BA/PA - Product integration of a painting robot: addition of safety features, improvement of the electronic integration and addition of a control console.

Product integration of a painting robot: addition of safety features, improvement of the electronic integration and addition of a control console.

Produktintegration eines Malroboters: Hinzufügung von Sicherheitsfunktionen, Verbesserung der elektronischen Integration und Hinzufügung einer Steuerkonsole.

Taks description

Topic

This topic is part of the overarching project “Exploring the Multimodality of Arts with Robotics”.

The idea for this project arose from the Ligeti Center, founded in 2023, which promotes interdisciplinary collaboration between art, science, medicine, and technology. The current focus is on the development of a robot capable of interpreting music to create a work of art. Originally developed as part of the Applied Design Methodology for Mechatronics (ADMM) course, this project has evolved through the efforts of several students and has resulted in the design of a robotic arm, controlled in ROS, that can create paintings based on music interpretation. The robot’s brush can move across a canvas, adjust its pressure, and mix a variety of colors, all while responding to specific musical parameters such as BPM, loudness, and mood.

The project integrates mechatronics , music theory , and human artistic interpretation , exploring different aspects of musical interpretation, from machine learning to human gestures to specific parameters of the music, in order to control the robot. By comparing the different outputs and processes with those of humans, the aim is to gain a better understanding of human music interpretation.

Workshops and public events are planned, where the robot will perform live and engage audiences in exploring the intersection of art and science.

Ongoing improvements to the robot’s design, control, and machine learning amongst others will be carried out through student theses and collaborations with various labs.

Task Description

Open

Current state of the painting robot system

Our robot is currently functional, but needs some improvements to make it look like a nice finished product to present to the public. The priority is to add some safety features, such as an emergency stop and detection of paint overpressure. The electronics need to be better integrated to optimize the cabling and integrate a power supply, possibly with the design of a dedicated PCB. Currently, the robot is controlled by a computer and a Raspberry Pi with ROS2, which requires a laptop, additional keyboard, screen and mouse. Ideally, it would be controlled from an integrated console, consisting of a screen and buttons to start and stop the robot and display its status and various information. The design and implementation of such a console is part of this thesis.

The first step will be to get an overview of the state of the current system and define the areas for improvement (some are already listed here, but others can be found). These should then be implemented.

Possible areas of work / skills

• Electronics:

  • Raspberry

  • PCB design

  • Cabling optimization

• Mechatronics:

  • Choice and integration of sensors

  • Safety

• Software:

  • ROS2

• English language is highly preferred

Desired starting date

From April 2025 (on hold because of the possible change of the robot arm)

Contact person:

@Ornella Tortorici

Zeitplanung:

Checklist

• Introduction / tour in M4

• Urheberrechtsvereinbarung signed

• if applicable: signed confidential agreement

• Official registration

Helpful links:

• Thesis Work / Studentische Arbeiten 

• Laborordnung

• Spotlights / Kurzvorträge

• Templates (Latex, ppt etc.)

• Ordering Process at M-4 for Student-Works

• 3D printing process at M-4 for Student-Works

• Criteria for the evaluation of Bachelor's and Master's theses, handout version

Document Upload Final Thesis / Dokumentenabgabe Abschlussdokument

File of final presentation / Dokumentenabgabe Abschlusspräsentation

Link for further files / Link für weitere Dokumente