Final Project: Process Documentation

I started building Bob by using cardboard to test its movement. This shape turns out pretty good and it works well as an early prototype. At first one cardboard was enough to make it move but after a few times due to the turning the border of the cardboard was worn off.

So additional support was added to both side of the wheel that will make the border of the hole stronger. The square cardboard was to support the motor when its moving around.

Next I move on to making the sensor sense and the LED will turn on. After that combining them together making the sensor trigger the motor to run!

Nevertheless, I face some power shortage when I added another DC motor. So I added the motor shield to drive the two motor.

I also laser cut the acrylic to replay my previous prototype material. The box was to house the second DC motor and to support the main walking DC motor!

So in this video, the second DC motor act as a turning motor for the whole devices. There is a problem of the surface was too smooth for the acrylic to move, so I added some glue one the wheels to increase friction. Next I continue to work on the coding where I face problem with.

  • When the button press tuning motor is trigger but the main motor continues to turn. I solve this problem to put under “if” statement under the main motor.
  • The delay in my code cause the button not to detect anything.
    Replacing delay with millies so it counts the time with maths during the timing I wanted. So it doesn’t obstruct the detection for buttons.
  • The sensor keep sensing even when the mouse is moving so in turn it keep moving continuously. Using delay to block out the voltage for sensor in order to turn it off after sensing something.
  • Wiring for the mouse.
    There are many wires needed and it actually was too heavy for the mouse to move for the final product. Probably in future development, wires can change to a thinner version and uses the wire tube cover to secure them together.
  • Actual mouse might be too small to house all my motors.
    Initially, I wanted to house them all inside a real mouse until I found out that the motors added together was too big. So I downloaded a mouse model online, edited some areas and enlarge it but still within hand size.

In conclusion, there are many problem which helps me learn more in this process. Also there is still room for improvement but this project allows me to see that I need to put my focus on small details as well. Such as my button that was place in front to trigger the wheel should not place together with the wire. As a result it kind of block the button that will effect the overall structure.

Final Project: Process Documentation

In this project, I have explored stepper motor using motor shield. This motor shield is a similar one with ada fruit v2 that can power up 2 stepper motor or 4 servo motor.

Initially the 12V external power was connect though the Arduino port, however the Arduino and motor shield get really hot after it runs for 5 mins. There was once it even become smoky and I quickly stops the power.

After reading online, a safer way was to power the motor directly from the motor shield board. As for my motor, each of them needed 1.65Am and 12V but adding two motor together I would need 3.3Am.

I bought this at Sim Lim for the external power adaptor! After a few rounds of trial and error my motors still did not work properly and I realise that the motor shield only provides maximum 3Am for the motors.

However, I tried to wire up the installation in order to calibrate the movement and try if the motor are able to move up the umbrella.

The installation too longer then I expected as there were many problem during this process. Considering the length of the wiring  and where to position the motors.

 

The motor creates loud vibrating sound when I did not put any sponge below. After adding sponge it helps to reduce the friction between the metal and motor but still there is some noise.

In this video it shows the problem with my motor where there is a 1 sec interval. The motor move very slowly and it is always jerking. It get better after I changed the code but it still move very slowly. Unfortunately and fortunately I short circuit and got my motor shield burn. I have to go back to my first option of servo motor.


Surprisingly, servo motor works well and able to hold my umbrella! After setting it up and calibrating the sequence is shown in the above video. When calibrating the code, I did it in step by step. I mark its initial position on the floor and start to code from there. Every time I upload a position, I would blank out the previous one and re-upload again.

The delay helps to tell the motor about the duration and it will continue spinning until what the delay stated. After the whole process, there is also a return code for the umbrella to return to initial position.

I also try it with the detection, however the shadow of the umbrella would block what is intended so, I decided to go without the detection. Moreover in this trial run the spot light did not help the umbrella to stand out but blended into the background more. After that I tried offing the lights and put an spot light LED in to the umbrella for glowing effect which I feel it work very well!

