| | The Red Animated Anemone is approximately 1:2 scale animatronic model, anatomically based on the Strawberry anemone (Actinia fragacea), common to the British shores. It is 27 cm high, 20 cm in diameter, with the Nuno Felt exterior, felted tentacles, Lego Technic parts and actuators, Arduino Nano, and varied other electronic components. The mechanism and software employ Open CV face tracking library that works in conjunction with Processing, Arduino, small webcam and two servo motors, to turn the head of the anemone and follow the observer. To mimic the closing motion of the anemone, a simple linear actuator driven buy DC motor and H-drive, pulls the umbrella-like closing mechanism down when the hidden sensor is activated. Here is a video of the animated anemone in action. |
Inspired by the beauty and faithfulness of the scientific models created in late 1800ds by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, I was interested in attempting to make a scientifically accurate animated specimen that could interact with viewers and/ or its environment. And anemone with its slow tentalising movements, luxurious textures, akin to nuno-felt, and beautiful colors was perfectly suitable for this.
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