Animated Robot Reference

Instuctables on other moving creatures

Monkeys
Bird

Sensor Research

I've been doing some research on types of sensors (specifically types proximity sensors).
I have yet to choose a type of sensor but for future reference, these are the most useful ones I have come across:

• List of Sensors
• Proximity sensors
• Capacitive displacement sensors
• Inductive sensors

Sketches

First sketch I made had no starting point/idea. I just started to draw something using my favourite brainstorming material Crayola Washable Markers. From this I spawned my actual idea.
Since I now have the idea of alien friends, I went ahead and draw one example of what they could look like. They have the "matching yet different" aspect I mentioned in my proposal, similar to salt and pepper shakers.

Project Idea (OFFICAL)

As someone who has traveled a lot, I have come to face a lot of loneliness while being apart from family, friends and anything familiar. I am creating interactive robots to address the theme of loneliness. I will focus on friendship and how just being with someone you know can make you happy and less lonely. My main visual component is alien-esque beings who are friends and who will recognize each other to demonstrate my concept.

With these robot friends I am going to make them sad while apart. I will use sound to covey this, i.e. have them crying while apart. When moved close together they will become happy. I will show this again using sound, i.e. giggling sounds. I am going to make one robot a sensor and the other the senseé. I’m not sure which kind of sensor will be most efficient since I haven’t worked with sensors before. Between research and trail and error, I will find out which sensor would be best for this situation. They will be alien-esque creatures from a distant planet. Depending on which designs are chosen, they will be the same colour, shape, face or any other one defining feature to show that they belong together. They would not be much more than a few inches tall (small teddy bear size) and would be portable.

If marketed like toys, these alien friends would be the new age (and new media) friendship bracelets. Kids would not only have their own friend and companion but when brought together with their best friend’s matching creature, there is a new bond and connection on both levels. Sharing the two aliens between two friends and bringing them together when the friends are together can represent the joys of friendship, not only between the two aliens but actual people.

Brainstorming / Ideas

I wanted to make a character of some kind from the start. I want to present this character as an interactive robot.

After a lot of thinking, I’ve decided that they best way to approach this is through a made up alien-esque character. I’ve created a few before and found it enjoyable process.

Creating this particular character, I was thinking about where he would be from, why is he here, and how he feels about this. I’ve narrowed it down to him being homesick as his main trait. Now, going about how to make this trait show through an interactive robot without getting over my head is the hardest part of the brainstorming.

After sketching a little (actually photos of sketches soon to follow), I decided that the best way to approach this would be to actually have 2 aliens. While together, they are happy (giggly) and while they are apart, they are sad (crying). So, I guess I have moved from the idea of homesick, to more of a lonely aliens who just want to be together.