Manuel Ignacio Ayala Chauvin

1. Introduction

This project proposes a smart, customizable puppet that combines creativity, education, technology, and emotional interaction into a single innovative platform. The conceptual structure demonstrates how the puppet becomes an advanced educational tool that drives children's narrative development, artistic expression, and autonomous learning.

The system not only allows for physical customization of the character (by changing eyes, mouths, hair, and noses), but also synchronizes the user’s voice with expressive movements, creating an immersive storytelling experience.

1.1. Key Elements of the Concept

1.1.1. Audio Synchronization with Motion Control

The puppet integrates an audio synchronization system that analyzes voice signals and controls mouth movement through signal processing algorithms. This technical capability ensures audio-visual coherence between speech and puppet movement, enhancing realism and immersion.

Impact: Improves puppet expressiveness, fostering emotional connection with the audience.

1.1.2. Motion Control Mechanism

Mouth opening and closing are achieved through a four-bar linkage mechanism, powered by a precision motor. This mechanical solution guarantees smooth, efficient, and repeatable movements, with low energy consumption and high reliability.

Impact: Allows for a compact, lightweight, and easily maintainable design, ideal for educational and recreational use.

1.1.3. Character Changes

The puppet is designed as a customizable platform. Children can modify its appearance by swapping parts (eyes, mouths, noses, hair) to create:

• Real animals
• Fantasy creatures
• Unique characters from their imagination

Impact: Stimulates creativity, encourages divergent thinking, and provides unique experiences for each user.

1.1.4. Mobile App for Control and Story Adaptation

An intuitive mobile app allows users to:

• Upload voice recordings or stories
• Activate the puppet’s synchronized movement
• Adapt storytelling in real time

Impact: Promotes early digital literacy and the use of emerging technologies in educational contexts.

1.1.5. Educational Impact

The project strongly focuses on educational skills development:

• Narrative and oral expression: Children learn to tell structured stories.
• Literacy: Stories can be transcribed into small books or digital stories.
• Creative and emotional thinking: Creating characters and stories stimulates empathy, self-awareness, and imagination.

Impact: Integrates as a pedagogical tool in basic and special education programs.

1.1.6. Story Documentation and Book Production

The system promotes the documentation of created stories in written form (books, illustrated stories), reinforcing reading and writing skills.

Impact: Completes the creative cycle from oral storytelling to literary production.

Character examples

The following illustrations, created by my son Emanuel, represent a key part of the creative development process proposed in the system: moving from oral storytelling and imagination to tangible literary production.

Character 1: The Wise Tiger

This character portrays a wise, serene tiger. The slightly closed eyes and the serious, yet calm, expression suggest intelligence and a deep understanding of his surroundings. His vivid orange and dark stripes evoke strength, while the tufts of white hair represent age and wisdom. This character could symbolize the guide or mentor figure within Emanuel's story narrative.

Character 2: The Wild Beast

With a wild mane and hypnotic spiral eyes, this character radiates chaotic energy. The jagged teeth and mischievous smile hint at a mischievous, perhaps unpredictable creature. Emanuel's use of rough strokes and intense contrast between orange and black emphasize the beast's untamed nature. This figure could serve as the story's antagonist or an uncontrollable force that the protagonists must face.

Character 3: The Happy Elephant

Bright and cheerful, the blue elephant stands out with its exaggerated features: large, floppy ears and a long trunk. The wide, smiling mouth conveys joy and innocence. Through this character, Emanuel captures the essence of kindness and loyalty, often associated with elephants. In the story, this character could represent a faithful companion who brings support and comic relief to the adventure.

Character 4: The Playful Pig

Finally, the playful pig exhibits a lively and carefree personality. With one eye larger than the other and a tilted head, the character projects curiosity and a bit of mischief. The vibrant pink coloring makes it instantly endearing. This figure could symbolize a mischievous friend or the adventurous spirit that propels the story forward.

1.1.7. Strategic Conclusion

The customizable interactive puppet is far more than a toy: It is a platform for creative and educational development, designed to build essential 21st-century skills in children. It integrates precision mechanics, audio processing, mobile technology, and pedagogical dynamics into a powerful and scalable system.

Unique Value Proposition:

• Experiential learning through creativity
• Full customization of characters and narratives
• Genuine integration of educational and emotional technology
• Future expansion with new movement modules (eyes, hands)

2. General Objective

To develop a customizable interactive puppet that integrates audio synchronization technologies, motion control mechanisms, and a mobile application, with the purpose of enhancing creativity, oral and written expression, and autonomous learning in children through the creation of characters and the adaptive narration of stories.

