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Applications and Implications

Questionary:

  • What will it do?
  • Who’s done what beforehand?
  • What will you design?
  • What materials and components will be used?
  • Where will come from?
  • How much will they cost?
  • What parts and systems will be made?
  • What processes will be used?
  • What questions need to be answered?
  • How will it be evaluated?

Fab Lab Armenia’s garden will soon feature an impressive butterfly art installation that showcases the power of engineering and digital fabrication techniques. This creation combines different materials and fabrication methods to bring the butterfly to life.

What will it do?

The butterfly art installation at Fab Lab Armenia serves as an interactive and visually captivating display. Here’s an overview of what it does:

  • Visual Appeal: The installation features intricately designed and crafted butterfly wings made from a combination of materials, including steel, acrylic, and textile. The vibrant colors, mosaic patterns, and artistic details make it visually striking and captivating for visitors.

  • Static and Movable Wings: The installation consists of both small and large wings. The small wings, made from steel and adorned with colorful acrylic mosaics, remain static, adding a contrasting element to the overall design. On the other hand, the large wings incorporate innovative technologies and are movable.

  • Movement with Sound Sensing: The large wings are connected to a sound sensor, which detects surrounding noise levels. When the sound sensor detects a certain threshold of noise, it triggers the wings to move in response. This mimics the graceful flight of a butterfly, creating an interactive and dynamic visual experience for visitors.

  • DC Motor Mechanism: To achieve the wing movement, a DC motor mechanism is employed. The DC motor, controlled by a microcontroller, controls the wing motion.

  • Integration of Recycled Materials: The installation incorporates reused materials, such as acrylic used in other installation, into the design of mosaic of the wings. This showcases the importance of sustainability and resourcefulness in the creative process.

Who’s done what beforehand?

There are various art installations and projects that incorporate elements of interactive and kinetic sculptures, each creation is unique and can differ in terms of design, materials, and concept.

  • “Sonic Bloom” by Dan Corson: This project consists of sculptural flowers that respond to sound. Each flower’s petals move in response to ambient noise, creating a synchronized dance of light and motion. The installation aims to engage and inspire viewers through the interaction of nature, technology, and sound.

  • “Flutter” by Cinimod Studio: This installation features a collection of illuminated butterflies on display. The butterflies are equipped with sensors that detect the presence and movement of viewers. As viewers approach, the butterflies respond by fluttering their wings, creating an enchanting interactive display.

  • “Flight is a Waltz - Puppet Flutter” is a captivating art installation created by the talented artist Dominic Harris. The installation features a collection of intricately designed butterfly puppets suspended from delicate strings. Each puppet is a meticulous recreation of various butterfly species, adorned with vibrant colors and patterns that mirror the beauty of nature. The puppets appear to float effortlessly in mid-air, seemingly animated by an unseen force.

  • The artwork by Julie Alice Chappell, featured in this link, is a stunning fusion of nature and technology. Chappell intricately crafts delicate and ethereal insects using discarded circuit boards, breathing new life into electronic waste. These “Dew Leaf” insects exhibit intricate details, from their wings formed by intricate circuit patterns to their delicate bodies adorned with tiny electronic components. Through her art, Chappell highlights the juxtaposition between the beauty of the natural world and the pervasive presence of technology, prompting us to reflect on our relationship with the digital realm and the impact it has on the environment.

All these projects i found during my research, which served as a great inspiration for me to create my installation.

What will you design?

In my project, I will design a butterfly art installation that combines technology, engineering, and aesthetics. To achieve this, I’ll employ various digital fabrication techniques. I’ll start by designing the wings shape in 2D format. These intricate wing designs will serve as the foundation for the fabrication process.

To bring the wings to life, I’ll utilize 3D modeling techniques to design and create specialized joints. These 3D-printed joints will connect the wings to the butterfly’s body, providing the necessary flexibility and stability for smooth and fluid movement. The combination of precise engineering in the joints and the artistic vision of the 2D wing designs will result in a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality.

