heliostat
A solar-tracking heliostat paired with a live companion app.
overview
Heliostat links hardware to software you can watch work. The project tracks the sun and pairs the hardware with a companion app that keeps the build visible while it's running.
the build
A reflective surface has to keep adjusting as the sun moves, all day, or the reflection drifts off target. That turns a simple object into a system involving sensing, motion, control, and a useful interface.
companion app
The app runs the whole time. It creates a direct bridge between the hardware and a person using it, making the heliostat's state and behaviour easier to follow in real time.
why I built it
I like projects where software doesn't end at the screen. Heliostat is a compact version of that idea, mixing code, moving hardware, and a physical outcome that changes through the day.