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08. Wearables

This week we learnt how to make actuators, An actuator is a device that produces a motion by converting energy and signals going into the system. There are different types of actuators that focuses on different outputs-

  • Visual: LEDs, fiber optics, thermochromic inks
  • Sound: Speakers
  • Motion: vibration motors, flip dots, SMAs

The two actuators that immediately caught my attention were the SMAs combined with thermochromatic ink.

Refrences

GAZE: Interactive Clothing / Hi-Tech Costume Artworks from Ready Event Entertainment on Vimeo.

Iris van Herpen ∞ Hypnosis from Iris van Herpen on Vimeo.

Clothing for Moderns: Cocktail Party by Lea Albaugh :: Supported by FRFAF (#2014-17) from STUDIO for Creative Inquiry on Vimeo.

Research

MOSFET CIRCUIT-

MOSFET, in short, is a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor used to switch or amplify voltages in circuits. Being part of the field-effect transistor family, it is a current-controlled device that is constructed with 3 terminals; - Source - Gain - Drain

The purpose of a MOSFET transistor is essentially to control voltage/current flow between the source and the drain. The working principle differs based on the type of MOSFET.

A sample of SMA created in class

A sample we created for thermochromatic ink, using PVA glue as base.

Based on my previous work, i wanted to use origami with SMAs to create motion.

Circuit for SMA,

Code

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(3, INPUT);
}

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  if (digitalRead(3) == LOW){
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
  }
  else {
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);  
  }
  delay(5 00);                       // wait for a second
}

further work that needs to be done

I wanted to merge SMAs with Thermochromatic ink, so when the origami opens there will be a colour change as well, which will be done soon and you will be able to see it here :)

A small LED circuit that we made in a workshop with Nuria Robes

Last update: 2022-01-12