31.03.15

I made a tongue rig last night as I had trouble sleeping. I achieved this by deconstructing a robotic clamp I had left over from my last project and cutting one of the ends off a claw and swapping the other arm around so it runs in reverse. This means that when the tongue is driven forward to other claw arm moves in the opposite direction, by doing this the tongue rig not only sticks out but also curls up at the end. I really wanted to make this simulation all one system.. Originally I had planned to use three or for servos for this circuit but I think I can cut it down to two. I intended on adding a further micro-servo that will rock the base of the tongue rig left and right so I can get a bit of waggle going on. The top part of the rig was just taken from the prototypes I made a month or two ago so it only took an hour or so to put that together.

The next stage is to wrap the circuit in clingfilm and add the silicone shell for the tongue. I will do this before adding the micro servo so I can judge how much room I have left instead of trying to cram everything in a tiny area.

Made a tongue rig today so my robot can blow a raspberry
Posted by Carl Strathearn on Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Feelings

I am really excited to see how well this mechanism functions. It has added a whole new dimension to the mouth bringing it instantly to life.


Evaluation

I have enjoyed this session as it was interesting to make a tongue using a similar mechanism that I used to prototype with. I found it worked really well on the final model and also fitted to the reverse directional leavers very well. I cant wait to get some flesh on the mechanism as I think it will be one of the more impressive elements of the robot.

Analysis

The current situation of the project makes sense, the finer mechanics of the tongue will hopefully add depth to the model. This was examined in the literature review under the section that explores materialism and fine functioning.

Conclusion

In conclusion I found this to be a very exciting session, I really like how the tongue performs and moves under control. I think I will keep this element as R.C control and it feels really nice when operating it manually. I find myself stick out my own tongue at the same time as the model so that can only be a good thing...i guess.

Action Plan

I plan on getting some flesh on the skeleton as soon as I can. I have all the materials to do this to hand so hopefully I will have something that looks very similar to a human tongue by the end of the next session. 

30.3.15

It has been a week since my last post so this entry will cover a lot.

Thesis.

I have had a complete reconstruction of the literature review, it now reads better and is easier to follow. I am nearing the end of the literature review bar around 900 words which covers Deleuze and a few bits and pieces on systems and control. I am really happy with how it has all come together, all the elements that felt disconnected - psychology, philosophy, semiotics, film and interviews.. reviews.. have all come together and it feels pretty solid. I am aiming to get the whole things drafted via the 6.4.15 as that is my second online review session and it would be really nice to have achieved all the goals I set out at the start of last month.

Build.

The build has moved on since the last entry so I will do a quick breakdown of what I have been doing. Fist of all I made a gum line using an extra layer of thermoplast which I died pink using red and white pigmentation. Onto this layer i added a mixture of pigmentation and silicone gel which I then formed the shape of the gums with. I added some detail to the teeth using oil paint which I will spray with a light coating of gloss when the can arrives. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4. I had to do some re-adjusting with the placement of the teeth as I felt they did not fit together as well as they could have done.. so now there are less gaps between the upper and lower set when the mouth is closed.

 1.1

 1.2

 1.3

 1.4

I have also added the roof of the mouth to the model using a mixture of thermoplastic and silicone to which gives a really night skin like feel to the model. 2.1 ,2.2. To do this i melted a handful of thermoplastic and dyed it black with pigment. I then rolled it out using a rolling pin and cut it with scissors into the shape i wanted. I then returned the thermoplastic to the boiling water and shaped it to the top gum line, I then run the thermoplastic under a cold tap to set it to shape. To attach to roof of the model I added an extra layer of thermoplastic to the underneath and formed it around the inner top gum line (second layer of pink thermoplastic gum line) I then used silicone gel to form the inner roof of the mouth. It has a really nice springy feel to it and I do not think there is a better material out there for this sort of textures it just feel right. 

2.1

2.2

I then added a new framework for the servos to sit on and added a few metal joints for the lip mechanism to run through. The framework is just a standard robotic long U brackets and a metal shield I had left over from my last project. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 The bracket screws into the original upper servo bracket and into the top of the thermoplastic using tapper screws.

3.1

 3.2

 3.3

Feelings.

I feel pretty happy with the direction the project is moving in. Today marks the start of the easter holidays and I am hoping to get plenty done in the next two weeks.

Analysis.

The current situation of the project is that both elements are progressing along together within the time scale outlined in my gantt chart. I am trying to grab a few extra hours to do some online tutorials in but it is just not possible at this moment in time with everything going on. I have a few books to review and I am trying to find the time to sit down and read but it's just not proving possible at the moment with juggling work and childcare. I have found one of the books is available in audio format so this may be an option if I really start struggling.

