Optimization of electromagnet configuration

The Ghost Piano: The first instrument under development as part of the ARTIMIS Project. As mentioned above, this is an expansion of the existing ElectroMagnetically-Prepared Piano. The original system was designed to install on a grand piano and be controlled by a computer. We seek to expand on that design, allowing for new methods of human/instrument interaction. We also hope to explore new areas of musical expressivity by injecting operational uncertainty through the use of artificial intelligence. A central component of this new system is the inclusion of a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit, which allows us to run a current directly through the piano strings. The gentle current will provide haptic feedback to the performer as they touch the strings. In working on the system, however, we discovered that we needed to increase the power available to the electromagnets. This involved optimizing different electromagnet and amplifier sizes against string type on the piano, surprisingly complex endeavor.