In over experience, although what I have did for the stepper motor might not been used for the final construction but I have learnt a lot from it. This project gives me a strong sense of satisfaction after I have overcome many obstacles and burn 2 Arduino. I am really glad that everything still when well! 🙂

Device of the Week #04 – Pinokio

 

Pinokio are a very interesting device, animatronics that likes attention from human. It uses 6 servos motor for its movements, a webcam to track people. It uses  Arduino and processing to generate all the interaction and behaviours.  One of the most interesting behaviours is that Pinokio doesn’t like being turn off, when user turn it off it will trigger the button again to turn itself on! I feel its a very interesting aspect.

The pros is that it has interesting behaviours and it was intriguing to watch even though this is a simple device. However, after awhile it can be bored watching it as it only have a few reactions.

In the video they say it can recognise sounds and like attentions, probably the device can added some interesting reaction such as a dancing lamp or something to create more variation.  Or adding wheels to it to follow human around so improve its immobility. Or even adding use to it such as voice command or clap to turn on the lights so to put it self in a more useful position.

Internet A & Culture final project – Telepathic Stroll

Project Summary

We wanted to explore the connections between each live stream and the fun possibility that we can create! Since our final project will be presented on the grid wall, we decided to build our whole concept revolving the idea of the grid wall and the potential of viewing all four live streams at the same time to create a piece much greater than each individual stream. Exploring the idea of third space and synchronising one and other. It involves interaction, cross streams, planning, coordination and a lot of teamwork in this project.

We start off at different location and moving to meet each other at the same pace where we play with the visual effects of filming. From synchronised games, face connection to various streaming ideas are thoughtfully planned, hope to explore different ways of live streaming.

 

In this project, I would say our group are very on to all the experimental ideas! We work very well together as a group and each of us would take up some portion to even up the workload. Every meeting was a fruitful one where we came together to settle our main directions and what we should do next. Ideas are also build upon each other which I feel this project is a mixture and combination of one another’s ideas. Yet, we still have a key roles in our group, such as Zi Feng is very practical so he would set up the timeline, Makoto is very resourceful he is in charge of the scouting and checking the weather forecast, Bao is a more hands on person he is in charge of the flow of action. As for myself I am in change on the coordination such as taking notes down for our flow of ideas so our group has a clearer image of what are being discussed and what are the ideas that cannot work. I would also help to source for material that is needed in the broadcast and prepare them before our live stream.

When we was building our ideas on final project, there was once did not meet the requirement of the live streaming together. We actually panic for awhile and we went outside to discuss about new ideas. In the mist of discussion we all just throw out our ideas and I was having this idea of taking different public transport such as using MRT, Buses, cycle and walking to meet at a point. After this was raise up, more ideas begin to flow in like Bao suggested streaming panorama when we are meeting, Makoto suggested the combination of the faces and Zi Feng suggested the swapping of devices.  We wanted to explore what we can do with social broadcasting and the visual effect that we can create.

Our final project are inspire by main 2 artist and 1 video. First was our adobe connect experience where we tried to make our hands connected to each other. The visually was amusing and fun to look at!

credit: Ong Zi Feng

While next is the public communication art “Hole in space”. I really appreciate the live performance that involved two ways interaction at different locations. Lastly was this music video from our research:

We are inspire by the transition effect then how it can link up the third space together visually. Therefore, we are curious about how we can still interact at different location but still connected in the third space!

With the paste live broadcast experience, we also learn that rehearsal is important in this very complex final project. My previous post talk about our rehearsal in ADM.

We also fix a time to sit down and talk about the flow again so to make sure everybody is on the same page and knows what to do at the correct time. Our key to achieve the synchronise live broadcast was the rhythmic tempo that Zi Feng created and we will walk with the tempo with instruction provided. However we are afraid that there is different frame per second that will result a faster or slower video.

Beforehand we tested the live streaming for about 2 min and play it together at the same time to see if there is major differences. Bao and Zi Feng already done it with their telematic stroll and from this rehearsal we can conclude that there is no major difference.

