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=== Respiring Reflections === | === Respiring Reflections === | ||
[[File:Winterwerkschau video close up.mp4|left|thumb]] | [[File:Winterwerkschau video close up.mp4|left|thumb]] | ||
''This project is called "'''Respiring Reflections'''", a bubble machine which is connected to Pothos plants (Epipremnum aureum) in an enclosed environment to simulate respiring cycle of | ''This project is called "'''Respiring Reflections'''", a bubble machine which is connected to Pothos plants (Epipremnum aureum) in an enclosed environment to simulate respiring cycle of plants.'' | ||
[[File:Winterwerkschau video front 1.mp4|left|thumb]] | [[File:Winterwerkschau video front 1.mp4|left|thumb]] | ||
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=== First Experiments and Plants Observations === | === First Experiments and Plants Observations === | ||
In the beginning of our semester, we were given some seeds to be grown at home | In the beginning of our semester, we were given some seeds to be grown at home. 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. 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 ===== | ===== Chia seeds ===== | ||
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In the end, only 1 group of Pearls & Jade Pothos survived and grew a new leaf, that is the one which had 3 leaves in the beginning of cutting. The other ones I experimented with (by only growing 1 leaf or 2) were rotten. Lesson learned: always grow as a group, compared to Jade Pothos (they can be grown as single leaf). Propagating in water was faster to grow roots, but Jade Pothos also survived in Seramis medium. Younger leaves were faster in growing new leaves, maybe because of more growth hormones? For the Winterwerkschau, I only repotted the Jade variation into the custom clear casing. | In the end, only 1 group of Pearls & Jade Pothos survived and grew a new leaf, that is the one which had 3 leaves in the beginning of cutting. The other ones I experimented with (by only growing 1 leaf or 2) were rotten. Lesson learned: always grow as a group, compared to Jade Pothos (they can be grown as single leaf). Propagating in water was faster to grow roots, but Jade Pothos also survived in Seramis medium. Younger leaves were faster in growing new leaves, maybe because of more growth hormones? For the Winterwerkschau, I only repotted the Jade variation into the custom clear casing. | ||
Another observation is that, because I propagated them in 2 different media (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. | Another observation is that, because I propagated them in 2 different media (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. The Pothos plants were also sensitive to lights, they will grow towards the light source. | ||
=== Motivation === | === Motivation === | ||
[[File:Bubble machine sketch idea.jpg|thumb|296x296px]] | [[File:Bubble machine sketch idea.jpg|thumb|296x296px|Bubble machine sketch idea]] | ||
It was a bit confusing and challenging to try combining/connecting plants and electronics somehow. But what I noticed during my plants' observation was that I was interested in the respiration process of my plants. The idea was to make a bubble machine which can visualize it. I think bubbles | It was a bit confusing and challenging to try combining/connecting plants and electronics somehow. But what I noticed during my plants' observation was that I was interested in the respiration process of my plants. The idea was to make a bubble machine which can visualize it. I think bubbles match the concept of respiration, since they are somewhat transparent, just like respiration. With the bubbles, I was trying to simulate or reflect the respiration, hence the project name "'''Respiring Reflections'''". | ||
During the process of growing my Pothos plants (''Epipremnum aureum'') from cuttings (Stecklinge) and documented their growth, 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 produced 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. | During the process of growing my Pothos plants (''Epipremnum aureum'') from cuttings (Stecklinge) and documented their growth, 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 produced 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. | ||
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=== Wiring Diagram === | === Wiring Diagram === | ||
[[File:The_Plant_Plant_-_Bubble_Machine_Wiring_Diagram.png|350x350px|right]] | [[File:The_Plant_Plant_-_Bubble_Machine_Wiring_Diagram.png|350x350px|right]] | ||
During the process of making the bubble machine, unfortunately I broke my ESP32. I'm still not sure why, but perhaps it was due to false wiring. Thus I made this wiring diagram so that the wiring | During the process of making the bubble machine, unfortunately I broke my ESP32. I'm still not sure why, but perhaps it was due to false wiring. Thus I made this wiring diagram so that the wiring would be clear. I tried some free tools to make the wiring diagram, but in the end I stick with EasyEDA to make this. The wiring diagram helped me a lot in reproducing the wiring I wanted to do, as well as to ask opinion from Christian or someone else for consultation. | ||
