The ShadowBot moves around the interior of its operating space in a systematic fashion, deviating from its course only when it encounters a shadow cast from a viewer. The robot then begins drawing, following the outline of the onlooker’s shadow. If the user holds still, the robot will trace along the delineation between light and dark, capturing an impression of their shadowed silhouette. If the user moves about, he or she can manipulate the path of the machine by bouncing it between the shadows of their hands or arms. Finally, the robot can also be programmed to stay either within or outside of an onlooker’s shadow, treating the line between light and dark as if it were a physical barrier. Under the right lighting circumstances, anyone who approaches the ShadowBot will directly influence its course and behavior, leaving their mark behind them. The more that the user interacts with the robot, the greater the influence that he or she will have on the outcome of the drawing that is being created.
The ShadowBot
Untitled from Christian Cerrito on Vimeo.
The ShadowBot depends upon an array of light to frequency sensors, situated on its top deck, to detect the shadows cast from its audience. The sensors, Texas Advanced Optical Solutions TSL235Rs, Cost just a few dollars apiece, and are highly accurate, extremely responsive, and uniform in their sensitivity between components. To ensure that the sensors only receive light from directly overhead, each one sits below a paper filter in their own individual compartments.
Detail of a ShadowBot Drawing
This drawing machine was designed to operate in an installation type setting, on top of very large sections of paper. With the proper lighting setup, it should be possible to cast the silhouettes of visitors onto the ShadowBots drawing surface. This will ensure that everyone who visits the piece will have a direct impact on the drawing created during the course of the installation.
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