Animatronics course encourages innovation and collaboration
This fall, an innovative pilot animatronics course sparked the imagination of students as visual arts and robotics collided.
Newman Library served as the creative hub for this class, leveraging the tools available through the Studios Network at University Libraries.
“Since their inception, libraries have been places to convey knowledge,” said Prototyping Studio Manager Max Ofsa. “We are able to help someone of any skill level and support a wide range of classes and ideas. We’re willing to adapt our services and get in new equipment that is necessary for collaboration.”
Led by Thomas Tucker, associate professor for the School of Visual Arts in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, the course delved into animatronics principles, creating lifelike robotic pieces capable of realistic movements and expressions. Students learned to design and build animated objects such as realistic forearms and hands and robotic ravens. From crafting intricate features to coding and programming nuanced movements, the class covered the entire spectrum of animatronics creation.
“My favorite thing about the class was that we were able to work in a group setting at all times. For each project, there was always someone else to consult with, and that helped us to all be more creative and productive,” said Malasia Cherry, a senior studying creative technologies and art history.
The animatronics course, offered to any student regardless of major, provided a valuable experience for students, fostering a wide range of skills and interactions.
“This class prepares students for the future by emphasizing collaborative and transdisciplinary teamwork. Working in small teams exposes students to the dynamics and challenges of collaboration, helping them develop skills necessary for productive engagement in structured environments,” Tucker said.
The resources available through the Studios Network proved to be a game-changer for the course. University Libraries’ commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and providing access to tools and technology created a superb environment for the class.
“I think Newman Library is the most ideal location for this class. The fact that the library has all of these resources available to us and the fact that we can have class in that same space is super ideal and helpful to the students and faculty,” said Sophia Nadasy, a senior studying creative technologies.
The course heavily utilized the Prototyping Studio throughout the semester. Packed full of 3D printers, power tools, nuts, bolts, and other maker tools and technology, the studio offered an accessible space for the students to learn and gain new skills.
“If it wasn’t for the Prototyping Studio here, this class would have probably never taken place,” Tucker said.
Helping to create avenues to new curriculum has always been a part of the Prototyping Studios’ mission. As a maker space equipped with tools to create full-scale prototypes, along with a knowledgeable staff ready to lend a helping hand from the conceptualization of a design to the refined making stage, the Prototyping Studio is built to support a wide range of needs.
“We’re happy to take the time to find a way to support you, even if it’s just a small way, but especially if it’s a big way,” Ofsa said.
In the future, Tucker plans on implementing a broader range of animatronics projects and emphasizing quicker assembly and animation. An advanced animatronics class tailored for students who have completed the initial course is also in the works.
