AirLogic: Embedding Pneumatic Computation and I/O in 3D Models to Fabricate Electronics-Free Interactive Objects

Abstract

A B 0 0 1 1 (c) (d) Inputs Air supply Exhaust Vent Vent A B B 0 1 A 0 1 (a) (b) Figure 1: AirLogic enables 3D printing interactive objects that are powered by airfow. We integrate printed logical structures like OR gates (a) alongside tube-based inputs and outputs in 3D models (b). These route airfow through the device's interior based on the results of logical operations performed on the user's input (c). Our widgets enable creating fully-printed, stand-alone interactive objects with integrated sensing, computation, and actuation powered solely by air (d). ABSTRACT Researchers have developed various tools and techniques towards the vision of on-demand fabrication of custom, interactive devices. * Authors contributed equally This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License. Recent work has 3D-printed artefacts like speakers, electromagnetic actuators, and hydraulic robots. However, these are non-trivial to instantiate as they require post-fabrication mechanical-or electronic assembly. We introduce AirLogic: a technique to create electronics-free, interactive objects by embedding pneumatic input, logic processing , and output widgets in 3D-printable models. AirLogic devices can perform basic computation on user inputs and create visible, audible, or haptic feedback; yet they do not require electronic circuits, physical assembly, or resetting between uses. Our library of 13 exemplar widgets can embed AirLogic-style computational capabilities in existing 3D models. We evaluate our widgets' performance-quantifying the loss of airfow (1) in each widget type, (2) based on printing orientation, and (3) from internal object geometry. Finally, we present fve applications that illustrate AirLogic's potential. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → Interactive systems and tools.