A proposed project for Burning Man 2011.

Project Description: The Re-Navigation Station is an interactive way-finding/way-losing sculpture to encourage burners in working together to select random paths for exploration and to embrace the rite of unexpected change and challenge. The Station utilizes simple technologies in bringing about a social interaction between both participants and the art object, hopefully providing its audience with the impetus for striking off on a new path, either by themselves or in the company of new people. It is our hope that those that encounter our work will abide by the directions it suggests, breaking from their intended courses to explore random paths and enjoy the unexpected discoveries that they make along the way.

The Station itself will appear from a distance as a beacon in the desert, luring burners closer with its 10 foot tall, neon-like arrow structure. When burners approach the tower they will find a series of pedestals around the central tower. The pedestals will be lighting up in a seemingly random sequence, with different pedestals lighting up at the same time. These lights will be a signal to touch the panels in the hand-shaped cutouts. It is this action of interacting with the art piece that will bring the arrow to life, causing it to spin in rapid circles and eventually stop, pointing off in one direction. At this moment we hope to cause the burners to “re-navigate” and follow the direction laid out by the arrow, even if it is not the direction they intended to follow. In this way the station will act as an oracle, commanding an action based on an unknowable logic. Burners will have to have faith in what the station tells them and follow a new path into the unknown. An essential aspect of this experience is that the tower will not come to life and provide a direction unless burners work together to activate the proper number of touch-panels. In this way the station forces interaction between potentially unknown participants. It is our hope that this interaction will lead to these groups walking off together to explore Black Rock City, as directed by the station.

This idea expands on a concept that we submitted for consideration to Burning Man 2010. While the central idea of having burners work together to interact with a way-finding device is the same, the physical structure is much larger and more suited to the playa. By turning the central spinner into a beacon-like tower we have created something that will catch people’s attention, and that will be interesting to look at during the night, even if just from a distance. By separating the pedestals into 6 individual stations we are also increasing the overall footprint of the entire installation giving the entire piece more impact on the wide open playa.

Taught by Christian Cerrito and Micheal Clemow at OUTPOST: Artists Resources NY, NY.

Class Description: Pure data is a real-time graphical programming environment for audio, video, and graphical processing. It is the third major branch of the family of patcher programming languages known as Max (MAX/MSP/Jitter). PURE DATA can offer artists a wide variety of possibilities, such as real-time manipulation of digital video and audio, as well as creation of physical interactive environments using sensor technologies. For those not familiar with the program, we encourage you to sign up. No previous programming experience is required.

This class will cover the basics of PURE DATA and then move into using the Ardiuno board. The Arduino board is the interface between using sensory technologies and programs like PURE DATA. The combination of Arduino and PURE DATA will provide a vast array of possibilities to control and coordinate objects, sound and imagery in real time and physical space.

The Introduction to Pure Data and Arduino class syllabus can be viewed BY CLICKING HERE.

man. I gotta lot to do.

Taught by Nancy Hechinger (NYU/ITP) and Eric Siegel (N.Y.H.S.) at New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program, Spring 2010.

"Magnetic Play", by Melissa Clarke, Amy Chein, and Christine Ngyuen @ The New York Hall of Science.

Class Description: In this class students will develop and design interactive exhibits for the New York Hall of Science (NYHS) . It will be taught by Eric Siegel and Nancy Hechinger. Eric is the Director and Chief Content Officer at the New York Hall of Science. He leads the education, programs, exhibition development, science, and technology. The class will learn– from readings and hands-on experience–what is required to take an exhibit from concept through design, prototype and testing with real users. Eric will present a design brief for a suite of exhibits to be installed at the Hall. The brief will include: the topic, references for the scientific principles to be demonstrated, the educational goal, the target audience, the location within the museum, and budget. Nancy will work with the class in the role of design manager. Eric (NYHS) is the client, Nancy and the class are the design team. …first as a whole class to brainstorm solutions, then in smaller collaborative teams to realize the ideas and produce prototypes.

Class Responsibilities: Assisted with brainstorming, workshopping, and refining student design concepts. Aided groups during their prototyping and construction process. Documented student projects during user testing at the New York Hall of Science. Coordinated a class exhibition at The World Science Festival, NY, NY, 6/6/2010.

