Often invisible, the laws of physics govern our day to day rituals, from the sound waves created by the electromagnetic field in your headphones to the friction and traction between your slippers and the floor.  Though these phenomena are unremarkable to us experientially, they are foundational to how we interact with our surroundings.  But, what exactly is happening in these moments, and how can we use them to understand the more complex relationships between humans, our environments, and technology?

In the Responsive Environments course, students will examine applied physics through the lens of interactive, futuristic living spaces to understand how basic physics principles impact our everyday interactions with our environments. We will research designers such as Philip Beesley, who creates ‘living’ sculptures that breathe and undulate in response to the environment and houses that use color changing cladding that darkens and lightens in response to outside temperature. Using our own understanding of adaptive material technologies, control systems, automation, and augmentation, we will explore what it means for a structure to be alive and connected to its inhabitants.  

Through a series of hands-on activities and design exercises, students will explore various applied topics including the physics of motion, forces, electricity, and magnetism. Informed by their own research and experiments, students will propose a final project that envisions a task-driven, responsive machine for a future environment.

For virtual sessions, we will be meeting at this zoom link:

https://zoom.us/j/2871190438?pwd=UTBRTS9kOXRuUDRROEZoUUtJWVVHdz09

Cardboard lends itself to different mechanisms compared to wood and acrylic. This mechanism combines aspects of the parallel linkage and eccentric cam. It also uses the springiness of cardboard as the returning force to bring the flag back down.

Learning Goals: 

1. Understand the basics of the cam and linkage mechanism. 
2. Apply your understanding of the mechanism to create a unique prototype. 

Part I: Template model

Using the template file provided, you will follow step-by-step video instructions on how to recreate the cam and linkage cardboard model. To complete the activity, you will need cardboard, scissors or exacto, a dowel or a pencil. 

Part II: Build your own version

Once you’ve completed the model, prototype at least 2 different ways to modify the pre existing elements to -

a) change the movement of the mechanism, 

b) customize components, 

c) introduce a new add-on feature, 

d) posit a novel application.

Part III: Document

Take photos of all your work. In the caption, make sure to describe the prototypes and explain your work process. Post your answers to the following reflection questions:

1. Did you find having a demo template useful? 
2. If you were to repeat this exercise, what would you do differently v. same?
3. Describe the parts you've modified from the original template. 
4. Are there other mechanisms you'd like to learn how to make?

The Physical Toolbox is a learning resource that is tactile, interactive, and collectable. Within the parameters of a 90mm x 52mm casing, a limitless world of methodology unfolds. The collection highlights various techniques and best practices in hand modeling, digital fabrication, mechanisms, and electronics- intended to serve as learning resources for makers of all age groups. 

Before you start this test, follow the instructions here: Installing Arduino

The Physical Toolbox is a learning resource that is tactile, interactive, and collectable. Within the parameters of a 90mm x 52mm casing, a limitless world of methodology unfolds. The collection highlights various techniques and best practices in hand modeling, digital fabrication, mechanisms, and electronics- intended to serve as learning resources for makers of all age groups. 

Before you start this test, follow the instructions here: Installing Arduino

Force sensors are sensors that change resistance based on how much force is applied on it. The more force applied, the lower the resistance. Force can be measured using the analog pins on the Arduino.

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  int val = analogRead(A0);

  Serial.println(val);
}

Ultrasonic sensors are distance sensors that use sound waves to detect how far away an object is. They send out high frequency bursts of sound and listen for its echo. They then determine how far away the object is based on how long it takes for the sound to return to the sensor. This variety requires an Arduino library to operate.

NewPing Library

#include <NewPing.h>

NewPing mysensor(5, 6, 200);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  int pingTime = mysensor.ping();

  int distance = mysensor.ping_in();

  int distance_cm = mysensor.ping_cm();

  Serial.println(distance);
}

Welcome to Arduino!

The first step in learning Arduino is to download the software.  This can be found at arduino.cc.  There are the step by step instructions in the images above.  

It is recommended to make sure that the install has worked by opening the arduino app on your computer.  In our next tutorial, we will go through how to use this interface and connect it to your physical Arduino device.

NOTE

If you have a chromebook, you will not be able to use this method and instead will need to create an account on Arduino Create to gain access to the web editor version.