an eco-machine

Solargraphy – Test #2

designlabworkshop — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:28:35 +0000

Beambots_They are Alive

designlabworkshop — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:42:54 +0000

After so tweaking, the Beambots are alive and seeking light!

Here are a couple of videos from the action today on my rooof terrace.

Solargraphy – 1st Test

designlabworkshop — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:19:12 +0000

Photo paper tests

designlabworkshop — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:45:02 +0000

Photopopper photovore Test #2

designlabworkshop — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:35:31 +0000

I received 4 kits of Photopopper photovore from Solarbotics, which means they seek out light and also have touch sensors so that when it bumps into an obstacle it goes the other way.

After spending the whole day soldering 3 of the 4 kits together, I only got one to work (sort of!). This is pretty frustrating…back to soldering tomorrow to hopefully fix them.

Solar Bot Kits Arrived

designlabworkshop — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:15:51 +0000

This package was suppose to arrive last Friday, but finally arrived today…

http://solarbotics.com/

Photopopper Test #1

designlabworkshop — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:06:37 +0000

So, here was my first test at a photopopper. I followed this tutorial step by step http://raysbeambots.solarbotics.net/FLEDtutorial.htm. This bot doesn’t have a circuit board and is constructed by “freeform” soldering it together. Next time, I plan on using my breadboard before freeforming. In the end, I could only get one side of the bot to work and it also did not pulse, but rather ran continiously.

B.E.A.M Robotics

designlabworkshop — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:52:54 +0000

B.E.A.M stands for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics, and Mechanics. This is a style of robotics that primarily uses simple circuits instead of microprocessors in order to produce simple designs.

They were invented by Mark W. Tilden who created a circuit (or a Nv net of Nv neurons) which simulates biological neuron behaviours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BEAM_robotics

Types of BEAM Bots:

1. Audiotropes react to sound sources.

2. Phototropes (“light-seekers”) react to light sources.

3. Radiotropes react to radio frequency sources.

4. Thermotropes react to heat sources.

Since I’m interested in using the sun, I have been working with Phototrope Beam Bots.

Types of Phototropes:

Power-Smart Head (Solar Trackers)

http://www.smfr.org/robots/

Photopoppers (Solar Bugs search for light, but can also sense obstacles).

http://www.smfr.org/robots/

Pummer (Stores energy during the day and releases at night).

http://www.smfr.org/robots/

http://www.solarbotics.com/

What other tests can I perform with sunlight?

designlabworkshop — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:18:10 +0000

I’ve been searching with was to test or experiment with sunlight. So far, I have found two methods: 1. Double-slit experiment (Young’s experiment) 2. Spectrometer

1. Double-Slit Experiment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment

2. Spectrometer

http://orbitingfrog.com/blog/2008/07/02/make-your-own-spectrometer/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrometer

Shadowmation – Prototype 3

designlabworkshop — Sun, 30 May 2010 23:29:49 +0000

Prototype was printed on acetate. This first version was black & white.

This is a second version where I started to experiment with color.