For the Visual Crit, I used Arduino, Rhino, Grasshopper, and GH plug-in Firefly to visualize sensor data over a topographical landscape. The topography model was initially generated digitally with Rhino and Grasshopper, so it could be used later in the model visualization. Contours were exported to 2d CAD to cut the physical model.
The physical model was constructed of lasercut chipboard, with enough variation in height to imitate a landscape that could plausibly have multiple microclimates, which can form due to differences in light, drainage, and airflow. Changes in topography can drive these shifts in environmental conditions. Light sensors will installed in different areas of the model.
Uploaded to the arduino is this Firmata code (which has been edited since the 2015 version to account for some differences in Arduino):
/*
Created by Andrew Payne and Jason Kelly Johnson
Latest Update March 25th, 2015
Copyright 2015 | All Rights Reserved
This Firmata allows you to control an Arduino board from Rhino/Grasshopper/Firefly.
Updates, Questions, Suggestions visit: http://www.fireflyexperiments.com
1. Plug Arduino boards into your USB port; confirm that your Arduino's green power LED in on
2. Select your specific Arduino Board and Serial Port (Tools > Board; Tools > Serial Port) *Take note of your Serial Port COM #
3. Verify (play button) and Upload (upload button) this program to your Arduino, close the Arduino program
4. then open ... Rhino/Grasshopper/Firefly
Note: The Firefly Firmata sets the following pins to perform these functions:
*****ON STANDARD BOARDS (ie. Uno, Diecimila, Duemilanove, Lillypad, Mini, etc.)*****
ANALOG IN pins 0-5 are set to return values (from 0 to 1023) for analog sensors
DIGITAL IN pins 2,4,7 will return 0's or 1's; for 3 potential digital sensors (buttons, switches, on/off, true/false, etc.)
DIGITAL/ANALOG OUT pins 3,5,6,11 (marked with a ~) can be used to digitalWrite, analogWrite, or Servo.write depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
DIGITAL OUT pins 8,9,10,12,13 can be used to digitalWrite, Servo.write, or analogWrite depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
*****ON MEGA BOARDS (ie. ATMEGA1280, ATMEGA2560)*****
ANALOG IN pins 0-15 will return values (from 0 to 1023) for 16 analog sensors
DIGITAL IN pins 22-31 will return 0's or 1's; for digital sensors (buttons, switches, on/off, true/false, etc.)
DIGITAL/ANALOG OUT pins 2-13 can be used to digitalWrite, analogWrite, or Servo.write depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
DIGITAL OUT pins 32-53 can be used to digitalWrite, Servo.write, or analogWrite depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
*****ON LEONARDO BOARDS*****
ANALOG IN pins 0-5 are set to return values (from 0 to 1023) for analog sensors
DIGITAL IN pins 2,4,7 will return 0's or 1's; for 3 potential digital sensors (buttons, switches, on/off, true/false, etc.)
DIGITAL/ANALOG OUT pins 3,5,6,11 (marked with a ~) can be used to digitalWrite, analogWrite, or Servo.write depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
DIGITAL OUT pins 8,9,10,12,13 can be used to digitalWrite, Servo.write, or analogWrite depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
*****ON DUE BOARDS (ie. SAM3X8E)*****
ANALOG IN pins 0-11 will return values (from 0 to 4095) for 12 analog sensors
DIGITAL IN pins 22-31 will return 0's or 1's; for digital sensors (buttons, switches, on/off, true/false, etc.)
