Author Archives: wangl073

Week3_Luobin_Controller

A keyboard hack that turns the chip inside into a cardboard controller. A and D keys are used in this projects since there are similar to Left Key and Right Key in many games.

Week2_Luobin Parallel Circuits & Illustration

Parallel Circuits

This is a paper plane with three lights. Two of them are always on and indicates the plane’s width. The one in the middle is the ready sign, it will be turned on if a person is hold the middle of the paper plane tightly.

Circuit Illustration

Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I am the slave of the ring, and will obey thee in all things.”

This line is from Aladdin’s Lamp. Genie and the lamp is what in this picture. If somebody touches the lamp the Genie will come alive(Blink Blink Blink). Cotten is what his body is made of. I was going to use the conductive thread to connect his eyes to make its face floating on cotton, however the connection was never strong. So I stick his face on the paper, the result is surprisingly good.

Week1_Luobin_Project:Strandbeest

Theo Jansen has been working on this new “form” of life for over 25 years. This creature is made of yellow pipes and they “eat” wind to walk. The unique skeleton structure enables this creature to live by itself, walking flawlessly on the beach. Varies prototypes(“Animarus Apodiacula”, “Animarus Suspendisse” and “Animarus Turgentia Vela” etc.) have been developed and the Strandbeest became something bizarrely organic like this in this video:

This living life form really intrigues by its combination of art and science. Although it doesn’t use any electric technology, Strandbeest is a work of art and mechanical perfection. The beauty of seemingly random behavior is what made this piece one of my favorite. It let me think of perpetual motion possibility at first look. The ability of making use of wind to drive a “machine” this big, not mentioning the recent version can even store the wind power itself, is truly amazing.