Animatronics - course outline - 24 April 2015 davidbuckley.net/DB/sidetable/Animatronics - course outline - 14 April 2015.txt =================================================================== Some Web pages -------------- http://history-computer.com/Dreamers/ Crescendo of the Virtuoso - Paul Metzner - Google Books http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=P76XHx_RpssC&q Waldo_TCS.html http://www.character-shop.com/waldo.html Visual Show Automation - Overview.htm http://www.brookshiresoftware.com/vsa_overview.htm Visual Show Automation - How Serial Servo Controllers Work - Mini-SSC, SV203, SMI, Parallax_Propeller http://www.brookshiresoftware.com/rd_how_sscs_work.htm The Character Shop- 'Spaceballs'.html http://www.character-shop.com/tcsspaceballs.html Rob's Propshop.htm http://www.robspropshop.com/gallery?sort=show&id=15&work_id=45&pic_id=221 HauntBots, Animatronic Control Systems.htm http://www.hauntbots.com/index.php Animatronics examples www.johnnolanstudio.com Design _ 3D Printed Animatronic Robot Head _ Adafruit Learning System.htm https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-animatronic-robot-head/design Behind the Scenes.htm http://www.animatronics.org/bs.htm Animatronics Gilderfluke & Co Robotics & Sound Systems.htm https://www.gilderfluke.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_2 AutoTalk and animatronics modules http://www.bpesolutions.com/ AutoTalk http://www.bpesolutions.com/asoundeuip.html#anchor637368 DMX modules used to connect to Theatre Lighting Controllers http://www.milinst.co.uk/index.php Electronic and Mechanical components http://www.rapidonline.com/ Parts for school projects and hobbyists Design & Technology, Science, Art http://www.mindsetsonline.co.uk/Site/Home Model Making parts http://hobby.uk.com/ PicAxe Microcontrollers http://www.picaxe.com/ Hobby robots Good to see what others make http://letsmakerobots.com/ This is the standard of making you need to aim for A 1/24th-scale recreation of everyday scenes from mid-20th century America http://www.visitelginpark.com/ This is the standard of animatronic face you need to aim for Martin Kelly - BA in Modelmaking and Design Animatronics demoreel - Martin Kelly.avi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7obD7yFbExg Google Images ------------- Servo Linkages Animatronics etc =================================================================== Session 1 --------- Introduction to me. Introduction to them Introduction to Animatronics, http://history-computer.com/Dreamers/ Hepahastus tripods, golden girls Ctesibius of Alexandria 285 and 222 BC. Antikathera mechanism Hero of Alexandria 1C Theatre effects, programmable with string Basile Bouchon 1725 silk loom controlled by paper roll like organs Jacques de Vaucanson (1709–1782) Jaquard looms - punched cards Crescendo of the Virtuoso - Paul Metzner - Google Books http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=P76XHx_RpssC&q My Portfolio Take in and show examples - demonstrate Cycler animatronic show robot demonstrate Alex aniamtronic head, demonstrate servos and control of Bambino animatronic robot skull and skin part made mould - breedon Show photos of Cycler Magic Legs Flying Shoes Breedon head Dinosaurs, Newcastle Natural History Museum Sir William Stanier Squad Policeman Crofter Scribler materials [Waldos] [linkages] [rod operation] [teleoperation] [computer control] [the future] [Practical] ?? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 2 --------- Waldos rod operation Introduction to Pneumatics, pressure, pistons, muscles, air sources, reservoirs demonstrate pistons demonstrate muscles Examples of muscle use Shadow biped pictures Shadow Leg video Magic Legs pictures Magic Legs video Take in Shadow Leg a regulator, various solenoid valves, Quick connectors, joiners, Ts etc Overview of pipe sizes, fitting types, restrictors., thread sizes, tapered parallel threads, PTFE tape. Portable air, Dive tanks, Paintball equipment, CO2. Low pressure air - balloons Practical connect up the demo board to do something. Unfortunately the board is suited to Mechatronics which is all to do with industrial automation and has almost nothing to do with animatronics. Animatronics needs electrically operated valves. