TO MAKE LASER HARP WITH LIDAR AND

ARDUINO
(PROJECT REPORT # 03 SEMESTER SPRING 2020)
(May 3, 2020)
BY
SAFF E AWAL AKHTAR
16341510-029
PHYS-419 (Laser Engineering)
BS-Physics Section A
Dr. Muhammad Bilal Tahir
Department of Physics

UNIVERSITY OF GUJRAT

Activity sheet

Project: to make laser harp with LIDAR and arduino

Activit Activity Description of work

y week name/co
# ntributio
n in
project

Page | 1
4.
summary of Summary that I wrote, describes what we will do in this
the project project report. In this project we will study how a laser harp
& graphical can be made which is an electronic musical instrument.
abstract

Literature Literature reported shows that laser harps are of different types
review which can be built by different processes. Many people used
relevant to many apparatus to construct this electronic musical instrument.
project Some of them used stepper motor to run their system along
with sensors and arduino to produce musical notes. Some used
detection and distance sensors with laser detection scheme.
Some used IR range sensors, micro controller and other
components also to produce musical notes. In short different
people used different structures to design this musical
instruments
1. Analogues laser harp report
(https://web.mit.edu/6.101/www/s2014/projects/ad
disonj_Project_Final_Report.pdf)
2. Laser music system (https://www.diva-
portal.org/smash/get/diva2:538278/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
3. Upright laser harp
(https://hackaday.io/project/167163-upright-laser-
harp)
4. Laser harp
(https://mil.ufl.edu/4924/projects/s12/pdr/Mai_Zuck
er.pdf)
5. Laser harp
(http://home.iitb.ac.in/~pradeepsarin/teaching/pub/
Fall_2010_up/Reports/06_LaserHarp.pdf)
6. Frameless laser harp
(https://www.instructables.com/id/Frameless-Laser-
Harp/)
7. Laser harp 1 (https://hackaday.io/project/20208-
laser-harp-i)
Division of I divided tasks among my group members and also did final

Page | 2
 task & file editing and compilation taking data from all members.
editing and
compilation
of final
report
5. History of I wrote history of laser harp along with its description when it
laser harp was discovered and how it is developed further
schematic I made schematic diagram of laser harp on power point and
diagram and describe its detail.
description
Lectures I also gone through a lecture uploaded on our help account.

Editing and I edited final file taking data from all members.
compilation
6. LIDAR I wrote LIDAR its working principle, components of LIDAR
system system and their description.
Division of I divided tasks among my group members and also did final
work to my file editing and compilation taking data from all members
group
members &
Final file
compilation

Project title: To build a laser harp by using LIDAR and Arduino

Outline/Draft

1. Abstract/Summary
Abstract should be the short description showing your complete work. In abstract we will
discuss the objectives behind our project and a strong motivation that why this should be
chosen as a project. Moreover, it will show the overview of this project report.
 Objectives
 Motivation
2. Introduction
In this section we will discuss about the LASER harp made up of Arduino and LIDAR.
First we will discuss the background history from the first ever musical instrument to

Page | 3
 latest musical technology made from LASER technology. Then we will discuss about the
working principle and basic purpose of the LASER harp that is used in our project.
 Background history
Different musicians and inventors are trying to create the musical instruments since
for centuries. First manual musical instruments were used then as technology get
developed so these instruments also start evolving. Similarly technology changes
from manual to electronic to now LASER based technology.
 Basic purpose
The purpose behind this project is to modify and develop the old musical
instruments to latest and cost effective instruments. This system uses different
components to complete its working principle.
3. Construction
Construction of electronic components means that how different components are
connected with each other to perform their corresponding functions. As in this project
the breadboard is the key component on which all other sub components are attached. In
these section we will further discuss all the components required for this project along
with their description and specifications.
 Components
 Component’s description
4. Working/method
In this section we will discuss that working operation of every individual components
and the whole system. After working we will discuss the required results obtained
through this project.
5. Applications
In this section we will discuss the applications on the basis of advantages of this project.
As it is easy to build and comparatively cost effective so it can be used in detectors to
sense the sound and light.
6. Conclusion
In this section we will discuss the end results and summary of whole project that why did
we select this project and how did we build this project.
7. References
References would be the scientific evidence of our data and project report. These would
describe the authenticity of our project report.

