This machine started as an experiment for me to see how accurately machines can translate human movement, specifically the nuances of handwriting. Inspired by asemic writing, a type of writing that mimics real language, I wanted to see if robots can have their own type of language guided by human writing.

The goal of the machine is for a person to write with the pen and for the robot to translate the movement of the pen onto the board. There is an accelerometer strapped to the pen that the person is holding and it maps where the pen is in XYZ space. With the accelerometer data then transferred to the servo motors holding the pen, the pen of the machine starts writing what it thinks the human is writing on paper.

Here, I am writing my signature again and again, but the robot only sees it as a couple of lines. This represents the lack of personality and variations that happen when things are translated by technology or robots.

Role: (Solo Project) Art, Programming

Tool: Arduino, Laser Cutting, Fabrication, Robotics