This figure Is the inaugural project for Bama TPED. It is a four-function figure depicting Big Al, the mascot for the Univ. of Alabama, in a style inspired by "It's a Small World." I lead a team of nine to bring the project to life.
SHow Sample
Full Show
Concept Development
I chose this as the club's first project for multiple reasons.
First, I wanted something easily presentable to showcase at my university's club expo in January to recruit new members. For that reason, I chose to do an animatronic figure rather than a ride concept, as a moving singing figure is more eye-catching amongst hoards of people compared with storyboards and scale models. Secondly, I chose to model it off my school's mascot to give the club a mascot and to draw greater interest at the club expo by catering to the interests and pride of the student body. Thirdly, I chose to model the figure after "It's A Small World," as it would allow us to start at the beginning of animatronics with something simple, connect with club members' fondness for the Disney parks, and allow us to build at full scale rather than at a smaller scale as would be the case if we were trying to depict something grown-human-sized.
The team developed the concept of the figure's motion to be centered around throwing a football. In order to figure out a way to achieve this motion in a way consistent with the style of "It's A Small World," I watched videos of every iteration of the attraction from around the world. The figure that served as the largest inspiration for our figure's motion was the Australian Aboriginal chief from the Paris version of the ride. From this it was decided that both of his arms would move together clockwise, and his head would rotate as if he was following the ball. The head and arm motions will be achieved via a gear box containing four bevel gears which will be powered by a single servo. In addition to the football related motions, the figure will be able to blink, move its mouth, and move its trunk.
An early concept sketch drawn at 1:1 scale
A painting that was used as reference
Concept created later in the project
Design
CAD designs were made using SolidWorks.
Early CAD of the Body and Legs
Final CAD of the Body and Legs
Early head design, with the trunk pivoting partway through
Intermediate head design
Final Head design
Head Assembly in SOlidWorks featuring three servos (blue), Mouth flap (pink), Eye support base (red), blink mechanism, and trunk (with brass axis)
The Head and hands were digitally handsculpted in VR using Adobe Medium
Motion Mechanisms
A sketch I drew of my concept for how the mouth will move. The mechanism takes advantage of the properties of the figure's finishing material, a stretch fabric. WHen it is time for the figure to close its mouth, a thin piece of material will be lifted, stretching fabric from the lower lip up to the upper lip, leading to the appearance of a closed mouth.
A video test of the Blink mechanism. IN the final version the eye lid will be held open by a spring. When it is time to blink a servo will pull down the eye lid.
Gearbox to rotate the arms and head
Fabrication
Old Head with an eye to demonstrate the additional life the figure receives when it has eyes
Assembly of the figure using an old head design
Final Head on the printer
Final Head freshly off the printer
Interior of the head
Test print of the face sculpt
Final assembly before finishing materials are applied
Final assembly before finishing materials are applied
Trunk motion test
Finishing
Redoing Face
I airbrushed the cheeks and eyebrows using a custom template for the eyebrows.
Naked Skull
Working on Template
Template
Partial Application of Fabric Finish
Applied Fabric with paint details
Assembling Figure
