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For this project, I created an interactive robotic butterfly, designed to respond to the user's proximity. Standing far away from the piece you see the twinkling LEDs illuminating paper flowers, which draws you in, as you get closer the butterfly starts to flap its wings and the LED flickers start to slow down so you can focus on the butterfly. The mix of paper and hardware make this piece ideal for an art installation; the butterfly, overall arts and craft feel of the project, and simple interaction makes it perfect for children. During the ideation phase, I envisioned something grand that would take up an entire room and draw the user in. As the project progressed, I leaned into paper, which gave it a storybook vibe, which I felt would resonate most with children.
The fabrication aspect of this project was my main priority, as a result, the interaction is simple. The user notices the twinkling LEDs and walks toward it, as they walk towards it the butterfly starts to move, drawing the user in even more. To achieve this low-cost interaction I used an ultrasonic range sensor and a simple if statement: if the user is in range activate the servo motors. Although this is not the most complex project, it was fun to build and worth the time.