Automata Kinetic Sculpture
Students will create a working kinetic sculpture powered by a hand crank.

This unit has four parts: design (research), prototype (cardboard version), sculpting (metal version), and documenting.

Overview Unit Goal

Inspiration Videos

Technical Skills Videos

Order of Work

Research & Design
  • Watch the videos to get inspired
  • Design an automaton with a hand crank mechanism
Prototype
  • Create a cardboard model of your automaton to make sure it will work
  • Make a video of your sculpture moving while the crank is turned
Sculpture
  • Sculpt your automaton (max size: 8 inches, minimum size: 1 inch)
  • Test it out
  • Add details and flourishes to make it look even more interesting

Documenting
  • Make a video of your automaton moving - be sure the background isn't distracting.
  • Complete the reflection
  • Send an email to an important adult
  • Make a peer share video so your classmates can see what you've made

Automata Kinetic Sculpture Design Inspiration

Prototype

  • Use cardboard, paper, and wire to make a prototype of your sculpture
  • Keep your prototype under 8 inches
  • Try altering your crankshaft to see how it will change the motion
  • Make a video of your prototype moving while turning the hand crank - be sure to have a solid color background, so that we can really focus on your sculpture in the video

Determining Your Mechanisms

  • Determine the movements needed and plan out your mechanisms
  • Crankshafts made from wire can push or pull objects up or down.
  • Cams can push objects up or let them fall down and/or spin them around
  • Levers and linkages can add asymmetric movements
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This automaton uses a wire crankshaft
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This automaton uses an eccentric cam
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This automaton uses levers and linkages
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DRAW OUT YOUR DESIGN
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BEND YOUR CRANKSHAFT & INSTALL IN YOUR BOX
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MAKE TEMPORARY SCULPTURAL MODELS & TEST THE MOVEMENT

Documenting Your Work

  • One PROFESSIONAL PHOTO of your sculpture (solid color background, cropped to fit your sculpture, well lit)
  • One VIDEO clip of your sculpture moving (well lit, solid color background)
  • One LOOPING GIF of your sculpture moving (at least 40 frames)

Emailing your Work to An Important Adult

CLICK HERE FOR THE EMAIL INSTRUCTIONS

Grading Criteria