The Floraborg Project by Elizabeth Demaray and team at Rutgers University (Camden Campus) is a marriage of technology and nature. Walking down a hallway, one might happen upon a lush green plant taking a solo stroll towards the sunlight on its wheeled perch. This three wheeled robotic device that sits only a foot or so high with ai sensors that allow it to know what the plant is in need of whether it be sunlight or water. It will then move itself with its blue omni wheels to the appropriate location for these needs to be satisfied.
This art and science is potentially a way for us to understand what the environment is doing to the native plants and from that, the animals as well. As the system learns, the plants move to the best location for them as opposed to the location that humans or animals place it. Will the plants generally move to a completely different area? One might also think that this is a way to remind a person to care for their plants or to help them take the “lazy way out” when it comes to taking care of their plants. If the plant moves itself and can go notify you that it needs water or eventually get it itself, then it can allow people to keep plants and not have a lot of hassle.
Art & Sustainability 