Automatic water droplet splash photography: Design and analysis of an Arduino-controlled solenoid triggering device

Nur Khamdi, Henry Nasution, Mulyadi Mulyadi

Abstract

Capturing transient water droplet splashes poses significant challenges due to their millisecond-scale corona formations, with manual methods achieving only 3 % success rates. This study developed an Arduino-based automated photography system that integrates a solenoid-driven droplet generator and optocoupler-triggered camera to address this limitation. The device calculates droplet impact timing using gravitational acceleration by synchronizing solenoid activation and camera triggering via an Arduino Nano. Experimental trials at a 50 cm droplet height demonstrated 100 % capture accuracy at 105 ms delays, outperforming manual methods (6 % success). Photographer evaluations rated splash aesthetics at 50 cm as optimal (9/10), emphasizing crown symmetry and height. The optocoupler-based system achieved sub-millisecond response times, surpassing electromechanical alternatives. By reducing memory waste from failed captures by 94 %, this approach enhances efficiency in high-speed macro photography. These results validate the system’s reliability for studying fluid dynamics and surface interactions, offering a scalable framework for automated imaging applications in scientific and artistic domains.



Keywords


Arduino-controlled solenoid; high-speed macro photography; optocoupler camera triggering; water droplet dynamics; automated splash capture.

Full Text:

PDF


References


Prasetyo, M. Eko, “Kajian visual komposisi simetris dan asimetris fotografi surreal fashion karya Natalie Dybisz,” in Prosiding SNADES 2021 - Kebangkitan Desain & New Media: Membangun Indonesia di Era Pandemi KAJIAN, 2021.

J. B. Ulmer, “Visual media, macro photography, and exponential imagination: scalar views in ecohumanism,” J. Ecohumanism, vol. 2, no. 2, 2023.

F. Fuchs, A. Koenig, D. Poppitz, and S. Hahnel, “Application of macro photography in dental materials science,” J. Dent., vol. 102, 2020.

Y. Jiang, C. Machado, and K. C. K. Park, “From capture to transport: A review of engineered surfaces for fog collection,” Droplet, Volume 2, Issue 2, 2023.

M. Meng and Q. Yang, “Investigation of the microscopic process of the media coalescence treatment of water-in-oil emulsion,” ACS Omega, vol. 8, no. 13, 2023.

H. Zhang, X. Zhang, X. Yi, F. He, F. Niu, and P. Hao, “Effect of wettability on droplet impact: Spreading and splashing,” Exp. Therm. Fluid Sci., vol. 124, 2021.

Y. Song, Y. Zhang, and H. Gao, “Numerical analysis of the free-falling process of a water droplet at different temperatures,” Processes, vol. 11, no. 1, 2023.

A. Constant, K. J. Friston, and A. Clark, “Cultivating creativity: Predictive brains and the enlightened room problem,” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci., vol. 379, no. 1895, 2024.

M. Garin and A. A. Fernández, “Images and visual motifs of spanish economic power: The IBEX court and the banking crisis (2011–2013),” Commun. Soc., vol. 34, no. 2, 2021.

X. Yu, Y. Zhang, R. Hu, and X. Luo, “Water droplet bouncing dynamics,” Nano Energy, Volume 81, Maret, 2021.

H. Almohammadi and A. Amirfazli, “Droplet impact: Viscosity and wettability effects on splashing,” J. Colloid Interface Sci., vol. 553, 2019.

S. Moghtadernejad, C. Lee, and M. Jadidi, “An introduction of droplet impact dynamics to engineering students,” MDPI, vol. 5(3), page 107, 2020.

M. Piskunov, N. Khomutov, A. Semyonova, A. Ashikhmin, and S. Misyura, “Unsteady convective flow of a preheated water-in-oil emulsion droplet impinging on a heated wall,” Phys. Fluids, vol. 34, no. 9, 2022.

I. G. M. N. Desnanjaya, I. B. A. I. Iswara, A. A. G. Ekayana, P. P. Santika, and I. N. B. Hartawan, “Automatic high speed photography based microcontroller,” in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2020.

LowCQ, “DIY Remote Mechanical Cable Release,” [Online].

M. A. A. Mursalim, D. Atmajaya, and E. I. Alwi, “Pengembangan alat bantu timelapse photography berbasis arduino,” Bul. Sist. Inf. dan Teknol. Islam, vol. 2, no. 1, 2021.

B. Siregar, K. Tanjung, and F. Nurmayadi, “Remotely controlled water flow monitoring system with mechanical control on the faucet using lora communication,” in 7th International Conference on ICT for Smart Society: AIoT for Smart Society, ICISS 2020 - Proceeding, 2020.

N. Khamdi, “Sarung tangan cerdas sebagai translator bahasa isyarat untuk tuna wicara,” J. Elektro dan Mesin Terap., vol. 1, no. Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022), pp. 113–122, 2022.

K. Nur, “Rancang bangun prototype alat monitoring tangki bahan bakar solar di PLTD berbasis IoT,” PETIR, vol. 16, no. 2, 2023.

M. C. A. Carasco, J. P. P. Pizarro, and G. A. Tapang, “Development of a microcontroller-based wireless accelerometer for kinematic analysis,” J. Mechatronics, Electr. Power, Veh. Technol., vol. 6, no. 1, 2015.

S. Hao et al., “Wetting-state-induced turning of water droplet moving direction on the surface,” ACS Nano, vol. 17, no. 3, 2023.

M. E. Ibrahim and M. Medraj, “Prediction and experimental evaluation of the threshold velocity in water droplet erosion,” Mater. Des., vol. 213, 2022.


Article Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Metrics powered by PLOS ALM

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Khamdi, Henry Nasution, mulyadi mulyadi

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.