Clock that physically writes the time created by a Japanese art student

This amazing creation was all over the internet a few weeks ago. I neglected to post about it. I feel that I should do so in case you missed it and because it is possibly the most incredible mechanical device that I have seen anyone make in recent history.

The project, called Plock, was created by art student Suzuki Kango as his senior thesis project. It contains more than 400 wooden parts that control four arms which write out the time on a magnetic drawing pad every minute. The board pushes forward when the time is written, then drops back again. This is a clever way to control the Z-axis. The arms need only be capable of moving in the X and Y axes.

The four large weights suggest that it is weight-driven. There appears to be a balance wheel in the bottom portion, so perhaps that is how it actually tells time. It doesn't seem to be moving at all times however, so this is not clear to me.

The whole thing is made of wood, too! Just astonishing.

There are more images of the writing clock on this web site (text in Japanese).

[ Thanks to Charles and all who suggested I post about this! ]

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Self-portrait drawing machine by Aaron Kramer

Check out artist Aaron Kramer's drawing machine. Using two large cams, a parallel linkage, and a great to deal of experimentation this machine is able to draw the artist's face with a single line over the course of about 15 seconds. It is still a self-portrait if a machine draws the picture? I think so...

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A gear-driven wooden machine creates intricate swirl drawings

Do any of you out there remember the Spirograph drawing toy? The "Cycloid Drawing Machine" shown in the video is like its cooler big brother. Various wooden gear and linkage combinations are used to produce a huge array of different drawings.

The drawings are also kind of a neat way to study the output motion resulting from different gear and linkage combinations. I love that it is hand-cranked. The machine is all wood and looks to be very well made.

The Cycloid Drawing Machine is currently a Kickstarter project seeking funding. There are two funding reward levels, both of which get the backer one of these nifty machines. Here is the Kickstarter page for Cycloid Drawing Machine.

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Scriblo - a hand-cranked handwriting automaton kit

Check out the latest creation for Shasa Bolton: a handwriting automaton called "Sciblo". Scriblo is designed to sketch simple words and pictures when you turn the handle.

Scriblo is sold as a flat-pack kit. The pieces slot together without glue. The piece can be mounted on a wall or sit on a table. The kit comes with the cams to spell "yes".

Here is where you can learn more about Scriblo, the handwriting automaton.

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Disney's interactive design system for rapidly creating physical characters and their motions

Check out this amazing software designed by Disney which enables character shapes and their desired motions to be generated very quickly.

From the video description:

We propose an interactive design system for rapid crafting of planar mechanical characters. Our method combines the simplicity of sketch-based modeling with the ease of defining motion through extreme poses. In order to translate these digital designs into fabrication-ready descriptions, our method automatically computes the mechanical structure that makes the characters move as desired. We achieve real-time performance by limiting the mechanical structure between pairs of components to simple building blocks that define, trim, and propagate their motion. By focusing on shape and motion, our system emphasizes the creative aspects of character design while hiding away the intricacies of the underlying mechanical structure. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach on a set of virtual designs and physical prototypes.

By paring things down to just a character's outline and motion, the program is able to quickly generate 2D prototypes that focus on the underlying mechanical structure. The third dimension (depth) and aesthetic considerations can come later and benefit from a different set of tools. I like what they've done here. Linkages can produce some astonishing output motions from some simple inputs. Figuring out these linkages is far from intuitive however.

Here is where you can learn more about ChaCra: An Interactive Design System for Rapid Character Crafting.

[ Thanks Seth! ]

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The Wonderful mechanical world of Rowland Emett

A good friend to The Automata Blog, Richard Partington, wrote to inform us that there is a great exhibition of the legendary Rowland Emett's work at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Emett (1906 – 1990) was an English cartoonist and creator of whimsical kinetic sculpture. The current exhibition of his work is the biggest there has ever been in the UK. That's not something to miss! The video above is from a different exhibition held at the Ontario Science Centre back in 2012.

What:
Marvellous Machines: The Wonderful World of Rowland Emett

Where:
The Birmingham Museum

When:
May 10th, 2014 to September 21st, 2014

[ Thanks Richard! ]

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Two great antique automata collections in the United States

Here is a video on automata by CNN. In it you will meet Charles Penniman and the famous Maillardet automaton housed at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Mr. Penniman has been looking after this precious automaton for over 40 years. I had the pleasure of meeting both back in 2009, and am fond of both the man and the machine. I even got to wind the machine -- not something that every visitor gets to do. Here's a blog post about my visit to see the Maillardet automaton in 2009.

