Tilt Sensing Quilt
2009 work in progress...
We are exploring ways to sense inclination through a variety of crafting and needlework techniques, using affordable and available materials such as conductive threads, yarns, fabrics, and paints. These materials are used to sew, knit, crochet, embroider, and laminate, creating a range of textile-based tilt sensors that form a tilt-sensing quilt. The output from the quilt is visualized though a second quilt equipped with lights indicating the position of their counterparts. Both quilts are soft, flexible, and mobile, containing all the necessary components.
Video of first prototype with Processing application
Photos of first prototype and work in progress
The first prototype is a quilt made up of a grid of nine squares. Eight individual flower shaped tilt sensors surround the microcontroller. Each of the eight sensors has six petal shaped conductive contact switches. These switches are closed when the metal bead, strung on a pieces of conductive thread from the center of each six-petal sensor, makes physical contact with the petal. The individual petals are connected throughout the quilt, whereas the central strins of beads are seperately connected and grounded one by one in order to collect the connection data from each sensor seperately. In this prototype it is possible for the metal bead to make contact with two sensor petals at once. This effects the readings of other sensors when these make contact with one of the corresponsing petals in their sensor.
All sensors contacts are sewn to a LilyPad Arduino situated in the center of the quilt. The power supply will be mounted directly behind the LilyPad and the wireless XBee module will be mounted directly ontop of the LilyPad.
Serial input connected via USB cable for first test. Processing application runs visualisation, that should later be replaced by a second quilt with embedded lights or other feedback source.
CLoseup of sensor variations made from lasercut shapes of stretch conductive fabric (chosed for its softness) fused to the base fabric with fusible interfaceing.