Evaluation:

I do not believe there is anything I could have done differently this week. I have covered plenty of ground with both project and I am happy with the amount of work that has been achieved. However, I did make a rookie mistake regarding the nature of thermoplastic, I tried to dry out the silicone using the fireplace in my living room which melted the top and bottom teeth together .. luckily I managed to get to the model in time before any further damaged. I have just chalked this down to not really paying attention to the results of the previous experiments using thermoplastic. As a rule I will no longer leave the model near a heat source as the plastic melts and turns into mush pretty quick. I am hoping that this will become less on an issue after applying the gloss coating.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, last week was really productive and I think the model is starting to take shape and the thesis is flowing really well. I am going to have to re-access my timetable over the next couple of weeks to see if I can squeeze in a few extra hours for online tutorials and reading time.

Action Plan:

I am aiming to get the lip rig finished by the end of the week and finish my chapter on the uncanny before the weekend.

22.03.15

Thesis.

I have completed the 2,000 word target I set myself at the start of the week. I have found it really interesting to compare film scenes rather than just literature. I have discovered my writing style changes when I am reviewing films compared to literature, I am hoping this will keep the reader interested as they go through the chapter as it provides a change from my usual academic style of writing.

Model.

I have completed the structure of the teeth using thermoplastic they may need shaping a little more but they fit together well and have good action. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5. I wanted to get some time today to  experiment applying the silicone glue gums onto the model but I just have not had the time to spare today so that will have to wait until next weekend.

Feelings. I am very tired today working, studying, experimenting and looking after the children has made it a very hectic week so I think I will take the rest of the night off and pick it up again tomorrow at uni. However, I am still very pleased with the progress of the thesis and model this week.

Analysis. The current situation of the project is at a very critical stage as I am nearing the end of finishing my first chapter. This is means I am about on schedule with the gantt chart and the objectives of the last online supervision report.

Evaluation. I can make sense of this weeks session, it has been a tough slog but I have really enjoyed it and I feel the outcomes of this project may truly be the best project and work to date.

Conclusion. In conclusion there is still plenty of work ahead of my but it is not a chore its a pleasure.

Action Plan. Action plan for next week is to finish reviewing 'the cinema of attractions - re-loaded) and to get the first full draft of the literature review down, so I can spend a week going through the whole chapter and sculpting it into shape. I also aim to get the gums of the model finished by the end of next week.

16.3.15

Thesis.

Had a great supervision session today that highlighted many new elements for grounding my thesis and bolstering the ideology of an animatronic renascence. I will be reviewing some new literature over the next few days that will hopefully bring my thesis together with the core concept of special effects in film

I will be trying to get some more of the literature review completed before the weekend. I am aiming to get around 2,000 words done this week so I will be putting more of my efforts into that part of the project rather than the model.

Training.

I have also spent a few hours watching the Stan Winston School of character arts videos that I have subscribed to. These are proving very interesting as they cover a wide range of industry standard approaches that I can adapt and implement into my project. In addition to this I have also completed the next stage of my Z-brush character building lesson.


Model.

I have been working on putting together a control system that seamlessly moves between autonomous control and r.c control.  The current systems works using a splitter cable going from a single servo motors into both the arudino controller and r.c transmitter. I have outlined an idea for a system that allows registration of the position of the servo when controlled via the r.c controller so the arduino can always know the position of the servo. This will allow for a smooth transition between r.c and arduino.. I will allocate time next week to experiment with this.

Feelings.

I am feel pretty happy with the project at the moment, It really helps getting weekly supervision as it motivates you through the week to get everything finished before the review.

Evaluation.

This session was a very good experience, I think that there is a really good balance between the thesis and model.

Analysis.

The current situation of the project is moving into a very productive stage, I have finished around 5,000 words of my literature review so I am nearing completing the first full draft. I will then spend a week organising the chapter so it flows how I want it to.

Conclusion.

There is nothing else I could have done this session to improve the situation of the project at this current time.

Action Plan.

The plan for next session is to achieve around about 2,000 words of the literature review and finished the structure of the teeth via the end of the weekend.

14.3.15

Thesis

The focus of the past few days has primarily been the literature review of the thesis. I have managed to write around about 3,500 words out of the approx 6,000 I have set aside for the review. I am really happy with how it is coming together.

Animatronic build

Today I finished the bottom jaw and started to put together to top jaw, progress has been slow today I spent around about six hours just refining the teeth and jaw. I have also changed the layout of the jaw rig so now instead of been driven via two servos it has just the one. The reason for this is o want to keep the weight down as it is to be worn by a puppeteer. 

