27.7.15 Fitting the new control system.

Thesis: I have now finished my analysis chapter but I still need to do a bit of work on the data from he IBDM website as I am also categorising and ranking the position of each film in the top 100 chart into a chart. I am hoping that this will not take long to do as I need to get on with my results chapter as time is pressing. 

Project: I have fitted a variation of the prototype control system onto the model, I have not had chance to test if it works using the scripture yet or even wire it up to the arduino but as far as I can tell it is mechanically sound. Further more I used existing bracket holes to install this new system so it can easily be removed and attached which is a bonus. The thing I like most about the new controller is that it fits in with the aesthetics of the character, one of my worries was that it would either impede on other mechaisms or look out of place. Thankfully this has not been the issue.   

Wires rigged into arduino, r.c controller and custom bridge controller. 

This is the raw mechanics of the new control system, the potentiometer gives a constant positioning of the servo during both autonomous and manned operations. 

Feelings

I am pretty happy with the progression made this week and the new control system seems to fit really nicely onto the model which is a bonus. 

Evaluation

I think the important job of putting the pot onto the servo horn and getting it to fit nicely and not in anyway impede the functioning of the jaw was a major success. It was actually a lot simpler than I thought it would be to construct this element of the system and all I needed to do was saw of the end of the pot know and attach some miliput to the end and them let it set to the shape of the servo horn. This gave a really nice seal and as its sort of joining two plastic parts together I dont see it crumbling and cracking in any way shape or form during use. However, I have yet to find a place for the relays to go but I think they will fit just above the U rods of the eye mechanism.  

Analysis

The project is currently very much coming together and it makes sense as a whole and meets the aims and objectives that I set out at the start of the project. It is very important that I do not loose sight of this which is why this blog has become so important in keeping me on target. 

Conclusion

In conclusion this has been a very interesting and fruitful session and has really got me back into the swing of the things with the project. I cant wait to see how the new control functions when I upload the servo code and find a place for the relays to go.

Action Plan

My action plan over the next few days is to put together a shell for the robot to protect all these bit of wires and things that I keep adding onto the robot as I really think it needs protection when travelling back and fourth to uni on the train. 

21.08.15

Thesis.

I am currently finishing up my analysis chapter, I have decided to recap the findings at the end of very chapter as suggested in my research study book. However, I am also including my own internal referencing system as I think this is a nice and simple way of getting right to the point and making it clear on exactly the areas that I am trying to re-cap.


Model.

The eye lids of the model are now totally finished, I had some issues over the past few days with the milliput coming apart over extended use of the mechanism. To resolve this I decided to use black thermoplastic as it has a bit of give in it and will flex rather than crack or snap off. I am hoping that this will now solve the problem as the mechanism functions a lot better using this method as with the previous.

Feelings

I am very happy with how things are going at the moment, it does feel a bit steady considering I like 4 months to finish everything but I believe that once the head is totally finished the body and arms will be pretty simple to put together. 

Evaluation

I found this to be quite an up and down sort of session as I was pretty gutted when the eye lids mechanisms fell to bits... but at the same time happy to resolve the issue really quickly. Again I think this is really important in practical prototyping because if I had used CAD for this I may have had to redesign if something snapped off or went totally wrong in terms of materials. When it occurred I knew straight away what to do and how to do it so again this is something to consider when using the virtual approach to building. That said, I am not discrediting the use of CAD software as I have used it myself in previous models I am just stating the fact that I think it was a lot easier to resolve the problems using practical prototyping. 

Analysis

The project makes sense to me, I think that I am starting to see the arguments for and against simulation software and practical prototyping in my own model now rather than in interviews and literature. Again I must stress it is most likely as we say 'horses for courses' but I still think in this instance practical prototyping is proving more effective for this system design. 

Conclusion

In conclusion this has been an interesting session in terms of learning and understanding how to deal with system failures and how these can be resolved quickly.

Action Plan

I have now finished the plans for my custom control system and the prototype is now fully operational I now need to start thinking about how this will fit on the model. The next days will be dedicated to getting the control system working on the model and installing a variation of the system using the mechanisms that are already in place. 

17.07.15

Thesis

I have now nearly finished all the IBDM data stuff bar about 7 years so its not too far to go. It has actually been a very interesting part of the project once I got over the initial drought. I now have to start thinking about how I will display this data within my thesis and I want it to be quite eye catching as it is very important in grounding some of my theories and questionnaire outcomes in authenticated data.

Project

The eye lid mechanisms turned out to be a little trickier than I had first imagined, The problem I had was with limited space, I did not want to go outside the parameters of the head so all the mechanism had to fit within the small space on the side and front of the head that I had left for these elements to operate within. I found that bending the steering rods with a pair of pliers to actually make the space issue a little easier as it meant that I need not need to accommodate the full length of the drive rods. I think this is one of them instances where it was better to overcome this problem on the model itself rather than using CAD software as I dont think I would have bent the rods in a virtual space... I think I would have either changed the lay out all together which would have meant an e-elongated head or had to use a different approach all together. I am actually really pleased with how this element functions on the model.  I have also been experimenting with arduino placement within the model, its hard to picture how it will sit at the moment. That said, laying it flat seems to be a pretty nice fit providing that I do not need that space for any other mechanisms later on. 

Arduino rig for automatised eye functions. 

