Living Architecture-FA06-Pratt

window/brick (stronger transistor)

2006-12-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

window/brick 101

2006-12-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

window/Brick material /In process

2006-12-14T07:55:00.001-08:00

window/Brick material /In process

2006-12-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byv9ArB8pQ0

window/brick full scale (original transitor)

2006-12-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

Suicide Box

2006-12-14T06:58:00.000-08:00

The bit Suicide Box is a motion detection video system designed to capture vertical activity. Unit includes BITcamera, motion capture card, analysis software and utility concealment casing. In standard operation any vertical motion in frame will trigger the camera to record to disk.
Bureau installed the Suicide Box for trial application in range of the Golden Gate Bridge California 1996; an initial deployment period [100 days] metered 17 bridge events. System efficacy: Suicide Box system supplied public, frame-accurate data of a social phenomenon not previously accurately quantified. Box placement was determined to exploit cultural climate and BIT agent proximity; San Francisco is gateway to the Silicon Valley and both Information capital and Suicide capital of the USA.

Suicide Box

Su + Stacy - New Prototype Videos

2006-12-14T06:54:00.002-08:00

Nothing Happens

2006-12-14T06:54:00.001-08:00

Nothing Happens, a project by Nurit Bar-Shai with Zach Lieberman and Rich Miller is a networked online performance in which the viewers work together to make a series of objects tip over. The performance consists of three acts, which are centered on staged environments - a high shelf, a deserted corner, and a cluttered tabletop. Each scene contains a central protagonist, respectively: a cardboard box, a clear pint glass full of water, and a wooden chair. In all three acts, web-enabled physical devices controlled by the viewer's clicks will make these objects tip over.

Nothing Happens

Su + Stacy New Prototype Images

2006-12-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

ratchet plus arms

2006-12-14T00:47:00.000-08:00


ratche plus arms

spring loaded arms

2006-12-14T00:46:00.001-08:00


spring, reset, spring

ratchet winding closeup

2006-12-14T00:46:00.000-08:00


closeup

arm and ratchet

2006-12-14T00:18:00.000-08:00


together

full scale panel 201

2006-12-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

panel full scale 101

2006-12-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

ratchet progress

2006-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

attached are some shots of the current state of our ratchet/spring loaded arm combination. at the moment we only have the ratchet mechanism working - it's not currently connected to the spring loaded bit. that will have to wait until after finals are done on monday...

p+s

Su + Stacy: Reflective Mylar

2006-11-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks,
Team S

Reflective mylar

2006-11-28T21:15:00.000-08:00

These are a few of the patterns we have worked with.

Love Team,
S

Green Panel

2006-11-16T02:28:00.000-08:00

Living Architecture Final Project

OBJECTIVES

The group will emphasize on the output condition.

Output = the physical change in relation to the input

INFLUENCE

- The team will experiment with the idea of direct force vs. indirect force application, resulting in variations of result.

- (Needle Toy) influenced the beginning of the project by allowing a simple and clear understanding of forces and a way for documentation of the phenomena.

- How It Works:

1. Force is directly applied into an object.

2. Force is transfer through a series of parallel pins order in a rectangular configuration. This allows a visual output.

3. The output reflects a physical change on the original state of the object.

4. The state of the object is controlled; the output allows for a physical materialization of a direct force.

PRECEDENTS

Some of the precedents to look at include:

Wind Veil, Gateway Parking Garage Charlotte, NC, USA

“In 2002, Ned Kahn worked with the staff of Technorama, the major science center in Switzerland, and their architects, Durig and Rami, to create a facade for the building which is composed of thousands of aluminum panels that move in the air currents and reveal the complex patterns of turbulence in the wind. The facade is visible from the large urban plaza in front of the museum.”

http://nedkahn.com/wind.html

Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France, Jean Nouvel 1987

“Nouvel reinterprets traditional Arab latticework screens in glass and steel: 30,000 light-sensitive diaphragms are designed to regulate the penetration of light into the building. He used this high-tech photosensitive mechanical devices to control light levels and transparency.”

Views

Both projects incorporate the ideas that the group has in mind for the final development of the project. The first one involves the direct relationship between the environment/natural phenomena (wind) and the wall as a sheltering façade. The second involves the ‘control’ issue concerning a wall and the manipulation of a specific event (i.e., light penetration). The team’s ideas involves the merging of a ‘control’ and the natural phenomena coming together into the panel partitions which would create an enclosure creating an architectural space, incorporating more functionality to our project.

VISION

This panel may also be used in a larger scale as a wall panel which can start to create spaces base upon the degree of openness-- an enclosed space, open space or the divider to exterior or interior. When all these panels are connected to each other, how one panel react will also influence the adjacent one.

