Laser Harp Senior Project
Eila Motley
2013-2014
**ROUGH DRAFT**
Abstract
I
am a member of Stratford High School’s Academy of Science and Engineering. In
this program, we are required to work in teams to conceptualize ideas, build
prototypes, engineer solutions to everyday and worldly problems, and to
practice and develop other skills needed to work in the engineering, science,
or medical field. Now that our class’s senior year is approaching, our next
assignment is to carry out a yearlong senior project. As an active member of
this group during 2012-2013, I believe I am qualified to take on the project of
building a laser harp. Although it will be most difficult project I have worked
on yet, I will use time management and the resources available to me to make
sure that it is accomplished by the spring of 2014.
A
laser harp is an electronic instrument consisting of several beams, that when
blocked, produce sound (like the plucking of harp strings). Two different
people claim to have invented the laser harp - Geoffrey Rose and Bernard
Szajner. Both received patents in the late 20th century. The laser harp then
stepped into the spotlight (literally) when Jean Michel Jarre began
implementing this virtual instrument in his concerts, beginning with The
Concerts in China tour (1981). French engineer, Denis Carnus, who worked a lot
with Bernard Szajner, built the harp used for this concert series. The laser
harp continued to gain fame, and other variations on the idea have since been
developed.
Building
this harp would be a learning experience and a cool way to expand my knowledge
on what it takes to put a functioning virtual instrument like this together. My
objective is to build a fully functioning laser harp and I plan on using a
building method known as “infinite beam” which involves a single beam, a beam
splitter, and a synthesizer or computer along with other lesser components.
My
overall objective is to build and be able to play a laser harp. I will achieve
this goal by first, acquiring all of the separate components and equipment
needed to construct the harp. Then I will use resources found online, as well
guidance from my dad, to help me correctly put together the electronic parts of
the laser harp. After this, I will work on perfecting the packaging of the
laser harp so that it is clean, durable, and easy to transport. I will then use
a computer in place of a synthesizer to produce the notes that correspond to
the harp “strings”. Finally, I will implement my piano skills and practice
actually playing the laser harp until I am able to play it with ease.
The
estimate cost of my project will be as following:
·
Assembly
Needs - $75
·
Powering
Needs - $15
·
Programming
and Audio Needs - $65
·
Laser
Component Needs - $200
This
puts the total budget at $355.
**To
be added: (3) results obtained, (4) significance of results**
Introduction
Background:
A laser harp is an electronic instrument consisting of several beams, that when
blocked, produce sound (like the plucking of harp strings). Two different people
claim to have invented the laser harp - Geoffrey Rose and Bernard Szajner. Both
received patents in the late 20th century. The laser harp then stepped into the
spotlight (literally) when Jean Michel Jarre began implementing this virtual
instrument in his concerts, beginning with The Concerts in China tour (1981).
French engineer, Denis Carnus, who worked a lot with Bernard Szajner, built the
harp used for this concert series. The laser harp continued to gain fame, and
other variations on the idea have since been developed.
Inspiration:
I have played the piano for 11 years now and have been musically involved all
my life. After seeing multiple videos of Jean Michel Jarre, hearing of my
parents' own experience at one of his concerts, and reading further on the
engineering behind this modern instrument, I have decided that I would love to
build my own laser harp and experiment with the programming of the tones and
the actual playing of the beams. This would be a learning experience and a cool
way to expand my knowledge on what it takes to put a functioning virtual
instrument like this together. My objective is to build a fully functioning
laser harp and I plan on using a building method known as “infinite beam” which
involves a single beam, a beam splitter, and a synthesizer or computer along
with other lesser components.
I
am a member of Stratford High School’s Academy of Science and Engineering. In
this program, we are required to work in teams to conceptualize ideas, build
prototypes, engineer solutions to everyday and worldly problems, and to
practice and develop other skills needed to work in the engineering, science,
or medical field. As an active member of this group during 2012-2013, I believe
I am qualified to take on this project of building a laser harp. Although it
will be most difficult project I have worked on yet, I will use time management
and the resources available to me to make sure that it is accomplished by the
spring of 2014.
**To be added: “results and conclusions of previously
published studies [projects]”**
Methods
- Draw a one-line
diagram of the system’s key components and their interconnections
- Using the drawing
from 1., generate a bill of materials for required components
- Perform an
inventory of items on hand
- Purchase items needed
that aren’t already available
- Set up a blog on
blogster.com
- Once all required
items are gathered, begin construction of following subassemblies:
- Laser light source
and power supply
- Laser beam splitter
- Photo-transistor
light sensors
- Interconnection wiring
and packaging
- Power up laser and
utilizing the splitter, split the main laser into eight separate beams
- Mount
photo-transistor assemblies with proper orientation to be in alignment
with the eight beams
- Install synthesizer
software on the laptop computer
- Route the signal
from each photo-transistor to laptop
- With the computer and all other
subassemblies powered on, begin experimenting with reflection of the beams
and the associated sounds produced, modulating the pitch and tone.
- Continue to practice with harp
until an optimized musical quality can be produces consistently and harp
is a complete musical instrument.
Results
**To
be added: Results – once complete**
Discussions
The
success of my project will be measurable by any human ear. If I am to achieve
this goal, the end product will be a fully functioning and playable laser harp.
If it successful, you will be able to hear it and distinguish a melody being
played from it. All of the information regarding my project will be reported in
a final presentation of my work in May of 2014. The actual process of the
objectives states previously and the current state of my progress week-to-week
will be viewable on an online bog, open to the public.
Budget Analysis (original vs. final)
Assembly Needs: Items such as a soldering gun, wire
strippers, and pliers will be needed to assemble the components of the laser
harp. These components include photo sensors, a circuit board, and MIDI
connectors. Assembly materials to construct the final packaging container will
also be needed such as sheet metal and paint.
Powering Needs: A 120VAC to 12VDC power supply will be
needed to run the laser harp
Programming and Audio Needs: MIDI computer software, a
laptop computer to run this software on, an audio power amplifier, and a
musical speaker are all needed to program the laser harp and required to
produce the sound.
Laser Component Needs: A high intensity green laser beam
is a key purchase along with a laser beam splitter that will split the initial
beam into the separate “cords”
Performing Needs: In order to play the finished laser
harp, I will need to purchase high reflectivity gloves in white for optimal
recognition by the laser beams. Also, protective goggles are necessary to play
the laser harp as a safety precaution.
**To be added: Further discussion once final results are
obtained**
Works Cited
**To be added: most likely
additional works cited by the time the final draft is done**
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