Radical EcoSystem¶
A bio-hybrid system where plant activity shapes technological behaviour
Concept¶
Radical EcoSystem is an experimental bio-hybrid installation exploring how plant activity can influence the behaviour of technological systems. In many contemporary technological environments, living organisms are monitored, measured, and controlled through sensors and automated infrastructures. This project investigates an alternative paradigm: a system in which plant signals actively shape the behaviour of artificial components. The installation combines plant sensing, human physiological input, and soft robotic actuation to create a responsive ecosystem in which movement, light, and sound emerge from biological signals. These transformations make otherwise invisible biological processes perceptible through dynamic sensory expressions. A pneumatic artificial flower responds to plant activity, while human presence introduces additional variations through physiological input. Rather than functioning as a simple interface between human and nature, the installation behaves as a small technological ecosystem where plant signals influence artificial behaviours and human presence perturbs the system dynamics. By shifting agency away from purely human control, Radical Signals explores how living organisms can become active participants in technological environments, proposing a more-than-human perspective on interaction and system design.
The title Radical Signals refers both to plant roots (radicals) and to a radical shift of perspective: a system where plant signals begin shaping technological behaviour.
RadicalEcoSystem, Carlotta Premazzi 2026
Keywords¶
GENERAL KEYWORDS: Biohybrid, Plant Interaction, Biosignals, Heartbeat, Soft Robotics, Breathing, Light, Sound, Responsive Ecosystem, More-than-Human
MOOD KEYWORDS: Immersive, Multisensory, Meditative, Symbiotic, Organic, Sensitive, Transformative
5 Ws who, what, when, where, why¶
who¶
The installation involves three types of agents:
- a living plant whose activity influences the system
- human participants whose physiological signals introduce perturbations
- a technological system translating biological signals into behaviour Rather than positioning the human as the central controller, the project explores a distributed relationship between biological and technological actors.
what¶
Radical EcoSystem is an interactive installation composed of:
- a plant sensing system capturing plant activity
- a heartbeat sensor recording human physiological signal
- a microcontroller-based control system
- a pneumatic artificial flower functioning as a soft robotic body
Plant signals are translated into multiple forms of technological behaviour, including:
- pneumatic movement of the artificial flower
- reactive light behaviour integrated into the structure
- a generative soundscape derived from plant activity
Together, these elements form a bio-hybrid system in which biological signals shape the behaviour of artificial components.
when¶
The project is developed during Fabricademy 2025–2026 as an evolving research-based work.
It is conceived as a modular system that can grow and adapt over time.
where¶
The installation is intended for exhibition spaces, such as:
- galleries
- museums
- festivals
- immersive environments
The system can be adapted to different spatial configurations.
why¶
Technological systems are commonly designed to monitor, optimise, or control living organisms. Radical Signals explores an alternative perspective by investigating how plant activity can influence technological behaviour. By creating a bio-hybrid feedback loop between plant signals, technological systems, and human presence, the project proposes a technological ecosystem where plants are not passive objects of measurement but active agents shaping artificial behaviour. The installation invites audiences to experience technological systems not only as tools of control, but as environments where biological and artificial processes coexist and influence each other.
Project Structure — Overview¶
| Area | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 🎓 Classes / Processes | Fabricademy disciplines | Soft Robotics · Electronics & Physical Computing · BioFabricating Materials · Computational Couture · Sound & Interaction Design · Textile as Scaffold · Digital Bodies |
| 🔬Research Focus | Conceptual research | More-than-human design · Symbiotic systems · Biofeedback · Plant electrophysiology · Visceral interaction · Arousal & delay · Slow interaction · Distributed agency · Artificial life |
| 📝 Project Nature | Project typology | Interactive installation · Soft-robotic organism · Multisensory environment · Artificial plant · Living system prototype |
| ⚙️ Materials & Technology | Technical components | Arduino · Sensors (EDA, humidity, heartbeat) · Pneumatics · Pumps & valves · Soft materials (silicone + bio-based) · Tubing · Pure Data/webaudio · Light (low intensity) |
| 🧩 Behaviour & System Logic | Interaction logic | Delay · Accumulation · Thresholds · Autonomy · Drift · Sensitivity modulation |
State of the Art / Concept Development¶
This project builds upon the initial proposal presented in the Implication and Application assignment (Week 13).
The project evolved through several conceptual stages during the research and prototyping process.
- Interactive Garden (initial idea) - Presentation Proposal The project initially explored the idea of an interactive environment where plants could communicate their internal states through responsive elements such as pneumatic flowers, light and sound.
The aim was to make invisible biological processes perceptible through sensory interaction.
- Radical Signals (system perspective) - Mid Term Project Presentation As the research progressed, the installation began to be framed not as a simple interface but as a system composed of multiple interacting agents.
The focus shifted toward the relationships between plant signals, human physiological input and technological behaviours such as movement, light and sound.
- Radical EcoSystem (current concept) - For Final Presentation The project is developed into a bio-hybrid system exploring a more-than-human perspective.
Rather than using technology to monitor or control nature, the installation investigates how plant activity can influence technological behaviour.
Within this small ecosystem, plant signals shape the responses of artificial components, while human presence introduces additional subtle modulations of the system.