Page | 4
1. Abstract
A music system has been shaped known as laser harp which is an electronic musical instrument
used to produce music rhythms. Sharp laser beams are generated through the system of laser harp.
Musician touch these laser beams with his hand causing different musical notes of different pitch
and time durations. Laser beams are intersected by user until they trigger desired pitch. System
uses a LIDAR which works like RADAR but it uses laser light to produce music. Types of laser
harps are also discussed in the project. Mostly it is used in musical concerts to amuse people with
an electronic system. Main objectives behind the project is to make a musical instrument that is
amazing both by video and audio which can play vocalizations with sensors and laser beams.

Page | 5
2. Motivation behind the project
It is an era of music and sound where all have love for listening and playing music. But physically
it was hard to produce music electronically. From the technological point of view it is also a
period rich with highly developed engineering technology. Some decades ago an electronic
musical instrument was built to produce musical notes which is the combination of both
scenarios. It is a Laser Harp which produces rhythms according to desired triggers using laser and
other electronic components. Main aim behind doing this project is to make an electronic musical
instrument that can be used in live concerts to perform desired music. We aimed to make this
project because it is easy to play music with interacting the laser beams to produce musical notes
of desired pitch and duration. It also produces enthusiasm of listening and playing music in
younger audiences.

3. Introduction of laser harp

a. Background history before laser harp

Since from the back ages musicians have been trying to make the concept of music better by
improving the musical instruments and producing different kind of sounds in a whole new
way which always fascinates the viewers/listeners. Since the age of classical music as strings
of orchestra have been using for the centuries, so the original concept have not been changed
only some improvements have done in these instruments and methods. The electronic
instruments have not such type of background history, as they have not had enough time to

Page | 6
 settle. As this type of music has only lasted for a century because technology is evolving day
by day and new sound techniques replace the old ones.

Non-contact instruments/sensors

The first ever non-contact sensor that modernized the musical instruments was developed in
about 1920 names as Theremin by a Russian physicist and a scientist named Leon Theremin.
In the present time the company named Roland added the IR sensor in electronic instruments
which worked as D beam and this can be controlled by simply moving/waving anybody’s
hand.

Theremin

The basic principle behind its working is the frequency oscillator. The frequency can be
controlled by changing the capacity due to motion of hand. However the amplitude varied
with the frequency due to filter circuit. This can be played by both hands in which one control
the volume while other controls the pitch.

D beam

This d beam is controlled by two infrared sensors, BEAM L and BEAM R.

b. Laser harp history

The very first electronic musical instrument made, was laser harp. It consists of laser beams
acting like real strings of an ordinary harp. When one interact these virtual strings with his
fingers then it produces musical notes. The laser harp was first invented by Geoffrey Rose in
Jun 1975 and he created this term laser harp but he could not make information about it online
to show his invention to the world. After wards same years later, another musician Bernard
Szajner made sure a patent about laser harp invention in 1981. He had been working in live
music shows concerts and visual shows for thirty years. He had been using the idea of
fancying the music through laser. But later he tried to back the idea by creating music through
laser beams. A glass like optical component called diffraction grating was used by him to
produce many laser beams using monochromatic laser beam of laser. Diffraction grating split
the laser source into many beams across the edges of grating slits. These separated beams on
interaction of user’s fingers then generate music. This was how use laser harp started.

In the published context it has been recorded that laser harp practically was invented by
Bernard Szajner but firstly used by Jean Michal, an electronic musical producer and musician,
who made it popular in public. He used this instrument first, in china in a live musical concert
in 1981 and since has been a high counterpart in all of his concerts.

