My first approach was a lot of tabletop models of objects that were responsive to touch, motion, and light. However, through conversation and input from students and the professor, I realized that a lot of my ideas were not concepts of “load-bearing structures”. Although I was drawn to one of my ideas of a tactile portal machine that would respond with a grid of dowels that would stick out from another when pushed in from the other, I decided to explore more things that were “structural.” Keeping this notion of responsive grids of dowels, I thought about a floor that would act as stairs when sensed motion on the grid. Finally, with more exploration, I landed on the idea of winding stairs that can simultaneously connect one surface level to another.
Final Drawing | Feb 01
Include answers to the following questions:
How big is it?
What would it be made of?
What device would be used to sense the person’s action?
What would activate the reconfiguration?
What would provide the motive force?
What would you need to learn in order to make a scale model of your idea? (The sensing, activation, and force would be supplied by magic.)
In order to make my drawings to life, I would have to use the laser cutter to build each stair which would need two-quarter cut circle pieces, two longer rectangular pieces, and a larger rectangular piece that is scored to be able to be wrapped around. In my final model, it would probably need some type of hinge to connect these pieces but for the time being, I decided to use tape or paper with adhesive to connect the stairs.
At first, I thought about using cardboard as my material but to have more stability I decided to go with 1/8" plywood. Coming up with the right measurements that would come together into a perfect circular cylinder was hard to do but Yeajoo helped me with CADing the parts in Rhino so everything would come together nicely.
I looked up some of the patterns I could use to make the wrapped piece bend well — and learned that the technique was called Kerf bending.
Prototype Development | Feb 16
Laser cut!
The first attempt to laser cut was a half success. All of the parts turned out fine except for the scored pieces. The first pieces were cut too sparsely preventing them from bending at all. So I had to make adjustments to increase the number of lines within the rectangle until it could bend to my desired curve.
Scale Model | Feb 27
Bring a scale model of your design to class and demonstrate its action. You should be able to demonstrate that your model can move from one stable configuration to another. The sensing and the motive force can both be magic.
I then started putting together all the parts I laser cut. It took me a couple of tries experimenting with different types of adhesives that would work best with small wood pieces and I eventually ended up with hot glue. Although hot glue doesn’t give it the cleanest finish, it was the fastest and strongest way to hold it together.
My next challenge was to figure out how to connect these pieces so they wouldn’t fall apart. I tried simulating it with masking tape but it was too weak on its own. So I used spray adhesive on brown paper on top of the masking tape to make it blend with the wood as well as to hold more weight.
2D CAD Model | March 14–21
Submit a 2D model of your structure and show it in at least two configurations. You should focus on the scale of the components and their relative positions.
Add the load and reactionary forces to your model. In Figure 1b, the known load on the bridge is arrow acting at the center of the bridge. The other forces are reactionary forces which you need to compute. Because so many of your designs are unusual (not a truss in sight), Justin and I will work with each of you to draw the force diagrams for your structure.
Doing this exercise along with seeing my physical model in front of me was very helpful. Breaking down the stress points and direction in which the forces travel helped me understand which parts I’d have to pay more attention to when constructing it and which parts I’d have to place the wire to pull it up successfully.
Seeing my physical model, I was recommended to use 90-degree hinges that would only open and stop at a right angle which would allow the stairs to catch themselves at the right point while holding each other’s weight in place.
Arduino Development | Mar 28
A rough physical proof of concept
What device is being used to sense the person’s action?
What activates the reconfiguration?
What provides the motive force?
What do you need to learn in order to make a full working model?
For the physical computing aspect of the project, I figured that it would make more sense to use a proximity sensor instead of a motion sensor to trigger the action. When a person comes up to the wall the flight of stairs will roll down allowing the person to go up or down the stairs.
I also looked into the mechanism of the Rolling Bridge to have a better understanding of ways it could wind and unwind itself. But it uses a hydraulic pump that drives a master cylinder that is linked to 14 other cylinder pipes, eventually causing a chain reaction that allows it to fold and unfold. As this system was too complex, I decided to start by using a winch mechanism ran by two motors.
As it was my first time using Arduino, there were many trials and errors in making the Arduino part of the project work. Learning C++ language and figuring out which wires would have to go into which pins was confusing but Justin helped me a lot with these steps as well as giving advice on the motor and types of sensors appropriate for my model.
Later, I also learned that I would have to use a servo motor instead of a regular motor for it to stop, hold and unfold back to its original state. Additionally, my code got mixed up and I later found out that it was programmed to fold up when the sensor is triggered and not the other way around — which meant that when a person comes up to the position the stairs will wind up preventing the person from going up.
Talking to the professor about this problem, we decided to take this to our advantage and change the concept to a baby/pet gating stair system that prevents falling or pets from going upstairs.
Final Presentations | April 25
Bring the working model of your design to class and demonstrate its action. Demonstrate that your model can move from one stable configuration to another, initiated by a sensor that activates a motive force.
Reflection
Taking the class on responsive structure has been an insightful journey that has enriched my skills and broadened my perspective in more ways than I imagined. From conceptualizing a project idea to bringing it to life, the experience has been incredibly rewarding. Collaborating with peers from diverse study backgrounds, such as architecture and computer science, opened my eyes to the power of interdisciplinary teamwork. Together, we navigated through the complexities of physical modeling, CAD design, Arduino programming, and fabrication techniques. Through this collaborative effort, I not only improved my technical skills but also learned invaluable lessons in time management and effective communication. More importantly, I discovered the satisfaction that comes from creating something that functions precisely as envisioned. This experience has instilled in me a sense of confidence in my ability to materialize my ideas and navigate the complex landscape of interdisciplinary collaboration.