3. Specific Objectives

• To design the physical and mechanical structure of the puppet, incorporating a motion control system based on a four-bar linkage mechanism.
• To integrate an audio synchronization system that enables the puppet to move its mouth coherently with voice recordings narrated by users.
• To develop a mobile application that facilitates story uploading, puppet control, and narrative content customization.
• To implement a modular physical customization system that allows users to modify the puppet’s eyes, mouth, nose, and hair to create unique characters.
• To evaluate the usability, portability, and efficiency of the system in educational environments through pilot testing with child users.
• To promote the strengthening of children's creative, narrative, expressive, and technological competencies through the use of the puppet in educational and recreational activities.

4. Justification

Puppets have been used for centuries as educational and entertainment tools. However, most require manual manipulation, limiting immersion in the story. This project seeks to create an interactive puppet that enhances the storytelling experience, offering a more dynamic and immersive way to tell stories.

The proposal to develop a customizable interactive puppet responds to the current need to integrate emerging technologies into creative and expressive learning processes for children. In an educational context that demands innovative approaches to foster creativity, autonomy, and narrative thinking, this project offers a solution that combines precision mechanics, audio synchronization, mobile connectivity, and modular design.

The use of a puppet as an educational tool has strong pedagogical foundations, as it facilitates oral expression, stimulates imagination, strengthens social skills, and motivates the construction of personal narratives. However, by incorporating interactive technologies—such as voice-synchronized motion control and character customization through mobile devices—this project elevates the traditional potential of puppetry to a level aligned with 21st-century competencies.

4.1. Multidimensional Impact

• In the educational field: Contributes to the development of oral and written communication skills, narrative creativity, and early digital literacy.
• In the technological field: Promotes children's engagement with basic programming concepts, simple robotics, and mechanical design, all through play and direct interaction.
• In the social field: Fosters inclusion and active participation for all children, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, through intuitive and accessible tools.

Additionally, the possibility for children to create and document their own stories strengthens meaningful learning processes and opens the door to the creation of original content, encouraging innovation, children's entrepreneurship, and critical thinking.

Finally, the project offers practical advantages such as the device’s portability, its adaptability to various contexts (school, home, therapeutic), and its future scalability through the incorporation of new movement modules, which extends its useful life and applicability.

For all these reasons, this project not only addresses a current educational need but also projects a sustainable and innovative proposal aligned with global trends in creative education and educational technology.

5. Methodology

Stage 1: Definition

The equipment specifications are established, including technical requirements and constraints.

Stage 2: Conceptual Design

Solution principles and the basic design structure are developed.

Stage 3: Materialization Design

General drawings are created, and prototypes are built to validate the concept.

Stage 4: Detailed Design

Manufacturing plans and part specifications are prepared for production.

5.1 Definition - Product Specifications

Product Objective: Develop an interactive sponge puppet that synchronizes facial movements with storytelling narration, enhancing children's storytelling experiences.

Functional Requirements

• Mouth and facial expressions synchronized with the narrator’s voice.
• Real-time response to audio signals.
• Simple user interface for control and configuration.

Non-Functional Requirements

• Use of safe and durable materials suitable for children.
• Minimum autonomy of 2 hours of continuous use.
• Ergonomic and visually appealing design for children.

Constraints

• Maximum budget of $700.
• Compliance with toy safety regulations.
• Size and weight limitations for easy handling.

Specification Table

5.2 Conceptual Design

Based on the specifications, multiple concepts are generated to meet the established requirements. Each concept is evaluated considering factors such as technical feasibility, cost, ease of manufacturing, and user experience. Tools such as function diagrams, sketches, and preliminary models are used to visualize and communicate ideas.

5.2.1. Optimal Concept Selection

A decision matrix is used to compare the different concepts developed in the previous phase. Criteria considered include:

• Compliance with functional and non-functional requirements.
• Estimated production cost.
• Ease of assembly and maintenance.
• Potential user acceptance.

The conceptual design of the customizable interactive puppet combines mechanical engineering, electronics, and artistic design to create a powerful educational and creative tool for children. The system is based on a simple yet highly effective mechanical structure, synchronized with audio signals and controlled via a mobile application.

5.2.2. Internal Structure and Mechanism Overview

The first image shows the internal mechanism of the puppet's head, where several critical components are highlighted:

• Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism: A mechanical system responsible for moving the puppet's mouth, allowing it to open and close smoothly.
• Motor Connection: A motor connected to the linkage supplies the motion needed for mouth movement.
• Audio and Bluetooth Electronics: Audio processing and wireless control via a mobile app.
• Power Supply: A rechargeable battery ensures portability and independence from external power.

