MERLETT
What emotions arise when materials embedded with computational behaviors defy traditional expectations?
8 Weeks
Grade: 9/10
Group Project
Sept 2024 - Nov 2024
Pending application for: Robosoft 2025
Arduino
Soft Robotics
Sound Design
Interaction Design
Human-Machine Interaction
MERLETT is the end result of an exploratory course at Eindhoven University of Technology called Interactive Materiality. This course aims to investigate the inherent properties of materials and leverage them to embed computational behaviours directly into the materials themselves, creating new ways for users to interact with them through speculative interfaces.
MERLETT aims to challenge the traditional notions of user interfaces by transforming a commonplace object into an expressive, interactive artifact. By integrating computational properties directly into the material, it acts not just as a passive object but as an active participant in the interaction.
Material Explorations
The project began with a material-driven design approach. Inspired by synthetic materials behaving like organic movements, the team investigated the material & sound qualities of everyday materials.
Using video and sound design, i explored emerging movements and unusual combinations of sounds that would fit the new versions of their counterparts to serve as initial inspiration.
FIRST ITERATION
For the first iteration, I looked at actuating the metal tube using two servos while it was hanging upside down. With this setup made in a single day, I connected a capacitive touch sensor and routed all the electronics through the tube.
Using this setup, we explored the initial interactions such as a breathing pattern, and when one side was touched, the nylon wire in the corresponding servo would contract, moving the touched side out of the way.
Finally, when both sides were touched, the whole servo would contract up and start shaking and vibrating.
SECOND ITERATION
The second iteration looked at suspending the tube horizontally. I further explored how to realize the mechanics, and thought of a way to contract the tube using a rotary to linear mechanism connected to discs inside the tube, while thinking of new interactions.
FINAL ITERATION
For the final iteration, we used a more aesthetically pleasing tube design. I also implemented the rotary-to-linear mechanism I had conceptualized earlier, which involved 3D printing the mechanism and laser cutting the discs that would actuate the tube's contraction.
This allowed the tube to contract and expand based on sensor input.
For the sensor input, we leveraged the continuous metal wire within the tube. By attaching capacitive touch sensors to each end of the tube, we could precisely detect when people approached the coil, touched it, and interacted with it using multiple hands, without needing to add sensors directly to the tube!
For the final detailing, I focused on the sound design of the tube. I used a piezo sensor to create a contact microphone, which I routed to Ableton. This allowed me to modulate the incoming transient signal from people touching the tube, making the sound more or less aggressive.
Make sure to watch with SOUND!
When louder transients were detected, the sound was processed with more distortion and less reverb. Conversely, when the tube was touched gently, more reverb and fewer effects were applied, creating a more empathetic sound.