GOALS

Base on the idea of the needle toy we want to further investigated the ideas of expansion and flexibility to space, in which how space can be adjusted based on human necessities/ idealism. For example, a series of panel would create a wall; this wall will have the ability to control several of the panel simultaneously, thus when activated and open, wind channel would penetrate the space creating specific ventilation areas based on the necessities of the user.

PROJECT DETAILS

 Input component-

-Current applied to Flexinol wires, which will travel to different panel position in strategically in a space.

Processing component-

-On/Off program with sensor/switch allowing the user to control the different stages of the panel, giving flexibility to the user.

Output component-

-Panels with scores and slits that when manipulated create an opening in the panel. When modulated and put together the series of panels create a wall/partition condition which, in this case, serves the purpose of sound manipulation within a space, as well as exploring the idea of private and share space.

When the panels are triggered, the openings are exposed and motion starts o occurred, letting sound/audible vibrations into a space, when close the space becomes a “sound-proof” zone. The secondary function of the panels consists on private vs. share zones.

Scale of a single "module" if you have one-

-scale of one of the panels should be 1 to 1, at this moment the design team is exploring the possibilities of panel communications as well as individual function.

Number of modules to create

-4 modules should give a good understanding of the idea in process.

Module Orientation (vertical, horizontal, indoor, outdoor, in a quiet environment, etc.)

-Vertical

“Twist, Twist”

- The module would create a bigger wall partition used as façade or actual surface treatments that when trigger to be open, two panels will open simultaneously to give way to the wind, creating a wind channel within the space. The two panels located at different areas of the wall can be wire and connected for simultaneous movement when trigger, creating variation in the space.

MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION

The continuance of the project involves the increment in scale as well as application of realistic materials.

Material Thickness Results

-Plywood( for framing)...... … 1/8” and 1/4”……..………………………?

- Aluminum sheets ………….1/64”……………………………………..

-Flexinol Wire ……………….007………………………………………

Vendors
Plywood/wood…………………..Home Depot (commercial)

Aluminum sheets………………..Home Depot/ Art Store

Flexinol Wire- (5ft)……………..Dynollite

A second exploration will involve the configuration of the input- rewiring. Find a way to connect several panels into one connection creating on trigger for several panels, as well as creating a different connection for a different series of panels within the same wall and a way to trigger them at different times or at user will.

3. A third exploration will involve the configuration of the output and the addition of the natural phenomena to the module/ unit model… final functionality and the application into a real space.

smart partition

2006-11-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Au, Yin
Pequeno, Perla
Living Architecture:
David Benjamin
Fall 06

Smart Partition

Input component-
-Current applied to Flexinol wires, which will travel to different panel position in strategically in a space.

Processing component-
-On/Off program with sensor/switch allowing the user to control the different stages of the panel, giving flexibility to the user.

Output component-
-Panels with scores and slits that when manipulated create an opening in the panel. When modulated and put together the series of panels create a wall/partition condition which, in this case, serves the purpose of sound manipulation within a space, as well as exploring the idea of private and share space.
When the panels are triggered, the openings are exposed and motion starts o occurred, letting sound/audible vibrations into a space, when close the space becomes a “sound-proof” zone. The secondary function of the panels consists on private vs. share zones.

Scale of a single "module" if you have one-
-scale of one of the panels should be 1 to 1, at this moment the design team is exploring the possibilities of panel communications as well as individual function.

Number of modules you will create
-4 modules should be give a good understanding of the idea in process.

Sitting (vertical, horizontal, indoor, outdoor, in a quiet environment, etc.)
-Vertical

The "twist" of the project
?
Vendors of all materials you will have to buy
Frame structure- wood, metal framing
Panel material- transparencies,
wood
fabric? (new idea)

List of technical issues and tests you will have to conduct in the next five weeks.
-Successful materials test- (sound proof and flexible)
-successful multiple panel connections
-exploration between individual to multiple movement control within panels.
- Switch control- processing and output.

paul and sean :: the path ahead (draft)

2006-11-09T04:58:00.000-08:00

below are some working answers to the questions david posed in order to focus research and work in the last few weeks until the end of the term...

___________________________________________

+ Input component

motion detector(s)

+ Processing component

processing will be code resident on the microcontroller which repsonds to data from both the motion detectors and perhaps, from remote internet data.

+ Output component

the output will be the two scales of movement of the currently developed prototypes: the rapid action of the spring loaded arms, and the slow ratcheting reset motion.

+ Scale of a single "module" if you have one

the scale of the modules will be fairly close to what we have now, perhaps slighly larger. more than scale, future protoypes will focus on more durable/well constructed and fabricated components and materials.

+ Number of modules you will create

this will require some testing with the capabilities of the microcontroller, but we are thinking in the range of six. since they will never really need to fire at exactly the same time, we are technically only limited by the number of discreet circuits we can run on the microcontroller.