New York University, NY, NY, 2009-2010.

Workshop Description: A weekly help session reviewing and reinforcing the first semester, 1st year  Introduction to Physical Computing Classes at ITP. The two hour workshops involved the review of weekly labs, as well as general discussion on topics such as sensor selection, materials and building methods, interaction design, arduino coding, motor control, brainstorming project ideas, and troubleshooting projects.

Session topics:

9/18/09 Basic Components, Breadboards, and Soldering

9/25/09 Digital Input and Output and Switches

10/02/09 Analog Input and Output: Variable Resistors, Sensors, and PWM

10/09/09 Tone Output and Servomotor Control

10/16/09 H-Bridges, Transistors, Relays, and DC Motor Control

10/ 23/09 Serial Communication: Arduino to Processing

10/30/09 Serial Communication: The Hardware Handshake, Arduino to Processing

11/6/09 Midterm Project Brainstorming/Troubleshooting

11/13/09 Advanced Sensors and Inline Chips.

11/20/09 Project Management

12/04/09 Final Project Troubleshooting

Fun was had by all!

Part of the “Elemental Energy Exhibition”  at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, on display through September 2010.

Project Description: The Solar Sonic Trail features 10 hand made solar powered kinetic/percussive sculptures. Modeled after the African tongue drum, these sculptures gather and store solar energy, slowly lifting, and then releasing, a striker via a camshaft mechanism, each creating unique percussive tones and subtly altering the sonic landscape of the forest.  The intensity of the sun determines how often each sculpture strikes, giving them, in a sense, a life of their own. Particular care was taken to integrate the sculptures into their surroundings, not only sonically, but visually, as the units are made up of wood that will weather and fade over time. It is the hope of the artists that The Solar Sonic Trail will encourage visitors to learn more about small scale solar technology, while also enhancing their time wandering through the forest.

This project was commissioned by the Schuylkill Center as part of its “Elemental Energy” exhibition, running from May through September 2010.

Motivation: To subtly alter a natural sonic landscape, in the hopes of providing  a way for visitors to the Schuylkill Center to navigate its trails sonically as well as visually. To use solar power in a novel, accessible way.

Dimensions: 10 “Solar Thumpers” measuring approximately 3’x 10” x 9”, spaced out along approximately 300’ of wooded trail.

Media: Birch plywood, poplar wood, aluminum rod, gear head motors, 7V 300 ma solar panels, circuitry, laser cut cams, super bouncy balls, a beautiful forest, and assorted hardware.

@Greenfab, Bronx, NY, 2010.

Workshop Description: After an introduction to the basic ideas and sciences behind wind turbines (rotary devices designed to generator electrical energy from the wind), sustainable energy, and power generation, groups of students were asked to design air foils to test on a small vertical axis wind turbine. Using ordinary materials, such as cardboard and paper, plastic bags, and tape students built and tested a wide variety of foil designs, ranging from wind scoops to sails. The efficiency of their creations was based on the amount of power produced by the turbine, outfitted with their foils, when exposed to a breeze from a box fan.

Pictured at the San Francisco Fine Arts Fair, May 2010, San Francisco CA.

Project Description: This project consists of four large, inflatable, and articulated inflatable arch systems fused with a custom hardware platform. Each archway is made up of four tubes, whose individual pressures can be controlled by the IAG’s operator. Additionally, the longest tube is outfitted with a cord running from the tip of the arch back to a motorized winch in the IAG’s base unit. By subtly altering pressures in the individual tubes of each arch, while simultaneously drawing in or releasing the winch, it is possible for the IAG’s operator to cause its arches to grow or retract, physically transforming the piece, in real time, before its audience.

Motivation: To participate in working on a large scale installation project, involving unusual and untested technology. To solve the technical challenges involved in creating a control system for the IAG.

Dimensions: The IAG base unit measures approximately 4’ x 4’ x 2’. When fully extended, IAG measures approximately 30’ from arch tip to arch tip, and about 15’ off the ground.

