Our project focused on experimenting with potential use for the IRB140 as a tool for the development and enrichment of animals, specifically with a focus on domestic cats. Our process began with speculation on what particular functions and responsibilities the ABB robot might have in a household where owners are limited in their abilities to take care of their cats. From there a universal tool head was developed to accomodate these tasks, and paths were generated using Robot Studio to demonstrate them. The end product of the project was integration of a Sony Eye camera with blob detection in Processing and an Arduino / RAPID workflow that allowed for us to track the cats movements and have the robot respond to them.

Class: futureCNC / Computing for the Arts with Processing

Date: Spring 2012, 3rd year

Duration: 1.5 months

Instructor: Eric Brockmeyer and Karl Willis

Collaborators: Matt Adler