You will also get to meet Jeremy Ryder of the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey where he looks after the Murtogh D. Guinness collection of automata. If you have a chance, this collection is worth a visit. Ryder's expertise is a rare thing.

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Wood harmonograph drawing machine uses gravity to create amazing patterned drawings

Joe Freedman at LEAFpdx has done it again. Check out his gravity-powered drawing machine! Dubbed the 'GatorGraph Drawing Machine', it uses laser and CNC cut wood parts and a couple of recycled 1 liter bottles to do its thing.

From the project description:

The power for the GatorGraph is provided by four 1-liter plastic bottles (not included) on a swinging pendulum. As they move back and forth the Gators produce what are called Lissajous curves. Where a Spirograph is bounded by a circle, the Lissajous curves are bounded by a rectangle. Changing the length of the pendulum alters the type of curve. The shape of the curve can be modified by using different hole positions on the rods.

Once assembled and set in motion, it is mesmerizing to watch. Better still, it creates amazing drawings! They expect to produce the first run in time for Christmas. Can you think of a better gift? I can't. Joe's products are always made with the best materials, fine craftsmanship, and incredible attention to detail.

Here is where you can support the project and get your own GatorGraph Drawing Machine.

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Video profile of automaton sculptor Jacques Monestier

Check out this wonderful film which profiles automaton sculptor Jacques Monestier. I'm sorry I can't say more about it; my French just isn't that good. Trust me, you will enjoy the film! His demonstration with the mechanical hand is truly amazing.

[ Thanks Thomas! ]

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Joseph Walker mechanical toy features drawing artist

I've posted several times in the past about Vielmetter's drawing clown tin toy. Shown here is a toy very much like that one.

From the YouTube description;

The Drawing Artist made by Joseph Walker of Birmingham is a very rare painted and copper plated toy. Operated by winding the handle in the base, a double cam allows the seated figure to draw a portrait of a number of 19th century personalities -- in this case the cams that accompany the toy are of Gladstone and Lord Salisbury.

David Hall wrote in to provide some interesting information about the history of both toys. As it turns out, the toy shown here pre-dates the Vielmetter clown artist. It was made by Joseph Walker of Birmingham, England around 1880. It is thought that at some point in the late 19th century Vielmetter purchased the rights to the mechanism. Some evidence lies in the design of the toys themselves. Different cams can be loaded into the machines. The profile of the cam determines the picture that is drawn. The Walker drawing toy cams are interchangeable with the Vielmetter.

[ Thanks David! ]

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Profile of the Jaquet-Droz: master watch, clock, and automata makers

If you missed this video the other day over at the excellent Spiel und Kunst mit Mechanik blog, it is a must see. The film documents some of the achievements of the famous Jaquet-Droz family of watchmakers.

The list of accomplishments outlined in this 13 minute film is astounding. Among other things, the Jaquet-Droz are credited with:

• The first sing bird autoamta
• The first singing bird watch
• The self-winding watch
• The Writer automaton
• The Draftsman automaton
• The Musician automaton
• The pump winding system for watches

This is only a partial list to which we must add numerous advances in watchmaking technology, and supreme artistry in the aesthetic elements of watches and clocks. Finally, though the film does not mention it, Henri Maillardet, creator of the drawing automaton that was the inspiration for the one in the film Hugo, spent time as a young man working in Pierre Jaquet-Droz's workshop. Maillardet doubtless learned much of what he needed to know to build his own drawing automaton from the Jaquet-Droz.

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Mysterious Franklin Institute automaton identified itself in writing!

The Huffington Post published an article online yesterday about the automaton in the Martin Scorsese film Hugo and its connection to a real automaton now housed at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The article covers the fascinating journey of this remarkable machine, created around 1800 my the Swiss watchmaker, Henri Maillardet. The story of the real automaton parallels that of the one in author Brian Selznick's book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, to a remarkable degree -- right down to the automaton identifying its lost lineage by writing a message. This really happened!

Here is a link to the full article from The Huffington Post titled Franklin Institute Automaton Has Link To 'Hugo'.

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SketRobo drawing automaton can see & draw you!

Magician Brad Henderson from Austin Texas recently spotted this soon-to-be released toy automaton. The SketRobo is a small robot capable of drawing with pen and paper. OK...so we've seen automata that have been doing this for hundreds of years. What makes the SketRobo different is that it can change what it draws based on what it can see at any given moment.

