Colin Harry, Mechatronic Designer

Client: Lois Andison (Artist)

Project: the breakup, 2019

Description:

the breakup is a minimalist sculpture consisting of two adjacent squares composed of seven 12-inch-long aluminum arms. Each arm is connected at one end by a shaft to an internal mechanism that rotates it 90 degrees. A micro-controller sequentially opens and closes each arm beginning with the one on the top right. The cycle repeats continuously and is not sensor activated.

Each mechanism contains a slip clutch to prevent damage to the motor in the event a viewer attempts to restrict the motion of one of the arms. Two photo detectors are used to ensure each arm stops in the zero- and ninety-degree positions.

Concept: Lois Andison

Mechanical design and assembly: Colin Harry

Electrical design and assembly: Colin Harry

Machining and parts fabrication: Paul Cahill

Micro-controller programming: Erica Tiberia

For more information on Lois Andison

http://loisandison.com/

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Client: Lois Andison ( Artist)

Project: tree of life 2019

Description:

tree of life is an interactive sculpture commissioned by the BMO Financial Group consisting of five translucent white rectangular acrylic boxes. A single word beginning, becoming, believing, belonging and bequeathing is engraved in the top of each box. Each of these words is deconstructed into smaller words and engraved in a column beneath the initial text. For example the sequence of words for bequeathing would start with bequeath, beeting, beet and end with I. When activated by the presence of a viewer an internal light source illuminates the first word in each column. After a delay of a few seconds, the five synchronized bands of light move down to illuminate the word directly below. The lights continue descending until they have reached the last word in the respective columns. After the last word in the longest column has been illuminated the lights turn off and return to the start positions.

The internal illumination is generated by a strip of LED’s that create a horizontal band of light on the front and sides of each box. The LED’s move vertically on a motorized linear rail controlled by a dedicated programmable logic controller (PLC). A master PLC is responsible for detecting the viewers presence via a sensor and initiating the sequence on all five boxes.

Concept: Lois Andison

Mechanical design and assembly: Colin Harry

Machining: Paul Cahill

Electrical design, assembly and programming: Automation FX

Acrylic Fabrication: Mark Little John Inc.

For additional information about Tree of Life : http://www.tree-of-life.ca/home.html

Media Coverage: https://bordercrossingsmag.com/article/cycling-the-life-of-language

https://canadianart.ca/reviews/lois-andison-2/

For additional information about Lois Andison: http://loisandison.com/

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Client: Lois Andison (Artist)

Project: nudging marcel, 2014

Description:

nudging marcel is and interactive art installation composed of a pair of bicycle wheels and forks mounted upside down on stools. The stools sit next to one another on a raised wooden platform. A sensor situated in the base of the platform detects a viewer standing in front it. A custom built controller is programmed to start one of the wheels spinning in response to the sensor input. After a few seconds the spinning wheel will lean over and gently nudge the adjacent wheel, setting it in motion. The first wheel returns to its start position and both wheels are allowed to coast to a stop before the sequence can be initiated again. The motion sequences are driven by three motors located under the stool seat: one for engaging and dis-engaging the spinning mechanism; one for spinning the wheel and one for tilting. A small rubber roller situated between the forks is used to initiate the spinning motion. This roller is driven by a series of small gears that are connected to the wheel spinning motor via a shaft running down the center of the fork. A slip clutch was used in the tilting mechanism to prevent its motor from being damaged when one wheel came in contact with the other.

Concept: Lois Andison

Mechanical Design and assembly: Colin Harry 

Electrical Design and assembly:     Colin Harry

Programming: Colin Harry        

Machining; Auged Engineering Machine Shop, Bruno Machine Shop

http://www.auged.com/

For additional information about Lois Andison.

http://loisandison.com/

 https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Project: Socially Assistive Robot, 2013

Description: 

The socially assistive robot was designed and built as an integral part of a research study by the Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab (IATSL). The study examined the effectiveness of using robots to help older adults with cognitive impairments in their daily activities. Since the aim of the study was to examine how receptive the participants would be to taking direction from a robot a vacuformed shell was designed to make the robot more visually appealing to them. The robot was not autonomous, but tele operated by a researcher. It would follow an individual around a simulated home environment and provide prompts for preforming common house hold tasks such as hand washing or making tea.  

Mechanical design: Colin Harry

Electrical Design :   Colin Harry

Shell Design:           Colin Harry

Shell Fabrication: Custom Prototypes  http://customprototypes.ca/

Video of robot interacting with study participant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n59j0KGbxnM&feature=youtu.be

For additional information regarding TRI and the IATSL lab:

https://www.iatsl.org/projects/personal_robotics.html

 https://www.kite-uhn.com/team/airr

Project: Robotic Joints, 2006

Description:

Robotic Joints was an exhibit at the Ontario Science Center (OSC) that allowed visitors to construct and program simple robots out of card board sheets, tubes and specially adapted mechanical joints. It was conceived as way to provide an entry point into robotics for OSC visitors. Cardboard was seen as an ideal construction material because it required no additional tools other than scissors and was intuitive to use. “Programming” was done by plugging a joint into the work table console and rotating one of four control knobs to change its angular position. These motions or joint positions could be recorded and then played back. The activity required no facilitation and participants could build and program something in under five minutes.

