This week we had to find a resolution to an existing or new problem. My issue was a lack of interesting robotic music players in the marketplace, with an active user interface, that could even switch into visual imagery to match your music.

I decided to create a problem using robotic and musical elements.

Production

Prototyping

I sketched some prototypes of how I wanted my robot to look, I had only two design processes for this model, however, it is still a work in progress.

• Still unsure how I want the robot to look
• I know its functions and how I want the user to interact with it, but there is always room for development
• Customisable faces, I am not sure whether I want it to be digitally displayed or customised and then made with the robot head.

3D Model

After this, I made a 3D Model on Blender, this is a basic model. But it’s better to have foundation ideas and build up from there if needed to not fall behind schedule.

Visualiser

I tried to do a rotating disc, however I couldn’t get it to work so I settled with a visualiser on how I wanted the user interface to look. I want the background colours to stand out instead of being plain.

https://editor.p5js.org/TIAT/sketches/bWP7q61-z

Resolution

This week, I managed to communicate my ideas through the exploration of robotics and music. Using my previous experience in making game UIs, I managed to translate it to this task. Using the design thinking chart, I was also able to implement some ideas and research into a prototype, to potentially be able to market this to real customers.

I enjoyed

• Experimenting with new ideas with prototypes and pre-production
• Seeing which models I can make in the time frame I have to complete this assignment, and then doing them
• Learning and being familiar with p5.js in the process.

I least enjoyed

• Trying to find the code to rotate the disc.
• I couldn’t fix the code to get the playback line to work

Feedback

• Challenge the aesthetic of the robot, how can I challenge the idea of a ‘typical robot’ Something to develop, to make it unique
• Moving towards product design, potentially for artists even (freelance)
• Break down the project, use TouchDesigner for the visualiser, and use CAD/3D Printing/Hardware for the robot.