DIGITAL/ANALOG OUT pins 2-13 can be used to digitalWrite, analogWrite, or Servo.write depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
DIGITAL OUT pins 32-53 can be used to digitalWrite, Servo.write, or analogWrite depending on the input status of that Firefly pin
DAC0 and DAC1 can be used to output an analog voltage on those pins (only available on DUE boards)
*/
#include <Servo.h> // attach Servo library (http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Servo)
#include <pins_arduino.h> // attach arduino pins header file to determine which board type is being used
#define BAUDRATE 115200 // Set the Baud Rate to an appropriate speed
#define BUFFSIZE 512 // buffer one command at a time
/*==============================================================================
* GLOBAL VARIABLES
*============================================================================*/
char buffer[BUFFSIZE]; // declare buffer
uint8_t bufferidx = 0; // a type of unsigned integer of length 8 bits
char *parseptr;
char buffidx;
int counter = 0;
int numcycles = 1000;
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega328P__) || defined(__AVR_ATmega168__) // declare variables for STANDARD boards
Servo Servo13, Servo12, Servo11, Servo10, Servo9, Servo8, Servo6, Servo5, Servo3;
Servo SERVO_CONFIG[] = {Servo13, Servo12, Servo11, Servo10, Servo9, Servo8, Servo6, Servo5, Servo3}; // declare array of Servo objects
int WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[] = {13,12,11,10,9,8,6,5,3};
int READ_APIN_CONFIG[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5};
int READ_DPIN_CONFIG[] = {2,4,7};
#endif
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega32U4__) || defined(__AVR_ATmega16U4__) // declare variables for LEONARDO board
Servo Servo13, Servo12, Servo11, Servo10, Servo9, Servo8, Servo6, Servo5, Servo3;
Servo SERVO_CONFIG[] = {Servo13, Servo12, Servo11, Servo10, Servo9, Servo8, Servo6, Servo5, Servo3}; // declare array of Servo objects
int WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[] = {13,12,11,10,9,8,6,5,3};
int READ_APIN_CONFIG[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5};
int READ_DPIN_CONFIG[] = {2,4,7};
#endif
#if defined(__AVR_ATmega1280__) || defined(__AVR_ATmega2560__) // declare variables for MEGA boards
Servo Servo2, Servo3, Servo4, Servo5, Servo6, Servo7, Servo8, Servo9, Servo10, Servo11, Servo12, Servo13, Servo32, Servo33, Servo34, Servo35, Servo36, Servo37, Servo38, Servo39, Servo40, Servo41, Servo42, Servo43, Servo44, Servo45, Servo46, Servo47, Servo48, Servo49, Servo50, Servo51, Servo52, Servo53;
Servo SERVO_CONFIG[] = {Servo2, Servo3, Servo4, Servo5, Servo6, Servo7, Servo8, Servo9, Servo10, Servo11, Servo12, Servo13, Servo32, Servo33, Servo34, Servo35, Servo36, Servo37, Servo38, Servo39, Servo40, Servo41, Servo42, Servo43, Servo44, Servo45, Servo46, Servo47, Servo48, Servo49, Servo50, Servo51, Servo52, Servo53}; // declare array of Servo objects
int WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[] = {2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53};
int READ_APIN_CONFIG[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15};
int READ_DPIN_CONFIG[] = {22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31};
#endif
#if defined(__SAM3X8E__) // declare variables for DUE boards
Servo FDAC0, FDAC1, Servo2, Servo3, Servo4, Servo5, Servo6, Servo7, Servo8, Servo9, Servo10, Servo11, Servo12, Servo13, Servo32, Servo33, Servo34, Servo35, Servo36, Servo37, Servo38, Servo39, Servo40, Servo41, Servo42, Servo43, Servo44, Servo45, Servo46, Servo47, Servo48, Servo49, Servo50, Servo51, Servo52, Servo53;
Servo SERVO_CONFIG[] = {FDAC0, FDAC1, Servo2, Servo3, Servo4, Servo5, Servo6, Servo7, Servo8, Servo9, Servo10, Servo11, Servo12, Servo13, Servo32, Servo33, Servo34, Servo35, Servo36, Servo37, Servo38, Servo39, Servo40, Servo41, Servo42, Servo43, Servo44, Servo45, Servo46, Servo47, Servo48, Servo49, Servo50, Servo51, Servo52, Servo53}; // declare array of Servo objects
int WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53}; //Note: first two values correspond to the DAC pins
int READ_APIN_CONFIG[] = {0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11};
int READ_DPIN_CONFIG[] = {22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31};
#endif
/*==============================================================================
* SETUP() This code runs once
*============================================================================*/
void setup()
{
Init(); //set initial pinmodes
Serial.begin(BAUDRATE); // Start Serial communication
#if defined(__SAM3X8E__) //if the connected board is an Arduino DUE
analogReadResolution(12); //Set the analog read resolution to 12 bits (acceptable values between 1-32 bits). This is only for DUE boards
analogWriteResolution(12); // Set the analog write resolution to 12 bits (acceptable values between 1-32 bits). This is only for DUE boards
#endif
}
/*==============================================================================
* LOOP() This code loops
*============================================================================*/
void loop()
{
if(Serial){
ReadSerial(); // read and parse string from serial port and write to pins
if (counter >= numcycles){ // Wait every nth loop
ReadInputs(); // get input data and print data to the serial port
counter = 0; // reset the counter
}
counter ++; // increment the writecounter
}
}
/*==============================================================================
* FUNCTIONS()
*============================================================================*/
/*
* Initializes the digital pins which will be used as inputs
*/
void Init(){
int len = sizeof(READ_DPIN_CONFIG)/sizeof(READ_DPIN_CONFIG[0]); //get the size of the array
for(int i = 0; i < len; i++){
pinMode(READ_DPIN_CONFIG[i], INPUT);
}
}
/*
* Reads the incoming ADC or digital values from the corresponding analog and digital input
* pins and prints the value to the serial port as a formatted commma separated string
*/
void ReadInputs(){
int len = sizeof(READ_APIN_CONFIG)/sizeof(READ_APIN_CONFIG[0]); //get the size of the array
for(int i = 0; i < len; i++){
int val = analogRead(READ_APIN_CONFIG[i]); //read value from analog pins
Serial.print(val); Serial.print(",");
}
len = sizeof(READ_DPIN_CONFIG)/sizeof(READ_DPIN_CONFIG[0]); //get the size of the array
for(int i = 0; i < len; i++){
int val = digitalRead(READ_DPIN_CONFIG[i]); //read value from digital pins
Serial.print(val); Serial.print(",");
}
Serial.println("eol"); //end of line marker
}
/*
* Retrieve the latest incoming serial value and split the string at the comma delimeter.
