Thesis.
My efforts are currently directed towards finishing the first draft of my literature review in ready for supervisor review. I have written around 9,000 words so far that cover all the major themes I want to highlight in my research questionnaire. I will be holding back on writing this blog over the next few weeks as my focus will be on writing.
Build: // new parts have arrived (micro servos, push / pull rods and tribind wire)
I will update when progression has continued.
Feelings: I feel happy with the current progress of my project at this current stage and I am enjoying writing and researching all the different philosophies around my subject area and looking for comparable examples.
Evaluation: This session has been a good experience and I am enjoying placing my primary focus on writing and research.
Analysis: The current situation of the project makes sense in consideration of both elements progressing continually together.
Conclusion: In conclusion I am working hard to get my first chapter fully finished and ready for review.
Action Plan: Get chapter finished and continue progress on model.
Friday, 24 April 2015
Saturday, 11 April 2015
11.4.15
Thesis: I have been polishing off the chapters of the literature review this week and I am pretty happy with how it stands in its current situation. I will be shortly moving onto putting the introduction together before moving on to the methodology.
Build: I have been working on developing the control system this week. to test out the accuracy of the potentiometer I rigged it up to a servo running a random sweep to see what the readings looked it and I am not 100% on how accurate it will turn out in the build but there is only one way to find out and that is to install a version of it on the project. I have yet to add the relays and r.c control but that will be the next stage of the prototype and I will look at that over the next few days.
Build: I have been working on developing the control system this week. to test out the accuracy of the potentiometer I rigged it up to a servo running a random sweep to see what the readings looked it and I am not 100% on how accurate it will turn out in the build but there is only one way to find out and that is to install a version of it on the project. I have yet to add the relays and r.c control but that will be the next stage of the prototype and I will look at that over the next few days.
Feelings: I am feeling happy with how the project has progressed over the past few weeks during the Easter Holidays. I am still not fully convinced by the control system so far but i'm sure these things will iron out when things progress.
Evaluation: This session has been a good experience, I am waiting on some new parts to arrives so working on the control system is a way of continually progressing with the project.
Analysis: The current position of the project makes sense, I am looking forward to moving on from the literature review and starting on another chapter as I feel it's pretty solid and if I start adding stuff it will be just for the sake of adding it (excluding outlined new releases).
Conclusion: In conclusion this session has proved to be very useful, if I was to re-do this week I would have spent some more time on perfecting the control system prototype. I feel like I will be going into Uni next week with a really rough prototype of the control system instead of a smoother more solid construct like I had initially intended to have finished by this point (as I did not envision any issues with the idea or build time).
Action Plan: For next session I am aiming to get the first full draft of my introduction finished using the themes from the lit review as a template.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
5.4.15
Thesis:
I am nearing the end of my literature review, I have only a few bits to add in and then I am going to move on to constructing my introduction. I have analysed the results of my pilot study that I conducted a few weeks ago which indicate that dropping my questionnaire questions from 10 to 7 to be appropriate for this study as industry professionals may perceive 10 questions to be too many to complete due to their heavy work schedules. The results also indicated that the most appropriate means of contact was directly through email via personal portfolios. I aim to start the main questionnaire study over the next couple of weeks after I have finished my introduction.
Build: I have been really busy working on the model the past few days and I have managed to finished the tongue rig. This was an additional mechanism that I decided to make a prototype of when I was struggling to sleep, this worked so well that I have decided to integrate the system into my project. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4. To add the silicone tongue to the mechanism I covered the internal structure with a layer of cellophane, this stops the silicone gumming up the works and means it can be removed without damaging the internal mechanisms. The process took about 2 hours finished adding layer by layer and mixing the silicone with the red pigment I purchased for the thermoplastic resin. I then added features like taste buds using a pen tip coated with vegetable oil (stops silicone sticking).
