What it does
This design solves the problem of traditional cultural heritage losing vitality in modern spaces by integrating Tea-Horse Ancient Road culture with woodcarving and dynamic interaction.
Your inspiration
This design solves the problem of traditional cultural heritage losing vitality in modern spaces by integrating Tea-Horse Ancient Road culture with woodcarving and dynamic interaction. Woodcarved wavy curves depict the road's ruggedness, movable "horse" and "boat" restore trading scenes, and a smart sun-moon lamp with desert texture echoes the landscape. It bridges history and present through tech-tradition fusion, awakening ethnic spirit and making cultural experience part of daily life.
How it works
This design integrates mechanical dynamics and intelligent sensing technologies to activate cultural symbols. Here are the technical details: Dynamic Interaction Mechanism The "horse" and "boat" sculptures at both ends are driven by miniature servo motors (model SG90), connected via gear transmission to achieve reciprocal linear movement. The speed (0.5cm/s) and stroke (30cm) are programmed to simulate the rhythm of ancient tea-horse trade caravans. A hidden rail system with anti-jump bearings ensures smooth movement, while limit switches detect end positions to prevent overtravel. Intelligent Day-Night Lighting System The sun-moon lamp uses a photosensitive resistor (LDR5516) to sense ambient light. When luminance <300 lux (night), an Arduino Nano controls a dual-LED module (white for "sun," yellow for "moon") to switch positions via a stepper motor (28BYJ-48).
Design process
The design process from concept to prototype unfolded in four phases, integrating cultural narrative with technical iteration: 1. Conceptualization (Weeks 1-2) Cultural Anchoring: Mapped Tea-Horse Road’s key elements (rugged terrain, horse-boat trade, celestial symbolism) to identify interactive touchpoints. Tech-Culture Fusion: Defined core idea: dynamic woodcarving as a medium to visualize "historical movement" through mechanical and lighting systems. 2. Design Development (Weeks 3-4) Sketches & CAD Models: Created 2D drafts of wavy curves (1:10 scale) and 3D models of movable "horse-boat" mechanisms using SolidWorks. Material Testing: Evaluated oak, mahogany, and walnut for grain texture; selected aged oak (15mm thickness) for its weathered aesthetic matching the 古道 (ancient road). Technical Blueprint: Specified servo motor torque (SG90: 1.8kg/cm) for 30cm linear travel, and Arduino Nano for light-sensing logic.
How it is different
The design stands out for its innovative integration of intangible cultural heritage with mechatronic technology, creating a threefold uniqueness absent in conventional cultural products: 1. Cultural Narrative through Dynamic Kinetics Unlike static heritage installations that rely on text plaques, this design uses programmable mechanical movement as a narrative medium. The reciprocal motion of "horse" and "boat" (driven by SG90 servos) isn’t just decorative—it algorithmically simulates the historical tea-horse trade rhythm (0.5cm/s speed, 30cm stroke), transforming abstract cultural symbols into tangible kinetic storytelling. Most similar products use static motifs or random animations, lacking historical context in movement programming.
Future plans
The future development of this design focuses on three dimensions, aiming to deepen cultural integration and technological scalability: 1. Technological Evolution Integrate AI-driven gesture recognition to replace capacitive touch, enabling more intuitive interactions (e.g., waving to trigger historical audio narratives). Add IoT connectivity for remote monitoring and OTA updates, allowing the system to sync with local weather data to adjust lighting effects (e.g., sandstorm-themed animations on windy days).
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