For the smaller wings, I already used a plasma cutter to craft them from steel, creating a solid and durable structure. To add a vibrant touch, I’ll adorn them with colorful acrylic mosaics, enhancing their visual appeal and creating a dynamic interplay of light and color.

As for the larger wings, I’ll explore the use of fabric and laser cuted acrylic.

To introduce an interactive element, I’ll integrate a sound sensor that will connect to the larger wings. This sensor will detect ambient noise, causing the wings to “fly” in response. To achieve this movement, I’ll design a mechanism driven by DC motor, integrated into the structure of the installation.

What materials and components will be used?

In my butterfly art installation project, I will utilize a variety of materials and components to bring the vision to life. Here’s an overview of the main ones I plan to incorporate:

  • Steel
  • Acrylic
  • Plastic PLA (3D Printed Parts)
  • Bio Plastic, Epoxy Resin or silicone
  • Stepper or DC Motor(s)
  • Sound Sensor
  • Relay

For PCB

  • Microcontroller: ATSAMD11D-14A

  • Resistor: LM7805 Stabilizer

  • Sound Sensor: Arduino Sound Sensor

  • Power Supply: 12V Power adapter

  • Capacitors

  • LEDs

  • Connectors

Where will come from?

The project extensively relied on Fab Lab Armenia for the provision of materials, including essential board components, filament for 3D printed parts, and DC motors. The steel components underwent precision cutting at a dedicated steel factory, utilizing surplus metal remnants for fabrication.

Additionally, I need to purchase fabric and material to create a mosaic.

How much will they cost?

Qty Description Price Source Notes
1 Steel 0 $ Steel factory leftovers
1 Used Acrylic 0 $ Fab Lab Armenia leftovers
1 Silicone 7 $ Market
1 Components for PCB1 15 $ Fab Lab Armenia
1 Components for PCB2 7 $ Fab Lab Armenia
1 Acrylic for big wings and electronic box 5 $ Fab Lab Armenia
1 PLA for 3D printing 10 $ Fab Lab Armenia
1 Fabric 5 $ Market
1 Relay 1,5 $ Fab Lab Armenia
1 DC motor 3,5 $ Fab Lab Armenia

Total 54 $

What parts and systems will be made?

  • Wings: The wings will be designed and fabricated using a combination of materials and techniques. The smaller wings will be made from steel cut using a plasma cutter and adorned with colorful acrylic mosaics. The larger wings will incorporate 3D printing, textile and reused acrylic. These wings will be designed to be movable and responsive to sound, allowing them to simulate flight.

  • Joints and Connections: Custom 3D-printed joints will be designed to connect the wings to the butterfly’s body. These joints will provide flexibility and stability for wing movement. Other connections, such as screws, bolts, or adhesive methods, will be employed to securely attach various components together.

  • Motors and Motor Control: A motor or motor system will be integrated into the installation to drive the movement of the wings. This could involve using a DC motor or a stepper motor, depending on the desired range of motion and control.

  • Control System: A control system, based on the microcontroller, will process the sensor data and control the motor accordingly.

  • Power Supply: A power supply system will be included to provide the necessary electrical energy for the motors, sensors, and other electronic components. I will use a power adapter.

  • Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with microcontroller.

  • Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to convert 12V into 5V.

What processes will be used?

The most challenging aspect for me is modifying the mechanism responsible for the movement of the butterfly’s wings. To tackle this, I extensively studied numerous YouTube videos and plan to experiment with some of the techniques learned.

Here are some inspiring mechanism systems to help my butterfly take “flight”.

The flying bird mechanism 3D animation

Pensa Labs I Project - Making an Automaton

make a flying bird at home

Dragonfly (robot) how to make dragonfly mechanism

What questions need to be answered?

  1. What materials will the body of the butterfly be made of and how to attach the wings to it.

  2. Can I put everything on one board: microphone, component, motor driver?

  3. Programming: can I use AI generated code and modify it for my project?

How will it be evaluated?

  1. Design: Create a living sculpture that will work using input device: sound sensor and output device: DC motor.

  2. Functionality: during the increasing noise, the butterfly will move its wings.

  3. Create a beautiful and dynamic collage of art and technology.

Last update: June 18, 2023