Engaging the public with a hybrid puppet

A puppet with robotic features and emotional expressions can make general audiences think about the role of machines in everyday life

Heart robot: a public engagement project

Heart Robot was a public engagement project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The aim of the project was to challenge cultural perceptions of robots, and to stimulate thought and debatein members of the general public around research in the field of social and emotional robotics. Fusing the traditions of Bunraku puppetry, the technologyof animatronics and the field of artificial emotion and social intelligence, Heart Robot presented a series of entertaining, thought-provoking, and moving performances at fourteen events in the south-west region of the UK betweenMay and December 2008.This paper presents a summary of the independent evaluation of the project

Haptic Reassurance in the Pitch Black for an Immersive Theatre Experience

An immersive theatre experience was designed to raise awareness and question perceptions of ‘blindness’, through enabling both sighted and blind members to experience a similar reality. A multimodal experience was created, comprising ambient sounds and narratives – heard through headphones – and an assortment of themed tactile objects, intended to be felt. In addition, audience members were each provided with a novel haptic device that was designed to enhance their discovery of a pitch-black space. An in the wild study of the cultural experience showed how blind and sighted audience members had different ‘felt’ experiences, but that neither was a lesser one. Furthermore, the haptic device was found to encourage enactive exploration and provide reassurance of the environment for both sighted and blind people, rather than acting simply as a navigation guide. We discuss the potential of using haptic feedback to create cultural experiences for both blind and sighted people; rethinking current utilitarian framing of it as assistive technology

Digital fabrication of a novel bio-actuator for bio-robotic art and design

We describe the design, fabrication and testing of a biologically-driven actuator which serves as a proof-or-concept "artificial heartbeat" for future use within bio-robotic art and design. The actuator employs live biological material, both as a source of power and means of actuation. Pneumatic pressure generated by the action of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes a diaphragm to distend. Movement of the diaphragm is regulated by a purpose-built control valve. When the diaphragm is fully distended, the valve opens to release pressure, returning the actuator to its state of rest in readiness for the next actuation cycle. The control valve employs a temperature-responsive NiTi "artificial muscle" which is activated when heated electrically using power generated by microbial fuel cells. In an alternative embodiment, the NiTi valve is powered by solar energy via photovoltaic panels. Results are presented showing the performance of devices powered by both energy sources. The structure of the bio-actuator is fabricated by 3D printing and rapid tooling techniques. Bio-actuation may be employed for such functions as shape-change, pumping and propulsion. Possible applications for the physical principles described in this paper range from energy autonomous robotics and artificial life to artworks which creatively exploit robotic and bio-technology.</p

Synthetic and semi-synthetic fibre ingestion by mesopelagic fishes from Tristan da Cuhna and St Helena, South Atlantic

As part of the Blue Belt Programme, a marine survey of British Overseas Territories funded by the UK Government, RRS Discovery trawled at depths of between the surface and 1000m around Tristan da Cuhna and St Helena. Fishes were examined for microplastic ingestion. This work was supported by the National Environmental Research Council [grant number NE/L002485/1] with co-sponsorship from a Fishmongers' Company Fisheries Charity Trust CASE Partnership. Specimens were collected onboard RRS Discover as part of the Blue Belt Programme, which is funded by the UK Government in collaboration with CEFAS and BAS. Mesopelagic fishes were sampled around Tristan da Cunha and St Helena in the South Atlantic from the RRS Discovery at depths down to 1000 m. Sampling was part of the Blue Belt Programme, a marine survey of British Overseas Territories funded by the United Kingdom Government. Thirteen species of mesopelagic fishes identified from 30 specimens were compared with two species (two specimens) collected from rock pools or surface water near the shore. The digestive tracts of all fishes were examined for microplastics. Additionally, one specimen of Opostomias micripnus (Günther, 1878) was analyzed after recovery from the stomach of a commercially fished species, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1819). One specimen of Anoplogaster cornuta was found to have ingested a bearded sea devil (Linophryne sp.), a cock-eyed squid (Histioteuthis sp.), a bolitaenid octopus, Japetella diaphana, remains of unidentifiable fish, crustaceans, and possibly salps. These prey items were also examined for microfibres. Both Histioteuthis sp. and Linophryne sp. had ingested fibers and these were considered “ingested particles” for A. cornuta. Neither shallow water dwelling species had ingested microplastics, whilst 11 of the 13 studied mesopelagic species were found to be contaminated. Overall, 66.7% of mesopelagic fishes were found to contain microfibres. Anthropogenic fibers were common especially viscose, a semi-synthetic material which is associated with sanitary products as well as other items.Copyright © 2021 McGoran, Maclaine, Clark and Morritt. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms

Synthesis of New 1,2,4-Trioxanes and their Antimalarial Activity

The three dihydronaphtho[1,2,4]trioxines 9–11 have been synthesized and two of them converted to the five carbamate and ester derivatives 12–16 (Schemes 1 and 2). The resulting new trioxanes together with two already known and ascaridole (7) were tested for antimalarial activity against the sensitive N strain of Plasmodium berghei in mice. On comparison with artemisinin (1) and dihydroartemisinin (2), modest activity was found. The four most active compounds were some 12–18 times less potent than 1