Premise: Create a model of a fantasy artwork you describe in your blog. The model should use at least two motors.
Description of Fantasy Artwork: This artwork utilizes the concept of biomimcry of the plants that respond to external stimulus. An example is the oxalis triangularis plant. This plant produces a mechanical response with changes in diffuse light levels. This movement is described as nastic and happens due to changes in osmotic pressure (1). A video of the plant movement is given here: http://amirshahrokhi.christopherconnock.com/2011/01/18/43/.
Oxalis Triangularis Plant
The purpose of the artwork is to create an interactive plant that response to a stimulus. A work designed by Christopher Connock uses the Oxalis Triangularis plant as a model to create an interactive artwork. A picture of his work is given below:
Interactive Art Piece Inspired by Oxalis Plant by Christopher Connock (2)
Also, a video of his work is given in Reference 2. Another artist, Akira Nakayasu of Japan, has designed a similar plant artwork. This robot is called “Plant” and it is inspired by blowing grass in the wind. This plant responds to hand movement, and each of its leaves are controlled by shape memory alloy actuators.
“Plant” by Akira Nakayasu (3)
Another example of a plant that response to human motion is given here: http://vimeo.com/57669812. This video is of a dancing flower that responds to hand movement. The flower is given below:
Interactive flower called “Dance with Us” (4)
Model of Artwork: For this artwork, the interactive plant is made from sensors and motors. A trimpot is used along with a servo motor. The trimpot indicates the direction of the person near the plant. When the trimpot reading changes, the plant tilts towards the observer. The switch indicates the water pressure in the plant. When the switch changes, shape memory alloy moves the leaf portion of the plant. The light sensor indicates the level of light in the room. This sensor is connected to a stepper motor. The motor turns based on the light level in the room. When the light is at a higher level it turns one direction, and at a lower level it turn in another direction. A picture of the model of the artwork is given below:
The code for the project is given here: Program_3.
References:
1. http://amirshahrokhi.christopherconnock.com/2011/01/18/43/
2. http://www.christopherconnock.com/project/yale/activepassive/
3. http://www.greendiary.com/interactive-robotic-plant-reacts-to-hand-movement.html
Physical Computing 