Hello. For our school project, we are trying to make an interactive installation using arduino, balloons and motion. However, we are very beginners and we have no idea how to actually make it work from scratch:( So we need your help!
With the theme of the interaction between nature and human, we are trying to make the balloons light up and make a sound of a note when they sense a motion from either the wind or the touch of humans. We imagined each balloons being a single keyboard making a sound of a note, as a whole becoming a piano and making random music that nature and humans make!
All we are aware of is that we have to use a motion sensor, tilt sensor, buzzer and probably LED strip lights. Our idea is big, but we are too ignorant and inexperienced, so we got caught while sitting down to plan this project. It will be so thankful if you guys can give us some help on what we should use, how to connect the materials and the code.. or anything we can look at to get help!
This is the picture that we drew of what we are thinking of, and this is link of the project <Child Hood (Cyclique 2.0)> by Collectif Coin, (Child Hood (Cyclique 2.0) | Collectif Coin) which we got inspired by, to show what we are trying to make!
We will really appreciate your help and advice. Thank you:)
Are the balloons filled with helium or air?
Are they tethered to the floor using string or rigid sticks?
For the cheapest option use a couple of "rolling ball tilt switches" mounted at various (near horizontal) angles on a piece of lightweight card hanging from each balloon. Use thin wire to carry the signals down to an Arduino at ground level.
To play music (or something like music) you'll need to something like the Adafruit music player shield
I think you will get more interesting effects if each balloon is tied to one or more other balloons as well as being tied to the floor. This will allow a disturbance to one balloon to carry through to the other balloons. This will also allow you to economise on the number of sensors required as you will no longer need a sensor for every balloon.
There are other options such as using accelerometers in place of tilt switches but they will add extra cost and complexity. Not worth it unless you have a sponsor buying the hardware, helping with the programming and perhaps reselling the accelerometers after the project has finished to recover some of the cost.
It will be so thankful if you guys can give us some help on what we should use, how to connect the materials and the code.. or anything we can look at to get help!