+ Siting (vertical, horizontal, indoor, outdoor, in a quiet environment, etc.)

the project will be sited in a room, in a relatively quiet environment. as people pass by and interact with it, the project will keep track of the number of people going by (and perhaps some specific type of motion) and react to that motion. the spring-loaded arms will release and then will be slowly ratcheted back down as the processing component tabulates and keeps track of human interaction and movement.

+ The "twist" of the project

we're still sorting out exactly how to phrase the twist, but it will be related to registering/initiating different types and scales and motin based on user interaction. as per the comments at the midterm, we will not have the ratchets reset the arms based simply on some hard-coded loop, but rather the clicks of the ratchet will be tied to user actions (movement, and perhaps input from the internet).

+ Vendors of all materials you will have to buy

** if we decide to have the remote internet access, we may need to buy a pink netburner kit from parallax:
href=http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=30013
** perhaps a web cam
** more motion detectors
** aside from that, we will really only need materials that are readily available for model making and the like, and perhaps some more flexinol from dynalloy.

+ List of technical issues and tests you will have to conduct in the
next five weeks

- coupling/calibrating the ratchet to the spring loaded arm
- running the assemblies in series
- writing code to process input from the motion detector(s) and keep track of data
- perhaps tests to integrate the web interface if we decide to go that route.

nox: d-tower

2006-11-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.arcspace.com/architects/nox/d_tower/index.htm

2006-11-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

Simulation CGI of Theo Jansen 's Mechanism

one movement at a time video

2006-11-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

simultaneous movement

2006-11-02T02:52:00.000-08:00

link to video post - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x01YzSyYFSA

one movement per pause

2006-11-02T02:49:00.000-08:00

link to loaded video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3zsQoiRcRI

2006-11-02T02:47:00.000-08:00

hope it helps... it worked for me!!!

Videos

2006-11-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

Stacy and Su: Prototype 6

2006-11-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

Prototype 6A


11.02.06

Prototype 6B


11.02.06

Prototype 6C

Prototype 6D

Midterm presentation1 [Nov 2]

2006-11-01T19:23:00.000-08:00

Prototype 1

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02063.flv

Test Model 1: Flexinol wire - 0.0015 / Piano wire 0.015

30seconds video script

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02064.flv

Test Model 2: Flexinol wire - 0.003/ Piano wire 0.032

30seconds video script

Exploring the code with LEDs - Counter VAR bytes

Code:

Counter VAR byte

FOR counter = 1 to 30

DEBUG ? Counter

HIGH 10
PAUSE 500
LOW 10
PAUSE 500

NEXT

DEBUG “All done!”

END

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02080.flv

40seconds Video Script

Prepare the breadboard and apply the same program to see the output on prototype

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02093.flv

Exploring the code with LEDs - Alternated flashing LEDs

Code

DEBUG "Program running - LEDs Flashing!"

DO

HIGH 5
LOW 10
PAUSE 3000
LOW 5
HIGH 10
PAUSE 3000

LOOP

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02124.flv

Video Script 1 min

Prepare the breadboard and apply the same program to see the output on prototype

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02110.flv

Video Script 1 min

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02109.flv

Video Script 1 min

Exploring code with LEDs - Creating sets of Flashing LEDs

Code:

' Exploring code with LEDs - each LEDs flasing every 1 seconds 5 times till the next repeat the same process

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

Counter VAR Byte

FOR counter = 1 TO 5

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 4
PAUSE 1000
LOW 4
PAUSE 1000

NEXT

FOR counter = 6 TO 10

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 8
PAUSE 1000
LOW 8
PAUSE 1000

NEXT

FOR counter = 11 TO 15

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 12
PAUSE 1000
LOW 12
PAUSE 1000

NEXT

DEBUG "All done!"

END

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02124.flv

40 seconds Video script

Trading one LED out and apply to one of the single prototype

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02134.flv

Trading two LEDs out and apply to two of the single prototype

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02138.flv

Trading all the LEDs out and apply to all single prototype

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02139.flv

Attaching an enclosure and Adjusting the code

Code

' Exploring code with LEDs - each LEDs flasing every 1 seconds 5 times till the next repeat the same process

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

DO

counter VAR Byte

FOR counter = 1 TO 1

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 4
PAUSE 1000
LOW 4
PAUSE 1000

NEXT

FOR counter = 2 TO 3

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 8
PAUSE 2000
LOW 8
PAUSE 2000

NEXT

FOR counter = 4 TO 6

DEBUG ? counter

HIGH 12
PAUSE 3000
LOW 12
PAUSE 3000

NEXT

LOOP

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/iczy/?action=view&current=MOV02143.flv

1 min Video script

REFERENCE: Colour by Numbers: Cell Phone Control of Tower Lighting

2006-10-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.colourbynumbers.org/EN/liveVideo.html

"spring" loaded prototype

2006-10-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

this prototype uses the contraction of the flexinol to get the assembly past a critical equilibrium point, at which triggers the rubber band and the action you see in the video. one of the things we're interested in is having different types of movement in our project (the "organic" movement of the flexinol, the sharp action provided by a rubber band, etc.) and this was an experiment with that in mind.

