Created by Luiz Zanotello during his ongoing master studies on Digital Media at the University of the Arts Bremen, The Aerographer is an installation that explores the state of uncertainty in times of ubiquitous technological mediation, borders among territories and boundaries among bodies. Designed both a system and an individual, the Aerographer is “trapped on groundless air, seeking to sustain a place inside of the clouds”.
The installation reacts to subtle changes of airflow within a room. Conceived to be mounted temporarily and through serendipity, the installation can adapt to different spaces and situations modularly. Each module contains a fixed center part, and one to three fixed probing parts. Each probing part works as a disassembled hot-wire anemometer, grasping constantly micro changes of temperature between itself and the center to measure airspeed. In between them, a node travels by converting the measured airspeed difference into mechanical linear motion, which shifts retractable bands that can be connected to other nodes. A map unfolds, from a tree-like structure of fixed parts, to a networked kinetic map of differential measurements in motion.
The project was extensively prototyped with Arduino-based basic electronic components, and Processing for visualisation / simulation purposes. PCBs were produced using DIY techniques combining laser cutting on painted copper plates and etching. Installation uses Arduino Uno (stand-alone with an ATmega328p micro controller) and sensing is achieved using custom hot-wire anemometers, developed with inexpensive 1N4148 diodes working as temperature sensors – PCBs to hold the sensor parts. Motion is achieved by stepper motor drivers: DRV 8825 and NEMA 17 stepper motors. The installation includes custom 3D Printed white ABS pulleys and PLA holders, small cases and adaptors and well as custom laser cut cases of white and transparent acrylic plates. Retracting bands were made by grinding metric retracting bands enclosed on a 3d printed case. Finally, standard ball bearings, steel cables, threaded rods, nuts, and aluminum tubes complete the install.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
