Overview

This automaton types out the first line to Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and is made from a guitar.

Jump to see the final project, or continue reading to see the process.

From the syllabus

<aside> 📖 Build an automaton that meets the following requirements:

• Has a theme inspired by a poem. You can either find a poem or write a poem yourself. The poem can be satirical, allegorical, dramatic, historical, lyrical, etc.
• Utilize multiple mechanisms to achieve the movement. The overall complexity of your automaton doesn’t need to be high, but it must include more than 3 mechanical elements and be of sufficient difficulty to achieve to require multiple weeks to complete. If in doubt, please DM the professor with individual questions.
• Be made of wood, acrylic, paper*, metal, plastic or any other higher fidelity materials. You may use any tool to achieve your build including hand/power tools, laser cutter, 3D printers, CNC, etc.
• Be less than 50cm x 50cm x 50cm in size
• Be functional (robust enough that it can be presented live and not fall apart)
• Be finished (this means to be the result of a finishing process. For wood this may mean using a wood finish like a lacquer or paint. For metal this could be to polish or brush the surface. For 3D printed plastic, there are various means of finishing the material but the surface quality should be considered.) </aside>

Midterm Project Timeline

November 2nd: Project Proposal due

November 16th: Prototype Review

November 30th: Progress Check-in

December 14th: Final Presentations

Proposal

<aside> 💡 Find 3 poems that are inspiring to you, or write your own, and print them each on a separate page. For each poem:

• Write down bullets for the characters in the poem, important objects or symbols and some of the main actions you might want to portray in your automaton. If your poem doesn’t have any explicit characters, write about how can you symbolize the poem in your automaton.
• Simplify the concept and sketch out a couple ideas around the visuals
• Think through what mechanisms you can use to generate the motions for your piece and write down/sketch out your thoughts. Be specific with this part - you have the building blocks and know what mechanisms can create certain movements. Do you need something to move intermittently? What can you use to accomplish this?
• Note what materials and processes you think you’ll use to create the automaton
• Cite your sources for the poems you find
• Keep in mind the timeline of this project - plan ahead. We have a good amount of time but consider your learnings from your midterm. Equipment may be difficult to book towards the end of the semester so it may be helpful to be trained at the MakerSpace to enable you more access to tools. And set aside time for the finishing step.
• For your favorite concept, create a fabrication plan with timeline, material sources, prototyping steps, etc.

Assemble your pages and post them to your blog - be sure to note the one you are most interested in creating for this project. DM me a link by midnight November 2nd.

</aside>

I really want to try doing a typing automaton, using the text from the poem as the source material that the automaton types out and using the subjects mostly for embellisments.

Maybe not fingers like this creator did but something simple to type on my laptop keyboard for example. I think I could look into themes of translation, robo calls, communication, sincerity, that one episode of South Park where Stan uses Chat GPT to talk to handle his relationship with Wendy etc. etc.

In terms of construction I want to experiment with Rotor Springs and a ratchet crank for power. In terms of action I think I want to stick with cams and followers just so I’m not making too much work for myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA-KpGYG83E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TmcYIbDyTA

Mock up of action

Poem 1 → “This Is For Rachel” by Jasmine Collins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-wf1KnsQzU

Although this monologue is thematically based on the telephone and spoken voice I think the material is also ripe for the picking. The accuracy for which Jasmine comes for Rachel’s throat is stunning and awe inspiring.

Forms and embellishments to consider:

• Phone motifs
• Rachel
• Jasmine

The Text

“This is for Rachel you big fat white nasty smelling fat bitch why you took me off the motherfucking schedule with your trifling dirty white racist ass you big fat bitch oompa loompa body ass bitch I’m coming outside and I’m going to beat the fuck out of you bitch.”

• J. Collins 2019

From Mom with love. ❤️ #fyp #foryou #mom #thisisforrachel

Materials and Processes:

• Acrylic, plastic
• An office phone that exact model in the video

Poem 2 → Something Super Heartfelt That No One Would Ever Copy and Paste

<aside> 💡 ChatGPT simulation of a cheating boyfriend

Certainly, here's an example of a text conversation where someone has been called out for their suspicious behavior:

Person A: "Hey, I noticed you've been really distant lately, and it's making me feel uneasy. Is everything okay between us?"

Person B: "I'm just busy with work and personal stuff. Nothing's going on."

Person A: "I understand that life can get busy, but it feels like you're avoiding me. I saw a message from 'Sarah' on your phone, and it seemed more than just a coworker. Can you please be honest with me?"

Person B: "Sarah is just a friend. There's nothing more to it."

Person A: "I'd appreciate it if you could be completely honest with me. It's okay if you have a close friend, but if there's something more going on, we should talk about it."

Person B: "You're overreacting. There's nothing going on. I need you to trust me."

</aside>

Roses are red violets are blue?

Thinking about other things that would be interesting if an automaton wrote it. Here’s an excerpt from a ChatGPT generation of what someone cheating and being sus might say to their partner over text.

Forms and embellishments to consider:

• This one might be the creepiest with a hand, but honestly the idea of whittling a hand scares me.

Materials and Processes:

• Wood

Poem 3 → ChatGPT a Poem

Something something, a computer talking through a machine. something something. Maybe the Three Laws of Robotics?

<aside> 💡 Asimov’s 3 Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. </aside>

Forms and embellishments to consider:

• I think as mechanical as possible, maybe dress up the little baby as a robot doing the beep boop

Materials and Processes:

• I think I’d want to stick with wood for this one, make it a little steampunky

Poem 4 → Wonderwall (this is my favourite)

<aside> 💡 Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you

And by now, you should've somehow realised what you gotta do

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now

And backbeat, the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out

I'm sure you've heard it all before, but you never really had a doubt

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk are winding

And all the lights that lead us there are blinding

There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how

Because maybe

You're gonna be the one that saves me

And after all

You're my wonderwall

Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to you

And by now, you should've somehow realised what you're not to do

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now

And all the roads that lead you there were winding

And all the lights that light the way are blinding

There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don't know how

I said maybe

You're gonna be the one that saves me

And after all

You're my wonderwall

I said maybe (I said maybe)

You're gonna be the one that saves me

And after all

</aside>

The Plan

Here’s the plan:

Prototype

<aside> 💡 For your approved proposal, create a prototype using low-fidelity materials. Look back at Week 3 for examples of materials to use. The goal is to plan out the scale of your piece as well as the mechanics. Try to learn as much as possible from your prototype. If you need to produce multiple prototypes to break down complex mechanisms, go for it. You may need to create aesthetic prototypes as well, depending on your chosen materials and finishes.

</aside>