Developed in the Spring of 2009 during “An Inconvenient Studio”, reFLEX is an experimentation in adaptive systems, sensor technology, and micro controllers. This short project was meant to explore new materials and ideas in this arena. The practice of designing and developing such a product has given us insight and an understanding into the capabilities of adaptive systems.
reFLEX is a first effort in creating a bottoms up collective in which local behavior has an immediate impact on the system’s behavior. This prototype was developed using a minimal amount of material and is actuated by nine individually controlled muscle wires which allow the tower to bend in response to light intensity values provided by four small variable light resistors. If reFLEX were to exist in a group of hundreds of similar responsive entities, the collective behavior would be governed by the simple rules created for the individual.
Contraction of the Nickel Titanium muscle wire takes place upon heating or the running of current through a length of the wire. This contraction allows the wood veneer springs to flex and return to its upright position. Further development of this concept could allow for the creation of reactive screening elements or continuously adaptive photo-voltaic alignment systems.
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