Visualizing Collaboration
Our primary focus for this project was to produce an experience that encouraged collaboration. This experience would produce a singular, tangible result that reflected how well the collaboration went. DrawBot invites two players to work together in order to create shapes on the whiteboard surface. Through collaboration, a visualization of their shared(or not) goal can be realized.
Process
We did initial research on a variety of interactive art exhibits and decided that our setting would be an open space where strangers or friends could meet to partake in the art. We took inspiration from an Etch a Sketch where one person controls the motion in the horizontal direction and the other in the vertical direction. We looked at precedent work of x,y plotters and considered mounting our writing utensil on one. We had to decide between a plotter, an etch-a-sketch wheel input, or free form drawing. We settled on having a drawing robot that can move freely but is still controlled by two inputs. The robot becomes the painter and facilitates user interaction. They now have a clear common goal, to get drawBot to draw what they want.
First Iteration
Our first prototype used tracking sensors as the input, one for each wheel. If a sensor was covered the corresponding wheel would move forward otherwise it would be still.
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After determining the functionalities of controlling the robot through tracking sensors, we defined a scenario that intended to bring two strangers together in order to visually ‘plot interaction’.
Next Steps
We transitioned from tracking sensors to use sonar sensors that were connected via Bluetooth to the motor. We decided to not have any wires as this would distract from the ‘character’ of the DrawBot.
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DrawBot, itself is a friendly robot form that invites the users to assist it in drawing shapes. Rather than personifying the character, we went with a more neutral but inviting robot. Due to limitations in time and accessibility to resources, we converted the cover into a removable surface. This allowed us to make changes to the hardware as we worked.
Final
Our final project takes movement from two inputs and translates it into a drawing. Our drawBot has a dry erase marker attached to the front and moves on an elevated whiteboard surface. Its motion is controlled by two distance sensors on either side of the whiteboard. The idea is for two users to be on either side of the board each controlling one wheel of the robot. The wheel will go forwards, stop, or backwards corresponding to how close the user is to the sensor. We are interested in how people interact and work together to create one fluid picture.
In Collaboration with Jillian Cai
The ideation was completely collaborative. I took the lead in writing the Arduino code and wiring the sensors and robot. I was also involved in the design choices as a secondary role.