Tak Cheung

Sea of Light

It's a boat traveling in a sea of light, propelled by the amplitude of sound.

http://itp.nyu.edu/~tlc345/blog/pcomp/sea-of-light-process

Classes
Introduction to Physical Computing


This project visualizes the dynamic movement of water through a grid of LEDs and translates sound energy into simulated wind energy.<br /> It's comprised of a small fiberglass vessel in the shape of a row-boat. The thin walls are lined with an LED matrix shinning outward. An accelerometer is connected to detect the pitch and row of the boat and effects the lighting of the LEDs. This effect will simulate the boat floating in water.<br /> A secondary rocking base will allow the boat to rock. To control the rocking a mic sensor detects sound from the viewer and magnetically 'rocks' the boat by pulling on the sides of the base.

Background
This project uses:<br /><br /> Two TLC5940 LED driver chip<br /><br /> http://www.newark.com/texas-instruments/tlc5940nt/ic-led-driver-constant-current/dp/73J8328?in_merch=Popular%20Products<br /><br /><br /><br /> 3mm Blue LED<br /><br /> http://www.newark.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=14N9384<br /><br /><br /><br /> Triple Axis Accelerometer Breakout - ADXL345<br /><br /> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9836<br /><br /><br /><br /> Breakout Board for Electret Microphone<br /><br /> http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9964<br /><br /><br /><br /> Electromagnets<br /><br /> http://www.magnetics.com/product.asp?ProductID=136<br /><br /><br /><br /> Earth Magnets<br /><br /> https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D42

Audience
This project aims to find a symbiotic relationship between technology and nature. An ideal audience would be those who'll appreciate the minute elements in nature, even within a technological world.

User Scenario
With sound the audience triggers the rocking mechanism. The LED matrix will animate independently, according to the datum of the 'water level'. (NO ACTUAL WATER WILL BE USED IN THIS INSTALLATION.)

Implementation
This installation is in the form of a fiberglass boat (16" X 5" X 4" high) and a rounded base coated with epoxy and spray painted matt black. Overall dimensions 16" X 9" X 12" high).<br /><br /><br /><br /> This installation uses a system of 300 LEDs connected in a matrix grid. Two LED drivers, TLC5940 and transistors are used to control each LED. A accelerometer is set as input to be used as a reference datum. <br /><br /><br /><br /> A secondary base has 8 earth magnets lined around the base. Each of the four Mic sensors are attached to an electromagnets underneath the surface of the table. As sound is detected it draws the side of the base down temporarily and begins the soft rocking movement.