When swarm robotics meets architecture, we get self-adaptive structures that respond to their environment and humans. In this project, we created an autonomous shading system made of a swarm of robotic Flowers that adapts to ambient light intensity and human preference. The Flowers allow us to study how indoor shading could be responsive and beautiful, promoting health and well-being. It also provides us with a platform to use as an artistic piece in an exhibition, showcasing our research to the public and enabling the combination of art and robotics.
We deployed 16 robots on an office window to test and the system and collect data on autonomous shading:
We also hosted an art exhibition in the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University, where attendees interacted with the robots.
We also created a wearable that the Flowers respond to. A dancer performed along with the robots while wearing the wearable, creating a beautiful interactive performance.
Merihan Alhafnawi 