(p)basic user input code

2006-10-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

reeling with boredom from the weeks-old on/off code running on our microcontroller, we decided to take some baby steps towards more interesting processing. the code below allows the user to toggle the high/low state of pin 2 on and off by entering text into the debug window...this could probably be cleaned up a bit, but it works real nice like...

_______________________________

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

state VAR Nib    'keeps track of state 0 off, 1 on

state = 0    'initialize state

Main:

LOW 2    'just make sure that pin state matches state var

DO

IF (state = 0) THEN
   LOW 2
   DEBUG "enter 1 to set pin 2 to high ---->"
   'use debugin to get user input and store in the var state
   DEBUGIN DEC1 state
   DEBUG CR
   'do some validation on the user entry
   IF (state = 1) THEN
      DEBUG "setting pin 2 to high..."
   ELSE
      DEBUG "invalid entry. try again..." ,CR
      state = 0
   ENDIF
ELSE
   HIGH 2
   DEBUG "enter 0 to set pin 2 to low ---->"
   'use debugin to get user input and store in the var state
   DEBUGIN DEC1 state
   DEBUG CR
   'do some validation on the user entry
   IF (state = 0) THEN
      DEBUG "setting pin 2 to low..." ,CR
   ELSE
      DEBUG "invalid entry. try again..." ,CR
      state = 1
   ENDIF
ENDIF

LOOP

Flexinol Crimping Instructions Part 2

2006-10-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Flexinol Crimping Instructions Part 1

2006-10-10T19:58:00.000-07:00

trial and error

2006-10-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

this is working model...

make zine...

2006-10-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

not all of the stuff profiled on the make zine site will necessarily apply to living architecture, but some if it will, and their heart is certainly in the right place...and even those that don't quite "fit" look like a lot of fun...i mean, why wouldn't you want to know how to build a cat teleporter?...

http://www.makezine.com/blog/

living fashion

2006-10-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

article from the times about the fashion week shows in paris, focusing on hussein chalayan, who uses microchips in his clothing designs so the outfits transform when the models come to a halt...

"The runway, though, was a crystal-pebbled moonscape, and for the finale, Mr. Chalayan created a series of dresses that changed shape when each model came to a halt. Mr. Chalayan said later that microchips were inserted in the corset or hat of each outfit and programmed to magically erase hems or lapels. The ribbon slats of one dress retracted like a Venetian blind and then dropped, transformed into mirrors. It took about seven seconds for a silk chemise to disappear into the rim of a picture hat, leaving the model naked. When the transformation was complete, a puff of steam rose from the crown of her hat."

living fashion

Research: Lightings + Screens

2006-10-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Updateon Proposal

2006-10-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

Living Architecture Project 3

OBJECTIVES

The group will emphasize on the output condition.

Output = the physical change in relation to the input

INFLUENCE

- The team will experiment with the idea of direct force vs. indirect force application, resulting in variations of result.

- (Needle Toy) influenced the beginning of the project by allowing a simple and clear understanding of forces and a way for documentation of the phenomena.

- How It Works:

1. Force is directly applied into an object.

2. Force is transfer through a series of parallel pins order in a rectangular configuration. This allows a visual output.

3. The output reflects a physical change on the original state of the object.

4. The state of the object is controlled; the output allows for a physical materialization of a direct force.

PRECEDENTS

Some of the precedents to look at include:

Wooden Mirror-1999

The 4 mechanical mirrors are made of various materials but share the same behavior and interaction; any person standing in front of one of these pieces is instantly reflected on its surface. The mechanical mirrors all have video cameras, motors and computers on board and produce a soothing sound as the viewer interacts with them.

830 square pieces of wood, 830 servo motors, control
electronics,video camera, computer, wood frame.
Size - W 67” x H 80” x D 10” (170cm , 203cm, 25cm).
Built in 1999, this is the first mechanical mirror I built.
This piece explores the line between digital and physical,
using a warm and natural material such as wood to
portray the abstract notion of digital pixels.
The 6ft. tall video display consists of 830 pieces of golden
toned pine, each wired to its own tiny servomotor. Stand
before it and a hidden camera feeds your image, in real
time to a souped-up Macintosh, which parses you into an
830-byte video signal. The Mac then tells each motor to
position its pinewood pixel to reflect a specific intensity of
light. The result: the world’s first live animated wood cut.

