Day 3: (Tue Sep 1, Week 2) Webots Modelling; Unusual Mobility Workshop

Notes for 2026-09-01.

New Assignments

New assignment, due Thu Sep 3: Exercise: Unusual Mobility Part 1: Idea. Please submit documentation to the Assignment 2 Shared Folder prior to class.

Administrative

• IDeATe will be hosting two fire extinguisher training sessions on Wednesday September 2 at 10AM and 5PM in IDeATe Studio B, Hunt 106C. Please let me know if this would help you satisfy the laser cutter requirements. If you are planning to attend, please use one of the following links to identify your interest:

  • 10:00AM session calendar link

  • 5:00PM session calendar link

Agenda

1. Review and discuss your results for Exercise: Simulator Wheelies (Assignment 1 Shared Folder).

2. More related work.

   • Mark Tilden

   • Raffaello D’Andrea

   • Stelarc

   • Ball Balancing Robots

   • Machines with Unusual Mobility

3. Detailed walk through the new box-walker Webots model:

   • rationale

   • kinematic structure

   • coordinate conventions

   • proto encoding

   • tree encoding

   • Python controller

4. Quick review of previous brainstorming (Breakout Notes).

5. Discuss the new assignment.

6. In-class solo movement brainstorming exercise

   1. stand up!

   2. breathe together

   3. find an object to use as a prop

      • play with it, discover its intrinsic motion

      • how would it move if it were mobile?

   4. use your hand as a prop

      • how would it move if it were mobile?

      • can you vary the speed, role of your fingers, location in the room?

   5. use your body as a prop

      • how can you move without walking normally?

      • can you vary the articulation?

      • how does different location change the context?