Recitation 4: Actuators and Mechanisms Documentation

Process: Tina and I first worked on the cardboard section of the activity. We started off by cutting the pieces according to the cutting outline. Then, we hot glued the pieces together. Before, assembling everything together, we moved in to building the circuit as it was advised to us due to its complexity.

When building the circuit, we had some trouble reading the figure, so Rudi helped us with a few symbols. Afterwards, the wires were assembled and ready to go. However, when we ran the code, the turner was only vibrating rather than spinning. With the help of a classmate, Calvin, we figured out that our wires were flipped on the opposite sides. After reassembling, we were able to complete the code and get the turner to turn.

Result: We were able to successfully run the code and added a custom corn to our cardboard turner.

Video of the final product:

Question 1: I choose the “Waves” project by Daniel Palacios Jimenez in 2006. This project has something similar to what we did in recitation. Both creations has rotations that allow the object to spin. I think it’s really interesting that a rope can create a solid shape, and I like how this artwork challenges the human eye in the way it views things. Compared to what we did in class, our motors are different compared to this one. Our motors are louder and slower, allowing us to follow where the object is moving rather than seeing the blurs of the object. In choosing the actuator, the artist most likely thought about how jump ropes blur out when someone goes faster. As a result, the artist might have hoped to use a fast motor that turns the wire, so other audiences can see the wires as a solid picture.

Question 2: In my midterm project, I hope to use a mechanism that connects the movement of swing to a speaker or music box. When the swing is moving, the speaker would play something and the music box would start turning.

I plan to use cardboard for the swing and music box, a speaker for the music, breadboard and arduino uno, wires and resistors, and a sensor for the swing. I hope the user would think of this as a new interactive way to churn up a music box or play with it like a fidget toy. The motors in my project requires physical interaction with the swing and the wires connect to a physical music box. If this was on a digital screen, it would not be as interactive and the music box wouldn’t exactly turn physically like with the actual motor.

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