Additional. I am close to finishing level one of mud box 2015 tutorial. 

Feelings. I feel happy with the progress over this week. I have put most of my efforts into writing which I am really starting to enjoy, it has taken a few weeks to develop my writing style after having time off from writing but I think it's coming back to me.

Evaluation. The project is moving forward and gaining ground everyday, it is starting to feel like I have left the starting blocks.

Analysis. There is nothing I could have done differently this week. I have really managed to cover some ground.

Conclusion. In conclusion I feel that the project is moving in the right direction and becoming increasingly enjoyable and interesting 

Action plan. The action plan for the next session it to get another 2,000 words written of the literature review and finish the top jaw.

9.3.15

Thesis:

Today was a very successful day.. I had a great meeting with my supervisor who outlined a possible avenue outside the scope of my current research that brings in many of the elements (including the build) I have been working on together really well. I am going to spend a day or two doing some in depth research in this field and relating it to the current themes of the thesis as well as creating a new sub topic for the bulk of the research.

I am aiming to achieve around about 1,000 words of the literature review by the end of the week so they may be a gap in the writing of this blog in the meantime. However if anything else comes up I will write it as a footer in this entry.

Animatronic Build:

I will get back on with this at the weekend and try and get the teeth finished. I have had a look at prototyping a tongue using thermoplastic, that I can take a mould from using silicone resin and casting in plasticil 10. (1.1)

Feelings: I am really happy with how things are progressing and I am feeling a lot more settled with the different areas of the project.

Evaluation: This continues to be a a good experience, now things are gaining momentum it's becoming clear how the projects flow into one another.

Analysis: The current situation of the project looks very promising, I know what areas I need to put more effort into so I will take that on and adapt my schedule to address those issues.

Conclusion: In conclusion this has been a very productive few days I am happy with the outcomes and I will continue to put as much effort into the research and project as possible.

Action plan: Write 1000 words by the end of the week and gather materials together for the physical build ready for the weekend.

1.1

7.3.15

Animatronic Thesis.

I have been working on my literature for the past few days and decided to take today off and spend some time on the model. It made sense to do it this way because it really has felt like a day off today.. But in actual fact it has been very progressive.

Animatronic Build.

Today I have spent a few hours working on the bottom jaw of the animatronic. I took the metal wire I had bent into the shape of the jaw when testing out the servo mechanics for the mouth rig and placed a basic gum line along the front of it (like i did with the prototype model) I then started to make the individual teeth for the mouth, to keep a good idea of scale and shape I used one of my other animatronic projects for reference as well as the prototype jaw. When I was testing out the prototype mouth I realised that because of the distance and shape of the teeth, the upper and lower jaws caught on each other. This would become a major issue in the larger build so I decided to construct the teeth based on what I thought would suite the character.

I am really pleased with the outcome so and I will try and finish the whole bottom jaw by tomorrow night. Then I can spend the week working on the thesis and next weekend painting, polishing and staining the teeth.

2.3.15

Thesis:

Today I spent the day in University exploring the special effects section in the library and pulled out a book on the Stan Winston studio that has lots of great examples of animatronic characters that where created for large scale cinematic features in. I photocopied some of the images for reference.

I have been writing my literature review and I have decided to start with the section on hyperrealism and simulation in animatronic characters. Much of this research is based around Baudrillian theory so I have been going through some of the information I collected on simulacra and simulation. Today has produced steady progress the topic matter if very complicated and I am finding it takes alot of energy to break down some of the more complex theories and applying them to animatronics and hyperrealism.

Build:

The tube of silicone glue I ordered arrived today so I will start conducting experiments in adding colour pigmentation to the material at the weekend.

Feelings:

I am feeling happy with the progress so far I am aiming to get around 200 words a day completed of the literature review at the moment. I think this is an acceptable amount of text as the subject matter is highly complex and I wanted to take my time with it to make sure I get across everything I need to the the reader in a form that is understandable.

Evaluation:

This session has been a good experience, I am still getting back to writing full time which always require a little adjustment and practice until you get the flow back. I have not written a large scale research paper since my b.a dissertation.

Analysis:

I can currently make sense of the situation, I am going to spend the next few days concentrating solely on the literature review because it is an area that needs attention in terms of getting back into academic writing. It makes sense to put all my effort into this and leave the physical build till the weekend as I have materials arriving in the post so hopefully they will arrive in time for the weekend.

Conclusion:

I do not think there is much I could have done differently since the last session. It is all still a working progress and I am pushing myself to get some real definitive work down on paper.

Action Plan:

I aim to get 1,000 words of the literature review down by the end of the week. This will be the completed sub chapter on animatronics and hyperrealism - simulation.