Wisp is a kinetic sculpture created by a group of five students. It was made over a two month period for the final project of Olin College of Engineering's Principles of Engineering course. 

This sculpture reacts to the viewer's motion and distance by closing and opening its petals and changing its LED display. The project is a combination of mechanical, electrical, and firmware components. 

Why we created Wisp
We were all interested in creating a piece that met these requirements but also engaged an audience artistically. Then we came up with Wisp. Wisp is a kinetic sculpture that responds to input from the environment around it with distance sensors and a microphone. Approach too quickly, and the shell will close and hide the ball of LEDs sitting inside. However, if you stay around for long enough the sculpture opens back up and reveals its curious--albeit shy--nature. If you watch from a distance you will see it reach out completely, fully comfortable in its state. This website introduces you to the team that worked on it, and includes a detailed breakdown of each subsystem. Thanks for coming! And don't move too quick...

You might experience some of these moods if you interact with Wisp.
Scared
You've approached Wisp too quickly, encroached on its personal space. Wisp a nervous creature, and if this happens it will put up its protective armor.
Timid
Wisp is nervous, but stay around long enough and its curious nature will shine through. It will open up to peek at you and figure out if you are a friend.
Trusting
If you move too quick you may scare it back into its scared state. But remain still and Wisp will become friendly and playful.
Stoic
Spot Wisp at a distance and you will see Wisp in its full display of colors and emotion.

Design Goal

We want to engage the patience and curiosity of an audience by creating an interactive sculpture that responds to the movement and sounds of the surrounding environment.

We are Team Sinimun

Shawn Alberston

​Second year mechanical engineering student at Olin College of Engineering.
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Learning Goals:

• Develop skills in mechanical design
• Gain experience machining
• Create a piece that is mechanically driven yet artistically engaging

Jonah Spicher
Second year electrical engineering student at Olin College of Engineering.
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Learning Goals:

• ​Help to create/design an artistically interesting piece
• Integrate a system of electronics
• Learn more about embedded programming

Camille Girard​
Second year mechanical engineering student at Olin College of Engineering.
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Learing Goals:

• ​​Learn and design integrated linear and rotational movement
• Practice working within a budget and time restraint
• Create motion behind the scenes that creates emotion and adds to an art piece 

Hwei-Shin Harriman​
Second year software engineering student at Olin College of Engineering.

Learning Goals:

• Gain experience designing/engineering a polished project
• Gain more thorough knowledge of C,
• Create robust and efficient program that controls a larger system than I have worked with before

Diana Hernandez
Second year Geoscience major at Wellesley College
First Olin class.

​Learning Goals:

• Learn about different machinery
• Understand the different mechanisms involved
• Create an appealing website