Embedded Arduino Paper Automata Journal

1-What did you find surprising difficult in the Embedded Arduino Paper Automata project?

The most difficult part of this project was to construct the actual Automata. The pieces were really tiny and I had to be very meticulous in order to do it right. In order to succeed the task I divided the process into four separate phases: Cutting, folding, gluing and assembling. 

I also had trouble embedding the servo into the model in order for the rotation to happen. I broke the rotation handle the first time I did it  because it was set up to 180 degrees. 

The last thing that I found difficult is to embedded all the items into one single entity. I had trouble making the model stable without a base so I tried different approaches to make it work. I tried gluing, using tape and even creating a die cut to keep the model stable. 

2-What did you find surprisingly easy?

I found the code pretty straight forward. Playing around with the values of the distance made the process easier. 

The initial code we did in class, the one that uses Serial print to control the rotation angle was very helpful because I calibrated the servo in order to have more control and be aware of the speed and the rotation angle. 

3- Did you get inspired with any derivative work from doing this project

When I broke the rotation handle while doing this exercise, I went back and read the book Karakuri and was inspired by their method to create the rotation. 

I found the Japanese approach easier and straightforward.

I also looked into japanese device art.