Page | 7
c. System overview

The laser harp is a non-contact music system in this modern age and provides its users an
attractive structure and shape. The laying area consists of an array of Laser beams octave
which is further divided into twelve individual laser beams. These beams are arranged in such
a fashion that can be seen with human eye easily if we disperse some smoke near the
instrument. These laser beams also play a function of switches to locate the different levels of
pitch. These twelve laser beams are set next to the diode and can able to detect the motion of
hand to describe the pitch level.

Overview of system: the laser beam can be interrupted by the motion of hand and then
different levels of pitch can be located.

d. Laser harp’s schematic diagram through LIDAR and working principle

Laser harp made here in our project, consists of LIDAR and arduino. LIDAR consists of laser
diode and receiver diode.

Page | 8
 Laser diode produces monochromatic laser beam that proceeded further towards receiver
diode. Where laser beams are detected up to certain distance along with their angle of
emission within a certain time limit of detection and emission. Thus LIDAR sends this
distance and angle of laser beams generated through laser diode, to the arduino through its
interface port. Arduino extract these angles of laser beams and set them to exact at an angle of
90 degree so that user can interact with these beams. Output of arduino can be collected in
signal form through computer or other synthesizers.

4. Hardware components of the laser harp

Following are the hardware components used in making laser harp project while software
component are separate than these.
 Arduino mega 256
 Rotary potentiometer
 Resistor & capacitor
 LIDAR

a. Arduino mega 256

Arduino is an electronic platform that basically provide the base and we easily used software
and hardware. Arduino is basically printed board which consists many chips, micro
controllers and input and outputs. It is an open circuit which also contain many electronic
components that increase capabilities of microcontroller chips. The micro controllers’ chips
of small integrated circuits that allow user to attached inputs. We write code on Arduino that
tell microcontrollers what to do. For example, we write a code to blink LED or not. Arduino

Page | 9
 perform multiple functions but not its own its require input and output for working. Arduino
firstly discovered in Italy. Arduino consists of a board which are able to read in puts, light that
are detected at sensor and finger when touched on button and also reading any input massage
and then converted inputs to output with help of motor and by glowing LED, s .In our project
basically it behave as little computer which consist of inputs and outputs and respond to
inputs through activating DC motor and musical sounds are produced. [1] Arduino is attached
with PC through USB .When the light is interrupted through hands then detected through
LIDAR which is connected with bread board through electronic components send the
massage Arduino. Arduino read this input and respond to input and produced output by
activating DC motor and sounds are produced.[2]

Fig-02 : Arduino mega 256 used in laser harp project

[3]
b. Rotary potentiometer

Rotary potentiometer is used for the variable supply voltages in electronic circuits. The rotary
potentiometers has two terminals in a semi-circular pattern between uniform resistances. The
resistance is varied through sliding knob and voltages are obtained through central terminal.

Fig-03 : Arduino mega 256 used in laser harp project

[4]
Rotary potentiometer used in Laser harp is of 10kohm and has three pins as shown in the
figure above. One pin is connected to VCC other is grounded (GND) and central pin contains
voltage that can vary from 0 to VCC voltage and it depends upon the rotation of pot.
Resistance can be varied by turning the pot. The central pin is connected to ADC on
microcontroller and variable-input is obtained from the user. The pot has usually ¼ diameter
with 10k linear-taper. [4]

Page | 10
c. LIDAR

The most important component of our project is LIDAR which known as light detection and
ranging. It is an electronic component that is used in our project to produce laser and then
detection of laser light reflected from the object. Model of LIDAR used in our project is RP
LIDAR A1. It is a 360 degree laser scanner which can scan objects up to 6 meter range. It is
basically a triangular measurement system that detect and measure distance of the object from
certain angles. It can work in all environs inside or outside in different kind of projects. [5]

i. Working principle of RP LIDAR A1

In our project as we are dealing with laser harp to produce music with LASER
light so LIDAR is used. LIDAR basically uses laser and receiver diodes for its
working. Infrared light is fallen on the laser diode which covert this light into
laser beams. These laser beams are set to fall on the object. Reflected laser beams
from the object are then detected through receiver diode inside the LIDAR. This
process is used by LIDAR continuously and distance of the object can be found.
During this process a time component decides all the accuracy measurements and
angles with which light is fallen on the object and detected by the receiver diode.
The very basic thing to be noted is that object whose distance we have to find is
our hands which will interrupt the laser beams to produce music notes.[6]

