Vinophonics Control System

Owned by Mike Tango Bravo
Aug 25, 2024
4 min read

Overview

Vinophonics is a digital infrastructure that enables the physical interaction with sound using vineyard sensors and environmental data. The purpose of the system is to create an immersive soundscape by mapping environmental parameters, like soil moisture, temperature, and wind speed, to the control of sound-generating physical sliders and motors.

The Vinophonics system is built to enhance the vineyard experience by transforming sensor data into sound or movement in real-time, creating a bridge between the physical and digital worlds. The project leverages the zkSync blockchain for secure and transparent data handling, while the physical sliders adjust based on real-time environmental changes to modulate the sound output.

Features

1. Integration with zkSync Blockchain

  • Blockchain Data Feeds: The system fetches real-time environmental data from a zkSync smart contract. The data includes metrics such as windspeed, temperature, rain levels, and soil moisture. This ensures that the system operates with accurate and secure sensor readings.

  • Decentralized Infrastructure: By leveraging zkSync, the system benefits from decentralized data storage and the assurance that all data points are immutably recorded.

2. Motor and Slider Control

  • Motorized Sliders: Motors connected via H-Bridge circuits adjust the positions of physical sliders in real-time. These sliders modulate sound, responding dynamically to changes in environmental conditions.

  • Smooth Motor Control: The motor speeds are adjusted gradually to ensure smooth transitions and avoid abrupt changes that might disrupt the experience.

3. Sensor Data Processing

  • Environmental Data Mapping: The system processes data from the vineyard, such as soil moisture and windspeed, and normalizes these values to control the positions of the physical sliders.

  • Real-Time Updates: The system continuously updates the sliders based on new data fetched from the blockchain, ensuring that the experience remains responsive to environmental changes.

4. Operating Modes

  • Local Mode: In this mode, the system remains idle, waiting for a change in the switch position to start operating.

  • Remote Mode: The system fetches data from the blockchain once, updates the sliders, and then pauses for 5 minutes before repeating the process. This mode allows for intermittent updates based on remote sensor data.

  • Blockchain Mode: The system continuously fetches data from the blockchain and adjusts the sliders in real-time, ensuring a constant reflection of the vineyard’s environmental state through sound.

5. LED Indicator

  • Data Update Notification: An LED lights up whenever new data is received from the blockchain, providing a visual indicator that the system is processing fresh sensor data.

Components

1. Arduino Mega

  • Motor Control: The Arduino Mega is connected to the motors controlling the physical sliders via H-Bridge circuits. It reads potentiometer positions and sends control signals to the motors based on the processed data.

2. Raspberry Pi

  • Switch and LED Control: The Raspberry Pi is responsible for reading the three-position switch (Local, Remote, Blockchain) and controlling the LED that indicates new data reception. The switch defines the operating mode of the system.

3. zkSync Smart Contract

  • Secure Data Handling: Environmental data collected from vineyard sensors is stored on the zkSync blockchain. The smart contract securely stores this data, ensuring that it can be accessed and utilized by the Vinophonics system without the risk of tampering.

4. H-Bridge Circuits

  • Motor Direction Control: The H-Bridge circuits enable the control of motor direction, allowing the system to move sliders both up and down based on the incoming sensor data.

Operation Modes

  1. Local Mode:

    • The system waits passively and does not process any sensor data or adjust sliders until the switch position changes.

  2. Remote Mode:

    • The system fetches data from the zkSync blockchain once and updates the slider positions. It then pauses for 5 minutes before repeating the process.

  3. Blockchain Mode:

    • The system continuously fetches data from the zkSync blockchain and adjusts the sliders in real-time to reflect the latest environmental conditions.

Key Data Points

The following data points are retrieved from the zkSync smart contract and used to control the sliders:

  • Windspeed: Average wind speed (normalized for slider control)

  • Gust Wind Speed: Maximum gust wind speed

  • Wind Direction: Wind direction in degrees (0-360)

  • Cumulative Rainfall: Total rainfall measured

  • Temperature: Ambient temperature

  • Light Levels: Light intensity

  • UV Index: Ultraviolet radiation levels

  • Soil Moisture Depths: Soil moisture measured at various depths (0.05m, 0.5m, 1m, 2m)

User Interaction

  • Physical Sliders: The user can observe the sliders physically adjust based on the environmental data.

  • LED Indicator: Provides real-time visual feedback whenever new data is fetched from the blockchain.

  • Three-Position Switch: Allows the user to select the system's operating mode: Local (idle), Remote (periodic updates), or Blockchain (continuous updates).

Example Use Case

Imagine a vineyard that aims to create an immersive, data-driven sound experience for visitors. Sensors deployed across the vineyard measure environmental variables, which are sent to the blockchain. The Vinophonics system retrieves this data and adjusts physical sliders connected to sound-generating devices. These sliders control the pitch, volume, and timbre of the sounds, creating a dynamic and evolving soundscape that reflects the real-time conditions in the vineyard.