Francesco Tacchini, a Royal College of Art grad student, and Julinka Ebhardt and Will Yates-Johnson of Design Products have created a very creepy and cool black floating ball project that is powered by the Arduino platform.
The Black floating ball, balloon was filled with enough helium to be able to lift its components and hover, reaching-neutral buoyancy and weighs 120g. Watch the freaky creation in action after the jump.
Technical Specifications and Components
The Arduino Black floating ball project is equipped with a battery-powered Arduino Adafruit Wave Shield in order to record and playback audio on-the-fly through a small speaker situated inside the Black ball. The Wave Shield is a crucial component that allows the device to capture ambient sounds and replay them, creating an eerie and interactive experience. The entire setup is lightweight, with the balloon filled with helium to achieve neutral buoyancy, allowing it to hover effortlessly in mid-air.
The project also includes a microcontroller, sensors, and a power source, all carefully balanced to ensure the ball remains afloat. The use of helium is particularly interesting as it provides the necessary lift without adding significant weight, making the ball’s movements smooth and ghostly.
“A floating orb that explores and manipulates transitional public spaces with particular acoustic properties. By recording and replaying these ambient sounds, the hovering sphere produces a delayed echo of human activity.”
Applications and Implications
The floating black ball project is not just a fascinating piece of technology; it also has potential applications in various fields. For instance, in the realm of art and design, it can be used as an interactive installation that engages audiences in a unique way. The delayed echo of human activity can create a surreal experience, making people more aware of their surroundings and the sounds they produce.
In addition, the project can be used in educational settings to teach students about buoyancy, sound recording, and the principles of Arduino programming. By dissecting the components and understanding how they work together, students can gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.
Moreover, the floating ball can be employed in public spaces to enhance the ambiance. Imagine walking through a park or a museum and encountering this hovering orb that captures and replays the sounds around you. It could serve as a modern art piece that adds an element of surprise and wonder to everyday environments.
For more information on the new and very unique Arduino powered floating ball project jump over to the Cargo Collective website for details.
Source: Arduino
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