We started off at a different location at Botanic Garden and start to en route  towards the meeting point. Although we have plans but there is still unpredictable situations which reminds me of what Alise Iborg from Second Front said:

Also, many times, it’s the surprises and unintended actions that make the work really come alive!

The weather forecast for the week are mostly raining days. In the morning of the broadcasting day was sunny and suddenly being to rain in the afternoon. We decided to go with it with the wet weather and even you can hear the raining background sound playing.  Which I find it that very interesting when the rain was not clearly shown in the stream. The unpredictable situations makes the live broadcast even more real and alive!

 

We also tired live scissor paper stone, Zi Feng and Bao was counting the score.

The exploration of combining our faces while not knowing what our friends ar broadcasting was a fun and intriguing experience.

We also take advantage of the multiple live stream to play we perspective. Changing the point of view and also reflective streaming creates a broader view for the viewers.

Another interesting factor in our live broadcast was the panorama live streaming! We are probably the first ever live combination of panorama live streaming in the world!!! 🙂

In conclusion, this project turn out fruitful as our team mates did well in our individual roles! I have learn a lot during this process and about the possibility that would happen during the actual life stream should letting the nature takes it course that reflect the realness in live streaming. There is many approach we can take to explore the concept of social broadcasting. With our project “Telematic Stroll” explore the area where all of us start streaming at different location while synchronise together as a whole. This live streaming performance was to be seen in a piece to enjoy the whole visual experience.

Telematic Stroll

Coincidentally, Makoto lives in the North-East while I stay in the west area. We started discussing by understanding each other’s area and decide to start from our block and end at hawker centre. Hawker centre is just like a centre point of each neighbourhood, it involved basic daily activity where we would get our daily products and food around the hawker centre area. We though that it would be interesting to juxtaposition and comparison.

Our plan of flow:
1. Start from 9th floor and showing the view outside.
2. Start walking from the long corridor to the end
3. Take stairs down to 5th floor
4. Start walking again to another end
5. Take stairs down to ground level and walk towards hawker center
6. Reached hawker centre and buy drinks together
7. Grab our lunch together
8. Mission accomplish!

In this telematic stroll is a journey between us going to grab our lunch. We started our stroll from the same level 9 on a HDB block, showing the our view first.

Makoto’s view from 9th floor in the Eastside.
My view from 9th floor in the westside.

We was actually quite nervous when we was about to go live. We run through again for our plan and here we go!

https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.makoto/videos/10155931580822698/

Indeed there was quite a few differences we spotted, Makoto’s block has a more angular shape while my block has a more rounded shape.

It is also bizarre that we are on the same level but in different place, like same same but different yet we was connected through the live stream.

One of the things I find it fascinating is the object that people place outside their corridors. Most of them are plantations, some are waste and they even dry their clothes outside. This reflected their trust in this neighbourhood to place their personal item which personally I don’t have this habit.

In comparison, I feel Makoto’s neighbours are more organise, lesser bulky object are placed outside in the corridor many are just plants. While my neighbours place many kinds of things like even mahjong table or boxes.


So when we though that our plan went smoothly, my side got delay. We initially wanted to talk to the seller but everything happen too quickly and there was a queue after me so end up I didn’t try to tell them we was on live.

It also interesting how different they place their item outside their stalls. Probably on Makoto’s side there is more demand on the tissue and lighters while for my side the sugar cane juice was in demand. They also dress in blue uniforms even though they are just a drink stall.

So we brought our usual drink together in different location. Next we need to buy for our lunch and unexpected situation came up. As I am vegetarian so there is only a few stalls selling vegetarian food. The usual stall then I like had finish selling their food and other 2 stalls are closed. OMG I panic a few moment.

Meanwhile in the east side their lunch time seems normal while in the west side it was crowded. Probably the east side people have a different lunch timing.

So I manage to found the one and only left vegetarian stall! We ordered our food together and Makoto manage to let the seller know that we was life streaming! She asked a few questions and seems like she was okay being on live too!

