Triggering Algorithm for the Boie Radio Drum

The Boie Radio Drum is used to play electronic music synthesizers. The drum is a sensitive surface that tracks the position and velocity of two or more drum sticks in a shallow volume above the surface in three dimensions. Positions and velocities are determined by measuring the strength and distribution of electrical capacitance between the tips of the drum sticks and the surface. The drum is made force sensitive in surface normal direction by coating either the sticks or surface with an elastic foam layer. Position information of a stick in contact then corresponds to two dimensional position on the surface and force into the surface.