Summary: This design ensures a lightweight, portable puppet that realistically simulates mouth movement according to the uploaded narration.

5.2.3. Puppet Front and Side Views

In the second image, two essential views are presented:

• Front View: Displays the customizable puppet’s face for creative adaptations.
• Side View (with Mechanism): Shows the linkage system transmitting motor rotation into mouth movements.

Summary: The separation of design and mechanics allows easy character customization without affecting functionality.

5.2.4. Technical Plan and Cross-Section Drawings

The third image provides technical plans and sectional diagrams:

• Side and Cross-Section of the Casing: Shows the compact, protective enclosure of the system.
• Motor and Linkage Mounting: Details the structural support for stable motion control.
• Guides and Supports for Moving Parts: Ensures smooth, low-friction, and durable operation.

Summary: The technical structure guarantees mechanical integrity, supporting frequent and reliable educational use.

5.2.5. Conclusion of conceptual design

The conceptual design of the customizable interactive puppet provides:

• Efficient mechanical operation via a four-bar linkage system.
• Real-time audio synchronization for realistic animations.
• Creative flexibility through character customization.
• Portability and usability for educational and recreational environments.
• Future scalability for adding new movement modules like eyes and hands.

This robust design ensures a highly engaging and educational platform for children, promoting creativity, storytelling, and technological interaction.

5.3 Materialization Design.

Mechanical Design

• 3D modeling of the puppet's internal and external structure.
• Specification of materials and mechanical components, including servo motors and transmission mechanisms.
• Tolerance and adjustment analysis to ensure optimal functionality.

Electronic Design

• Circuit schematics and selection of electronic components, including microcontrollers, audio sensors, and communication modules.
• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and component layout.
• Firmware development for motion control and audio signal processing.

Aesthetic and Ergonomic Design

• Selection of colors, textures, and shapes to make the puppet attractive to children.
• User interface design, ensuring an intuitive and user-friendly interaction.
• Ergonomic considerations for easy manipulation of the puppet by storytellers.

5.4 Detail Design.

The Detail Design is the final phase in the development process of a product, system, or engineering project. In this stage, all the necessary elements for the manufacturing, assembly, implementation, or construction of the final product are precisely defined.

This methodology, inspired by Concurrent Engineering and Integrated Product Development approaches, ensures that all disciplines work in a coordinated manner from the initial stages of the project, minimizing rework and optimizing the development process of the "Sponge Puppet with Mechanism for Storytelling".

The image shows an articulated bar system (four-bar linkage) that allows the “mouth” (the red shape on the right) to move by means of a motor and a return spring. Below is a description of its components and how it works:

5.4.1. Main Components

• Case with Electronics: Contains the circuitry and control system for the motor.
• Motor (D): This is the source of motion; when its shaft rotates, it drives the bar connected to it.
• Articulated Bars (A-B-C-D):
  • Each point (A, B, C, D) is a pivot or axis of rotation.
  • The bar attached to the motor (point D) transfers the motion to the next bar (point C), and so on.
• Spring: Responsible for providing a return or stabilizing force. It can close the mouth when the motor is not applying force or, depending on the design, help keep it open.
• Mouth/Red Contour: This is the part to be animated. The bar mechanism causes this part to rotate or open/close when the motor moves.

5.4.2. Operation of the Four-Bar Linkage

The motor (D) rotates, driving the drive bar attached to its shaft. That bar is connected to the next one (at pivots B and C), so that the motion is transferred to the final piece, which is the red “mouth.” The spring helps return the mouth to its initial position or maintain a constant tension, depending on the design.

5.4.3. Purpose and Advantages of the Design

• Controlled Opening and Closing: The mouth’s opening angle is determined by the length of the bars and the position of the pivots.
• Smooth Movement: Being an articulated bar system, it achieves a smooth and repeatable motion.
• Automatic Return: The spring makes it easier for the mouth to return to a “closed” or “neutral” position without requiring additional power from the motor.
• Mechanical Simplicity: Since it does not require gears or complex systems, the four-bar linkage is easy to maintain and adjust.

Overall, this mechanism makes it possible to animate the puppet’s “mouth” for a storytelling project, where the motor drives the opening and the spring aids in closing (or vice versa), providing a controlled and precise movement effect.

6. Expected Impact

• Improvement in storytelling experiences.
• Increased attention and interaction from children.
• Use of accessible technologies for education and entertainment.