Project Presentation Proposal on Canva, Carlotta Premazzi, 2025/2026 Biolab Lisbon.
Mid Term Project Presentation on Canva, Carlotta Premazzi, 2026 Biolab Lisbon.
Feedback & Mentoring notes¶
??? info "Project Presentation Proposal" Feedback & Mentoring notes
- **OSCAR** — try to work on the mapping with the human and non-human data and the interaction possibilities. Select a place to work on to try it.
- **ANASTASIA** — there is a lot of work coming from Ars Electronica. have a look at the final project of gabriela lotaif. you can think of making the flowers with bioplastic, you can also add essence/fragrance. https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/1st-3d-printed-inflatable-flower-just-gimmick-22868/ https://starts.eu/hungryecocities/ppe/le-terre-di-zoe-betiana-pavon/ https://koyne.org/Betiana-Pavon explore the option of making the flowers yourself, with biomaterials, they are hydroscopic and you can use this property to create a semi-artificial landscape. logistics wise it will be easier
- **CECILIA** — Carlotta, i love the topic - the project is very ambitious! i am happy you made 3 plans - to ensure its happening. I will send you some links later, i think you may enjoy the work of Spela Petric > projects such as Pl'AI and breathing garden & also the work of …
- **CLAUDIA** — lovely concept and topic. nice presentation and mood! Great idea of making the interactive installation with other beings. The installation is going to be tailor made for the plants in Portugal? Check the project by the [teamlab and the one in Osaka](https://www.designboom.com/art/nemophila-teamlab-digital-art-installation-blooms-glows-botanical-garden-osaka-04-11-2023/) there is also bioluminiscence. what will be the most challenging part in the project?
- **LOUISE** — it looks like you have thought quite thorough about your project already! I am wondering how you can tackle the ecological aspect of the soft robotics to have a vertuous loop from the plant to biodegradable soft robotics. As reference, a great exhibition around plants: https://www.fondationcartier.com/en/programme/exhibition/trees
- **CAROLINA** — Carlotta, great research and presentation. Next time, consider limiting presentations to a maximum of 20/25 slides so you move faster and focus on the essentials. We need to visit other green locations and choose plants to work with. Good work! Congratulations!
- **DIANE** — Love this idea of an interactive garden installation! Depending on the size of the installation you will need to have the necessary power supply for your system, and it can be very different depending on how/if you connect this all together; you will need to test that every interaction works, but also the whole circuit, to-size
- **ANNIE** — Reconnecting humans with living systems, I feel exactly the same… “All my relations”… everything is connected (wind, humidity, air particles, fungi, etc.). the Brazilian forest is partly fertilized by microparticles from an old lake in Africa picked up by the wind. I think your project can highlight those invisible interrelations. congratulations — it is really fun
- **PORPLA** — Plant intelligence and human interaction is very intriguing, love that you bring up energy and frequency as well, really interested to see how your project evolve
??? info "Mid Term Presentation" on February
- **ANASTASIA** — I had difficulty following your presentation for two reasons: first, you were reading and introducing more abstract concepts; second, you fragmented the system into different aspects, so it was difficult to have an overview of the project.
- **CECILIA** — I think you went deeply into your methodology and the role of each element. I invite you to make this into one comprehensive map — mind map, flow, overview, whichever you like. It is important for you, and eventually the viewer of your installation needs to *experience* these roles and meanings. Start translating these into audio segments or a visual map. I hope to see more of your design process soon, there were some beautiful things that we saw very quickly. I know you like to explore new things, but also play to your strengths — make a mix between new skills and your background knowledge in audio/visuals.
- **CLAUDIA** — Keep the presentation focused and interesting, where did the nice visuals and images go? i would have put these experiments at the beginning- what you did is very interesting, deserves to be showcased properly. what if a system responded like a living body? like a plant? slowly, imperfectly, independently? humans inputs as something temporary..
- **NURIA** — Carlota, your project presents a beautifully poetic interaction between plants, humans, and technology. However, the complexity of the system risks diluting the core experience. I suggest prioritizing one primary biosignal at first and defining more clearly how it will be translated into the soft-robotic actuator. It would also help to clarify the final form of the installation and how the audience will interact with it. I recommend dividing the next steps into achievable tasks for the next 3 weeks. Time really flies.
- **CAROLINA** — Carlotta, I would like to see your final scheme. You have a lot to say, but maybe you can shorten the information and focus more on the final design. Congratulations on the big pictures!
working doc¶
Learning outcomes
- Research skills: the participant has acquired knowledge through references: concept development, research, where does the project innovate
- Design skills: the participant has learnt through making a mood board, sketches/preliminary designs
- Process skills: the participant is able to define their project in Who, What, When, Where, Why
- Fabrication skills: the participant leant via simple quick prototypes or (material) samples
- Final outcome: Personal Final Project page, sketch of project planning & first Gantt chart
- Originality: Has the design and innovation been thought through and elaborated?
Student checklist
- [ ] Set up your final project page, document the concept, sketches, artistic and scientific references
- [ ] Answer the 5W: Who, What, When, Where, Why
- [ ] Create a quick prototype of your concept. (physical, digital, collage or render)
- [ ] Start a mood board to give insight in a first look and feel of your project concept