Feelings

I am quite happy with the progression made of the past week or so, I feel like I am heading in the right direction so fingers crossed that this continues on into the next session. I am also happy with how the thesis is coming along at the moment, its becoming a real joy to work on at the moment. 

Evaluation

I am now starting to think about automating certain parts of the face, I am certainly going to include the mouth, lips and cheeks in this loop. However, I am still undecided about the rest of the features, I need to see how they respond under arduino control because sometimes I feel that things can be achieved using r.c remote or good old fashioned puppetry. I think in similar instances it is easy to over use arduino and it can actually take away some of the more natural elements of the character. That said the last project was totally augmented via arduino and processing control and it worked pretty well.     

Analysis

I understand the current position of the project in terms of how both elements interlink. I would however like to start exploring autonomous control in my thesis as although I have touched upon this in my embodiment chapter I still think there is more to be said for it. 

Conclusion

In conclusion this has been a very interesting session, the work that has been produced I believe has been some of the most interesting to date.

Action Plan

Action plant is to start thinking about making an external structure to support and protect some of the internal elements and mechanisms of the model as I am starting to find that some of the more delicate parts of the robot that are currently exposed may at some point become very vulnerable especially when transporting the head 95 miles to Huddersfield in the luggage rack on the train. 

13.7.15

Upper eyelids test videos

Lip Test (Excuse my poor camera work and the complaining r.c controller she was low on steam)

Feelings

I feel that this session was very valuable in testing out the eye lid mechanisms, the eye lids really brind the character to life and add emotional fabrication to the character. I very mch enjoyed seeing this and it made me feel like there was be something in creating small elements that replicate finer functions.

Evaluation

This sessions turned out to be very productive, I hand made the eye lids using thermplastic from a milliput mold I had put together using the glass eyes as a template. This process worked really well and allowed me to create these elements without using a 3D printer or such technologies. At this point I would like to state that this technology is very useful in animatronics systems. But with my budget and limited acess to equipment it is certinaly more cost effective and quicker to make these parts by hand. 

Analysis

The current state of the project makes sense, im starting to see how I can sort of almost cut corners and take a more traditional approach to building. I like this approach and probably prefer it to using cad technology as it allows me to get my hands dirty as such and get a real feel for the character,,,...almost forming an attachment with the model. 

Conclusion.

In conclusion I am going to look at making some cheeks or something similar for the robot that will allow for greater expressive functioning and hopefully allow the model to express different emotional states. This may be worth exploring in my theortical work as there is a real sense of 'life' in the character at the moment and im not sure such feeling would be possible using vfx.

Action Plan.

Continue to move forward with theory and look at the possibility of adding some smaller elements to the project and possibly automating them. 

12.07.16

Mouth and tongue test.

This is the first test of the mouth and tongue system system, unfortunately shortly after documentation the servo controlling the mouth up and down blew up. The reason for this is I used a cheap servo off my last project for testing the mechanisms. I will purchase a new digital servo with a higher torque ratio to solve this issue. That said the tongue mechanism and the jaw left right (using suspension cables) worked very well.

Feelings

I am feeling ok about things, it's is a little disheartening to blow up a servo but there you go it's the first of many I imagine. This was not caused by poor mechanism contact or issues surroin

Evaluation

It was really good to see that the mechanisms worked as planned and it gives me an idea of how much movement I can get out of the mouth so I can place in my mind were about the other elements can be placed around those mechanisms. I can start to see the project coming to life and that is key at this stage of the project as its important to get a good idea of the flow and feel of how things may eventually turn out. I would like to concentrate some more on getting some ideas down for how the system will eventually function. But I am waiting on the results of my questionnaire before implementing any specific idea or treatment in this project.  

Analysis

The current situation of the project makes sense although I may need to address the servo issues as this was also an issue with my previous project. Importing cheap servos always has its price and it normally ends in system failure over a short space of time. I am looking into getting spektrum and savox servos later on in the project as they have better system specs and may result in longer life span.

Conclusion

In conclusion I hope that over the next few weeks I will be able to start looking at how the practical elements will eventually link and tie in with the outcomes of the research study. To do this I will be examining both elements closely and exploring and prototyping new mechanisms and controls to incorporate into the character.

Action Plan

The action plan over the course of the next week or so is to get as much theoretical work done as possible so I can look at how I can reify and ground these elements within the practical model. To do this I will spend some time at home and in the library to achieve these goals. 

2.08.15

Skin Sample Using Original Drawing

These are test sample for a skins I am working on for a CGI character, the idea is to test the mechanical model again a virtual counterpart. This will add grounding for the argument in the thesis that practical effects have greater visceral impact than virtual processing. 

Feelings

This is in addition I have implemented as a possibility for the testing of the practical project against the outcomes of the thesis. I feel that although I am quite capable at virtual modelling I have little experience in 3d animation and outputting this into Maya and creating a rig for it may be something I will not have time to learn how to do in this studies timeframe.  

Evaluation

I will pursue this element further as I believe it will be a great contribution to the project, however I will not take focus off my primary project goals.

Analysis

I feel that I am in a comfortable situation with the project and that I can potentially take on this extra element.

Conclusion

I will sideline this element but continue to work on it as a side project that can be brought into the main study at a later date time permitting. 

Action Plan

Continue to focus on primary objectives.