A PROPOSED DESIGN COMPETITION FOR SOLAR THERMAL MUSIC

摘要

An interdisciplinary design competition is proposed. Each entrant must design, build, and demonstrate a self-actuating system that performs music using solar thermal energy. The earliest precedent for the design concept is the famous Memnon statue said to have inspired Hero of Alexandria to build the first steam engine. There are many design alternatives, and aero-thermoacoustic engines are of particular interest. A memnonium is composed of several subsystems, each of which can be simple and inexpensive to model, build, test and operate. However, the integrated system design - form, materials, energy, and the music itself- has many subtleties. A solar musical grammar might also use moving shadows from tall structures or deep holes, with architectural applications. Precedents and further discussion of memnonia are provided.