Background
Chiam is an animatronic puppet created to challenge preconceived notions of traditional puppetry.In puppetry theatre, the puppeteer controls the puppet. However, if a puppet has a “life” on its own, how would a puppeteer react to that? Is the puppeteer controlling the puppet, or the puppet controlling the puppeteer? How does this infinite feedback loop translate into performance? Project created under The Maker’s Lab 2020, inaugural research-driven programme by The Finger Players. |
Scope Puppet-Making Research Role |
Eye & Chest Mechanisms
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- Eyes
Directional output controlled by servo motors, input of eyes triggered by joystick and processed through Arduino Nano. Results in up-down, left-right movements of the puppet’s eyes. - Chest
Directional output controlled by servo motors, servo movement speed triggered by range of values captured by ADXL345 Digital Accelerometer (detects movement of puppeteer) and processed through Arduino Nano. Results in the rise and fall of the chest, simulating the puppet’s breathing.
- Eyes
Introducing Concepts of Active & Passive Manipulation
The use of animatronics introduces concepts of passive and active manipulation. This is inspired by mechanics of breathing in humans. The act of inhalation is an active process as it involves muscles to expand the ribcage and take in air. Exhalation is a passive process as the muscles relaxation of muscles causes air to leave the lungs. In the case of this research, the passive manipulation is achieved when the unintentional action of the puppeteer indirectly causes the puppets’ mechanisms to move a certain way.
Case Study