source : http://www.smoothware.com/danny/mirror.html

Party Wall by N Architects

his interactive installation at the SoHo gallery Artists Space, created a variable boundary in the gallery, dividing visitors into different sides of the room. Party Wall allowed "neighbors" to dynamically modulate the thermal, acoustic and spatial qualities of a simple screen made with 2" thick bands of foam. In this initial prototype, proximity sensors embedded in the foam detected the presence of "neighbors" and triggered tiny servo motors. The motors exeredt tension on synchromesh pulley cables attached to the foam layers, causing variable compression and expansion, and resulting in varying apertures and densities of foam. Beyond raising issues of property and ownership in the gallery context, future iterations of Party Wall could respond to light, heat or sound, and correspondingly modulate optical, thermal or acoustic attributes of a wall. Design/Fabrication by nARCHITECTS: Eric Bunge, Mimi Hoang (principals); Nicolas Salto Del Giorgio (project architect); Jorge Pereira, Takuya Shinoda (design team); interactive consultant: Parul Vora and Jeff Weber. Partially funded by Elise Jaffe + Jeffrey Brown. Exhibition: March 9 th - April 23 rd, 2005.

source: http://www.narchitects.com/frameset-party%20wall.htm

Views

Both Projects are definitely exceptional however the Party, a very well develop project, is the kind of project the group has in mind. I believe that incorporating more functionality to our project, than the one express in Party Wall; will be definitely on our list. As for the wooden mirror I like the idea, I like the abstractness of the project and the functionality. It is a perfect example of the digital, the reality and the barrier in between, I love the project even though is digitally spacious and not physically.

GOALS

Base on the idea of the needle toy we want to further investigated the ideas of expansion and flexibility to space, in which how space can be adjusted by human being. For example, how the wall in a room starts to react when the minimum require space per person is over-limited. Then the wall will start to justify in order to fulfill the minimum space requirement of one person. The same concept can also be incorporated into a smaller scale object, such as a screen door, with adjustable panel that has different degree of openness for different requirement.

Vision:

PROJECT DETAILS

TESTS & MATERIAL

The beginning of the exploration will involve small scale experimentation with different types of materials as well as playing with the various thicknesses.

** Different Flexinol wire thicknesses will be tested with the different materials in the research.

Material Thickness Results

-Plywood........................... 1/64, 1/32, 1/16…………………………?

-Plexi-glass……………… 1/64, 1/32………………………………..?

- Metal ……………………1/64………………………………………?

-Meshes…………………………1/32, 1/16………………………….?

-Fabric

The second approach to experiment No.1 is to consider a series of procedures that will allow for specific movements and its variations.

Ø Test 1.0: Cutting the material in a grid pattern will allow for the material to expand.

Ø Test 1.1: Cutting the material in a horizontal pattern will allow for movement Test 1.2: Cutting the material in a vertical pattern will allow for movement

Ø Test 1.3: Cutting the material at an angle will allow movement.

3. During the exploration the ON/OFF program will be the main program used. As results come out, variations with the program might take place in order to study more the
outputs and its capabilities.

2006-10-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

Moving on in our output research we began to investigate tensegrity and the effect of adding a flexinol wire to the structure in order to illicit movement. We found that the movement is more exaggerated with a smaller tensegritous structure. When we attached the wire to the small tensegritious structure we noticed that it would slide itself across the table very slowly. We noted the placement of one of the legs with a black dot [see image]. The larger structure turned out to be more or less a failure. The basswood sticks were to add some additional internal tension to the structure. We had to hang it from the table to get enough tension in the wire, which made us a little curious about using gravity as a counterforce for the flexinol.

continue video 1

2006-10-04T21:24:00.000-07:00


cont. of video 1

three flexinol wires

2006-10-04T21:18:00.000-07:00


three flexinol wires alternating

Two wires

2006-10-04T21:15:00.000-07:00


Two flexinol wires alternating.

Posting Video Files

2006-10-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

Please upload all videos to google video (http://video.google.com/)
and post the link to the blog.

paul+sean :: prototype_1

2006-09-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

for this prototype, we focused on using a system of levers to amplify the movement generated by the flexinol wire. we weren't overly precise for this round - we just wanted to get something up and running as a starting point. it's a bit hard to see the different states in the still photos below - we'll try to get a short video up in the next few days - but there is a very noticeable scissor effect of the two free ends when this contraption is hooked up to the microcontroller (for now we are just using the on/off code from the earlier assignments).

to move forward from here we plan to:
* improve the joint mechanics and overall construction
* test various configurations of joints and levers and do some actual calculations (for the first attempt we just made the attachments at places that seemed somewhat logical)
* make use of inverse kinematics in maya as a design aid. we will be able to test (at least theoretically) the effects of various configurations of the joints, lengths of the lever arms, etc. of course this digital research will only serve as a rough guide for the development of actual working physical prototypes
* possibly integrate other mechanical advantage systems (such as gears) into the prototypes
* research more sophisticated processing routines
* figure out ways to make use of the movement amplification to further the goals laid out in our research proposal.

in short, we've got a lot of work to do....

the laboratory

prototype at rest

prototype contracted

Research Proposal :yin, perla

2006-09-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Living Architecture Project 3

OBJECTIVES

The group will emphasize on the output condition.
Output = the physical change in relation to the input

INFLUENCE
- The team will experiment with the idea of direct force vs. indirect force application, resulting in variations of result.

