Week 18. Invention, intellectual property and income

  1. Assignment
    • Develop a plan for dissemination of your final project.
    • Prepare drafts of your summary slide (presentation.png, 1920x1080) and video clip (presentation.mp4, 1080p HTML5, < ~minute, < ~25 MB) and put them in your website’s root directory

Manuel Ayala-Chauvin
Institution: Fablab - Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica
Year: 2025

Final Project Dissemination Plan

Puppet next to scanning software on screen showing mesh capture of the object
Technical Infographic: This diagram illustrates the development workflow of the puppet system. From CNC-cut wooden base and circuit design in KiCad, to signal amplification with an LM358 and testing with an oscilloscope. The signal amplitude controls mouth motion, and the final prototype is tested with voice signals to validate mechanical response.
Puppet next to scanning software on screen showing mesh capture of the object
Illustrated Infographic: This playful diagram shows how the puppet moves its mouth in sync with speech. A hidden narrator speaks into a microphone while the puppet tells the story to children. The modular design allows for quick character changes using swappable masks, such as an elephant, lion, or pig.

1. Invention

The final project is a speech-simulating puppet that uses a microcontroller and audio amplitude recognition to move its mouth in sync with speech. It enhances storytelling for children through interactive visual cues and swappable character masks (e.g., elephant, lion, pig). The invention is applicable in education, speech therapy, inclusive communication, and creative performance.

2. Intellectual Property

The project will be protected under copyright law and released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) license. This ensures that others can freely use, adapt, and redistribute the material for non-commercial purposes while maintaining attribution and promoting collaborative innovation.

3. Income Model

Phase 1: Educational Dissemination

  • Development of a scientific article evaluating educational impact.
  • Pilot workshops in schools and centers to measure engagement and usability.

Phase 2: Services and Licensing

  • Integration into storytelling programs for schools and libraries.
  • Offering licensing options for educational institutions and makers.

4. Accelerator / Incubator / Manufacturer

  • Accelerator: Startup Indoamérica, FabLab Indoamérica.
  • Incubator: Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica CTT.
  • Manufacturer: Local Fab Labs for CNC and 3D printed parts.

Week 18: Conclusion

The project culminates in a fully functional, expressive, and modular puppet prototype that integrates digital fabrication, embedded systems, and creative design. Through careful planning of intellectual property, educational outreach, and future commercialization, the puppet serves not only as a technical achievement but also as a meaningful contribution to interactive storytelling and educational innovation. Further iterations will build upon this foundation to expand accessibility, usability, and societal impact.

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