Imagine that pixels could fly out of your computer screen and create an immersive, luminous cloud capable of displaying digital information in three-dimensional space. This is the vision beyond Flyfire, a new project put together by researchers at MIT’s SENSEable City Lab and Aerospace Robotics and Embedded Systems Laboratory (ARES Lab). Flyfire uses a large number of remotely controlled, self-organizing “micro helicopters”. Each helicopter contains small LEDs and acts as a smart pixel. Through digitally controlled movements, the helicopters perform elaborate and synchronized choreographies, generating a unique free-form display in three-dimensional space.
“It’s like when Winnie the Pooh hits a beehive: a swarm of bees comes out and chases him while changing its configuration to resemble a beast,” said E Roon Kang, a research fellow at the SENSEable City Lab who is leading the project. “In Flyfire, each bee is essentially a pixel that emits colored light and reconfigures itself into different forms.”

Using the self-stabilizing and precise controlling technology developed by the ARES Lab, the motion of the pixels is adaptable in real time. The Flyfire canvas can transform itself from one shape to another or bring a two-dimensional photographic image into an articulated shape. “Today we are able to simultaneously control a handful of micro helicopters, but with Flyfire we are aiming to scale up and reach very large numbers,” said Emilio Frazzoli, head of the ARES Lab. “Flyfire opens up exciting possibilities: as on a conventional screen, pixels can change color, but now they can also move, creating a transient trace of light in three-dimensional space,” said team member Carnaven Chiu. “Unlike traditional displays that can only be seen from the front, Flyfire becomes a three dimensional immersive display that can be experienced from all directions.”

via/by: senseable.mit.edu

Thanks to Oliver Schürer for the hint!

Open Up is an advanced project development workshop for the digital facade of Medialab-Prado. From February 9 through 23, working groups will develop selected projects in a collaborative way. The event includes theoretical activities February 9, 10 and 16 with lectures by the teachers of the workshop and also Erkki Huhtamo and Jennifer Steimkamp.

Technical information:
The MEDIALABPRADO’s LED screen uses the Philips Color Kinetics iCOLOR FLEX SLX system.
It is formed by a series of rectangular panels that are fixed to the facade of the building that faces

Digital facade’s size, inferior rectangle:
Width: 14.5 m (48′)
Height: 9.4 m (30′)

Digital facade’s resolution:
Horizontal resolution: 192 lines
Minimum vertical resolution: 125 lines
Maximum vertical resolution: 157 lines
Resolution: 192 x 157

Nodes/Pixels:
Number of nodes (inferior rectangle): 24.000
Number of total nodes: 26.680
Each node is composed of 7 LED’s; 2 red, 3 green, and 2 blue.
The iCOLOR FLEX SLX system can display up to 64.000 million (36bit) of RGB additive colors, of
constantly variable intensity.

via:medialab-prado.es

Create your own Shooting Star and share your wish with your loved ones and the millions of commuters!
From December 16th 2009 to January 4th 2010, you can visit the project’s website by clicking here and create your own Shooting Star.

The interaction is easy and fun, accessible to all from 5 to 105 years old. You will then receive an email indicating when your Shooting Star will be displayed on the Electrabel Power Station Cooling Tower in Drogenbos, the south side of Brussels. Come see it LIVE or watch it on the webcam on the project’s website. Everyone’s Shooting Stars will be displayed on the Tower from 5pm to 8pm, Brussels time (GMT+1) until January 4th 2010.

via/by:magicmonkey.net