Description

"Crikey!" is a hamster-sized stuffed wombat that pseudo-randomly says one of five Stever Irwin quotes when squeezed. Although the program "randomly" selects a quote to play, it does not play the same quote twice.

Components Used

• Arduino
• Breadboard
• Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR)
• 12 kOhm Resistor
• Stuffed Wombat, approximately the size of a hamster
• Foamcore
• LED (for debugging)
• 220 kOhm Resistor (for debugging)

Arduino Code

/*
* Resistive Sensor Input
* Takes the input from a resistive sensor, e.g., FSR or photocell
* Dims the LED accordingly, and sends the value (0-255) to the serial port
*/
int sensorPin = 0; // select the input pin for the sensor
int ledPin = 11; // select the output pin for the LED
int val = 0; // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
val = analogRead(sensorPin); // read the value from the sensor, 0-1023
analogWrite(ledPin, val/4); // analogWrite (dimming the LED) can be between 0-255
Serial.println(val/4); // writing the value to the PC via serial connection
delay(50); // rest a little...
}

Processing Code

/* "Crikey!", the Hamster-sized Wombat that channels Steve Irwin
* by Lora Oehlberg
* Theory and Practice of Tangible User Interfaces, Fall 2007
*
* Adapted from:
* Arduino Ball Paint
* (Arduino Ball, modified)
* Created 25 October 2006
* copyleft 2006 Tod E. Kurt <tod@todbot.com
* http://todbot.com/
*/

import krister.Ess.*;
import processing.serial.*;

// Define Audio Channels
AudioChannel naughtyChannel;
AudioChannel noworriesChannel;
AudioChannel lookChannel;
AudioChannel crikeyChannel;
AudioChannel havocChannel;

// Change this to the portname your Arduino board
String portname = "/dev/tty.usbserial-A4001o6X"; // or "COM5"
Serial port;
String buf="";
int cr = 13; // ASCII return == 13
int lf = 10; // ASCII linefeed == 10
int soundplaying = 0; // 0 if sound is playing, 1 if sound is not playing;
int threshold = 125; // sensitivity of force sensor
int lastplayed = 0; // keeps track of the last sound played

void setup() {
// println(Serial.list());
size(300,300);
frameRate(10);
smooth();
background(40,40,40);
noStroke();
port = new Serial(this, portname, 9600);

// adding sound
Ess.start(this);

// loading sounds into new audio channel

naughtyChannel = new AudioChannel();
naughtyChannel.loadSound("../data/naughty.wav");
naughtyChannel.gain(10);

noworriesChannel = new AudioChannel();
noworriesChannel.loadSound("../data/no_worries.wav");
noworriesChannel.gain(10);

lookChannel = new AudioChannel();
lookChannel.loadSound("../data/have_look.wav");
lookChannel.gain(10);

crikeyChannel = new AudioChannel();
crikeyChannel.loadSound("../data/crikey.wav");
crikeyChannel.gain(10);

havocChannel = new AudioChannel();
havocChannel.loadSound("../data/havoc.wav");
havocChannel.gain(10);

}

void draw() {
}

// called whenever serial data arrives
void serialEvent(Serial p) {
int c = port.read();
if (c != lf && c != cr) {
buf += char(c);
}
if (c == lf) {
int val = int(buf);
// println("val="+val);
if (soundplaying == 0){
if (val > threshold){
println("play");
playsound();
}
}
buf = "";

// background(40,40,40); // erase screen
}
}

// plays a random sound when called
void playsound(){
soundplaying = 1;
int j = int(random(1,6));
if (j == lastplayed){
j ++;
println("repeat");
}
println(j);
if (j == 0){
}
else if (j == 1 || j == 6){
lastplayed = 1;
noworriesChannel.play(1);
}
else if (j == 2){
lastplayed = 2;
lookChannel.play(1);
}
else if (j == 3){
lastplayed = 3;
naughtyChannel.play(1);
}
else if (j == 4){
lastplayed = 4;
crikeyChannel.play(1);
}
else if (j == 5){
lastplayed = 5;
havocChannel.play(1);
}
}

void audioChannelDone(AudioChannel ch) {
soundplaying = 0;
// println("AudioChannel "+ch+" is done playing.");
}

Item

finishedWombat: "Crikey!" the Wombat, taking a walk around the cutting mat.

Process Photos

beforeWombat: "Crikey!" the Wombat, taking one last sensor-free walk on the cutting mat before the operation.

Wombat and Knife: "Crikey!" the hamster-sized Wombat about to be cut open with an Exacto knife. Does he look nervous?

Wombat with Foamcore Structure: "Crikey!" had a foamcore implant inserted into his abdomen in order to protect the FSR when squeezed. When squeezing "Crikey!", squeeze him side-to-side, not up-down!

"Crikey!" posed on a breadboard, ready to go!: As FSR goes in between the foamcore pieces, "Crikey!" is now ready to channel the spirit of Steve Irwin. Take a look a' that!