This project project is about the desing, prototyping and initial production of the light installation that will be presented by Fontys Technology at GLOW Eindhoven 2026. During the project, the team worked intensively on the development of “The Rings of Resonance”. A significant amount of time and effort was invested in the design and implementation of both the electrical and mechanical systems that form the foundation of the installation.
Project description
The project followed the V-model development methodology. During the initial phase, several brainstorming sessions were organized to generate concepts that satisfied the requirements established by both the GLOW organization and the project team. Three concepts were developed and evaluated based on criteria such as originality, safety, feasibility, and the inclusion of mechanical movement. The concept consisting of rotating gyroscopic rings surrounding an illuminated central sphere was selected because it best fulfilled all criteria and provided the strongest connection with the festival theme.
Project result
To validate the concept, a scaled prototype was designed and constructed. Throughout the prototyping phase, testing was done to investigate material choices, mechanical solutions, electrical systems, and control strategies. The prototype revealed some important things to keep in mind. Structural deformation, imbalance in the rotating elements, unreliable gear transmission, and signal interference through slip rings were identified as major issues.
Based on the findings from the prototype, a complete technical design for the final installation was developed. The final design uses aluminium rings to ensure sufficient strength while minimizing weight, incorporates steel structural components for critical load-bearing parts, and replaces gear drives with more reliable belt-driven systems. The electrical design is based on a Raspberry Pi and multiple microcontrollers that control the interactive modules, lighting effects, and motor systems through a combination of RS485 and DMX.
Through brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and engineering calculations, a solid foundation has been established for the final realization of the installation. The prototype provided valuable insights that led to important improvements in both the mechanical and electrical design.
Video
Acknowledgement
The student project team (Daan, Freek, Mattei, Lars and Vince) would like to express their sincere gratitude to our tutor, Johan van Rens, for his guidance and support throughout the entire project. We would also like to thank Fontys University of Applied Sciences for providing the facilities and financial resources that enabled us to realize our ideas.
In addition, we would like to thank PDM for their support and guidance in the field of project management. We are grateful to ASML and TinyTronics for their financial contributions to the project. We would also like to thank GLOW Eindhoven for their trust and for providing us with the opportunity to realize this installation.
Furthermore, we would like to thank JF Videoproducties for producing the project videos, and Tronix and Zumtobel for their technical support and for supplying LED strips and control equipment.
Finally, we would like to thank one another for the dedication, teamwork, and collaboration that made this project possible.