LCARS control panel would really be practical in everyday life 😂. But hey, who needs practicality when you have a beautiful and nostalgic design that brings joy to your life? It's all about finding that balance between functionality and fandom, right? 😊
 
🤩 This creator's achievement is literally mind-blowing! I mean, who wouldn't want an authentic-looking LCARS control panel in their home? 🚀 It's not just about having a cool gadget; it's about paying homage to something that brought you joy and excitement as a kid. The fact that they were able to recreate the exact design and functionality is a testament to their skills and dedication. I'm also loving how they connected it to their home automation system, making it more than just a novelty item. It's like having a piece of Star Trek history in your own home! 💡
 
man this creator is literally a genius 😂 they spent hours perfecting that LCARS panel like it's from star trek 🚀 imagine having that level of detail in your home automation system, i mean yeah it might not be practical but it's just so cool to look at! the fact that they used esphome and lvgl to make it happen is just a testament to how accessible diy tech has become 💻 i wish more people would take up projects like this and show us all what's possible with a little creativity and dedication 🤩
 
I mean, can you believe this? The level of detail and effort put into recreating an entire Star Trek interface in a home automation system is insane! 🤯 I'm not even talking about the technical aspects here, which are impressive too - using ESPHome and LVGL to create a custom UI. No, what really gets me is the emotional connection the creator has with this project. It's like they're not just building a smart panel, they're bringing back a piece of their childhood. And that's what makes it so beautiful.

I'm also loving how this showcases the power of open-source projects and community-driven innovation. I mean, who would have thought that a fan project like this would end up being a showcase for an open-source framework? It's just another example of how tech can bring people together and create something truly amazing.

And let's be real, it's not every day you see someone get so passionate about recreating a Star Trek control panel. I mean, who needs practicality when you can have a beautiful piece of tech that brings joy to your life? It's all about perspective, right?

I think this is also worth noting - in an age where technology is moving at such a fast pace, it's refreshing to see people slow down and appreciate the little things. Like, who cares if this panel isn't practical for everyday use? It's a work of art, and that's what matters.
 
Back
Top