In the realm of engineering, where precision and logic reign supreme, two University of Texas at San Antonio seniors, Geoffrey Toombs and James Schopfer, embarked on a hilarious endeavor that brought life to the face of their school’s president.
Engineering Meets Humor: The Genesis of an Animatronic Masterpiece
Inspired by the magic of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics, Toombs and Schopfer set out to create an animatronic face that would bring a smile to the faces of their peers and faculty. Armed with a plastic mask, an Erector set, an iRobota Mega with an MP3 shield, and computer speakers, they embarked on a journey of creativity and engineering ingenuity.
The Talking Face: A Symphony of Motion and Sound
The animatronic face, a marvel of engineering and humor, consisted of eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a formidable mustache, all driven by a set of servos. The pièce de résistance, however, was the mouth, synchronized to an audio clip taken from a YouTube video and manipulated using various software.
The audio, a hilarious recording of the school’s president, was converted to an MP3 file and saved to a microSD card, which was then inserted into the MP3 shield attached to the iRobota Mega. As the audio played, the mouth moved in perfect sync, creating the illusion of a talking face.
Adding a Touch of Humor: Eye Rolls and Nose Wiggles
To add a touch of humor to their creation, Toombs and Schopfer programmed the animatronic face to roll its eyes and wiggle its nose after the mouth movement. This seemingly random and quirky behavior added an extra layer of entertainment, making the face even more amusing.
Versatility and Potential Applications: Beyond the Classroom
The Makers noted that any face or picture could be used, opening up possibilities for various applications. From creating personalized greeting cards to developing interactive displays, the animatronic face’s potential is limited only by the imagination.
Future Upgrades: Envisioning a More Sophisticated Creation
The duo envisions future upgrades that would take their animatronic face to the next level. These include a smaller speaker hidden inside the head, a webcam built into an eye, steppers for more precise movement, IR sensors, more motors for tracking and blinking eyelids, and potentially Skype integration.
Bonus: The creation of the animatronic face not only showcased the engineering prowess of Toombs and Schopfer but also highlighted the importance of humor and creativity in engineering. As technology continues to advance, the fusion of engineering and humor holds the potential to transform the way we interact with technology and each other.
In conclusion, the animatronic face created by Toombs and Schopfer is a testament to the power of engineering and humor to bring joy and laughter to the world. As they continue to refine and upgrade their creation, we can look forward to even more hilarious and innovative applications of animatronics in the future.
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