Media: Custom designed inflatables platform, solenoid valves, valve controllers, blower, winches, motors, motor controllers, pressure sensors, Arduino Mega, sail cloth branches, plywood frame, and assorted hardware.

Project Responsibilities: Control system programming, project operation and movement design, transport, set up and take down.

Design Team: Chico Mac Murtrie, Artistic Director, Bill Washabaugh, Electronics/Software, Tymm Twillman, Electronics/Software,  Christian Cerrito, Control System/Software, Geo Homsy, Hardware/Software Advisor, Brett Van Aaursburg, Inflatable Crew Lead, Andrew Baker, CNC Fabrication, Janette Wernergreen, Inflatable Prototyping/Production Coordination, Carlos Corpa, Lead Machine Assembly, Adam Martinez, Lead Welder, Luise Kaunert, Project Coordinator.

Control System Description: (from left to right) The valves, motors, and blower of the IAG are controlled via electrical impulses from an Arduino Mega Micro controller. Each of the sixteen tubes of the IAG (four individual tubes per arch) is equiped with an air pressure sensor, which outputs their internal pressures. Additionally, each of the four winch assemblies is outfitted with sensors that indicate their current positions. The Arduino takes these individual values and packs them into a serial string, which it then sends over a USB cable to a MAX/MSP patch running on a MacBook Pro. The MAX patch parses the serial string, displaying the current internal air pressure values of each tube, total system air pressure, and current winch positions on color coded scrolling bar graphs for the benefit of the IAG’s operator. Using this information as a benchmark, the operator employs a 16 channel MIDI controller in manipulating the individual air pressures of each tube, as well as 4 control change knobs from a MIDI Keyboard to run the IAG’s winches. The operators input is then filtered and packed up by the MAX patch, and routed back to the Arduino Mega. The Mega, in turn, triggers the winch motors while maintaining and seeking the specified air pressures within each tube by opening and closing its air intake and outlet valves.

Project Description: A low cost, easy to build solar powered vibro-bot developed for educational purposes. The Solar Bugbot was created to teach those unfamiliar with the concepts behind  physical computing about using solar energy on a small scale, assembling circuitry, and basic robotics. Each Bugbot is powered by a Miller Engine circuit designed expressly for the purposes of this project. The bots are powered by two pager motors, and move erratically, and unpredictably, in short bursts when exposed to the solar energy. A novice solderer can assemble a Bugbot kit in about two hours, with individual units costing around $8.00 apiece.

Dimensions: Each Bugbot measures 2.75″ in diameter, and stands approximately 2″ tall.

Media: Laser cut masonite disc, custom circuit board, pager motors, zip ties, solar panel, double sided tape, and assorted hardware and electronic components.

Pictured at “Natural Selections”, Greylock Arts, Adams, MA, April-June 2010

Project Description: The Solar Scribblers are solar powered, kinetic drawing machines, reminiscent of self-powered spiro-graphs. These machines gather and store solar energy and release it in quick pulses,  slowly turning and scooting across their drawing surface while leaving circular loop de loop patterns in their wake. Each machine has a single motor, located at the center of its bottom layer, attached to an off balance erratic. As the erratic turns (in a circular motion), its momentum causes the entire machine to slowly rotate across the paper, carried by its four caster wheels. Users are encouraged to place pens, as many as four or five at a time, in any of the small holes in the outer rings of the solar scribblers, altering both the patterns that they draw and the nature of their movement. Though the solar scribblers possess no programmed “intelligence”, their unique physical design allows them to bounce and careen off the interior of the frame that contains them, as well as off of each other. Powered by the sun, the solar scribblers can operate for months on end with little care, drawing continually, or at least until their pens run out of ink.

Motivation: To create simple, kinetic drawing machines capable of running for months on end under their own power. To capture the imaginations of onlookers in regards to solar power, and their relationships with technology.

Dimensions: 4 Solar Scribblers, measuring 10” in diameter and 3″ in height,  drawing on top a 4′ x 5′ piece of paper, contained by a frame of the same size.

Media: Laser cut 1/8″ acrylic, solar panels, custom circuitry, aluminum spacers, ball casters, high efficiency DC motors, assorted hardware, pens, paper, frame.