Beautiful kinetic sculpture uses a Raspberry Pi and solar wind data to create something hypnotic

Yiannis Kranidiotis has created a kinetic sculpture which reacts to live data of the solar wind. Called Cyma, which is Greek for ‘wave’, the sculpture works by the bottom plank being moved and then that movement being translated up through the stack along a nylon strand. The data is read and analysed by a Raspberry Pi, whilst the motor control for the bottom plank is controlled by an Arduino.

The movement of the sculpture is driven in real time by live data of the solar wind. The strength of the wave movement (amplitude of the modulation) is controlled by the solar wind speed and the mode of waves (fundamental or harmonics) is controlled by north-south direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (Bz).

You can read a lot more, especially about the data, on his website and you can see Cyma in action below:

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