Compute. Couture

The Butterfly Effect: An Odyssey of Embodied Elegance

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The “Butterfly Effect” concept illustrates how a small idea can lead to significant changes, visualized as a butterfly flapping its wings.

Project Collaborators: Xinzhou Zhang, Ailin Dong, Samarth Reddy

Idea

The “Butterfly Effect” concept illustrates how a small idea can lead to significant changes. We visualize this process as a butterfly flapping its wings, controlled by a gesture of patting the head, representing moments of inspiration. A headband covers the user's eyes to emphasize the thinking process, similar to meditation.

Concept Development

Inspired by Richard Serra’s Verb List – “To Spread, To Tighten, To Stretch,” the project focuses on symmetry and dynamic movements, particularly "To Spread." The structure's central joint commands its movement, resembling a foldable umbrella. The Arduino Nano 33 IOT kit integrates sensors and actuation, allowing interaction and response.

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Materials

The main body consists of two plastic layers: a skeleton and a surface, both connected to the motor movement. Nails and foam secure the structure.

Demo

music composition created by Ailin.

Design and Funtionality

The skeleton, crafted from laser-cut acrylic and assembled with nuts and bolts, supports the 3D-printed artefact, affixed with foam clay and super glue. The central acrylic component uses longer nails for stability. Decorations are added using foam clay and laser-cut elements. The design mimics a folding umbrella’s structure, allowing controlled expansion and contraction.

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Circuit Diagram and Description

The code is written for an Arduino board to control a servo motor based on the readings from an analog sensor.

Components and Libraries:

• Standard Servo (along with servo.h library)
• LDR

Pin Configuration:

• A1: Analog sensor input.
• Pin 9: Servo motor control.

Setup Function:

• Initializes A1 as an input pin.
• Starts the serial communication at a baud rate of 9600.
• Attaches the servo motor to pin 9 with a pulse width range of 500 to 2500 microseconds.

Main Loop:

• Reads the analog value from A1 and prints it to the serial monitor.
• If the analog reading is less than 30, the servo motor is set to a 58° position, otherwise, it’s set to a 0° position. This 58° angle translates to a specific prismatic movement of attached components, ensuring the servo operates within designated limits.

Delay:

• Introduces a delay of 100 milliseconds in each iteration to prevent rapid fluctuations.

The Final version of the Arduino-based servo control via LDR code is hosted in Github public repository. for complete details and to access the code, please visit the link below.

ChatGPT was not utilized for writing the code. Instead, we experimented with code creation in TinkerCAD, and exported the code to the Arduino IDE. However, we did use ChatGPT for writing assistance, and to accurately articulate programming jargon within the comments of the code.

Github Repo: Experiment 1

Prototype

Challenges and Insights

Creating the ‘butterfly effect’ presented a series of challenges. The task of binding diverse materials was daunting, especially with superglue. Detailed trimming of the 3D printed artefact was essential, and challenges emerged when separating the acrylic from the laser-cut board during operation. After soldering, issues arose from a faulty sensor due to misconnected wires. As time passed, the assembly’s nuts and bolts began to show wear. Yet, every challenge encountered was a stepping stone to refinement.

The journey to perfect the ‘butterfly effect’ was a unique exploration. As with all endeavors fueled by vision, it culminated in a remarkable blend of art, technology, and innovation. The ‘butterfly effect’ is more than a mere experiment; it stands as a testament to artistry, precision, and the infinite potential of human-inspired creativity. We’re eager to refine its design and mechanics in the upcoming months.

We thank Kate Hartman and Nick Puckett for their invaluable guidance, consultation, and discussions, as well as technicians Orit Zewge-Abubaker, Patricia Mwenda and Prayag Ichangimath for their immense support.