Musical Laser Harp
Musical harp using laser diodes and photodetectors to trigger notes by interrupting light beams. Developed with Arduino on a custom curved frame.
Role · Developer
Overview
This project consists of a laser harp, an interactive musical instrument that generates sound when a user interrupts visible laser beams with their hand. Each laser beam corresponds to a musical note. When the beam is blocked, the system detects the change and activates a tone through a built-in speaker.
The device is built on a curved wooden and plastic frame with multiple red laser diodes aligned with photodetectors (photodiodes). An Arduino microcontroller continuously reads each sensor and triggers a specific tone based on which beam was interrupted. A rotary selector allows the user to switch between rhythm or tone modes.
What it does
Sound triggering via visible laser beam interruption
Use of red laser diodes and aligned photodiodes
Arduino-controlled tone generation
Mode selection using rotary knob
Integrated speaker for audio output
How It Works
Each laser diode is aligned with a corresponding photodiode. When the beam reaches the sensor, the voltage level remains stable. When a hand blocks the beam, the Arduino detects the voltage drop and activates the sound associated with that position. The tones are generated programmatically within the Arduino.