Since I wanted this installation to be a standalone one, I powered the ESP32 with the power supply of 12 volts, through a buck converter of 5 volts | Since I wanted this installation to be a standalone one, I powered the ESP32 with the power supply of 12 volts, through a buck converter of 5 volts with 1 Ampere output. For this, I went to an electronics store in Erfurt (Bastlerland) and showed my wiring diagram for this project. The storekeeper recommended me this solution and I followed it. | ||
=== Codes === | === Codes === | ||
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===== Calibration ===== | ===== Calibration ===== | ||
To determine the thresholds for my bubble machine, I uploaded a calibration script to the ESP32 and let the CO<sub>2</sub> sensor run in the enclosed plants' casing for minutes until the values | To determine the thresholds for my bubble machine, I uploaded a calibration script to the ESP32 and let the CO<sub>2</sub> sensor run in the enclosed plants' casing for minutes until the values shown in the serial monitor (a way to see values when the ESP32 is connected to your laptop) were somewhat "stable" and not deviating too much from the previous ones: | ||
'''main.cpp:'''<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp"> | '''main.cpp:'''<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp"> | ||
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=== Respiring Reflections - First Prototype and First Trials === | === Respiring Reflections - First Prototype and First Trials === | ||
For the bubble machine | For the bubble machine I needed a fan, a rotating motor, bubble sticks and a container for the soap bubble liquid. To produce more soap bubbles, the motor needs to rotate faster. The bubble sticks need to dip into the soap bubble liquid and then they will pick up the soap liquid to be blown in front of a fan to produce bubbles. To test out this logic, I made the first prototype out of cardboard. This turned out to be helpful for considering measurements for the final prototype. Other than the bubble machine as a whole, I also did trials on the CO<sub>2</sub> sensor in the plants' enclosed environment. Moreover, I tried to experiment with the closeness of the fan to the bubble sticks, for it to be able to blow bubbles. Through the trials, I found that the fan was strong enough to blow the bubbles only in specific areas, with a certain closeness. Therefore, I needed to consider and experiment with the distance and placement of the fan towards the rotating bubble sticks.<gallery mode="packed-hover" widths="260" heights="180"> | ||
File:Cardboard prototype.jpg | File:Cardboard prototype.jpg | ||
File:Cardboard prototype 2.jpg | File:Cardboard prototype 2.jpg | ||
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=== Self-reflection and Lessons Learned === | === Self-reflection and Lessons Learned === | ||
I learned a lot in this class, from developing the concept, electronics, prototyping, and coding. This project was a good challenge for me to tackle, since I didn't | I learned a lot in this class, from developing the concept, electronics, prototyping, and coding. This project was a good challenge for me to tackle, since I didn't have a lot of prototyping courses. | ||
===== Prototyping hurdles ===== | ===== 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 anywhere: 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 also better. | 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 anywhere: 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 also better. | ||
I feel like I spent most of my time designing and planning for my prototypes rather than building the prototypes, both for the cardboard prototype (first prototype) and also the final one. I wasn't sure how it was supposed to be made, but I kept thinking about the measurements and the mechanisms so that I could make them work, | I feel like I spent most of my time designing and planning for my prototypes rather than building the prototypes, both for the cardboard prototype (first prototype) and also the final one. I wasn't sure how it was supposed to be made, but I kept thinking about the measurements and the mechanisms so that I could make them work, logically and visually in my mind. Sometimes even night and day, that I got a little bit overwhelmed. In the end though, I compromised the accuracy aspect and focused more on the functionality or mechanical things to make it work. "Just try it out" was definitely a motto for this project. | ||
===== Learnings from my Pothos plants ===== | ===== Learnings from my Pothos plants ===== | ||
In this class, this | In this class, this was 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 chance. The roots that grew depend on the medium as well; in water propagation they grew smooth, whereas those in Seramis medium were branched and grew deeper into the Seramis medium. It reminds me that adaptability is an important survival trait. | ||
=== Future Work === | === Future Work === | ||
If I had to think about this project and relate it to my study program, I would have difficulties | If I had to think about this project and relate it to my study program, I would have difficulties, since I'm not exactly experienced in speculative design. 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 having a bubble machine 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, 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 refilled it manually. | ||
=== References === | === References === | ||