Hardware for a guided work shop was developed that would have enabled visitors to build more complex robots in 30 to 60 minutes. It would have used commercially available visual programming software, a fourteen channel controller and larger more powerful joints for articulation. Human size figures could be constructed using three inch diameter mailing tubes . The work shop remained at the hardware prototype and testing phase.

The goal of the work shop would have been to stimulate the visitor's imagination and creativity by using open ended and intuitive construction materials. It was hoped that this novel way of teaching robotics would make the activity more accessible and less intimidating for participants. Building something this sophisticated in under and hour would not have been possible with commercially available kits at the time.

Concept : Colin Harry

Prototype fabrication: Colin Harry

Exhibit fabrication: Ontario Science Center shops

For more information about the Ontario Science Center

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

Project: Kinetic Sculpture Wall, 2006

Description: 

The Kinetic sculpture wall is an exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre that encourages visitors to use their imagination and creativity. Kinetic sculptures are constructed on simple mechanical armatures utilizing a variety of craft materials and found objects. The armatures generate a single type of mechanical motion (rotation, reciprocating vertically or horizontally, flapping). Once complete the visitors can insert their sculptures into a series of rectangular pockets in the wall adjacent to the construction table. Each pocket contains an electrical motor and switch that brings the sculpture to life once activated.

Concept : Colin Harry 

Prototype fabrication:   Colin Harry

Exhibit Fabrication: Ontario Science Centre Shops

For more information regarding the Ontario Science Centre.

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

Project: Tumbling Dice, 2006

Description:

Tumbling Dice is an exhibit on display at the Ontario Science Centre(OSC) . It consists of three 12 foot transparent vertical cylinders with an adjustable high power fan at the base . Visitors construct objects out of paper or card board and insert them into a gap between the fan enclosure and bottom of the cylinder. Their creations can be suspended or levitated by a column of air moving up through the cylinder. The of the position an object within the column can be controlled by varying the air flow. Electrical and mechanical devices, such as powered louvers or TV’s are vertically stacked beside each cylinder.  The  TVs and other devices are sequentially activated in response to the passage of an object rising through the cylinder. 

Concept : Colin Harry 

Prototype fabrication:   Colin Harry

Exhibit fabrication: Ontario Science Centre shops. 

For more information regarding the Ontario Science Centre

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/

Client: Max Dean (Artist)

Project: The Table, 2001 

Description:

The Table is a fully autonomous, omni directional robot designed to select a viewer at random in an attempt to engage with them. A ceiling mounted camera connected to a concealed computer detects the presence of a person in the space. The Table's software interprets the person's physical movement as an invitation to engage with it. After which, that person will become the object of the Table's affections, to the exclusion of every one else in the room. Once a person is selected The Table will remain with them for the duration of their stay in the space. The high level commands generated by the control software are sent to the Table's controller via a radio modem. The on-board controller uses those commands to drive the Table's motors. In the Table (version 1) each leg has two motors, one for driving and one for steering. The  4 drive assemblies concealed at the bottom of each leg are synchronized and can rotate 360 degrees, allowing the Table to move in any direction. 

Version 1:

Concept: Max Dean

Software Development: Rafello D'Andrea

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry 

Electrical Design and assembly: Colin Harry, Dennis Pollock 

Machining, parts fabrication: Colin Harry, Mat Donovan, Alexander Laverick 

Version 2

Concept: Max Dean

Software Development: Rafello D'Andrea

Mechanical Design: Matt Donovan 

Electrical Design and assembly: Colin Harry 

Machining, parts fabrication: Matt Donovan

For additional information regarding Max Dean:

 https://www.bulgergallery.com/artists/66-max-dean/overview/

For additional information regarding Raffaello D'andrea: 

http://raffaello.name/

Client: Lois Andison (Artist) 

Project:  Iris, 2001

Description:

Iris is an interactive art work that reacts to a viewer standing in front of it by opening a set of mechanized breasts composed of domed shaped apertures.  Each breast is made of twelve articulated petals. An approaching viewer is detected by a ceiling mounted sensor  which signals the apertures to open, revealing a mirror at the back through which the viewers can see themselves. Stepping away from the work causes the apertures to revert back to their closed state. 

