In our previous post making things that talk part 1 the analogy is used where a group of people communicate allowing them to share and transfer information. In this post we build on the same concept with the micro controller (Carl) and the sensor (Susan). There are two changes; (Paul) from processing has left us and is replaced with (Grant) from grasshopper and the source (Sam) is still here but he is measuring wind variance vs light. In this example we use a really interesting anemometer/wind sensor from modern device. This little sensor uses a technique called “hot wire” which involves heating an element to a constant temperature and measuring the electrical power that is required to maintain the heated element at temperature as the wind changes. With wind variance the sensor produces voltage/values. These values are sent through the serial port into grasshopper via the generic serial read component from firefly. Once the values are pipped into grasshopper they alter a series of relationships that inflates a 3-dimensional balloon.

The single array of data streaming from the sensor controls 4 relationships.

  • a. varying division points spaced along central axis
  • b. varying circle radius about the division points
  • c. mesh surface constructed from control curves
  • d. z axis translation based on radius

GHX build

Final build showcases the digital inflation of a balloon translated by a wind sensor.

See this video in HD here.