- (Needle Toy) influenced the beginning of the project by allowing a simple and clear understanding of forces and a way for documentation of the phenomena.
- How It Works:
1. Force is directly applied into an object.
2. Force is transfer through a series of parallel pins order in a rectangular configuration. This allows a visual output.
3. The output reflects a physical change on the original state of the object.
4. The state of the object is controlled; the output allows for a physical materialization of a direct force.

PRECEDENTS

Some of the precedents to look at include:
Wooden Mirror
Party Wall by N Architects

GOALS
Base on the idea of the needle toy we want to further investigated the ideas of expansion and flexibility to space, in which how space can be adjusted by human being. For example, how the wall in a room starts to react when the minimum require space per person is over-limited. Then the wall will start to justify in order to fulfill the minimum space requirement of one person. The same concept can also be incorporated into a smaller scale object, such as a screen door, with adjustable panel that has different degree of openness for different requirement.

Vision:
This panel may also be used in a larger scale as a wall panel which can start to create spaces base upon the degree of openness-- an enclosed space, open space or the divider to exterior or interior. When all these panels are connected to each other, how one panel react will also influence the adjacent one.

PROJECT DETAILS

TESTS & MATERIAL

The beginning of the exploration will involve small scale experimentation with different types of materials as well as playing with the various thicknesses.
** Different Flexinol wire thicknesses will be tested with the different materials in the research.

Material Thickness Results
-Plywood........................... 1/64, 1/32, 1/16…………………………?
-Plexi-glass……………… 1/64, 1/32………………………………..?
- Metal ……………………1/64………………………………………?
-Meshes…………………………1/32, 1/16………………………….?
-Fabric

The second approach to experiment No.1 is to consider a series of procedures that will allow for specific movements and its variations.
Ø Test 1.0: Cutting the material in a grid pattern will allow for the material to expand.
Ø Test 1.1: Cutting the material in a horizontal pattern will allow for movement Test 1.2: Cutting the material in a vertical pattern will allow for movement
Ø Test 1.3: Cutting the material at an angle will allow movement.

SCHEDULE

Research: Agenda + Proposal

2006-09-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

3 primary factors in the proposal

spatial [spey-shuhl]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to space.
2. of, relating to, involving, or having the nature of space.
3. existing or occurring in space; having extension in space.
4. relating to, occupying, or having the character of space, affected with spatial disorientation

one may prejudge before entering the space and may have a sense of what’s occuring.
upon entering, the individual may realize, that they influence the space in which they’re in.

experience [ik-speer-ee-uhns]
-noun
1. a particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something.
2. the process or fact of personally observing, encountering, or undergoing something.
3. knowledge or practical wisdom gained from what one has observed, encountered, or undergone.
4. the observing, encountering, or undergoing of things generally as they occur in the course of time.

experience is an important feature in the proposal. There should be a diaologue between the individual(s) and the skin.
kinetic architecture should be interactive with the people occuping the space.

functional [fuhngk-shuh-nl]
-adjective
1. capable of operating or functioning.
2. of or pertaining to a function or functions.
3. the action for which a person or thing is particularly fitted or employed.
4. the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution
5. the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role.

it should take part on the interaction.
it should be something to encompass the human scale, and benefit and satisfies the human needs.

the space would have a field of skins with creases and lips that will open and expose lights and close depending on

- when the individual enters the space

- how the individual passes the skin

- the number of indivuals entering the space

- how the number of individuals pass the space

in areas where natural light may be available, the skin depending on what’s described above will reveal natural sunlight into the space.

in areas where natural light may not occur, the skins depending on what’s described above will reveal artificial light into the space.

in areas where both partial sunlight and artificial occur in the space, the skins exposure of natural sunlight and artificial sunlight may be placed depending on if that lighting is available.

we plan on going by this, by using specific sensors that will monitor a person’s presence in the space.

we would like to experience with various kinds of papers as well as textiles.

research proposal :: paul and sean

2006-09-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

pdf version

Intent

We will investigate methods of using kinetic architecture to expose/challenge assumptions about space and its "proper" uses. Starting with the belief that societal norms and values shape, and to a certain degree calcify, our experience and usage of space, we intend to create an architectural element which is somewhat incongruous with its surroundings and which forces users to re-examine their relationship to the space(s) they inhabit.

Methodology

We plan on focusing on two aspects of the microcontroller: processing and output. Input will be handled by a fairly straightforward sensor(s). We will investigate both the limits of the native PBASIC code of the microcontroller, as well ways which that codebase could possibly be extended. For output, we will maximize the movement of the Flexinol actuators through various applications of mechanical advantage (gears, levers, etc.) as well as researching how this movement can be amplified by coupling the Flexinol with a range of materials.

