phaeton

We got over our failures of last week, and were given the week to complete the task. This significantly changed the dynamic of the project and the attitude of the team. This project just got a lot bigger. Now, instead of working for three hours with a group of people we didn't know, with work ethics and perspective unfamiliar to us, we would now have to coordinate between six people's schedules and lives! As if that is not a complicated enough project on its own.

We met a number of times through the week, working out the code, the construction, and how they function together. We decided to go a bit more in depth with the project, and actually give our machine a name and history. We named our solar tracker Phaeton, after the son of Apollo, and a chariot of the sun.

Working on a longer project throughout the week has been a bit difficult just due to problems scheduling 6 different people's busy lives, however, we emailed often and left notes, pictures, and messages constantly.

incomplete

Today was discouraging. We failed, again. We got in groups and worked really hard to accomplish nothing which we then had to present to the entire class, all three professors, all the students passing by, AND a video tape- in case we should forget the failures that took place.

From this persistent failing, however, we have been learning. The first half of class was extremely helpful. We all did a number of tutorials on our own with the Arduino boards, using sensors and motors. Again, the satisfaction in these activities was incredible.

Regrouping after lunch, we jumped into another project, much shorter than last time. We had only one hour to make these light sensors move horizantally and vertically, to follow the light source (flash light).

Immediately, my group started testing and brainstorming together on a big white board. Everyone was drawing pictures and discussion possible roadblocks.

We split into groups, programmers and construction. The professors started hinting at the idea of looking online to make things easier, etc. By the time we realized the impossibility of this project without online aid, we had about 15 minutes left, and took everything apart in order to reconstruct. Our goal began on accomplishing one axis, we wanted to have SOMETHING done, something moving the way it should be.
We accomplished that, however, we still failed the project of the day, which was very frustrating-again- but its good for us.

Arduino Light

When was the last time something worked out exactly the way you wanted it to? For me, this is an extremely rare occasion.
That IS... until I was handed a small white cardboard box, void of labeling, branding, colors of any kind. "Arduino", a really cool sounding word, with no images, no knowledge of what could possible be inside. Watching the faces of the engineers in class, and eavesdropping on small conversations about what this project could be, my excitement turned directly into sharp intimidation!
This should be interesting...

I started right away, understanding how busy the week gets, and how my work deteriorates under time and sleep restrictions. Following the tutorials, I downloaded the software and got things set up.

Setting up the circuits and revisiting the symbols used to display components and placement of the pieces, I was gently reminded of middle school science class; the last time I had worked with circuits. Memories were fond.

Living in a coop full of engineers, I became a source of entertainment. Watching me attempt to build circuits and do any sort of programming, science, engineering... was exciting for everyone involved, and became the topic of conversation often. I could sense the eyes watching my every move, inspecting the placement of my wires, resistors, LED's, looking for faults, watching my face, for it to suddenly scream out "HELP" and therefor welcome their attention and their hands to go to work on the Arduino. Each one of them would come sit down to see and chat before continuing to walk across the living room.

I played with this all week. Writing down exactly what I wanted it to do, and then watching it do just that. This is the type of satisfaction I have been searching for and missing dearly while studying Art and Design at the University of Michigan. Trial and error, yes this works, no this doesnt, why doesnt it, where is the problem, what is the problem? This type of problem solving is why I love design and why I despise the broad, unguided projects "assigned" in my art studios.

As for the lampshade, I used a metal frame with different kinds of paper on the outside to allow light to shine through differently. Also, by keeping the wire on the inside, it would create intriguing shadows.