Bluetooth Physical Computing

Let There Be Light

{coding, circuitry, interface design & construction, sensors, bluetooth connection}

This project explores the Bluetooth communication between two pieces of hardware (Arduinos with their respective circuit) in building an interactive remote-controlled rotating lantern.

Different visual cues on the interface invite users to explore multilayered controllable functionalities without explicit verbal instructions.

Process

This system uses two microcontrollers, one functioning as a BLE central and the other as a BLE peripheral.
The BLE central has an Arduino controlling a button, a potentiometer, a light sensor, a water sensor, and an LED. The peripheral controls a rotating lamp, a hanging rotating lattice, and lights, which are all controlled by the central.

The process documentation below shows the interconnection and functionality of all compartments.

Applicable Spaces

Though this project utilizes a one-to-one microcontroller connection, the same BLE technology allows for one microcontroller to control up to multiple ones wirelessly, which not only means a more efficient device set up for large-scale interactive installations, but also means the user is unleashed from a pre-determined location of interaction and can move around in the installation space with the remote control, seeing the work from different viewpoints.