We would also like, in addition to the kinetic aspect(s) of the project, to integrate the manipulation of light, perhaps as part of a user-feeback loop.

Precedents / Inspiration

* The Panoption : Jeremy Bentham proposed the concept of the panopticon, an annular prison with a central observation tower. In such a structure, the inmates can never be sure if they are under surveillance at any given time, but the possibility that they are being watched at any given time is constant. This leads to a self-regulating system in which the prisoners essentially become their own jailers. Maximum control is exerted by the power structure with a limited amount of manpower. In short, people behave differently when they believe that they may be being watched, regardless of whether anyone is actually watching.

* Bureau of Inverse Technology : BIT creates installations which expose or give focus to aspects of society which are either hidden or actively suppressed. One example is the Suicide Box, a motion detection video system which captures vertical activity, in this case on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Movement on the bridge is not an anomaly but vertical movement on the bridge is something that is linked to a specific act which is quantifiable in very simple specific terms. The Suicide Box exposes people in the act of subverting the bridge's intended use in a way which has a definitive cultural meaning. The linking of a very specific type of movement with a cultural/ritualistic event is something we hope to achieve in our project.

* Adbusters : A magazine devoted to the subversion of centralized power structures, be they governments, corporations or other entities which both implicitly and explicitly dictate the boundaries and norms of society. As they say: "Adbusters is an ecological magazine, dedicated to examining the relationship between human beings and their physical and mental environment. We want a world in which the economy and ecology resonate in balance. We try to coax people from spectator to participant in this quest. We want folks to get mad about corporate disinformation, injustices in the global economy, and any industry that pollutes our physical or mental commons."

References

http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=JS1-IC
http://www.dynalloy.com/TechnicalData.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon
http://bureauit.org/sbox/
http://www.adbusters.org/home/

Interesting Article: Peel-and-stick electronics

2006-09-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

By Michael Kanellos Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: September 18, 2006, 12:11 PM PDT
Peel-and-stick electronics

Someday, installing a thermostat or remote volume knob for a home audio system might be as little effort as putting up a new air freshener.

Germany's EnOcean has come up with a series of sensors and switches that can extract energy from the environment and then transmit information via radio signals to a computer, which can then take the requested action. Because the sensors don't need to be linked to the building's electrical wiring, they can be installed without retrofitting. A dimmer switch, in other words, can be plunked on the wall without the need for cutting holes.
"One of the hot markets we are seeing is home automation," said Jim O'Callahan, vice president of EnOcean's U.S. operations. "You could have an 'all off' switch in your garage or your car that would turn off all the lights in your house. It could turn off the outlets with the coffee pot and things like that. There are systems that do this today, but you have to run Cat 5 (Category 5) wiring through the house."

Category 5 wiring is the unshielded, twisted-pair cabling normally used for computer networks and communications.
The system could also be employed to create microclimates (cool in the kitchen, warmer in the breakfast nook) or mood lighting in different rooms.
EnOcean, which spun out of Siemens and landed investments from 3i Group and BayTech Venture Capital, is one of several companies trying to eliminate one of the primary barriers to what could become a multibillion-dollar market for sensors--namely, power. If you scatter thousands of conventional sensors around a campus or industrial park, you'll have to hire an army of individuals to drive around and change the batteries all the time.

Rather than build long-life batteries, EnOcean is tinkering with ways to eliminate the need for them. It has been selling solar-powered sensors and is experimenting with sensors that can harvest electricity from vibrations and temperature differentials. As long as one surface is three degrees Celsius higher or lower than the immediate environment, EnOcean's prototype thermal sensor can harvest power.

"You could put it on a hot-water pipe. Typically, that will be warmer than the ambient air," O'Callahan said. "There are a lot of little spaces in buildings where the temperature differs by three degrees."
Wake-ups and power thresholdsVibration sensors, unless hooked up to a machine with fairly precise oscillations, are a little tougher to create.

None of these energy sources, however, can provide the electric wallop of a battery, so the company curbs power consumption by keeping the sensor dormant as much as possible.

A temperature sensor that works with a thermostat, for instance, might wake up to take a reading only every 15 seconds. If the temperature hasn't changed, it won't send a signal to the unit that actually adjusts the thermostat. The signal goes out only if the temperature exceeds a certain threshold.

"We also use a frequency without a high probability of interference" to prevent misfires in communication, O'Callahan said. "They are designed to continually harvest miniscule amounts of energy and store it. The real key comes in minimizing the power consumption."
How low can they go? Typically, the company's sensors--which include a sensing device, a microprocessor and a radio--can operate on 50 milliwatts.

The solar panel on the light-powered units measure 1 by 1.5 inches. A similar setup based on the ZigBee wireless sensor would require a solar panel 10 times larger, O'Callahan claimed. ZigBee chips also operate in the milliwatt range.

