Bioluminescence - Visualized Music

Bioluminescence Portfolio

Zhi Pan and Wenxiong Zhou

Bioluminescence--Visualized Music

Our project is a bioluminescent device that is supposed to light up and make sounds as it is dark outside with motions sensed by the ultrasonic sensor. The motif is just to imitate the fluorescent algae which glow in the dark.

My project is basically a device reflecting the fluorescent algae in the nature. We found that the energy conversion in this biological phenomenon very interesting, so we decided to apply this concept in our device which could make up a system of fascinating decorations. Our original idea is to visualize music through the conversion of sound energy to light energy. However, we realized later that a piezo buzzer and photoresistor were more available, so we decided to flip the direction of the conversion of energy. 

Our project aims to imitate the energy conversion manifested in fluorescent algae. We first convert light energy to sound energy. When there is no light in the environment, which should be detected by the light sensor, the Arduino chipboard will have the buzzer go off. When people hear the music from the buzzer, they will dance around the source. When this motion is detected by the ultrasonic sensor, another the Arduino chipboard will have the LED light turned on. In order for the LED light not to affect the source of darkness in the first place, we decided to have LED lights separate from sensors in the device.