Getting Started with FIREFLY

Great tutorial - thank you Troy Baverstock! How to install Firefly and check that it's working with an Arduino Uno in Rhino & Grasshopper. How to fix the WriteToDAC error when uploading the Firefly Firmata. Code and instructions here.

Uploaded by Esteban Serrano on 2016-01-15.

FLOATING POINT

Great urban project in Chile by Esteban Serrano R. using Arduino, Firefly + Grasshopper for mapping building geometry and sun tracking, stepper motors and big gears connected to mirrors. 

About Esteban's work: Experiments in materials, language, electronics, subjectivity, software, craftsmanship and space.
Designer, Santiago de Chile. http://esrs.co/

Arduinoroid

A cool project by Sinuhe Acosta demonstrating a Polaroid SX70 instant camera remotely controlled via  (osc + arduino + grasshopper + firefly) bundle.

Remote controlled Polaroid SX70 via OSC messages.

Kinect Hand Tracking

A video demo by Nachetz showing how to set up a Grasshopper definition for hand tracking with a laser pointer. Next step will be setting up the steppers with Arduino.

Setting up a Grasshopper definition for body tracking with a laser pointer. Next step will be setting up the steppers with arduino

Computer Vision Object Detection

Interesting research by user, Provolot, who uses Firefly's computer vision tools for object detection.  The process is explained as follows:

  • Camera image input/cleanup via Firefly

  • Threshold detection via Grasshopper

  • K-means clustering to simplify the geometry

  • Traveling salesman algorithm, performed twice, to connect the dots into a smooth line

Rhino/Grasshopper: Camera input / cleanup via Firefly Threshold detection via Grasshopper K-means clustering to simplify geometry Traveling salesman algorithm, done twice, to connect dots in a clean line

Robotic Milling of Sound

This video shows robotic milling (using the Kuka PRC plugin) from Firefly's audio analytic tools. The waveform was milled by turning an MDF panel. The higher the volume is, deeper the tool goes.

Web: Artis Engineering

http://artisengineering.de/ Final pictures: http://artisengineering.de/?page_id=936&lang=en We processed the song with a Grasshopper structure, the Firefly, the kangaroo and the KUKA|prc plugin. Then we milled the result in a turning MDF panel. Higher the volume is, deeper the tool goes.

Geoweaver

Firefly 3d Printing Hexapod: Creative Architecture Machines - Fall 2013 Student Team: Jia Wu, Jeffrey M. Maeshiro, Mary H. Sek @CCA - California College of the Arts Architecture Advanced Options Studio; Prof. Jason Kelly Johnson with Michael Shiloh.

Web: Instructables Link

Stratum Networks

Firefly + Arduino 3d Clay Printer: Creative Architecture Machines - Fall 2013 Student Team: Taylor N. Fulton and Max H. Sanchez; @ CCA - California College of the Arts Architecture Advanced Options Studio; Prof. Jason Kelly Johnson with Michael Shiloh.

Web: Instructables Link

Phase 02: 3D Fabrication Machine CREATIVE ARCHITECTURE MACHINES - FALL 2013 Student Team: Taylor N. Fulton and Max H. Sanchez CCA - California College of the Arts Architecture Advanced Options Studio Prof. Jason Kelly Johnson with Michael Shiloh Instructables Link: http://www.instructables.com/id/Stratum-Networks-Delta-Robot/

Buoyant Depositions

This project by Nicholas Barger and Brian Harms uses Grasshopper to generate machine code for a 6-axis robot arm, and Firefly to coordinate the functions of the end arm tool and a DC liquid pump.

Web:
http://nstrmnt.com/#/buoyant-depositions/
http://nicholasbarger.net/projects/buoyant-depositions/

This project aims to explore the repeatability of the creation of inexact forms through exact machinic operations, with the intention of achieving a certain degree of control over entropic processes. These processes involve the articulated deposition of liquid wax into cool water, taking advantage of the wax’s buoyancy, rapid phase change, and ability to fuse and bond to itself and other materials. Buoyancy plays a key role in the generation of these complex wax forms. Wax can be deposited such that it rises and pools, creating column structures and datums, or floor plates. By raising or lowering water levels while pools of hot wax float on the water’s surface, organic caves and coves are created within the structural network. This project also aims to project these processes onto an architectural scale whereby autonomous machines may be deployed on site and organically shape buoyant, hardening liquids through their flotation. Instructions would be encoded and sent to robots, and the operation would be overseen by humans, who could make adjustments and corrections in real time. This idea poses the following questions: What happens when architects, who rely heavily on their ability to reify an anticipated form, embraces inexact processes of construction? What is the role of the drawing when the form cannot be fully anticipated? What new form would construction documents take? Or would they become antiquated? Brian Harms, Nicholas Barger instructor: Marcelyn Gow Sci-arc Spring 2013

Fixing Machine

This video of The Fixing Machine by Stefano Paradiso shows a custom built physical interface which uses Firefly to control real-time digital geometry which are ultimately 3D printed to fix broken everyday objects.

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Submit Your Work

This section shows some of the work created by the incredibly talented members of the Firefly community.  If you've got a video you'd like to share, drop us a line and tell us about.  Just fill out the information and we'll make sure to add it to the gallery!