Idea Proposals: 

1. Interactive Ceiling Robot

Wireless => Portability. To showcase the substantial reach of wireless control, a robot with a camera on a high ceiling, interacts with persons beneath it. The robot move around in the high shadows, feeding video of the ground below in various directions. When no person is underneath to robot releases a small ball of yarn/ candy bar on string just above ground level, enticing those beneath to it. As soon as movement is detect/ person goes for the bait, the robot reels the bait back in out of reach. The video feed capture the person dismay and distraught. Repeats process.

The ceil is a new frontier, ofter unexpected and unnoticed. A robot, supposedly a machine subservient to human, now turns the tables and mocks them from its noble high perch. From above it claim a birds-eye view, supposedly monitoring like big brother or looking down upon those beneath. A reverse of power structure.

Possible robustness factor will be a versatile clamping mechanism that easy hook on to various pipe or structural supports along the ceiling. Possible internal cushioning in case of falls. Wireless controlled camera with easy to use user interface.

2. “Re-Enter”

We will place the wireless video system near an entrance and record people walking into a building. Inside the building a delayed playback of that video will be projected elsewhere in the building, near the entrance. Some visitors, who happen to travel past the playback location, will possibly see a video of themselves entering the building in the past. The project is a mobile version of Dan Graham’s “Time Delay Room“. Users will be able to affect the playback time and angle of the camera.

The project aims to confuse visitors just enough to stop their quick routine.  By introducing the possibility of seeing a moving image of themselves, visitors are forced to contemplate their current and near-past action. This team, built of mechanical and electrical engineers, artists and A/V experts, is well equipped to take on the challenges presented by this project, including confronting their fast-paced schedules.

A main challenge of this proposal will be to build a wireless video transmitter that can handle outdoor weather and be secured against theft. See drawings below for proposed changes. To deal with weather, the team will build a temporary vestibule to sheild it from rain and wind. To prevent theft, the team will include anchor points on the wireless box that can be used to lock it to a permanent structure nearby.

3. yelling robot

we will fix this portable camera on a vehicle with four wheels and place two sensors to capture the applause sound from the opposite direction. Initially, the people will be divided into two groups and the vehicle will be put in the middle initially; then this little vehicle will move toward to the group has larger applause sound and keep to capture the faces of winning group at the same time.

this project aims to simulate the competing between two groups. It’s like a wireless edition of pull-push game. Since the projector will display the winning group, the other group may try their best to get the focus of projection image so that they will make better interactions to make larger sound.

The main challenge may be that how to capture the winning group’s faces and adjust the angle of camera since it approaches the winning group back and forth.

Block Diagram of System

Diagram of improved, more robust, weatherproof box:

participants: Job Bedford, Chris Williams, Ziyun Peng, Ding Xu, Jake Marsico