When an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) needs a highly adaptable solution for a complex problem, off-the-shelf hardware rarely cuts it. However, building a custom solution from scratch can be incredibly expensive and time-consuming.

In a recent conversation between Patricia and Jonathan, we got a behind-the-scenes look at Project Phobos—a prime example of how existing, powerful hardware and software architectures can be repackaged to create the ultimate OEM solution. Here is how the Phobos project is utilising the DNA of the Eddie platform and the efficiency of the K4 operating system to revolutionise custom LED lighting.

What is Project Phobos?

“It’s an Eddie with a different dress on, if you like, used for an OEM customer.” — Jonathan

At its core, Project Phobos is a custom-made LED lighting power supply designed for an OEM customer. While the external shell and specific application are tailored to the client, the internal hardware is heavily based on the proven design of the Eddie platform. To make it all work seamlessly, the team deployed the K4 operating system directly onto this custom hardware.

The Challenge: A Versatile Lighting Architecture

The OEM customer manages a wide variety of LED lighting fixtures that demand:

• • Diverse Power Management: The ability to drive fixtures at varying power levels from different types of incoming power sources.

• • Precision Control: Integration with DMX networks, the serial communication standard heavily utilized in theatrical and commercial lighting.

High Efficiency: Maximizing energy efficiency regardless of the incoming power supply.

How Eddie Takes Control

The Eddie software handles two critical baseline tasks right out of the gate: it measures the incoming power supply, and it measures the unique characteristics of the attached LED.

Because LEDs have a wide range of forward voltages (varying anywhere from a tiny 3 volts to a heavy-duty 36 volts), the power supply must be incredibly adaptive.

[Incoming Power] ➔ [Eddie Processor Measures & Matches Voltage] ➔ [Pulse Width Modulator (PWM)] ➔ [Smoothly Dimmed LED]

To achieve dimming, Eddie utilizes a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM). This circuit turns the LED on and off at incredibly high speeds, delivering only the exact amount of power required.

Why Smooth Dimming Matters

In theatrical productions, human eyes are highly sensitive to sudden changes in light. If a power supply isn’t perfectly matched to the LED, low-light levels can suffer from highly noticeable judders and stepping. Eddie’s dual-control approach—matching the voltage on one part of the circuit while simultaneously regulating the current and dimming on another—ensures flawless, tiny transitions.

Extreme Adaptability via the K4 Language

What makes this setup an OEM dream is its versatility. By plugging a laptop into the unit’s USB port, the customer can completely rewrite parameters, alter control algorithms to suit different LEDs, change DMX addresses, or program custom color-sequencing and automatic fading.

This is made effortless by K4, an operating system and programming language deeply rooted in Forth—a language originally built by an astronomer in the 1960s to run incredibly close to the hardware.

The Power of K4:

• • Ultra-Lightweight: K4 requires roughly 100 times less memory than something like MicroPython on a similar chip.

• • Lightning Fast: Because it runs so close to the metal, execution is near-instantaneous.

• • Word-Based Commands: K4 allows developers to define “words” that represent complex strings of commands or entire programs.

K4 in Action: A Quick Code Example

Using the KAT terminal (the PC-based IDE), developers can interact with the hardware using simple commands and a data “stack.” Jonathan shared a few of his favorite commands:

• • 10 PWM – Sets the pulse width modulator to exactly 10% brightness.

• • true PWMEN / false PWMEN – Turns the LED on or off.

• • VD . – Measures the incoming supply voltage, places it on the stack, and the period (.) prints the result to the screen.

• • [Number] boost – Controls the booster power supply, driving it to the exact target voltage entered.

The Ultimate OEM Advantage

Project Phobos perfectly demonstrates the core philosophy behind the Eddie and K4 ecosystem. Instead of sinking massive capital into developing entirely new hardware platforms for every client, the foundational hardware sits ready to go.

By layering the highly efficient, reconfigurable K4 software on top, the team can pivot, customize, and deploy robust, industrial-grade products for virtually any OEM application—while adding little to the manufacturing cost.

Below is a video showing KAT operating for the Phobos project.

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