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
The mechanism is really smooth but I think one of the things I may change is the metal wire to a tri binded fishing wire. the metal wire is great for prototyping as if it snaps its pretty easy to replace but I will need a much stronger material and tri binded fishing wire is coated with a nanoweb that makes the material smooth and very strong. I have ordered a 100m of this material and intend to use it for the lip rig also.
Feelings:
I am really pleased with how the project has progressed this week considering I thought I would have little time to spend on the build with having my children at home for the holidays. It has been really great to get them involved and both of them have taken to playing around with some of the materials I have purchased so it has made progression a little easier and fun.
Evaluation:
This week has been a really positive experience I have progressed experientially with both elements of the project which has elevated the whole developmental experience to a new level. Part of my wants to continue and build a fill head rig with eyes but I will see how I progress with this part of the project over the next month or so then make that decision.
Analysis:
The current situation of the project makes sense, I think if I can continue at this pace and quality I can get this project finished with a little extra time to spend on ironing out any creases. I think one of the things I cam going to start introducing is a online video tutorial using some of the reference parts I purchased for this project to demonstrate the mechanisms on the main build.
Conclusion:
I could not have done anything else this week, although I have spent more time on the build than the thesis. I feel this was a necessary move to bring both the project closer to alignment.
Action Plan: I am going to spend next week working on my thesis as I have ordered new parts from abroad that will take a couple of weeks to arrive.
I will update as a footer to this log if anything else comes up.
I am nearing the end of my literature review, I have only a few bits to add in and then I am going to move on to constructing my introduction. I have analysed the results of my pilot study that I conducted a few weeks ago which indicate that dropping my questionnaire questions from 10 to 7 to be appropriate for this study as industry professionals may perceive 10 questions to be too many to complete due to their heavy work schedules. The results also indicated that the most appropriate means of contact was directly through email via personal portfolios. I aim to start the main questionnaire study over the next couple of weeks after I have finished my introduction.
Build: I have been really busy working on the model the past few days and I have managed to finished the tongue rig. This was an additional mechanism that I decided to make a prototype of when I was struggling to sleep, this worked so well that I have decided to integrate the system into my project. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4. To add the silicone tongue to the mechanism I covered the internal structure with a layer of cellophane, this stops the silicone gumming up the works and means it can be removed without damaging the internal mechanisms. The process took about 2 hours finished adding layer by layer and mixing the silicone with the red pigment I purchased for the thermoplastic resin. I then added features like taste buds using a pen tip coated with vegetable oil (stops silicone sticking).
1.1
The tongue is very lifelike I added an extra layer of un-pigmented clear silicone to the tongue so it binds all the layers together and gives the part a wet look.
The mechanism is really smooth but I think one of the things I may change is the metal wire to a tri binded fishing wire. the metal wire is great for prototyping as if it snaps its pretty easy to replace but I will need a much stronger material and tri binded fishing wire is coated with a nanoweb that makes the material smooth and very strong. I have ordered a 100m of this material and intend to use it for the lip rig also.
Feelings:
I am really pleased with how the project has progressed this week considering I thought I would have little time to spend on the build with having my children at home for the holidays. It has been really great to get them involved and both of them have taken to playing around with some of the materials I have purchased so it has made progression a little easier and fun.
Evaluation:
This week has been a really positive experience I have progressed experientially with both elements of the project which has elevated the whole developmental experience to a new level. Part of my wants to continue and build a fill head rig with eyes but I will see how I progress with this part of the project over the next month or so then make that decision.
Analysis:
The current situation of the project makes sense, I think if I can continue at this pace and quality I can get this project finished with a little extra time to spend on ironing out any creases. I think one of the things I cam going to start introducing is a online video tutorial using some of the reference parts I purchased for this project to demonstrate the mechanisms on the main build.
Conclusion:
I could not have done anything else this week, although I have spent more time on the build than the thesis. I feel this was a necessary move to bring both the project closer to alignment.
Action Plan: I am going to spend next week working on my thesis as I have ordered new parts from abroad that will take a couple of weeks to arrive.
I will update as a footer to this log if anything else comes up.
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