Explorator Genus: Designing Transportable Mechatronic Sound Objects for Outdoor Installation Art

The Explorator genus is a set of hardware and firmware systems, artistic motivations, and physical construction methods designed to support the creation of transportable environmentally-responsive mechatronic sound objects for exhibition outdoors. In order to enable the realization of installation scenarios with varied cochlear needs, we developed a generalized hardware and firmware system that can be reused between projects and which supports the development of purpose-built feedback mechanisms. We introduce five distinct hardware instances that serve as test cases for the Explorator genus. The hardware instances are introduced as Explorator "species". Each species shares core hardware and firmware systems but uses distinct soundscape augmentation feedback mechanisms to support unique installation scenarios. Initial subjective and objective observations, findings, and data are provided from fieldwork conducted in four American states. These initial test installations highlight the Explorator genus as a modular, transportable, environmentally reactive, environmentally protected, self-powered system for creating novel mechatronic sound objects for outdoor sonic installation art.