Animating Paper

Nitinol hounts me.

But after several burns, two minor fires, one exploded LED and a fried Arduino UNO I decided to abandon it for now. (Dont ask. I am clumsy some times...)

Instead I stumbled upon a simple but intreaguing origami folding pattern which enables motor actuated animation. I turned it into what will be our final project for coca201. The mechanics behind it, the coding, everything, is very, very simplistic. But its beautiful and I am happy about it. Take a look:



The interesting part of this is that you have paper animation as input and output.

More videoclips of the birds are here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc6EwgwI9uw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW7r0lj5CL0

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Now, I actually am really sad about letting the nitinol be. I guess I should just get myself some propper relays and do the math and do it the propper way... but maybe another time. Also, Cameron created a really nice Max Patcher for handling projection on a moving surface...

You can take a look at this - unfinished - project here:

Update on coca201 Project

Animated Paper

Exploring different techniques of animating paper as well as exploring animated paper as a medium. In particular the use of paper animation as an input device, as well as an output device and as projection surface.
 

Excursion 1: Hide your Fears (Earth?)
Projection on paper animated by Nitinol and activated by proximity. 
Animation functions as Output

Possible Schematic for the Nitinol circuitry

Schetch of Content

Excursion 2: Tell the Future (Fire, Water?)
Projection on a Future teller, animated by magnetic actuators triggered by proximity. The animated paper is used as projection surface and output.

 

One opening will display fire, another opening will display water.

Excursion 3:  Follow the Leader (Air?)
A "Flock" of Doves, which copy the movements of a "Leader" Dove.
Paper animation is both Input and Output. The Output Animation is servo actuated, the input animation is human actuated.

Bird flapping its Wings:



The Input is sensed by stretch sensors incorporated in the Origami. A possible circuit may look like this: