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=== Respiring Reflections === | === Respiring Reflections === | ||
This project is called "'''Respiring Reflections'''", a bubble machine which is connected | This project is called "'''Respiring Reflections'''", a bubble machine which is connected to Pothos plants (''Epipremnum aureum'') in an enclosed environment. Read below to follow the process and the story behind the making of this project.<gallery mode="packed" heights="150"> | ||
File:Respiring Reflections image 1.png | File:Respiring Reflections image 1.png | ||
File:Respiring Reflections image 2.jpg | File:Respiring Reflections image 2.jpg | ||
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=== First Experiments === | === First Experiments === | ||
In the beginning of our semester, we were given some seeds to be grown at home. This was our first experiments for this class. I was growing Chia seeds (and also apple seeds that didn't really grow into anything) on a piece of cotton and inside a plastic bag. I have not done this since school time, so it was interesting and fun. During our first experiments in growing seeds, we documented our plants' progress. I documented it in form of pictures and diary entries. | In the beginning of our semester, we were given some seeds to be grown at home. This was our first experiments for this class. I was growing Chia seeds (and also apple seeds that didn't really grow into anything) on a piece of cotton and inside a plastic bag. I have not done this since school time, so it was interesting and fun. During our first experiments in growing seeds, we documented our plants' progress. I documented it in form of pictures and diary entries. Other than the Chia seeds, I also grew Pothos plants (''Epipremnum aureum'') from cuttings. | ||
===== Chia seeds ===== | |||
//TODO: add pics + examples of diary entries | |||
===== Pothos cuttings ''(Epipremnum aureum)'', Jade variation; Pearls & Jade variation ===== | |||
Jade variation: green-colored leaves; Pearls & Jade variation: green and white pattern leaves | |||
//TODO: add pics + examples of diary entries | //TODO: add pics + examples of diary entries | ||
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//TODO: add initial sketches | //TODO: add initial sketches | ||
Before the bubble machine idea, I already decided to grow Pothos plants from | Before the bubble machine idea, I already decided to grow Pothos plants (''Epipremnum aureum'') from cuttings (Stecklinge) and documented their growth. During the process, that was where I started to think: "Are my plants breathing? They seem fine, their leaves are green... but are they really okay?" The idea was that the soap bubbles quantity would be according to the CO<sub>2</sub> level of the plants' enclosed environment, divided into three categories: Low, Medium and High CO<small>2</small> level. When the CO<small>2</small> level in the plants' environment rises, then there will be more soap bubbles. In order to do so, I watched videos and read blogs/forums related to the DIY bubble maker machine, until I had a plan on the materials needed and how to make it. | ||
You can find my initial project mood board here: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVLBm7F8w=/?share_link_id=117991010729 | You can find my initial project mood board here: https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVLBm7F8w=/?share_link_id=117991010729 | ||
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=== Materials === | === Materials === | ||
* ESP32 | * ESP32 | ||
* Breadboard (half-size) | |||
* CO<sub>2</sub> sensor MH-Z19C | * CO<sub>2</sub> sensor MH-Z19C | ||
* Stepper motor 28BYJ-48 | * Stepper motor 28BYJ-48 | ||
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* Soap bubble liquid | * Soap bubble liquid | ||
* Lots of cables... | * Lots of cables... | ||
//TODO: add pics of materials | |||
=== Wiring Diagram === | === Wiring Diagram === | ||
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=== Respiring Reflections - Final Prototype (Winterwerkschau) === | === Respiring Reflections - Final Prototype (Winterwerkschau) === | ||
