ghost lamp

proof of concept by

nicholas araujo | amanda morgan | chris mcadams

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Off

Dim

Bright

As a starting point, we take the function of a typical desk light, the rotational qualities, directional adjustability, and dimming qualities, and begin to imaging how these could be controlled based on an automated response to an outside stimuli. The result being a light that adjusts its overall brightness based on proximity, rotates towards a person’s location in a room and then opens up to provide direct light.

analyzing the passive desk lamp

Initial investigations were into a rotational actuation, which would adjust a surface to provide all of the qualities found in a typical lamp but in an automatic movement.

In addition, sensing of sound is used to locate a person within a space causing a series of interactions.

study models and testingp

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passive responsive self-actuating

In a quiet room, all lamps glow dimly. This changes once a sound is heard, causing all lights in the network to respond and direct themselves in the direction of the stimuli. They proceed to follow the noise through the space until all is gone and they return to a passive state. After 2 minutes, they begin to self-actuate, playing back sounds that have been recorded from earlier interactions. This causes the others to respond and direct themselves towards whichever lamp might be speaking.

01 | all off 01 | sound begins and lights react 01 | lamp starts speaking and others react

02 | as sound moves, lights follow 02 | another lamp responds causing reaction

passive state responsive state self-actuating state

network of sound responsive lights5

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onward | sculptural installation at the Royal Academy

“Running through the Burlington Arcade up to the portico of the Royal Academy of Arts, it consists of a sequence of hanging glass and metal modules. Each module is a mutated version of the last, showing the viewer increasingly elaborate shapes.”

united visual artists, london 2009

inspiration for the surface

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Module explorations began from the a common folded geometry, the paper fortune teller, in a search for a module that could have full opening and closing capabilities when only one side was actuated. After testing multiple polyhedra, the tetrahedron was selected for the flexibility that was maintained as many modules were combined into a full installation.

understanding a folded geometry

listening | passive stateall modules closed . some LEDs on emitting diffuse light . listening

looking | active state 01module opens toward sound . LEDs track the opening

speaking | active state 02all LEDs light up . all modules are actuated . sound begins

representing the multiple states

looking | active state 01module opens toward soundLEDs track the opening

listening | passive stateall modules closedLEDs emit diffuse light

speaking | active state 02all LEDs brightall moving modules activatedsound played back

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actuating mechanismoption 01: worm gear to wire (shown)option 02: servos attached to pushrods

multiple rows of LEDs

structural frameoption 01: welded or soldered (shown)option 02: rod connected by central ball

fixed modules

responding modules

preliminary assembly study

responding modules

fixed modules

multiple rows of LEDs

structural frameoption 01: welded or soldered (shown)option 02: rod connected by central ball

actuating mechanismoption 01: worm gear to wire (shown)option 02: servos attaced to pushrods

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0 effect and atmosphere

The vision for the final peice begins with a faceted surface that is subtly glowing. The diffuse light becomes directional as a viewer begins speaking near the piece and the mouths of the surface begin to open up as if to speak back.

A mirrored backing displays a reflection of the viewer and their surroundings within the open module, and also bounces the lights around within the surface to provide caustic effects.

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2 sensing and movement

The range for sensing the sound is limited, which allows for an intimate interaction as a person must stand close and speak directly to the object. Two microphones allow to different areas to open up depending on the sound levels in front of each.

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The electronics were prototyped extensively using a solderless breadboard. A printed circuit board was manufactured from the final circuit design.

In the final circuit, an electret microphone converts sounds into weak electrical signals. An amplifier boosts these signals to usable levels. A low-pass filter eliminates high frequency noise before sending the amplified signals to a comparator. The comparator converts the analog signal into a digital signal--producing a low output (0V) whenever the signal falls below a particular threshold voltage and a high output (5V) otherwise. Since the output from the comparator may change many times per second, it is sent to a timer to output digital signals at more regular, one second intervals. These regular outputs are read by an Arduino microcontroller, which uses them to control the positions of several servo motors.

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2/7/2011 5:35:47 AM f=0.84 C:\Users\Nick\Documents\eagle\SoundLampV2\SoundLampV2.sch (Sheet: 1/1)

LM386M-1

LM386M-1

LM393D

LM393D

LM556D

LM556D

VC

CV

CC

GND

GND

1K

10u

10u

GND

VC

C

0.1u0.1u

10

33

1u

GND

VD

D

VC

C

3.3

k

VC

C

0.1u

GND

VC

C

100k

10u

GND

1K

10u

VC

C

GND

10u

0.1u

0.1u

33

101u

GND

VD

D

3.3

k

GND

0.1u

VC

C

VC

C

100k

10u

GND

VC

C

+12V

GND

7824DT

10u

VC

C

22u

VC

C

GND

VD

D

VC

C

GND

123

LMIC

123

RMIC

1

2

3 8

5

IC1 64

71

2

3 8

5

IC2 64

7

2

31

IC3A

6

57

IC3B

84

TR6

Q5

R4

CV3

THR2

DIS1

IC4A

V+14

GND7

TR8

Q9

R10

CV11

THR12

DIS13

IC4B

R1

C1

C2

C3C4

R2

R3

C5

R4

C6

R5

C7

R6

C8

C9

C10

C11

R7

R8

C12

R9

C13

R10

C14

12

OUT

12

BATT

VI1

3

VO2

IC5

GND

C15 C16

R11

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programming response | light levels

The LEDs within the polypropylene module are designed and mounted in a way which provides a subtle glow when the modules are closed. Upon opening the light is more directional and is brightened by the reflections within.

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Each moving module is controlled by a servo attached to a 4-arm linkage. This arm is mounted to one side of the tetrahedron, and when pushed or pulled all sides respond due to the folded connections of the module.

The motion of the individual modules is activated when sound is received in the attached microphone. The piece slowly opens until fully erect, then shuts suddenly after a moment of silence.

programming response | opening and closing

arduino, servos, and circuitry

structural grill frame

faceted, mirrored backing +rigid strips connecting to grill

polypropylene modules

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proof of concept

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