Cyborg
Cyborg is a device that can convert any object into an audio synthesizer. It has what we call tentacles, that can attach to any object using an adhesive compound, and that object can play any sound you program it to play. It work with piezoelectric sensors, which is a knock sensor than a touch sensor. So it has much better accuracy and is accurate enough to be played as a professional live musical instrument. It also has a companion software that allow users to input new sounds to the device and assign it to an object. The sounds are transferred to the device over Wifi.
Cyborg is meant to augment a musical instrument, to add more functionality to it or to make an acoustic instrument to have the flexibility of a digital instrument. In the next version, we will be making all sensors to be wireless, so that these sensors can be attached to anything in the room and the whole room can be a synthesizer.
We designed the device from scratch, with a combination of laser cut and 3D printed parts, with optimal button placement and indicator leds to help the musicinas to make the best use out of the device, when on stage. We did Usability studies to understand optimal button placements,optimal settings on the device firmware and for the companion software. The companion software allows the users to customize the settings and to optimize the audio settings and sounds.
If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.
Our team had an Audio Engineer, 2 Mechanical engineers, A Marketing expert and me. I conceptualized the product, designed and implemented the electronics and software. I was able to bring together these diverse backgrounds into the team and cultivate an environment where we were able to take advantage of the diversity and come up with an award winning product.
We participated in several pitching and product demo competitions all over Massachusetts and were recognized for innovative product and the pitch. We raised over $4500 in prize money, but out immigration status prevented us from perusing this any further.
