For the recitation we learnt how to use actuators and mechanisms in a practical manner. The main components we used were a stepper motor, L293D chip (H-bridge) and the Arduino Uno kit. The task in the recitation was to make a mechanism out of cardboard. To take on this challenge My partner and I broke it down into 2 tasks; task one build the circuit and code; task two make the model out of cardboard. I took on task 1 and she took on task 2.
I started by assembling the circuit. This was pretty complicated task because there were a lot of cables that needed to be connected, especially to the H chip. As you can see in the diagram, there are 3 main components, the Arduino Uno board, breadboard and a stepper motor.
After building the circuit the next step was to test if it works or not using the code. I copy pasted the code into the Arduino program and it worked. As you can observe in the video the stepper motor moves to and from on a 360 degrees axis. I also played a bit with the code so I could try and change the speed of the motor. Since we were working with high voltage we worked with a surge protector to avoid damaging my computer.
While I was working on the task my partner was working on the cardboard model. We were going to make a “munching robot” .She started off by building the mechanism and housing unit for the stepper motor. This was built by following a set of instructions. A glue gun was used to join the pieces. We then cut the pieces for the “robots’ head and mouth.
The robot mechanism was quite challenging and it took some brainstorming. Our goal was to make the robots’ mouth open and close. After some testing we found out were the mouth was to be positioned. The rest of the head was stuck down to the rest of the device. The meant the mouth is the only thing that’s moving.
Eventually we were able to get it working and the effect was pretty cool!
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: I chose the art installation of Raffaelo D’Andrea, Max Dean and Matt Donovan titled “The Table”. the reason I like this project so much is because of the way they have interpreted interaction. They are taking an inanimate object and turning it into something that we as humans can interact with on a much higher level. Initially tables are means devices that we use use to place objects on top off and that is all. These artists have made it so that the table moves and gives the person in the room, sort of like a dog. The similarities between this and my recitation project are close because these are both mechanisms that entertain or cater to the humans. Normally interaction is for function. for example, a light turning on when you open the fridge. But for projects like these they are more for an entertaining factor. There is not really a need for them but the interaction between us and them is a amusing. The table probably used a camera to track subjects and the actuators would move towards the subject in order to give attention.
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.
So, I’m an avid gym goer and I love to lift weights. One of the most essential things if not the most, is to always have music at the gym. You always need a song that hypes you up, while you are pumping steel. Music is your motivation! However the most annoying thing is when you left your headphones in your room, or you have to scroll through your long playlist to find the perfect song.
I am going to design and create a device that does this for you without having to even pick a song. As soon as you pick a weight or lift by the squat rack. The perfect song will play from a speaker to hype you up. The way this device will work is is by using sensors. A Force Sense Resistor [FSR] would be ideal. When the sensor is triggered, it will send information that makes the music play out of the speaker. I may also add a lighting display! The point of this is not only to avoid the inconveniences of having to select music for working out; but it makes the experience way more fun and it can even encourage others to work out.