Organized Chaos

Third Place

There is beauty in what you cannot see. This image presents laser-visualized airflow issuing from a nozzle, otherwise invisible to the human eye. Though visually complex and chaotic, its nature is revealed through a harmonious relationship of hidden underlying patterns. This image embodies a research project that uses knowledge of these patterns to develop airflow control technology. External vibrations manipulate the airflow and use feedback from speed and pressure measurements to autonomously control how far the airflow spreads. New intelligent airflow control technology is on the horizon, and its potential use in automobiles and aircraft offers extreme economic and environmental potential through fuel savings. The inherently complex nature of the flow makes it a significant challenge - the key is to harness the underlying organization.