Recitation 4: Actuators and Mechanisms
Due to the quarantine, I was unable to be present at the class. Therefore, I did this recitation all by myself.
This recitation asked us to build a cardboard mechanism like this:
The first step is to work on the circuit as the schematic shows.
The building process of the circuit went smoothly. Here is my result:
The next step is to build! Before getting started, I need some components. I was given a piece of cardboard and a template.
I attached the template to the cardboard and cut the components out of the cardboard accordingly. During one workshop, Rudi told us to cut the cardboard three times so that it would be easier and less strenuous. It is indeed an excellent way to cut off cardboard.
I used the soldering iron to make some holes in the cardboard for the rivets. By using the hot glue gun, I managed to glue all the parts together. After assembling the electronic components, I got my final result.
However, when I uploaded the code to the Arduino, I noticed that the stepper motor rotated very slowly. Initially, I thought there must have been some problems with the codes. I checked the code thoroughly, and I found no mistakes in it. Having a glimpse of the socket, I realized that I forgot to power the mechanic with an additional plug because the voltage provided by the laptop could not suffice.
There you go! After two hours of working, I finished my mechanism.
Sadly, I did not have enough time to personalize the mechanism with beautiful paintings and decorations, but it is an educational activity anyway. I had a strong feeling of achievement as well.
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Question 1
Choose an art installation mentioned in the reading ART + Science NOW, Stephen Wilson (Kinetics chapter). Post your thoughts about it and make a comparison with the work you did during this recitation. How do you think that the artist selected those specific actuators for his project?
Answer: My choice for the project is The Table by Raffaello D’Andrea, Max Dean, and Matt Donavan. This project is a table that chooses a viewer and makes responses to the users to attempt a relationship with them. This project is intriguing for its dense interaction with users. I think the most important and valuable thing in this project is how it draws the users’ attention, keeps them curious and entertained, and stimulates them to keep interacting.
I think what the recitation mechanism lacks is this quality because it has a relatively simple mechanics that only allows it to move back and forth. Not much interactivity is involved in it even if it is personalized to be more interesting. The duration of interaction with the user will not be as long as The Table.
From my perspective, a lot of research and experiment must have been done for this project since it will definitely need a lot of sensors and programs to detect the users and produce the corresponding actions. Moreover, I think they might refer to some other previous projects as well to get inspiration for how to devise a mechanism for responses to the users.
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Question 2
What kind of mechanism would you be interested in building for your midterm project? Explain your idea using a sketch (conceptual or technical) with a list of materials that you plan to use. Include details about the ways that you expect the user to embrace in a physical interaction with your project. In particular, explain how would your motor (or motors) with a mechanism will be different than using an animation on a digital screen.
Answer: Since I finished this recitation after my midterm presentation, I have already actualized my thoughts. You can check my midterm report for more details.
Work Cited
1. Cardboard Mechanism. (29AD). Recitation 4: Actuators and Mechanisms – Interaction Lab. photograph. Retrieved October 30, 2022, from https://wp.nyu.edu/shanghai-ima-interaction-lab/recitation-4-actuators-and-mechanisms/.