One model draws images stored in memory. Another model has an on-board camera and facial recognition technology allowing it to draw portraits on the spot. Now that is a new twist on this old theme! The SketRobo should be available in the fall of 2012 -- retailing for around $60 for the no-camera version and about $100 for the one with the camera. It's being marketed as a way to teach kids how to draw, but I think we will see it put to many creative uses.

It is a remarkable coincidence that a drawing automaton product should follow so closely behind the release of the film Hugo, which featured just such a machine. It seems we are as fascinated today by the idea of a drawing machine as they were 200 years ago when audiences first saw Maillardet's drawing automaton. I wonder what he would have thought about the facial recognition technology?

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Creating the drawing automata for the movie Hugo

Dick George Creatives provide creative manufacturing solutions for the film, television and the entertainment Industry. They were recently tasked with creating the automaton for Martin Scorsese film Hugo. They were not to build a mere prop; the automaton had to be able actually draw the famous man-in-the-moon image from early film by Georges Méliès. They ended up making a total of 15 automata, two of which could draw the image in real time without the use of CGI. They succeed in the task, using a very different solution than Maillardet's drawing automaton -- the automaton that inspired author Brian Selznick.

See more models, prototypes, film and television sets at the Dick George Creatives web site.

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Prop maker Dick George made automaton for Hugo

Here is a nice article on the man behind the machine in the recently released movie, Hugo. The film features a drawing automaton and this article goes into some detail about George's inspirations for the figures that were used in the film.

From the Los Angeles Times article:

An automaton is a mechanical human being or animal that historically worked via clockwork mechanisms because it predated electricity and the electric motor. They were used by wealthy people as entertainment pieces that were brought out at functions, parties and gatherings. Ours had to appear to be gears that meshed together and clockwork drives driven by springs, although in actual fact there were 28 separate drive mechanisms and servo systems within the body just to perform all the functions.

He goes on to explain how they got the automaton to actually draw!

Here's a link to the article on the prop maker who created the automaton for the movie Hugo.

[ Thanks Aaron! ]

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Students seek info on writing/drawing automata

Reader David Meyers is working with a group of middleschoolers in a design class. The students have become fascinated by the writing/drawing automata like the tin clown artist, Arthur Ganson's Faster! and Maillardet's Automaton. The video shown here features a prototype machine by Yoav Kleiner, which draws a nude figure. Given what I happen to know of the upcoming movie, Hugo, I would say these students are several months ahead of the what is about to become a very popular topic!

David and his students are looking for any instructions, guides, templates to aid in creating their own. If you know of any books, web sites, people, or kits please let me know via the contact form, or leave a comment at the end of this post.

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Faster! - writing/racing machine by Arthur Ganson

Here is another brilliant piece by kinetic artist Arthur Ganson. This machine was built for the World Sculpture Racing Society in Boston.

According to Arthur Ganson:

The cast hand is my own and the pen, controlled by three cams (x, y and z axis), moves in three dimensions and writes the word "faster!" on an index card while being pushed down the street. The faster the cart is pushed, the faster it writes. Warning, an out of control feedback loop between creator and creation can result in dangerously fast speeds and certain death.

See more kinetic art by Arthur Ganson on his web site.

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The Turk, writing automaton by Paul Spooner

Paul Spooner tips his hat to automata of the past and adds his unique wit to this new piece. Having just finished reading a book on The Turk: The Life and Times of the Famous Eighteenth-Century Chess-Playing Machine, I am delighted to see this one. This version of the Turk has taken on challenges beyond chess including the Rubik's Cube and Sudoku. I'd have to rank this among my favorites now. Just brilliant.

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Animation shows the geometry of a Geneva Wheel

If you are curious about the geometry of a Geneva Wheel -- or simply want to know what a Geneva Wheel is, check out this animation created in Autodesk Inventor 2012 Professional by New Gottland.

See more sculpture by New Gottland on his YouTube channel.

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PrimoGraf - lovely hand-cranked drawing machine

The PrimoGraf is a hand-cranked machine which uses wooden gears with prime numbers of teeth to produce a nearly infinite array of intricate drawings. The various patterns are achieved by connecting the linkages via different holes. Check out the video to see what I mean. It's mesmerizing!

The PrimoGraf is a well-designed set made of walnut, basswood, and solid brass. It comes with 7 gears, 2 sets of rods, 2 pen-holders, and all the hardware required.

You can order the PrimoGraf from LEAFpdx.

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