My work to increase reliability of the robots in Fast Forward continues. We're still having motor temperature problems, falls, and occasional other crashes, so I'm investing some more in a simplified program. It's safe to say that, even though I'm a volunteer, this is my dream job.
I've been a big fan of the "show side" of Imagineering for as long as I can remember. You get to create personality and character in an otherwise robotic animatronic using just your own programming and choreography. You can captivate a guest's attention and create a spark of life, bridging the gap between what's real and what's make believe in a magical suspension of disbelief.
Obviously, with a Nao robot, I only have limited resources to achieve this, but, as the uncanny valley suggests, too much realism can be a burden, and I believe that personality can go a long way towards creating the magic. Obviously Nao is a robot, but hopefully I can make him seem like a robot that's really talking to you, sharing his excitement and telling some dad jokes.
Considering that this exhibit is a short, recurring show I also wanted to have a little bit of replay value, so even though the main script is always the same, I made sure that the examples in the middle and the action at the end vary randomly each time. Hopefully for the kids who just want to sit and watch robots all day, this little investment helps them enjoy it even more.
No comments:
Post a Comment