Introduction to Physical Computing
Week 4, Lab- Servo

Here is the ITP intro physcomp link for the lab.

Connecting the servo to the arduino and getting it to spin was no
problem. All I needed to do was solder a header to connect the servo
motor cable to the breadboard. Thanks Tom for the reference code! My
motor had a smaller range, closer to 1000 - 2200.



For the analog output, I decided to combine the lab with my Spatial
Design project (please see the link for prototype details).
I designed and built a simple mobile to emulate the motion of a person
bowing. Being a mobile, one would think the object flows smoothly and
elegantly with a light breeze. This mobile is static, normally
restrained in position (and perhaps should be called a sculpture and not
a mobile as such).

I decided to take the idea of a mobile and invert it; rather than wind
blowing and moving the mobile, active interaction would be the trigger.
Only when one blows on the mobile is it actually released. Bowing
itself represents social restraint, only after expected protocol between
parties is fulfilled does communication flow freely - if even then.

I used a flex sensor to control the movement of the servo. I attached a
circular dongle to the top of the flex sensor, the idea being when one
blowed on its surface the motor would move, moving the mobile. It sort
of worked, although you had to blow really hard to make the motor move.
Attaching the flex sensor was also difficult. In the end, I think I
should have used another sensor.





Here is the my code.

-- Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17-54 -0400

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Reeder
All rights reserved unless otherwise noted