Paperbots
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
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Project Description
PaperBot is a small device built with LEGO Mindstorms which reacts to motion or presence by moving paper foldings. It combines digital and physical computation, i.e., low tech kinetic properties of materials - the memory of folded paper - with mechanical actuators as found in LEGO Mindstorms and its coding possibilities.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Other Funds
portuguese science and technology foundation (2010)
Description of the project
Summary
Paperbot is an interactive device that reacts to motion or presence by moving paper foldings. It combines digital and physical computation, i.e., low-tech kinetic properties of materials, folded paper fibre memory, with mechanical actuators like found in LEGO midstorms. Paperbots are designed as D.I.Y. objects that can be easily built without requiring any previous knowledge in coding, mechanics or arts.
Paperbots are artbots that present an easy construction model and reproduction, tackling an alternative to mainstream perception of robotics. These qualities are being ephemeral, playful and fragile. Thus, this project discusses significance of art in the context of robotics. In particular, framing processes of making and inclusiveness, also by positioning Paperbots as art objects in digital media exhibitions.
As such, these alternative views on robotics were tested and performed with different audiences and cross-culturally. Specifically, Paperbots workshops were directed to children and adults as participants. Thus, generative processes were tested, as well as co-design set-ups, at FILE2013 (Brasil), S.Paulo, Austin’s Travis Heights elementary school (USA), and PLUNC (Lisbon).
Key objectives for sustainability
Paperbot presentes a system that allows to preview what obsolescence and limitations can mean under a sustainable robotic design. The ephemeral qualities on the device, allows to convey concepts of circular economy, by presenting a model of contruction and destruction.
Paperbots convey a concept, and gets surprising results from playful educational practices. It became evident that the robotic objects, as any other, have to comply to creation, and destruction cycles. And the animistic effect, this is, the attachment to objects by the creator similiar to a living thing, is also provoqued by Paperbot assemblage. A system of death and life of the object emerge vividly.
Therefore, Paperbots project intruduces a discussion on sustainability in a intuitive and informal manner.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Paperbots workshops are generative design projects. They propose to look into poetics and robotic art potential, by conveying and open-ended approach to computing and materials.
The process of folding beyond their aesthetical and mechanical properties, allowed to take note of the kinetic potential of the paper fiber. This last feature was made obvious through a hands-on approach, where the resistance of paper, suggested the use of the material itself as a lever force. Origami precedent work inspired structural studies. LEGO mindstorms allowed linking the digital and the physical.
In fact, the actuators are designed with LEGO pieces and motors. The mechanical structure is adapted on paper shapes. The code that activates the motors is composed according to the limits of the paper structures and the attached LEGO mechanics. Therefore, Paperbot is built around the material specific properties and constrains. As paper can easily tear, a balance is achieved by combining the malleable instrument and the fiber resistance.
One of the observable results from this interplay is that each Paperbot becomes unique, site-specific, and personal. Therefore, self-expression is possible by the combination paper, Lego, and software exploratory potential.
In sum, this set-up, gives evidence to the typical role that paper has as a prototyping tool, and expression. Furthermore introduces Lego Mindstorms coding and mechanical accessibility as a prototyping tool for interaction design. In this case, useful to explore dynamics on the combination of different media and software.
Key objectives for inclusion
Paperbots are artbots that present an easy construction model and reproduction, tackling an alternative to mainstream perception of robotics. These qualities are being ephemeral, playful and fragile. Thus, this project discusses significance of art in the context of robotics. In particular, framing processes of making and inclusiveness, and by positioning Paperbots as art objects in digital media exhibitions.
As such, these alternative views on robotics were tested and performed with different audiences and cross-culturally. Specifically, Paperbots workshops were directed to children and adults as participants. Thus, generative processes were tested, as well as co-design set-ups, at FILE2013 (Brasil), S.Paulo, Austin’s Travis Heights elementary school (USA), and PLUNC (Lisbon).
Assembling and disassembling Paperbots implied to get closse to robotics simple features (input, process, output). Therefore to achieve insight concerning participatory creative practices in the realm o Human-Robot Interaction.
Results in relation to category
Robots are particular objects. Simply put, they combine computation with sensors and actuators. Movement has qualities that address the senses having intrinsic aesthetical and symbolic value. Understandably discussion on kinetics range from sports, cybernetics, engineering, or cinema. Contributions given to robotics can, under this light, be expected to be of interdisciplinary nature.
Paperbots discusses interdisciplinary work, for instance, on the role of art in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics) education. Therefore, this project aims to to include the faulty contribution from the humanities and arts, preparing the future generations within STE(Art)M.
As a prototype tool for designers, the combination of software and Lego (sensors, actuators, and mechanical pieces) offer an intuitive and accessible method for prototyping with physical materials in the context of interaction design.
How Citizens benefit
Paperbots workshops propose to co-create. Thus both participants and the facilitator are part of a learning experience. To have participants as collaborators, a particular non-expert mind-set is necessary.
A generative design process was applied having as main objective to co-design new paperbots. The designer role was to facilitate, teach a sequence, stimulate creative pratices, and generate new approaches to paperbots design. Thus, Paperbots workshop are presented as open source set-ups combining notions of science and art. In the case, coding, and origami folding. The general questions that these workshop were addressing were: What new kinds of Paperbots could be generated from people’s input? Would Paperbots workshop be cross-age?
Paperbots collaborative sessions were presented at FILE S. Paulo 2013 Workshop Series and in Austin School, Plunc (Lisbon) resulting in new Paperbots. Results are described using a participatory observation method.
The workshop was first presented in Brasil at International Digital Media Festival, FILE, in a 2 day session of 4 hours. The overall idea was to convey an alternative view, to the majority aspects of techno scientific perspective that robotics tends to put forward. Participants co-created two new paperbots (watch attached video).
Paperbots workshop was selected to be part of Travis Heights elementary school, young artist workshop in Austin, USA. The 2 workshop set up was about 50 minutes each. The audience, up to with 5 children, 6-8 years old, each from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
Plunc is the international festival of digital art and New Media (2015) that merge art and technology, in Lisbon.
The workshop was divided in two sessions, at FAB LAB Lisbon. During two days, work was directed to the exhibition set-up. In this context, Paperbots are presented as an ephemeral art instalation, projected specfically for Plunc.
Innovative character
The mix of tradition with innovation was given with combination of two materials that are typically from different backgrounds. Therefore, Paperbots are a successful hybrid, of high, low tech combination.
Paperbot present alternatives and comments on robotics sourcing from the arts. In fact, the concept of Artbot puts forward a discourse on robotics, that question the “mainstream discourse of robotic technology e.g. robustness, intelligence in software, autonomy, anthropomorphism, and the mechanical aesthetics related to mass production”. (Jacobsson e all, 2012, p. 2020)
