Animata 2d Design

So this week has introduced us to a new but fun program named animata, Animata has proved a challenge to understand but has opened my eyes in reference to looking at the structure of an mage and its potential perspective movements, Understanding the duty of theskeleton based design in the animata program allow you to move and manipulate 2d images in a almost ( note almost! ) a 3d fashion

Not my own persoal cup of tea but good learning!!
Still in there =)
O N E L O V E

Bye Bye ROBOT, Hello MAX

Well today was a interesting day as we were introduced to a new facet of the course with the beginning of Animata and MAX studio, These seem to be very easy to use applications with very simple interfaces, The issue with this program is that you have to be able to see beyond texternal and properly structure the internals in order to give a 3d like effect to 2d objects.

Well good learning and much experimenting to be had as we begin to fimiliarise ourself with the program, On a nasty note i wish some of these programs would take the effort to employ a Ctrl+Z "Undo Button"

But overall we cant complain!

And she stalls !!

Well after a solid week of structure and creation our group was faced with the group demonstration, This was a fun day where people got to see othet groups demonstrations in effect, People where asked to describe the concept of there machine and give a live demonstration of their machine in action, Our machine looked good and people were informed of the operation of its features and the ways in which it related to our concept, Sadly due to us changing the walls on our base adding wrapping paper to the surrounding walls the ultrasonic sensors on the BOT where unable to register the rigid walls and got stuck looking for a flat surface, A great example of how all things changed once the environment in which the machine is going into is changed.

Well on a different note i believe our project wouldve tasted the nicest if i had to eat one! =)

People We Have Art

Today is what we call D-DAY! When all things happen, the make and break time where we place the robots into its environment and make it producete art it is capable of , Happily i can say that our group hs made signifigant advances on where we were last.

So another change came as we needed strengthen certain parts of the robot to allow it to perform its function, Our theme is one based on the City Lifestyle and the Day/Evening comparison. The hustle and bustle of night period with DJ's Night Clubs and Parties VS The morning aftermath, The street sweepers and cleaners going through the city cleaning away rubbish and mess.

Alround a good day for the team with significant advances and hardcover copies of our project.


K E E P S M I L I N G

Heaps Of Ideas, 2 ROBOTS but no icing on the Cake

So we start as per usual with our own individual brainstorming sessions where each of us go and find our own different concepts about the media we use in our project and the way in which we can incorporate it to make the project a success, This is probably the most imaginative part of the process and allowed all types of ideas

Sadly as we came to discover through our development stages there are some ideas that just aint feasible, Whether it be because of structure, finance or just impracticality( Cause we dont understand how to use FIRE without burning the NXT! lol) we found that our imagination required a lot more variables working in our favour to be a success

SO!!!

We built a robot, Broke the robot( Structurally insufficient) Made another solution,Changed our minds, Aimed at programming the robot and then submitted to trying to get a result..lol

The 20 word breakdown of the last 4 Days, But with 2 days in the pocket we understand where we are at and we seem commited and on track to complete the task

YAY :)

Things never quite turn out the way you plan !

So as we continue to make a robot suffiicient to perform the duties we require to produce the 3 Drawings required of our group we start to realise that some of the assumptions we made whilst brainstorming for this project aint really feasible based on the availability of certain products and financial restrictions.

Also from this experience we learn that due to our intimate understanding of our ROBOT we can braistorm on the fly, when our initial ideas dont work we are able to resolve the problem by coming up with a different idea that may be able to convey the same idea that was first concieved

This program is also a testament to the value and benefit of setting game plans and daily goals to achieve that progress is achieved as needed.

Back to you SOON !!!

P E A C E

New Project , New Team , Same ol Robots !!

So the new day brought on a new assignment with new challenges that would test our creativity but also allow us to use our imaginations and innovation of current machines to fufil the task at hand.

So heres a couple of ideas that went through the mind and hopefully as i blog there will be stages of development in this

The Broom effect of the street sweeper

A spinner motion controlled by Ultrasonic Sensor

Glow in the Dark Paint

And many more for you to imagine by yourself

Good brainstorming session today and a complicated portion of our bot being built means we leave ourselves with a stable base to successfully complete this task...

P E A C E

Phase I & II of Lego Life ( The Chucky)

NXT Mindstorm sets have invaded our classroom and given a real understanding of the need to be accurate about the assumptions we make when we construct and predict the project environment

Although we didnt win in either of the Tasks there is alot to be learnt from the precautions that need to be taken in order to ensure that a consistant result is achieved.

Programing a robot is a long process. The variables that can effect your robot are so apparent when it comes time to be assessed. Two particular issues that came to my mind is in mapping a path you must totally understand the terrain the vehicle will travel. Slopes, Slants Carpet, Floors Doors etc. Also a particular issue that we had is showing the character created( Chucky) identity through construction, movement and design.

With alot of the auora of our character being focused on his personality trait as a two faced alter ego it was hard to depict this through a robot and show an emotional deficiency

But the learning gained in this team exercise adds substance to the knowledge bank for future projects

Stay Tuned Guys !!! :)

What The heck are thes guys up to !!

Reflective Statement
Chad Maihi

The situational shuffle experience allows student to understand the potential problems that can arise when approaching a project which has a number of variants caused by public involvement (unpredictable matter). Dealing with human environment means you enter a domain that is structured on rules. Performing this task placed individual members of our group in precarious positions (A standing that could be considered as anti-social cause it does not adhere to common law)
Another issue to be considered is the personal pride and status. Placing yourself in a situation you would not ordinarily associate yourself with is an uncomfortable experience. An opportunity for risk and great learning.
The key issue I found was not the way the group interacted in the city environment but rather how the public would articulate or re-act to our actions, People are behavioural creatures who live by habit, To see something taking place that collides with common practice is either considered anti-social or Innovation

So all Things have to start SOMEWHERE.

Welcome to BCT 2010 came with a collection of mini post-it stickers, a yarn of cotton and a orgasmic of responses as introductory relations building exercises where the call of the day. Writing the answers to 12 specific questions each student made a web like figure around their name with the answers to the questions written on the post it notes (Some webs more creative than others) then to add to the mess (hahaha) all answers that where identical where then connected together with a string of an different colour.

This exercise not only allowed members of the class to begin a social grounding with each other but it also taught a valuable lesson about the structure of people as individuals, Each person has their own personal preference, this preference determine their interest which in turn indicates their prefered ground for creativity. Though through learning later on about the "6 degrees of Seperation" we quickly realise that althugh we are all individuals we are all somehow linked together.

The 6 degrees of SEPERATION( Readers Digest Version)

I am Chad Maihi and i want to find Joe Blow

I got a mate (x)

Hes got a mate too

His mate gives it to her best mate

and their other mate

who has another mate

who can find another mate

who's a mate of JOE BLOW !!!

LOL.. :P

P E A C E