* When a comma is found, the value is offloaded to a temporary variable and written
* to the corresponding digital pin.
*/
void ReadSerial(){
char c; // holds one character from the serial port
if (Serial.available()) {
c = Serial.read(); // read one character
buffer[bufferidx] = c; // add to buffer
if (c == '\n') {
buffer[bufferidx+1] = 0; // terminate it
parseptr = buffer; // offload the buffer into temp variable
int len = sizeof(WRITE_PIN_CONFIG)/sizeof(WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[0]); //get the size of the array
for(int i = 0; i < len; i++){
//parse all incoming values and assign them to the appropriate variable
int val = parsedecimal(parseptr); // parse the incoming number
if(i != len - 1) parseptr = strchr(parseptr, ',')+1; // move past the ","
WriteToPin(WRITE_PIN_CONFIG[i], val, SERVO_CONFIG[i]); //send value out to pin on arduino board
}
bufferidx = 0; // reset the buffer for the next read
return; // return so that we don't trigger the index increment below
} // didn't get newline, need to read more from the buffer
bufferidx++; // increment the index for the next character
if (bufferidx == BUFFSIZE-1) bufferidx = 0; // if we get to the end of the buffer reset for safety
}
}
/*
* Send the incoming value to the appropriate pin using pre-defined logic (ie. digital, analog, or servo)
*/
void WriteToPin(int _pin, int _value, Servo _servo){
if (_value >= 10000 && _value < 20000) // check if value should be used for Digital Write (HIGH/LOW)
{
if (_servo.attached()) _servo.detach(); // detach servo is one is attached to pin
pinMode(_pin, OUTPUT);
_value -= 10000; // subtract 10,000 from the value sent from Grasshopper
if (_value == 1) digitalWrite(_pin, HIGH);
else digitalWrite(_pin, LOW);
}
else if (_value >= 20000 && _value < 30000) // check if value should be used for Analog Write (0-255)
{
if (_servo.attached()) _servo.detach(); // detach servo is one is attached to pin
pinMode(_pin, OUTPUT);
_value -= 20000; // subtract 20,000 from the value sent from Grasshopper
analogWrite(_pin, _value);
}
else if (_value >= 30000 && _value < 40000) // check if value should be used for Servo Write (0-180)
{
_value -= 30000; // subtract 30,000 from the value sent from Grasshopper
if (!_servo.attached())_servo.attach(_pin); // attaches a Servo to the PWM pin (180 degree standard servos)
_servo.write(_value);
}
else if (_value >= 40000 && _value < 50000) // check if value should be used for Analog Write (0-4096) for DACs
{
if (_servo.attached()) _servo.detach(); // detach servo is one is attached to pin
pinMode(_pin, OUTPUT);
_value -= 40000; // subtract 40,000 from the value sent from Grasshopper
WriteToDAC(_pin, _value);
}
}
/*
* Parse a string value as a decimal
*/
uint32_t parsedecimal(char *str){
uint32_t d = 0;
while (str[0] != 0) {
if ((str[0] > '50') || (str[0] < '0'))
return d;
d *= 10;
d += str[0] - '0';
str++;
}
return d;
}
/*
* Send the incoming value to the appropriate DAC for DUE boards.
* Note: analogWrite resolution (default is 12 bits) is defined in the Setup function.
*/
//modification to original sketch to work with 2022 firefly and arduino
void WriteToDAC(int _pin, int _value){
#if defined(__SAM3X8E__)
if(_pin == 0) analogWrite(DAC0, _value);
else if (_pin == 1) analogWrite(DAC1, _value);
#endif
}
Next, with Grasshopper/Firefly, the serial data from the light sensors is read. This data is used to generate points, which act as attractors in a domain field. The brighter the light, the smaller the circle illustrated in the domain field.
The final results can be viewed as a plan, or project onto the digital model surface to be viewed in 3d.
Light Readings, plan view, v1
Light Readings, 3d, v1
Light Readings, plan view, v2
Light Readings, plan view, v2