Sunlight sandbox

A Modular, Inflatable Light-adaptive Facade

2023

Keywords
Adaptive Facade
Agent-Based Control
Tools
Grasshopper
VRay
Arduino
Advisor
Silas Kalmbach
Teammates
Yuxin Qiu
Shuangyin Xu
My Role
Concept Development
Prototyping
Highlights
Light-Adaptive Facade: A modular, inflatable facade that adjusts light conditions for different human activities.
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Agent-Based Control: Utilizes agent-based modeling to enable the facade’s units to dynamically respond to light and human presence.
Concepts
The project seeks to design a modular, inflatable light-adaptive facade that dynamically adjusts interior lighting to suit various human activities. Comprising double-layered inflatable components, the facade responds in real-time, adapting to different areas and operating in three modes—shading, moderate, and transparent—to balance sunlight, privacy, and ambiance. By inflating and deflating the inner colored layer, it provides flexible shading while creating an interactive, tactile environment. This solution enhances comfort and engagement, offering a practical and user-friendly approach to modern living.
Control System
The facade’s control system responds to changing light conditions and human activities through agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS).

Each inflatable unit functions as a boid agent, autonomously adapting its behavior based on these inputs. The ABMS system generates a boolean signal for each unit, determining whether to inflate or deflate, while the containment behavioral rules ensures the units’ shape changes remain within functional and structural limits.
Sensing and Actuation
Light Sensing: Light sensors on the facade's exterior measure real-time sunlight intensity.
‍User Detection: Webcam-based color detection identifies user location and motion to assess human activity.
‍Actuation Mechanism:
- Vacuum pumps control inflation of the facade units.
- Solenoid valves manage deflation.
‍Control Integration:
- Sensors and actuators connect to a relay module linked to a microcontroller.
- The sensor data are connected and sent to ABMS through Grasshopper's Firefly plugin.
- The ABMS system generates decisions for inflating or deflating the units based on input sensor data. The mesh agents control every single modular unit with boolean values, which will be then sent to the actuators.
Sun simulation
People simulation
Scenarios

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Prototyping
Modular Setup: Eight inflatable units are divided into two control groups, demonstrating sequencing within and interaction between groups.
Materials:
- Clear vinyl sheets form the outer layer of the units.
- Colorful balloons substitute for the expensive colored silicon foils as the inner layer
Connection System:
- Silicon pipes and 3D-printed connectors manage airflow to and from the balloons.
- Pumps and valves are integrated for controlled inflation and deflation.
First Test: Responding to Human Activities (User Passing By)
The first test demonstrates the facade's reactions to a user passing by.
- Initially, the balloons are semi-inflated, corresponding to moderate light conditions.
- As the user approaches, the balloons deflate to allow more light for human activities.
- Once the user moves out of range, the balloons return to their semi-inflated state.
Second Test: Responding to A Different Light Condition (Strong Light with Same Human Activity)
The second test examines the facade’s response to strong light when a user passes by.
- The balloons start fully inflated due to the intense light detected by the sensors
- As the user approaches, the balloons deflate slightly to adjust the incoming light, with less deflation compared to the first test.