Flos Machina – Resonance in Bloom
A robotic flower exploring subtle human-machine interaction through movement and light. Developed to respond dynamically to human presence using face detection and synchronized robotic motion.
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Prototype, Interactive Installation |
| Role | Artist, Developer |
| Tools | vvvv, Arduino, 3D-Printer, Rhino3D |
| Team | Katrin Peters |
Project Description
This robotic flower prototype explores subtle interactions between humans and machines through responsive movement and light. Initially developed with Katrin Peters, the concept revolves around presence, resonance, and emotional engagement.
Using articulated LED panels and an integrated camera for face detection, the flower actively scans its environment. When it recognizes a human face, the flower pauses, unfolds gracefully, and initiates a hypnotic choreography of lights and gentle movements. Once the person moves away, the flower quietly closes and resumes its observation.
The prototype was showcased during the final presentation of Amir Bastan’s “Creative Robotics” Masterclass at The Node Institute in Berlin, further enhanced by integrating it with a KUKA IIWA robotic arm provided by Nils Weger and Prof. Olaf Hirschberg from Hochschule Mainz, Zeitbasierte Medien.
Technical Description
The robotic flower is entirely 3D printed using PETG, providing robust structural integrity and precise customizations, including a specifically designed adapter for the KUKA IIWA robot arm. Internally, the flower utilizes individually addressable LED panels and a central camera system for real-time face detection, all wirelessly controlled through vvvv (VL Gamma).
The KUKA IIWA robotic arm was integrated and programmed using VL.Bunraku, enabling precise synchronization between robotic movements and the flower’s interactive behavior. The software structure, custom-developed within vvvv, ensures seamless interaction between sensory inputs (face detection), motion control, and dynamic lighting effects, resulting in a fluid and natural user interaction.