Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
University / School Name Georgia Institute of Technology
Lead Designers Bailey Finch
Professor Names Thomas Clifton
Photo Credits Bailey Finch
Completion Date April 18th 2025
Project Location Atlanta, GA
Entry DescriptionTidal is designed to give a quick, visual update on ocean conditions in real time. It displays tide levels, weather, and water roughness, helping beachgoers, surfers, and coastal residents decide when it’s the right time to head out.
Tidal is designed to be an ambient and decorative lighting product, intended to integrate well into a coastal home. It pulls live local tide information from publicly available databases and relays that information to the user. Five sets of servos with two LEDs each are used to convey the tidal information, where color corresponds to weather (sunny, cloudy, rain, or stormy), amplitude of oscillation corresponds to wave height, and the number of LEDs turned on corresponds to tide height. Through this information, the user can get a full picture of the coastal conditions in their area while having a cohesive decoration in their home.
Most components for this light were 3D printed, the mirrors hand-shaped with heat forming, and all of the electrical wiring done by hand. An Arduino was coded to control the system and convey live ocean information.
