PneumaCycle
By delving into the realms of pneumatic architecture and collective performance, PneumaCycle raises thought-provoking inquiries regarding the powering of large-scale events that demand significant energy resources. It poses the fundamental question: Can public participation serve as the driving force behind these events? More specifically, PneumaCycle seeks to explore the transformative potential of capturing air through the motion of the audience, and subsequently channeling it into the dynamic performance of kinetic architecture. This innovative approach challenges conventional notions of energy consumption and opens up new possibilities for sustainable and participatory event experiences.
Introduction
The proposal imagines a future for event design where audience members are fully immersed in the production of a collective performance powered by their own bodies.
The development process consisted of intensive research in multiple areas including the design of a cycle pump system, the testing of a variety of air-actuation systems, sensors and interfaces. The final outcome is an architectural proposal and a 1:10 working model that invites the public to generate power that activates a soft robotic structure.
This project is separated into four phases:
Phase 1 (2020.3-2020.7 ) Research and Testing
Phase 2 (2020.8-2021.5) Design Studies
Phase 3 (2021.5-2021.11) Prototyping and Manufacturing
Phase 4 (2021.9-) Future Development
Phase 1
Phase 1 (2020.3-2020.7) includes research into large scale performing inflatables and their energy systems. The team creates cycle pump system to show the idea of human as an energy source for performance of machine and tests with different air systems.
The research went into a variety of possible ways in air-actuated architecture spanning from architectural proposals, art installations, commercial products, street performances, and theater performance to robotics. The categories are placed according to the pouch’s type, the scale, the adaptation of functioning indoor or outdoor, the air-driven system and the control system. The taxonomy helps us to make decisions and settled working with the air pouch system.
The research went into a variety of possible ways in air-actuated architecture spanning from architectural proposals, art installations, commercial products, street performances, and theater performance to robotics. The categories are placed according to the pouch’s type, the scale, the adaptation of functioning indoor or outdoor, the air-driven system and the control system. The taxonomy helps us to make decisions and settled working with the air pouch system.
Phase 2
Phase 2 (2020.8-2021.5) are several design studies on different public venues such as urban open space, streets and sea, could be situated into events like theatre festivals, pop-up exhibitions and street performance. The studies also explore performance settings and their corresponding control systems for immersive inflatables.
Design study 1: Pedalling
Design study 2:Machinery operation with pulleys and rigs
Phase 3
Phase 3 (2021.5-2021.11) consists of an exhibition version of the combination of the two systems. It is controlled by two people, and showed as a 1:10 scale physical model.
Among a bunch of failed attempts, here presents one of the working control systems which help the air pouch system inflate and deflate under controllable air pressure. Based on this control system, the air pouch system could scale up. Also, this combination of models encourages the audience to take control of air pressure and manually manipulate its behaviour.
Circuits diagram: Control system of solenoid valves and pressure sensors
Plan view of the control system, consisting of Arduino controllers, PCB boards, jumper wires, solenoids, power adapters, etc.
The workflow of the system
Phase 4
Phase 4 (2021.9-) made an argument that PneumaCycle could serve the art festival in outdoor venues, invites the public to engage in interactive ways.
The proposal for future development
More working process shows here.
Reference:
Warren, J. (2017). Creating Worlds: How to make Immersive Theatre. Nick Hern Books Limited.
Glynn, R. (2019). The Irresistible Animacy of Lively Artefacts (Doctoral dissertation, UCL (University College London)).
Capeto, C. (2015). Dramaturgy as an enquiry on how interweave space, body and technology in performative interactive installations. In 21st International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2015), Vancouver, Canada. Retrieved January (Vol. 5, p. 2016).
McKinney, Joslin, and Scott Palmer, eds. Scenography Expanded. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. Web. 10 May 2020.