Pinecone Afterlife: Exploring the Potential of Pinecones as Augmented Hygromorphic Natural Sensors

Abstract

This paper investigates the potential of pinecones as Augmented Hygromorphic Natural Sensors and interaction bio-triggers, particularly in response to changes in humidity/moisture of mediums such as soil. As well-recognised nature-based hygroscopic actuators, pinecones have gained interest in recent years, especially in decoding their actuation mechanisms. From this perspective, we can even frame them as plant-grown robots. The paper outlines the characteristics of pinecones, surveys the landscape of biological sensors in the context of human-plant interaction and slow interaction, and advances an experimental approach for developing a hybrid plant-pinecone-controlled slow-interaction system. By placing this research at the intersection of human-plant interaction, biosensorics, and slow interaction, we rely on scientific strategies and poetic considerations, as props for reflection on the nature of crafted augmented hygromorphic natural sensor technologies with multifaceted aesthetic and functional implications. Moreover, we introduce the concept of the Hygromorphic Driven Interaction Framework and proffer hygroscopic actuators and sensors as time-based media.