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.
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.