Despite the low energy requirements, the signal carries. In an environment like a warehouse, with few physical barriers, a signal from a sensor can travel 300 meters. If walls are present, the signal goes about 30 meters. Signals can also be relayed via other sensors.

EnOcean sells its products to building automation and other manufacturers, which use them to create devices. So far, the company has landed deals mostly in Europe. Building sensor specialist Thermokon has incorporated EnOcean's technology into solar-powered thermostats, while Denmark's Servodan has created a portable light sensor that sends a signal to a building control unit that then automatically raises or lowers window blinds.

About 100,000 EnOcean sensors have been put into use, the company says.

Assignment 3: Research Proposal

2006-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.thelivingnewyork.com/LivingArchitecture/06FA-Pratt/LivingArch-ResearchProposal.pdf

Prototype 2

2006-09-14T00:18:00.000-07:00

Prototype1

2006-09-14T00:09:00.000-07:00

working program

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}
DO
HIGH 2
PAUSE 3000
LOW 2
PAUSE 3000
LOOP

prototype 2

2006-09-13T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is the script that we used for out prototype.

' {$STAMP BS2}' {$PBASIC 2.5}'' =========================================================================
' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------
' This PIR demo allows you to see how to go about allowing a warm-up time' for the sensor to settle, as well as displayed number of times tripped' and possibly activating an alarm or relay, in this case the LED. The LED' should have a 220 ohm or 330 ohm resistor in series with it.
' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------
PIR PIN 0 ' I/O Pin For PIR SensorLED PIN 1 ' I/O Pin For LED
' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------
counter VAR Byte ' Trip Counter
' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------
DEBUG CLS ' Clear DEBUG ScreenFOR counter = 40 TO 0 ' Wait 40 Seconds For PIR Warm-Up DEBUG HOME, "WARMING UP:", DEC2 counter PAUSE 1000 ' Display Counter Every SecondNEXT
counter = 0 ' Clear Counter Variable
DEBUG HOME, "WAITING... " ' Display Waiting Message
' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------
Main: DO IF PIR = 1 THEN ' Motion Detected? counter = counter + 1 ' Update Trip Counter HIGH 2 ' Light LED DEBUG HOME, "TRIPPED...", DEC3 counter DO : LOOP UNTIL PIR = 0 ' Wait For PIR To Clear DEBUG HOME, "CLEARED...", DEC3 counter LOW 2 ' Turn Off LED ENDIF LOOP

Prototype 2

2006-09-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Our attempt at prototype two was only half successful... As you can see we couldn't find the extension wires to connect the sensor so we connected it directly into the breadboard. From what we read about the sensor from Parallax, we figured this would be ok. Here is the code we ended up using.

' =========================================================================
' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}
'
' =========================================================================

' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------
' This PIR demo allows you to see how to go about allowing a warm-up time
' for the sensor to settle, as well as displayed number of times tripped.

' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

INPUT 0 'set pin 0 as input
PIR PIN 0 ' I/O Pin For PIR Sensor

' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------
counter VAR Byte ' Trip Counter

' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------
DEBUG CLS ' Clear DEBUG Screen
FOR counter = 60 TO 0 ' Wait 60 Seconds For PIR Warm-Up
DEBUG HOME, "WARMING UP:", DEC2 counter
PAUSE 1000 ' Display Counter Every Second
NEXT
counter = 0 ' Clear Counter Variable
DEBUG HOME, "WAITING... " ' Display Waiting Message
' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------
Main:
DO
IF PIR = 1 THEN ' Motion Detected?
counter = counter + 1 ' Update Trip Counter
HIGH 2 ' power to flexinol wire
DEBUG HOME, "TRIPPED...", DEC3 counter
DO:LOOP UNTIL PIR = 0 ' Wait For PIR To Clear
DEBUG HOME, "CLEARED...", DEC3 counter
LOW 2 ' turn off power to flexinol
ENDIF
LOOP

Having been warned at the extreme sensitivity of the sensor, we employed the use of a styrofoam cup with a hole in the end to narrow the sensors field of view. When we ran the script everything seemed to be going well..it counted down as it warmed up and the window said "waiting..." It remained in that state until we moved our hand in front of the hole in the cup, at which point it seemed to alternate between "tripped" and "cleared" at an interval of about 4 seconds. The flexinol wire would contract alternately as well. It remained in this endless loop until we cut the power.

Blog of Living Architecture Class Spring 2006 Columbia

2006-09-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

http://lasp06c.blogspot.com

Blog of Living Architecture Class Spring 2006 Pratt

2006-09-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

http://lasp06p.blogspot.com

Assignment 2: Prototype 2

2006-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.thelivingnewyork.com/LivingArchitecture/06FA-Pratt/LivingArch-Prototype2.pdf

Assignment 1: Prototype 1

2006-09-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.thelivingnewyork.com/LivingArchitecture/06FA-Pratt/LivingArch-Prototype1.pdf