Interactive Media Arts Capstone Documentation

A PDF document of the documentation is available here.

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Log

This is a chronological log of what I have done for this project.

4/10/17

• Logo updated
• Oil-based marker tested on canvas, nib needs to be pressed to release more ink
• Randomly generated work tested, should implement some algorithms for the generating process

4/9/17

• Artworks uploaded to robotart.org

4/8/17

• Shirky’s eye done in four pieces, each 10 by 10 pixels
• Cursor drawing done
• Nicole drawing done
• Console info added in preview window

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Works

A collection of works created by Minus E, the robot that creates fine arts.

Circle

Ink on paper, 176 x 176 cm

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Technical Documentation

This documentation covers some technical issues I encountered as I work on the IMA capstone interactive project.

Enabling SSH for headless Raspberry Pi

Source: https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/a-security-update-for-raspbian-pixel/

SSH is disabled by default in the latest Raspbian Jessie, however, we can enable it by putting a file called ssh in the /boot/ directory in the sd card.

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Project Conceptual Change

WHAT

A robot that helps me to create large scale drawings with the reference to an image of my choice.

The reference image will be converted to grayscale and divided into a 20 by 20 grid (or the canonical 32 by 32, if time permits). Each time the robot creates an abstract/representational drawing within one piece of 20-by-20-cm paper, achieving the same tone as the corresponding cell of the reference image. All 400 (or 1024) small drawings will be put together as one 4-by-4-meter (or 6.4-by-6.4-meter) drawing that represents the reference image. If time permits, color will be explored.

A sample drawing by hand can be found below, which shows that the tone of each cell doesn’t have to be very precise to achieve the desired result.

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Schedule

• Week 01 02/05/17
  • Come up with a plan
  • Create short demos
  • Make slides for the presentation

• Week 02 02/12/17
  • Test with different sensors, digital compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, etc.
  • Test ultrasonic ranger accuracy with the existing robot
  • Research and test other solutions

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Bibliography

Projects

• ZUtA by ZUtA Labs
  • Official: http://www.zutalabs.com
  • Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1686304142/the-mini-mobile-robotic-printer
  • ZUtA is a pocket robotic printer that works with mobile devices and print on the go and this is the very product that first inspired me making a robot artist. Its portability is already appealing, but what really strikes me is its ability to print on any size of paper. This device is not constrained by axes, neither should a robot artist, or any artist, be. Because of this, unlike some other robot artists that are either based on a robotic arm or axes, I decided to make a robot artist that draws/paints as it moves around on any surface with any size.
  • robot, printer, mobile
  • product

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Proposal

Robot Artist: A robot that draws

My project is to build a robot artist that draws with a human drawing instrument on a flat surface it sits on. The chassis of the robot will be circular shape and it will be made with either a laser cutter or a 3D printer. The robot will have four omni wheels so as to be able to move to all directions, which is perfect for drawing. However, my experience tells me it is very hard to make the movement accurate with four omni wheels, which is an issue I need to do more research on. There will be a drawing instrument holder at the center of the robot, the height of which will be controlled by a motor so that the drawing instrument can be lift up and put down. The robot will also have at least four ultrasonic sensors to detect the distances from each side to the wall. Ideally, the robot will be put inside of rectangular space with a wall on each side so that the robot can navigate itself based on its distance to each side. If the robot is put to an open space, or non-rectangular space, it may estimate its position with the turnings of each wheel, which might not be very accurate.

Interactive Media Arts Capstone Brief

Interactive Project

Robot Artist: A robot that draws with a regular pen

I have been having an interest in robot for a long time and I have recently rediscovered my passion for visual arts. Therefore, I would like to combine those two and build a robot artist that draws with a regular pen. The robot will sit on the surface it will draw on, and draw as it moves around on the surface. There are two possible method that the robot will draw. One is to work like a dot matrix printer, the robot striking the pen on the surface, making little dots. The other is to work like a 3d printer, the robot drawing lines as it moves around.