Final Project Reflection and Planning

What will it do?

The project is a soft, interactive puppet that moves its mouth in sync with a voice recording. It’s designed for storytelling with children, especially to support reading, attention, and emotional connection. A small app controls the sequence so that everything feels alive.

Who has done what beforehand?

I reviewed several Fab Academy projects. One that inspired me was Ryan Reilly’s puppet . My approach is different because I focused on soft materials, child interaction, and making it modular and replicable.

What will you design?

I designed the puppet’s internal skull, its movement system (jaw), custom PCBs to control servos, and a simple app to manage the voice and movement sequence. The body is foam-based, lightweight, and easy to handle.

What materials and components will be used?

Where will they come from?

Most components were sourced from the lab or bought locally in Ambato. Electronics came from online suppliers and leftover lab inventory. Fabrics were chosen by hand in the textile market to ensure the puppet felt soft and friendly.

How much will they cost?

• PLA filament: $15
• Foam + fabric: $10
• Servos (x4): $8
• ESP32: $6
• PCBs and components: $5
• Acrylic: $10
• Miscellaneous: $6
• Total: ~$60 USD

What parts and systems will be made?

The puppet includes a 3D-printed skull, servo-driven jaw, custom PCBs, and a web app for control. The outer layer is a foam cast with fabric wrapping. The system is fully integrated for plug-and-play interaction.

What processes will be used?

• 3D Design and Printing
• Laser Cutting
• CNC Milling
• PCB Production
• Embedded Programming
• Foam casting and molding
• Interface programming

What questions need to be answered?

• Can the puppet move smoothly and match the voice?
• Can the control interface be easy for educators?
• How much interaction can kids handle without breaking it?

How will it be evaluated?

The success of the final project will be evaluated based on the following features and criteria:

• Mouth synchronization: The puppet must open and close its mouth in real-time according to the amplitude of a voice input signal, simulating speech clearly.
• Modular mask system: The character masks (e.g., elephant, lion) must be easily interchangeable and fit securely on the puppet structure.
• Responsive microcontroller logic: The embedded system (ESP32 or Arduino) must process the audio signal and actuate the servo motor accurately.
• Power and wiring integration: The electronic components must be safely and neatly integrated into the puppet, with compact and functional wiring.
• Application in storytelling: The puppet must function in a real-world storytelling context, engaging children with synchronized movement and visual presence.
• Documented development: All design files, code, tests, and iterations must be fully documented and shared in the repository.

The project will be considered successful if all these features operate reliably and demonstrate coherent integration of electronics, mechanics, and application usability.

What tasks have been completed?

What tasks remain?

• Finalize system integration
• Complete interface testing and improvements
• Write and document Applications and IP sections
• Prepare final video, slide, and site content

What has worked? What hasn't?

The servo response and app connection worked well. Casting the foam head was also successful after testing different densities. What didn’t work at first was the mouth movement system—it was too stiff. I changed it to a tension cable design and got better results.

What questions need to be resolved?

• Can it be battery-powered for mobile use?
• Should the app include real-time audio recording?
• Could the puppet be scaled for other characters or animals?

What will happen when?

• This week: Finish system integration and app flow
• Next week: Complete evaluation and documentation
• Final week: Prepare video, site, and present

What have you learned?

I’ve learned how to take an idea and bring it to life by combining design, electronics, and fabrication. I’ve also learned that iterating is part of the process—and that testing with people is just as important as building. It’s been technical, but also personal: I made something that can speak to children.

Week 17: Conclusion

This week marked a turning point in the project. I was able to see the different components—mechanical, electronic, and digital—finally coming together. Testing the movement of the puppet’s mouth, synchronized with voice, made the concept feel real for the first time. I also had to make quick decisions to improve what didn’t work, especially in the mechanism. The process reminded me that prototyping is about failing fast and improving fast. Now, the focus shifts toward integration, final adjustments, and creating a meaningful user experience. Step by step, the puppet is starting to tell its own story.

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