I have been working on two main areas of the Thesis: researching the topic and collecting articles for the literature review and building up a list of contacts within the film industry who are experts in the field of animatronics and visual effects. I am aiming to get 110 industry contacts this is to support the 10% (10 individuals) sample I need to conduct a pilot study and the 100 contacts needed ti fill the main study. The estimated response rate will be calculated from the results of the pilot study.
Animatronic Physical Build
Today a set of teeth I have order from an artist names James. s arrived (1.1) they are very lifelike and well made. I have worked with him in the past when he created the set of teeth that I used in (Actuality and Artificiality) I asked him to create a set of teeth that are very characterised/disfigured and had an almost troll like feel to them (I was recently amazed by the troll in Hansel and Gretel created by spectral motion). I have chosen to buy this set of teeth are they are going to be used as a point of reference for my larger scale model. I have now decided on what the physical build should look like and what the project should represent. I am going to concentrate my efforts on making a large animatronic mouth that is going to be attached to a helmet so it can be worn. The idea is to combine three methods of control: firstly Autonomous control (Arduino) R.C control and Manned puppetry. Because there are so many elements to the control system I want to keep the functions simple. So some features will work at random intervals using the Arduino for example twitching and grinding teeth, lip movements when talking (activated by a sensor). The mouth UP and DOWN and LEFT and RIGHT will be controlled via R.C and the head itself with be moved manually via the user.
The structure itself will be made from aluminium and controlled via servos, There was some consideration to using wire puppetry but this will effect the functionality of the puppet as it is a worn/mounted mechanical system.
One of the main factors concerning this part of the project is the aesthetics of the build as one of the main objectives of the research thesis (Hyperrealism). The skin will be made out of silicone rubber (plasticil gel 10) This will give it a realistic skin tone and feel. The form will be initially created using oil based clay and the mould will be taken from that using a silicone/fiberglass compound.
Before the creation of the skin I will be looking at / experimenting with different mechanism to determine the most appropriate from this build. The main practical concerns are weight of the animatronics and the strength of the materials.
I also have also conducted some in-depth research in animatronics (realism) using summons and the themes for my project are really starting to develop and I can sort of start to see the areas that will be interesting to develop or are under developed.
1.1
Feelings:
At the moment I feel very enthusiastic about the project unlike the previous degree there is no set structure other than the one I have created. I have set out a rough time line using a gantt chat (1.2) for the entire project taking into account the time needed for the build and the responses from the qualitative questionnaire.
1.2
This does give me a line of security and reassurance of when things roughly needed to be completed by.
Evaluation:
So far this has been a good experience, the initial concerns regarding my supervisor and what was required of me have surpassed and I am ready to start hitting the books and building this project. I am hoping this experience will build on the success of the last project and gain the same recognition.
Analysis:
The situation at the moment is still very loose as it is in its infant stage where I am gather information and doing investigative research, hopefully when the project starts to come together more it will become more defined.
Conclusion:
In conclusion there is nothing else I would have done differently at this moment in time, however it is very early in the project.
Action Plan:
The action plan over the next few days in to carry on my research for the literature review and design the character for the animatronic on pen and paper. I am also taking lessons in ZBRUSH and SOLIDWORKS, this would allow me to express these concepts using these mediums also.
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