The Random Pattern Generating And Recognition
Bird Feeder
Michael Jantzen
© 2015
www.archinect.com/michael-jantzen/projects
The Random Pattern Generating and Recognition Bird Feeder is a conceptual art installation that was inspired by the science of complexity theory. It’s form and function are a direct result of observations into the ways in which seemingly unrelated events can be brought together in unexpected ways, to form unexpected and intriguing levels of observable complexity.
The 22 foot tall steel structure consists of four wind turbines that are mounted on the top. Each of the wind turbines is connected to one of the four segments of the cylinder below. Each of the segments has been painted with a different black and white pattern. Connected under the segmented cylinder is a large cone shaped container of birdseed. Mounted under the container of birdseed, is a cone shaped feeding pedestal that is mounted onto a square concrete base. There are four small computers and cameras mounted around the perimeter of the segmented cylinder. Each is focused onto the center of four opposing sections of the cylinder.
Whenever the wind blows, each of the four wind turbines slowly rotate one of the four segments of the cylinder in opposite directions, randomly changing the entire black and white pattern. Whenever this happens, the four computers start to randomly generating their own black and white patterns, while the four cameras scan their section of the cylinder, and send that information to their computer. If any of the random patterns generated by any of the computers match the patterns seen by the cameras on the segmented cylinder, a small amount of birdseed is automatically released down onto the pedestal. As a result, the birds are only fed if this series of seemingly unrelated complex events come together in just the right way.
Status: Unbuilt
