Objectives¶

At the end, you should be able to do the following:

1. Develop an animation character concept based on a limited number of controlled freedoms.
2. Identify servo components from our automation kit: hobby servos, pushrods, servo horns, USB servo interface, extension leads, 5V power supply.
3. Identify stepper components from our automation kit: stepper motors, pinion gears, timing pulleys, Arduino CNC interface, 12V power supply.
4. Cut and bend hard wire tie rods to connect hobby servos with armatures.
5. Physically mount and electrically connect hobby servos.
6. Physically mount and electrically connect stepper motors.
7. Automate a two-DOF armature using hobby servos and pushrods in a parallel-drive structure.
8. Design a simple scene in which one or two elements can be automated using a stepper motor.
9. Control hobby servos and stepper motors from a Python script.
10. Compose a programmed motion sequence in Python.
11. Set up and operate a Sony a6000 camera with Blackmagic HDMI interface.
12. Capture a stop-motion sequence frame by frame using Dragonframe.

Deliverables: please finish setting up your scene and shoot a short video (e.g. no more than 30 seconds). The video should emphasize an actuated and programmed movement which conveys character. You may use whichever camera you wish but are encouraged to try the course cameras. The result may either be live-action, stop-motion, or some of each.

The video should be uploaded to Vimeo and embedded in a short blog post. Please assign all group members as authors on the post. This is due Monday at 8PM.

Please have your workstation cleaned up and all materials put away prior to the start of class next Tuesday.

Agenda¶

Tuesday

1. Visual walk-through of turntable and slider assemblies.
2. Visual walk-through of hobby servo and stepper motor electronics.
3. Visual walk-through of hard-wire pushrod tools.
4. Individual walk-through of Python motion scripting.
5. Before Thursday: please review the Dragonframe tutorial videos.

Thursday

1. Demonstration of basic Sony a6000 setup.
2. Demonstration of Dragonframe stop-motion capture.

Resources¶

• Actuation Tutorial Python Scripts
• Python Libraries and Examples
• Dragonframe Stop-Motion Animation Software
• Sony Alpha a6000 Camera
• Mini-Maestro Servo Interface
• CNC Arduino Shield
• DFMocoCNC Arduino firmware for Dragonframe ARC Motion

Approaches¶

This exercise adds programmed movement in addition to puppeteering, but the basic principles remain the same:

1. Please focus on the movement of each element and how they compose together to form choreography which reveals character.
2. Anything can be turned into a character; please think beyond anthropomorphic and animal forms.
3. The movement includes the shape of the paths formed in space, the rhythm and tempo, the syncopation of multiple movements, the ictus of inflections.
4. The armature need not be visible; in conventional animation it usually refers to the hidden structure within a stop-motion puppet. The visible elements could be found objects, fabric, an optical element such as a filter, light reflected from a moving mirror, etc.