To build the final prototype for the Winterwerkschau, I decided to change the casing material to transparent acrylic sheets. I think it matches the concept that everything is transparent/translucent. Before building the real physical final prototype, I tried out several online tools to help me, such as 3D sketch plan, 2D blueprint and optimization software to cut the acrylic sheets, to know how much materials I needed.<gallery mode="packed" heights="150"> | To build the final prototype for the Winterwerkschau, I decided to change the casing material to transparent acrylic sheets. I think it matches the concept that everything is transparent/translucent. Before building the real physical final prototype, I tried out several online tools to help me, such as 3D sketch plan, 2D blueprint and optimization software to cut the acrylic sheets, to know how much materials I needed. Because the dimension of my final prototype will depend on the bubble sticks (attached to the rotating stepper motor), and also the length of the breadboard, I decided to use half-size breadboard instead of a full-size one, since the full-size will be redundant for my project. The wiring diagram helped me to consider this, since I wouldn't need that much space of the breadboard. The half-size breadboard minimized the length (or depth) dimension of my prototype a lot. In building the final prototype, I learned a lot how to be creative in finding solutions with common materials or tools that I could find in the lab (either diyElectronics Lab in B15 or Electronics Lab in M5), at home or in the city. I'm glad that I made it work in the end:)<gallery mode="packed" heights="150"> | ||
File:3D sketch bubble machine.png|3D plan - Tinkercad | File:3D sketch bubble machine.png|3D plan - Tinkercad | ||
File:2D blueprint bubble machine.png|2D blueprint - cuttle.xyz | File:2D blueprint bubble machine.png|2D blueprint - cuttle.xyz | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
=== Self-reflection === | === Self-reflection and Lessons Learned === | ||
This semester I got a chance to experience what it feels like to be a student under Art and Design Faculty at Bauhaus University Weimar. This is not a class I usually take, but I had fun, although it could be stressful, challenging and confusing at times. I wasn't familiar at all with the artistic approach, I felt a little bit out of place since I was the only one not from the Art and Design Faculty. But Christian, Klaus and everyone in the class were really helpful and always had interesting ideas or suggestions every session. I felt really supported from beginning to the end. | |||
===== Prototyping hurdles ===== | |||
Technically it was challenging, since it was the first time I learned ESP32, plus I broke my first one in this class... But lessons learned, always make a wiring diagram and triple check everything! I usually only deal with digital problems, so prototyping with electronics and physical mechanical things adds dimension in the project, which means when I encounter a problem, that problem could be in any dimension and I couldn't really pinpoint where. Throughout the class, I experienced that problems can arise everywhere: cables, ESP32, understanding of mechanical/physical things, materials, tools, device specification that needs specific usage in the code, etc. But that's just the art of prototyping, as my friend said. We're not doing a finished line of production, so enjoy the ups and downs, the successes and failures. Fail fast is better. | |||
===== Learning from my Pothos plants (and observations) ===== | |||
In this class, this is the first time I grew Pothos plants from cuttings as a part of my experiment. I learned resilience and adaptability from them, especially from the Jade variation. They are so resilient, and they all survived winter. In contrary, only one of the Pearls & Jade variation survived until now, but I learned that for Pearls & Jade variation, they should be propagated in a few leaves as a group instead of single leaves. This should increase their survival chances. Another observation is that, because I propagated them in 2 different mediums (water and Seramis medium), the roots that grew depend on the medium. The roots in water propagation grew smooth as one long root, whereas those in Seramis medium were branched and tend to grow deeper into the Seramis medium. It reminds me that adaptability is an important survival trait. | |||
=== Future Work === | === Future Work === | ||
future | If I had to think about this project and relate it to my study program, I would have difficulties. I'm not exactly experienced in speculative design, and perhaps I'm not interested in that area in the future as well, but who knows. However, it might be a bit far-fetched, but I could imagine my bubble machine as an outdoor "smart home system" that visualizes the respiration of houseplants, since indoor can be messy. Bubbles can be fun to look at, especially for children. During the Winterwerkschau, I enjoyed witnessing that people of all ages enjoying the bubbles, but especially children. Some of my friends also reported this to me and it was heartwarming. And maybe add some indicators, to indicate if something goes wrong with the plants (so that the owner(s) can check). This idea can be elaborated further, which indicator(s) can be used, what kind of thresholds, what indicates "healthy" and "sick" plants, etc. A mechanism that could be added would be to refill the soap liquid from time to time (during Winterwerkschau I did it manually). | ||
=== Gallery === | === Gallery === | ||