Echolocation

This is my ultrasonic sensor, during the first days of the radar residency i have been doing some experiments with this to find out how it works – essentially i am hoping to use it as a way of creating a human echo-locating device. essentially it seems that this measures the distance between an ultra-sound pulse and its echo. we connected this up to a oscilloscope to see how obstacles looked in terms of the sound reflection…

Apparently, Shrews are the only terrestrial mammals known to echo-locate [and the Tenrecs of Madagascar]. The shrews emit series of ultrasonic squeaks.

“Human echolocation is the ability of humans to sense objects in their environment by hearing echoes from those objects. This ability is used by some blind people to navigate within their environment. They actively create sounds, such as by tapping their canes or by making clicking noises with their mouths. Human echolocation is similar in principle to active sonar and to the animal echolocation employed by some animals, including bats and dolphins….Some blind people have described the phenomenon not as a learned method of navigation, but as an inherent and intuitive extra sense. For example, a blind person could walk past a line of trees and feel a “pressure” at their side as they passed each tree. The cause of this would be the echo of the sound of their footsteps; however, they may not consciously be aware of this mechanism, only that the phenomenon exists and can often be relied upon to detect obstacles.”

Pauls experiment investigates how dolphins detect sound using the jaw bone – this box has metal rods inside in a line [aproximatly representing the allignment of teeth in a jawbone] – so as the sound wave travels through the channel, the rods act as a filtering device – or at least that is the hypothesis [very briefly]. Apparently dolphins use their jawbone as a way of honing in on the direction of certain sounds.

Experiment with electric fish

Here are some of the latest images from the Enki project…

The main view of the experiment chamber. The Enki installation at Cornerhouse is now up and running. There are experiments by appointment every 15mins, and all the data is being collected.

It has taken me ages to make these comms units, they contain16 interconnecting cables within a noise reducing or shielded structure.

The Table has two monitors one from the fish room and one from the human room. You can speak to the person in the experiment via a mic.

Inside the sound proofed room for the human there is a chair and the sensor interface.

There is a window into the fish room on the side of the chamber

The room containing the fish is electrically shielded.

Neuro stimulation

For a while i have been looking at Michael Persinger God helmet experiment, I think the discussion around this experiment was really interesting, and for me has been an opportunity to investigate the realm of psychology further. I got in touch with him to ask some questions about the technology and the experimental process. I decided to make a modified version of the god helmet to work with my Enki interface. here is a view Inside the neuro-stimulation device there are 4 coils which oscillate with magnetic frequencies, i have been using MAX MSP to drive these using electrical pulses. The magnetic coils are fitted to an elastic band which fits over the head, to the back of the head is a junction box, and the two coil arrays sit at the side of the head near the temporal lobes.

Spectropia – toffee apples

This was amazing at the opening of Spectropia- the drinks were covered in foil [apparently to shield them from EM fields [many themes in the conference were to do with the potentially damaging effects of EM emissions] and these was a chef making toffee apples live! they looked so amazing who could resist. The funny thing was that as soon as you bite in to them you teeth get fused together with toffee making it impossible to speak for several minuets!

Vampyroteuthis “vampire squid from hell” – Planet Earth

spectropica “Dreamachine” /2008/

spectropia, originally uploaded by Antony Hall.

Greg enjoys the brain machines at Spectrpia conference in Latvia 2008 presentation from 10111.ORG (Gianluca Ruggeri and Filippo Filliger) “Dreamachine” /2008/. The artists recreated some of the original devices and gave a presentation of the history of the dream machine. They also made screen printed templates for creating your own.

http://www.rixc.lv/08/en/exhibition/artists.html

ENTER, 3rd international festival for art science and new technology, Prauge

In 2007 I participated in ENTER 3, http://festival-enter.cz/index.php
organised in by CIANT, I never had a chance to blog it. I had two works here, one of which was a performance showing the BZ reaction, the other was the ENKI documentation at the french institute. The Performance was in a 15th century cellar space, beautiful arched ceilings. The problem was it was so cold the chemical reaction did not start. I had to block all the window spaces with cardboard, to try and keep at least some heat in.

The vampire quid was of inspiration to Louis Beck – I was lucky to see a show of his posters and publications last year at the Goethe institute…Having seen the vampire squid recently on utube it reminded me of the Louis Bec show I saw during the festival…

ON VAMPYROTEUTHIS INFERNALIS
Homage to Vilém Flusser

ENTER 3, 3RD INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ART / SCIENCE / NEW TECHNOLOGIES enter3.org

Slime mold escapes

Simon Parks a microbiologist at University of Surrey, & represents & a “collective” of artists working with slime molds called the Physarum Dynamic. see http://www.unnecessaryresearch.org/

He sent me these amazing images of slime molds creeping over a book. apparently a laboratory accident of some kind – these molds try to escape the confines of the petri dishes given the chance. I would not like to fall asleep near one.

