POSSIBLE MEDIUMS CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOP (2/7/13 - 2/10/13)
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - KNOWLTON SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
ACTIVE MODELS CLUSTER
Active Models connects a group of designers that employ interactive technologies to link digital and physical environments. Their work utilizes embedded computation, continuous measurement, and kinetics to propose new modes of visual, spatial, and formal engagement. (Organized by Kyle Miller)
The Robotic Prototypes workshop taught by Jason Kelly Johnson from Future Cities Lab will explore the use of Grasshopper, Firefly and Arduino as creative and technical tools in the design, simulation and fabrication of robotic architectural prototypes, responsive building systems and intelligent mechanisms. Firefly is a new set of comprehensive software tools dedicated to bridging the gap between Grasshopper, the Arduino micro-controller, the internet and beyond. It allows near real-time data flow between the 3D digital and physical worlds, and will read/write data to/from internet feeds, remote sensors, connect with machine vision protocols, and more. Grasshopper, a free plug-in for McNeel’s Rhino modeler, allows designers to create adjustable parametric forms through graphic icons rather than programming.
Software: Rhino, Grasshopper, Firefly, Arduino (all free)
Equipment: Arduino Starter Kit and two regular servo motors
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
THE METABOT ZOO WILL BE A RADICAL MENAGERIE OF SMALL BREATHING, PULSATING AND TWITCHING ROBOTIC DRAWING MACHINES. DURING THE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS WILL GENERATE A NEW SPECIES OF METABOTIC CREATURES THAT WILL EXIST SIMULTANEOUSLY IN PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL WORLDS. EACH CREATURE WILL BE CAPABLE OF TRANSLATING AND AMPLIFYING SMALL, SUBTLE OR INVISIBLE INPUTS INTO MUTANT FORMS OF GENERATIVE DRAWINGS, NOTATIONAL SYSTEMS OR NOVEL GRAFFITI ARTS.
RELEVANT LINKS (updated during the workshop)
Firefly Resources, Links and Tools http://fireflyexperiments.com/resources/
Firefly User's Manual http://fireflyexperiments.com/s/Firefly_Users_Guide.pdf
Mechanisms, Linkages and more http://www.robives.com/mechs
Good All-Purpose Arduino UNO Pictures and Diagram
Arduino Pinout Diagram http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,146315.0.html
Build a circuit diagram with Fritzing http://fritzing.org/building-circuit/
Check out Desmond Paul Henry's work http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Paul_Henry
Metamatic Drawings by Jean Tinguely (bio) (Mechanics of Expression)
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
SESSION 00: INTRO & PROTOTYPING EXERCISE A
FRIDAY
SESSION 01: ARDUINO BASICS (Blink, Fade and more)
SESSION 02: FIREFLY BASICS (Firefly User's Manual)
SESSION 03: PROTOTYPING EXCERCISE B
SATURDAY
SESSION 04: FIREFLY INTERMEDIATE
SESSION 05: PROTOTYPING EXERCISE C
SESSION 06: PINUP AND EVENING CHARRETTE
SUNDAY
SESSION 07: MORNING WORK & FINAL DISCUSSION
****** SENT BY E-MAIL on 2/5/13 ******
1. SOFTWARE: Please confirm successful installation of Grasshopper, Firefly and Arduino software. Check this link for details: http://fireflyexperiments.com/resources/.
2. PROTOTYPING MATERIALS: While we will have limited materials on hand - please also consider bringing the following with you to the workshop:
- any prototyping or model making tools you can feasibly (and legally!) bring
- tape, glue, hot glue gun, solder irons, stapler, clips, string, elastic bands ...
- tools for cutting, scoring, drilling, drawing, painting, etc.
- any random electronic bits n' piece that you might have sitting around ...
- any flat stock material that might be cut manually or on the laser cutter
- wood dowels, basswood, or other material for creating small frames
- cameras for creation of digital images and videos
- chocolate, coffee, sugary candy, or anything else to keep you awake and working ... !
3. PRE-WORKSHOP HOMEWORK: watch the three TED videos linked below and review the concisely written "Arduino in a Nutshell" PDF linked here.
- http://www.ted.com/talks/rodney_brooks_on_robots.html
- http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_full_on_engineering_and_evolution.html
- http://www.ted.com/talks/dennis_hong_my_seven_species_of_robot.html