“Interactive Wooden Flower”

MSc Medialogy, MED07 Semester, Aalborg University, Copenhagen Autumn 2023

Supervisor: Daniel Overholt

Interactive Wooden Flower is a tangible and playful interface that explores the relationship between digital control and physical motion. The project was developed during the Mobile and Wearable Computing course of the MSc Medialogy program at Aalborg University in Autumn 2023.  The aim was to design a small-scale kinetic object that reacts to user input in real time, bridging the gap between digital and physical interaction. The flower opens and closes through a central servo motor, initially controlled by an Arduino Nano 33 BLE via the LightBlue mobile app. In a later iteration, the interaction evolved with the integration of an ESP32 M5Stack Atom Matrix, which served both as a controller and as a tangible interface with LED feedback. When the flower opened, a smiling face appeared on the LED matrix, while a sad face represented its closed state — adding an emotional and playful dimension to the interaction. The design process combined concept exploration, CAD modeling, laser-cut fabrication, and iterative prototyping. Inspiration was drawn from kinetic and responsive art installations. Each prototype iteration refined the mechanical system, improved servo precision, and enhanced the synchronization between movement and visual response. The prototype was tested through hands-on functional evaluation to ensure smooth movement, stable BLE communication, and accurate synchronization between the servo and LED feedback. During the development phase, technical challenges such as timing delays in BLE communication were identified and analyzed. Adjustments in servo calibration and component scaling improved the smoothness and responsiveness of the motion.  Future improvements include refining the control logic, integrating motion or proximity sensors for reactive behavior, and exploring possible applications in interactive installations, therapy tools, and educational kits.

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