He as well as other members of the institute of unnecessary research have been keeping these as pets.
Simon also works with these ‘bio-fluids’ bacterium which appear to behave like fluids, rather than typical bacterial cultures which tend to propagate in circular growths. I am still not clear on the mechanism of this phenomena, But here is Simon’s take on it;

“This type of bacterium grows as a long chain of many thousands of individual rod-like cells. The chain is extended by the growth of individual bacteria within the chain and these generate a pushing motion. Single chains of bacteria, join together to form threads and the pulsing power is amplified. I think this is how the waves are generated with whole masses of bacterial threads uniting to become a wave that flows around objects and becomes turbulent”

In this image the growth filaments or strands seem to be encircling this opening in the medium; the circular hole that was cut in the agar gel – this looks as if it were liquid pouring through a hole. It would appear that the bacterium obeys the laws of fluid mechanics.

Tardigrades In Space (TARDIS)

A few years back I was trying to extract Tardigrades (Moss bear or Water piglet!)from old moss specimens at Manchester Museum – as it is reported that these animals can survive in a dehydrated state for over a hundred years. These are microscopic extremophiles that live in moss. I had no luck – but did find a multitude of other interesting microscopic artifacts. last night I found out that a satalite has been launched carrying a team of elite tardinauts into space to see if they are able to survive the solar radiation. “They also are resistant to levels of X-ray radiation that are hundreds of times more lethal to humans and other organisms. This resilience stems from the tardigrade’s ability to survive without water. ” If anything can survive the extreme conditions of open space – it will be Tardigrades- follow the link to this site to find out more…

Tardigrades In Space (TARDIS)

Tardigrades In Space or “TARDIS” is the first research project to evaluate the ability of tardigrades to survive under open space conditions. TARDIS is one of the projects within the Biopan-6 research platform provided by European Space Agency (ESA), and will be sent into space with the russian FOTON-M3 mission.

mega-fishes – Giant fish

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070724-giant-fish.html

the newly launched Megafishes Project, the first effort to document, study, and protect the world’s largest freshwater fish.

The project aims to improve conservation of megafishes—species that grow to at least six feet (two meters) and weigh more than 200 pounds (90 kilograms). They include the mammoth taimen, catfish the size of bears, and half-ton river stingrays.

Brain waves

In preperation for the next ENKi event, me and Greg spent the day testing the neuro-graphic interface; as an experiment we patched a strong frequency via MIDI to a MAX patch so our brains were modulating all kinds of strange sounds. I dont yet fully understand MIDI – but Later this will combine with the enki interface as a form of feedback.  In this image you can see the  graphics of the brain activity and the  receiver boxes – the sensors are wireless and stuck to our foreheads.

The Carnivorous Syndrome in 3D

I was reading about this project in Make magazine – he grows different carnivorous plants from seed, and has filmed the growth process over a year in 3D time-lapse using a LEGO robot to make stereo-graphs using a standard digital camera.

You can buy the DVD from the site (you will need 3D glasses to see the 3D effect).http://www.3dsyndrome.com

Pond life

Here is the original drawing from a project to create a sustainable ecosystem inside a globule of water (1999-2004) – I am just modifying this to include the addition of a laser to detect micro acoustic sounds and sub-sonic architectural noise. the droplet of liquid acts as a natural sensitive body – that can modulate the laser, acting like a lens.

Robo-fin

These projects investigate numerous applications of Neurophysiology, Sensor based motion guidance, experimental methods include measurement of the propulsion capabilities of robotic models of electric fish “We’ve developed a hypothesis regarding why active sensing animals such as electric fish, bats, and rats tend to have highly accurate spatial maps of their surround. We are testing this hypothesis using fish mazes.”

the robo-fin is a robot based on the sinusoidal fin movements of the knife fish.

“Our research group pursues both empirical and modeling efforts in mechanics and neurobiology, integrating the two together within simulation environments.”

http://www.neuromech.northwestern.edu/uropatagium/

Shielded Tents

Shielded Tents are based on the Faraday cage principle and are used to cut out electromagnetic interference – (wif, phone signals etc)

I have been considering using one of these to put people in while they interface with the fish. People have been making foil lined clothes to block out RFID scanners – so I am thinking I will need to make my own cage using a foil lining. as these cages are well expensive.
http://www.hollandshielding.com/faraday/shieldedtents.php

Neuromechanical Design

Any one keeping electric fish will note the particular and strange way they float around the tank swimming backwards and rolling from side to side – this research presents some interesting Neuromechanical explanations and visualizations of this…
http://www.cnse.caltech.edu/Research/reports/maciver-full.html

electro-sensitivity in sharks

The hammer head shark has to be the best looking of the sharks – I have only seen them on the “Blue planet” series – I was intrigued at the massive shoals where they seem to perform this odd twitch where the body flexes almost like a spasm – i was wandering if this has anything to do with generating a pulse of electricity that other sharks can detect? as thses sharks are not electrically active – but can only detect the electrical signals of muscle activity – such as small creatures under the sand….