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 3 --------- DC motors relays H-bridges micro-switches control - show Squaddie video Introduction to Radio Control Servos what are they sizes gearing linkages ESC - Electronic Speed Control What are servo mechanisms - Show - Sergeant, Scribbler, Dickens, Crofter, BusDE, Celt Flying Shoes video Practical Divide into groups of three Create and demonstrate any animatronic thing moved by RC-servos 4x dual servo R/C sets - 2.4GHz (for land based models) batteries for the R/C 18swg hard brass wire for linkages corugated cardboard Rubber bands - thick and thin 4mm nylon pneumatic tube (not polyurethane) for string guides string dowel etc Tools Glue guns knives snipe nosed pliers side cutters etc --------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 4 --------- Introduction to Mechanics pulleys, belts, gears, - veleocity ratio levers - mechanical advantage screw sizes, nuts linkages Introduction to control show Alex head on Youtube Proprietary software VSA, Gilderfluke etc Computer control servo driver modules Arduino, PicAxe, Pi MP3 players etc teleoperation computer control the future demonstrate Alex and Bambino again for different control methods Practical web research Proprietary software resellers of servo driver modules resellers of Arduino and PicAxe modules Halloween companies. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 5 --------- Design and make four aniamtronic heads using R/C, pneumatics, rods Practical Divide into groups of three Design and make four aniamtronic heads using R/C, pneumatics, rods Equipment needed 8x dual standard size servo R/C sets - 2.4GHz (for land based models) batteries for the R/C 6m 18swg(0.048inch) or 1.3 to 1.5mm dia. hard brass wire for linkages corrugated cardboard Rubber bands - thick and thin 4mm nylon pneumatic tube (not polyurethane) for string guides string dowel balloons etc Tools Glue guns knives snipe nosed pliers side cutters etc --------------------------------------------------------------------- Session 6 --------- Practical Film a scripted animatronic show rehearsals then a take. --------------------------------------------------------------------- =================================================================== Session Equipment Computer, web connection, big screen, image display software, white board. =================================================================== Practical - Materials Radio Control 6 minimum, prefereably 8 - dual standard size servo R/C sets - 2.4GHz (for land based models) plus batteries for the R/C transmitters and receivers Pneumatics Compressor. Make sure there are enough pieces of 4mm tubing for each of the Mecatronic Pneumatics boards to be used. Really need 10 pieces per board 18" (40cm - 50cm) long. Most of the pieces I borrowed are too short. The tubing ought to be Nylon as other more flexible tubing is difficult to remove from the connectors and leads to them being damaged. You ought also to have a tube cutter for the airline. Make sure there are enough connectors and 6mm tubes to connect up all the boards to a compressor The inlet to the board is 4mm so a 6mm to 4mm reducer is required for each board. I think you have six boards so that is - 6 x 6mm to 4mm inline reducers 30m x 4mm nylon airline tubing plus 6mm airline tube plus T connectors etc to connect all the boards to a compressor Other Corugated cardboard - (large(ish) cardboard boxes) say one sheet 40cm x 80cm per team =4 sheets for session 3 say two or three sheets 40cm x 80cm per team =12 sheets for the final session Corugated cardboard = 16 sheets 40cm x 80cm Thinner carboard (cerial box cardboard) - total 40cm x 80cm per team = 4 sheets ‘cerial box’ cardboard = 4 sheets 40cm x 80cm 4mm nylon tube for guides - can be cut from the 30m above string/cord which will fit down the 4mm tube = 8m some 6mm wooden dowel for puppeting rods (usually 3ft 0r 1m long), two per team 8m 6mm wooden dowel some 4m wooden dowel for puppeting rods (usually 3ft 0r 1m long), two per team 8m 4mm wooden dowel say a dozen party balloons for low pressure air practical box of assorted rubber bands 6m 18swg(0.048inch) or 1.3 to 1.5mm dia. hard brass wire for linkages 2 packs of 10 (12" long) hard brass wire - Slaters #1215 (0.040") 1m 16swg hard brass wire for pivots 1 pack of 10 (12" long) hard brass wire - Slaters #1216 (0.060") https://slatersplastikard.com/accessories/brassWire.php Standard workshop Tools - one set per team = 4 sets knives, scissors, cutting mats - for cardboard snipe-nose side-cutting pliers - for wire work (or pliers and side cutters) hotmelt glueguns scraps of sandpaper to debur ends of brass wire =================================================================== Suggested Report contents An overview of actuators, control systems and mechanism with examples of where different techniques would be appropriate. There are many photos on the web showing actuators in use, mainly R/C-servos, and the expected standards of mechanisms. An overview of Control Systems and how actuators work, the sort of control signals involved and electronics modules they might be expected to use. Note - should students be fortunate to get a job at a major animatronics company such as Henson's they will probably be expected to use proprietary systems developed in house. =================================================================== David Buckley 11 March 2015