Concept: Lois Andison 

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Machining: Colin Harry, Paul Cahill

For additional information regarding Lois Andison:

http://loisandison.com

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Client: Max Dean (Artist) 

Project: The Telephone Piece, 2000

Description:

TheTelephone Piece is a custom designed interactive sculpture comprised of three phones situated inside a 16 foot wide x 8 foot high circular plexiglass enclosure . Rails running along the top and bottom edge of the enclosure support trolley mounted recording and playback devices. If the viewer enters the enclosure and chooses to make a call, their conversations will be recorded. The recording device circles around the edge of the enclosure, simultaneously recording the conversations and adhering the audio tape to the inside. A innovative mechanism consisting of a glue dispenser and a spring loaded roller was designed and built to accomplish this. The dispensing mechanism, similar to a large ball point pen, passes over the tape and applies a small bead of quick drying glue to one side. It then passes under the spring loaded roller, pressing it up against the plexiglass surface of the enclosure. This leaves the interior of the enclosure lined with a continuous spiral of audio tape. The presence of viewers entering the enclosure, but choosing not to make a call, will be detected by ceiling mounted sensors. These activate the play back mechanism which lifts the audio tape off the interior surface of the enclosure and plays back previously recorded telephone conversations. If two or more individuals make calls, the telephone system will automatically link those calls together so they can speak to each other.    

Concept: Max Dean 

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Electrical Design and Assembly, Colin Harry, Jim Ruxton

Telephone System Installation: Jim Ruxton 

Machining, parts fabrication and assembly : Colin Harry, Mat Donavon 

For additional information regarding Max Dean: https://www.bulgergallery.com/artists/66-max-dean/overview/

Client: Lois Andison (Artist) 

Project: Camouflage 3, 2000

Description: 

Camouflage 3 responds to the presence of a viewer standing in front of it by elongating its neck . After reaching its maximum height a puff of smoke is blown out of the top. The neck is composed of seven rings actuated by a scissor-type mechanism inside the figure and is triggered by a ceiling mounted sensor.

Concept: Lois Andison

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Machining: Colin Harry, Alex Laverick

For additional information regarding Lois Andison:

http://loisandison.com

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Client: Preferred Engineering

Project: Trade show display, 1999

Description:

The display was designed to help promote Preferred Engineering's window hardware. It consists of a mechanical armature with an enlarged photo of a model in front. The arm of the model is articulated by a motor in the armature and attached to a retractable screen concealed in the window frame. During operation the model appears to be extending and retracting the screen when viewed from the front

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Parts Fabrication and Assembly: Colin Harry

For information on Preferred engineering

 http://www.preferred-eng.com/

Client: Power Plant Art Gallery

Project; The Passenger, 1998

Description:

In The Passenger a full size ball room chandelier (200 pounds, 6 feet wide) swings gently over the heads of visitors at the Power Plant Art Gallery. A mechanism (30 feet above the gallery floor) consisting of an electric motor, clutch and spring is used to initiate and maintain the swinging motion. When the mechanism is turned on, the motor rotates a crank arm and pulls a heavy duty compression spring that is attached just above the chandelier's pivot point. Initially the spring is fully compressed and the chandelier moves very little. With each successive rotation of the crank arm more energy is transferred to the chandelier increasing the amplitude of the swing until the system reaches its natural frequency. The clutch is used to decouple the chandelier from the mechanics to prevent any damage to the system when it is shut off. The chandelier is then allowed to swing unpowered eventually coming to rest.

Concept: Claude Leveque

Mechanical design: Colin Harry

Mechanism Fabrication and Assembly: Colin Harry

Electrical Design and Assembly: Colin Harry

Client: Lois Andison (Artist)

Project: Camouflage 1, 1998

Description:

A viewer stepping in front of Camouflage 1 will cause the flowered collar on top of the dress form to open. A ceiling-mounted sensor activates a mechanism located at the centre of the collar, causing its four flowered layers to separate. Stepping away from the work will cause the collar to return to its rest position.

Concept: Lois Andison

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Machining, parts fabrication and assembly: Colin Harry

For additional information regarding Lois Andison

http://loisandison.com

https://www.olgakorpergallery.com/artists/lois-andison

Client: Max Dean (Artist)

Project: As Yet Untitled, 1992 - 1995

Description:

As Yet Untitled, is a sculpture that presents the viewer with the opportunity to determine the fate of family photographs (whether they should be shredded or saved). Designed for ease of installation and reliability the entire sculpture can be easily disassembled and reassembled. The centrally located robot arm (an industrial robot, PUMA 550) is programmed to pick up a photograph and present it to the viewer. The viewer can chose to save the photo by covering one of two hand silhouettes, each containing a photo sensor. Covering the sensor sends a signal to the robot controller directing the robot arm to place the photo in an archival storage box. In the absence of any viewers, or if they decide not to save a photo, the photographs will continually be fed into the shredder. A custom built mechanism, referred to as “the feeder”, used suction to select a single photo for the robot to pick up. A sensor on the feeder detects if the robot has successfully picked up the photo. If it failed, the software instructs the robot to try three more times. If it cannot pick up the photo, the robot will point to the device and display a message on the monitor asking for assistance. A similar sequence is used if the robot fails to insert a photo into the shredder. 

Concept: Max Dean

Mechanical Design: Colin Harry

Parts Fabrication and Assembly: Colin Harry, Max Dean 

Electrical Design and Assembly: Colin Harry

Robot Programming: Colin Harry

For additional information regarding Max Dean:

 https://www.bulgergallery.com/artists/66-max-dean/overview/

Video: Max Dean discussing conservation of As Yet Untitled  

https://youtu.be/XXYqGMmsA9w