“The ampullae of Lorenzini give the shark electrosense. The ampullae consist of small clusters of electrically sensitive receptor cells positioned under the skin in the shark’s head. These cells are connected to pores on the skin’s surface via small jelly-filled tubes. Scientists still don’t yet understand everything about these ampullary organs, but they do know the sensors let sharks “see” the weak electrical fields generated by living organisms. The range of electrosense seems to be fairly limited — a few feet in front of the shark’s nose — but this is enough to seek out fish and other prey hiding on the ocean floor.”

http://science.howstuffworks.com/shark2.htm

Electro-location in fish

Nelson Lab is one of the best recourses for information on the electric fish – it has also the most advanced computer visualizations of EOD discharge during prey capture…

“Computer reconstruction of electrosensory images
By combining the physical principles of electrosensory image formation and our knowledge of the response properties of electrosensory afferent nerve fibers, we can use computer models to reconstruct electrosensory images observed by the fish during electrolocation. The figure below shows a computer reconstructed image sequence from our prey capture studies. “

Fish Perform Spatial Pattern Recognition and Abstraction

I have been fascinated by this project – Part 2 of the ENKI project will be based around this particular experiment…

Christian Graff, Gwenaël Kaminski, Michael Gresty, and Théophile Ohlmann

“We presented the fishes with different spatial structures, each consisting of a similar tube of insulating material, with eight electrodes set into the inside surface of the tube and wired to a switchboard outside the tank. Depending on the way electrodes were externally interconnected, these assemblies created different “shapes” in space. The shapes were 3D patterns of distortion in the electrical flux issuing from the fish’s electric organ. They formed virtual objects or places that could not be distinguished by visual, mechanical, or chemical means but only existed through electricity, similar to the way in which virtual objects or places on a TV screen only exist through light. In order to perform our tasks, the fish had to actively explore the maze by “scanning” with its electrical field and sensing distortion patterns caused by sinks and sources of flux.”

http://www.sciencedirect.com Current Biology
Volume 14, Issue 9, 4 May 2004, Pages 818-823

Binary Jam – Liverpool

I did a performance for this event organised by Markus Soukup as part of the Sound Network (Binaural Orchestra (G Byatt, D. Stockton & Guests), Modulus (Antony Hall), Apple & Can (Moebius & Igor Hax), Plus Projection By John O’Shea (‘Photography Where The Shutter Is Not Open’)

The performance was based arround the concept of  amplitude modulation. The earliest experiment using the concept of AM transmission was made at Bell Laboratories – where they used a water jet to record the conversation and ambient sounds in a room and etch these to wax cylinder. C.V. Boys demonstrated the ability of a water jet to amplify the sound of a ticking clock and a tuning fork.

During the performance for binary Jam I placed Daphnia in a droplet placed on a sensor; the water drop created a lens. The sounds were created as the creatures passed through the laser and creating distortions with the movement of the body and antennas – as well as the effect of the creature bouncing on and off the wall of the droplet causing the lens to shake and oscillate – creating a drum like reverberation.

I also used a USB interface with 8 light sensors controlled by candles to generate harmonic frequencies and drones with MAX MSP.

Greg Byatt kindly took these images…

Daphnia – contained in droplet on light sensors.

Droplet with laser transmitting through it.

ENKI demonstartion

ENKI interface
Test and demonstration of prototype

My self and Gregory Byatt ran this event last year – and are due to do it again this year – only a bit differently – the thing will hopefully sue more visualization and actively use the neuro-feedback (through interfacing it with MAX MSP)

Documentation of first event;
Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, 7th October 2006

A multi media participatory experiment using live Electric Fish, real time neurographic interface visualising brain-wave activity, sound and live video. ENKI is an immersive sensory experience that explores the relationship between art and health, or more specifically, creates a therapeutic exchange between Humans and Electric Fish. It is part the HFID project dedicated to research in cross species (human and fish) communication and commune.

See the film here…
The participants become part of experimental research, as we record brain wave data and monitor the behaviour of the electric fish during the experiment. The electrical activity of the fish is experienced as sound and light via ENKI (a stroboscopic high frequency led placed close to eye lid) and the natural binaural frequencies produce by the interaction and communication between Black Ghost Knife fish. Participants bio-electric field is connected to the aquarium allowing the fish to sense a human (bio)electric image or presence.

electric fish – ENKI project 2007

The second phase of the ENKI project starts next week – in preperation for its next showing at the European Forum for emerging creation, Luxembourg.

hexapod cockroach robot control

It is a hexapod with kinematics based… It is a hexapod with kinematics based on studies of the cockroach Blaberus discoidalis performed in the Ritzmann Lab in the Biology Department at CWRU.

By Garnet Hertz (2005) “Cockroach Controlled Mobile Robot” is an experimental mechanism that uses a living Madagascan hissing cockroach atop a modified trackball to control a three-wheeled robot. If the cockroach moves left, the robot moves left. Infrared sensors also provide navigation feedback to the cockroach, striving to create a pseudo-intelligent system with the cockroach as the CPU