Final Project — Progress Update

1. Overview

This project is an interactive kinetic flower that changes shape (opening/closing) in response to the emotional state of the person who is watching it. The goal is to merge art, design, and engineering to explore how an artistic object can interact with people through emotions.

2. Motivation

The project explores the intersection of digital fabrication, contemporary art, and human-object interaction. It is framed around a central question: Can an artistic object respond to our emotional state and create a meaningful connection with the viewer?

This exploration is inspired by contemporary artists and designers who investigate responsive environments, emotional sensing, and kinetic behavior in physical objects.

• Refik Anadol — creates immersive environments using data and AI to generate emotional and sensory experiences.
• Random International — their installation Rain Room responds to human presence, allowing visitors to influence the environment through movement.
• Studio Roosegaarde — develops interactive installations that react to human behavior and environmental signals.
• Neri Oxman — explores the integration of biology, material systems, and computational design to create responsive structures.
• teamLab — produces immersive digital environments where artworks react dynamically to visitor movement and presence.

Rather than existing as a static sculpture, this project proposes a responsive object capable of subtle motion and behavioral change, transforming the viewer from observer into participant.

3. What it is

• 3D-printed petals designed with joints/articulations.
• Laser-cut base for structure and electronics mounting.
• Tendon system (string routed behind the petals) to pull and move them.
• Sensors + microcontroller to detect input and control motion.
• Motors that pull/release the string to open/close the flower.

4.HOW IT WORKS (PROPOSED)

The system senses the viewer’s emotional state (or a proxy signal) and triggers motion:

• Calm / positive → flower opens
• Tense / negative → flower closes
• Presence detected → subtle “breathing” motion

5. Technical approach

5.1 Mechanical system

Petals will be redesigned with functional joints and a routed string path. A motor-driven spool pulls the string to close the petals and releases it to open them. The return motion can be supported with elastic elements (small elastics / flexible hinges / spring effect).

5.2 Emotion detection options

• Option A — Camera-based facial emotion recognition
  
• Option B — Physiological proxy sensors (temperature, heart rate if touch-based)
  
• Option C — Symbolic interaction Use proximity/light/touch as emotional “proxies” and map them to behaviors.

5.3 Actuation

Motion will be generated using servo motors or a stepper motor with a spool/pulley. A microcontroller (Arduino / ESP32) will read sensors and control the motor movement smoothly.

6. Digital fabrication plan

• CAD: parametric petal and hinge design
• 3D printing: petals + mechanical features
• Laser cutting: base, structural layers, mounting
• Electronics: sensor input + motor driver
• Programming: behavior mapping + motion profiles

7. Future direction (Artífice)

This piece is the first step toward Artífice as an open-source artistic platform, enabling artists to create interactive works through digital fabrication, design, and engineering.