Fig-04: LIDAR basic components expressing basic principle of

LIDAR.
Our
hands to Produced
interrupt by laser
beams diode

[6]
ii. Main components of LIDAR in working

Main components used in basic working are electrical components that describe
the principle on which LIDAR works. They are as following

1. LIDAR source with laser diode and receiver diode

2. Timing electronics 4. Computer

3. Global positioning system 5. Inertia measurement unit

iii. LIDAR source with laser diode and receiver diode

Page | 11
Laser diode

Here laser source is showing laser diode which produces laser light. It uses near
infrared waves to produce laser beams. Near field infrared light is used where
LIDAR is being used to find distance of terrestrial bodies. Otherwise in finding
distance of the objects lying underwater, blue green wavelengths light is used to
produce laser beams as it can penetrate into water up to 40 meter distance.
Infrared light uses the process of absorption, transmitted and stimulated emission
to produce laser light. Laser beams produced through laser diode are safe and
protective to play the musical notes.

Specification of laser beams produced through laser source of LIDAR:

Laser wavelength Laser power Pulse length of laser

beams
785-795 nm 3-5 mW 110-300 ms

Receiver diode

Laser beams produced through laser diode are then fallen to a target object as
here in our projected these laser beams are emitted outward in the erect direction
and we use our hands to interrupt these beams. When beams are reflected by our
hands then they reached LIDAR again towards receiver diode whose sole purpose
is to detect these reflected beams coming from target object. Receiver diode also
convert beams into electrical pulses. For this purpose two sensors are used further
in receiver diode section, which are

 PIN diode (positive-intrinsic-negative diode)

 Silicon avalanche photodiode.

Timing electronics

These are the electronic devices used in LIDAR system which passes information
to other electric component with fast speed and at accurate timing. In LIDAR
setup timing electronics measures when beams were emitted from laser diode and
when they were reflected back to the receiver diode. Each beam sent towards the
target object is sent multiple times and all the data of beams emission and
detection after reflection is recorded through these timing devices.[7]

Page | 12
 These are the main components used in RP LIDAR A1 which is model of our
project. Remaining components are not related to our project. We can omit these
as they don’t contribute in making laser harp.

References
1. Chavan, S.P., M. Dhanvijay, and M. Jaybhaye, A low cost aurdino controlled floor
mopping robot. International Journal of Engineering Research, 2016. 5(2): p. 319-
321.

Page | 13
2. REDDY, K.J. and B.N. BABU, Industrial Automation Over IoT using Aurdino. 2019.
3. Nagalakshmi, S., et al., Design and implementation of Aurdino based smart home
energy management system using renewable energy resources. International Journal
of ChemTech Research, 2017. 10(6): p. 696-701.
4. Hufford, J.N. and J. Zdanys Jr, Rotary potentiometer with molded terminal package.
1984, Google Patents.
5. Wike Jr, C.K., et al., Lidar devices with reflective optics. 2010, Google Patents.
6. Ardanuy, A. and A. Comerón, Compact lidar system using laser diode, binary
continuous wave power modulation, and an avalanche photodiode-based receiver
controlled by a digital signal processor. Optical Engineering, 2018. 57(4): p. 044104.
7. Kaldén, P. and E. Sterna, Development of a low-cost laser rangefinder (LIDAR).
Master's of Systems, Control and Mechatronics, Department of Microtechnology &
Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, 2015.

Page | 14