Another interesting factor was that my brother actually found me through my live stream! LOL. We was to meet in this hawker after my live stream but he could contact me cause I have switch to do not disturb mode. I was really amazed when he walk over to where I am.

In overall, I really like the advantage of combine streaming. You know that there is someone doing the same thing as you makes your journey to buy lunch differently! The feelings is funny just like we are going buy lunch together in school although we are in a separated location. Another point was that although Singapore is small but people staying in the East and West a slight difference from each other. From the object we have seen outside their corridor to their eating habits. So we have completed our mission!

ADM-DIP GREEN – Development Process Update

Before sending the form board to IEM side we also has done the marking and drilled the holes for the flowers base. The following are the plans for size of the form board for the two cluster of flowers .

Our current progress is IEM students has completed the wiring for the first cluster, but we found out there is still some problem in the technical side.

Following are the issues that we need them to improve on:
– add in the “Default” light pattern
– fix the sensors on the installation (we’ve marked out the area to fix it at)
– program the sensors in a way that when one of it is triggered then 1 ripple will occur, when both triggered then 2 ripples will occur.
– speed up the ripple

For now what we see is:
When it’s powered, the one-person ripple occurs straight away. Next, we put our hands at the sensors to trigger the second person ripple. The second person ripple didn’t start immediately. It only happens after the first person ripple finishes.

Some of the wires are too protruding that we might need to readjust the wire and pull it down a little more in order to fit the top portion of the flowers.

After discussing with our ADM team, we decide to focus on one cluster instead. We will be concentrating on rendering instead due to our emerging timeline for both ADM and IEM teams. The main effect will be shown through rendering while body storming part would be lesser. We will be filming the body storming after next week.

 

 

 

Research Critique: Virtual “field trip” Second Front Interview on Networked Conversations

In the Second Front interview, many interesting question has been raise and discussed. There were also small amusing moment where Prof Randall suddenly disconnected due to the programme has crash, Second Front said that

Wherever we go, something would crash!

They said that in a funny way which I feel they are used to the crashing experiences working with the programmes. They seems very positive about facing problem like this and still having fun which personally I like the vibe.

It was really fascinating to know their back story about their avatars and how they came about. Bibbe leave me with deep impression that she grew up reading cartoons and aspire to be one! When Second Life makes her dreams came true being a character herself! I realise that all of the avatars they created has a common point, they created something that they have connection with. No matter it is inspire from their childhood like Bibbe or Patrick Lichty, having a form similar to Andy Warhol or Liz Solo, a virtual puppet of herself, there is a form of connection between the avatar and the user.

There is another interesting question raise was, what is the relationship of your real life character and your second life character. Again, Bibbe surprise me with her reply “Confuse”. She further elaborate about herself as a performer has personality disorder, through the character she could set herself lose. The main point she say was:

It is the world with emotions and thoughts.

Second Life is already part of her life where she can find a getaway for her emotions.

The discussion on how Second Life takes into account of audience participating Liz Solo talks about when they have audience things would become unpredictable however it can be interaction between artist or adding spontaneity to the performance art. She mention that the essence of this performance art was responsive which is something new to me. In relate to any other art piece or performance art many are not as responsive as what Second Front has done. In Second Front’s performance art they could make decision to create or act differently even if they are the audience. As a result it created the spontaneity, something that cannot be planned.

Another point that was interesting about this performance art was it was done without the body. Like Patrick Lichty has mention the usual performance art was about the body and usual audience seating arrangement. Yet Second Front break off the traditional performance combining it not only with the audience but in third space. They make me wonder what else we can do in the third space together? Probably in the next few years dramas or movie can be film in the third space where both party does not located at the same location.

In overall, the interview of Second Front were very inspiring. Getting to know the first hand knowledge from the artiest and understand deeper of their perspective and what they have learn has even help them in real life. I am also looking forward on how their unique performance art would evolve into different forms of performance.