Pneuma

Combining lightweight structures and soft robotics, the project goal is to investigate an autonomous soft robotic system that utilises breath as a conduit to integrate human emotions, sounds, and atmosphere.

Urban Speculation

Deployment as a soft, interactive pavilion in outdoor environments.

Human-Scale Prototype

Material Actuation Overview

Pneuma is a hybrid system of bending active structures integrated with fabric and pneumatic cushions.

Catalogue of Spatial Modules

In the initial topology design, the team built on the actuation logic to create a catalogue of behaviour scenarios and how these spatial modules can be designed to facilitate various behaviours.

Design Development

Prototypes are upscaled to human-scale while integrating different material actuation systems to achieve the project goal.

Design Development

Various fabric shapes and pneumatic modules are tested on the bent active rods to achieve optimal fit and integration.

Aggregation

The reciprocal frame can be aggregated to create larger enclosures for different functions.

Software Integration

In collaboration with musician SINK, a software patch is developed to sample sounds from his music and create interactive experiences for users.

Pose Estimation

By establishing a connection between pose estimation and structural states, the global structure will adapt its form to accommodate different behaviours such as napping, sitting, and standing.

Global Structure Actuation

The prototype is tested with multiple users to create unexpected shapes in the structure.

Local Structure Actuation

Data from the pulse sensor is used to visualise the heart rate within the sound patch, which also triggers changes in the states of the actuators, air valves, and colours of the LED lights.