Assembly

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Physical computing
Rig fabrication
Audrino
Stepper motor
Raspberry Pi

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I was commissioned to design and fabricate an automated track and dolly for a site-specific project called Assembly funded by artist Julie Marsh (CREAM: Centre for Research in Art and Design, University of Westminster).

The rig films Jummah prayer from above. The rig has a small footprint and is silent in order not to disrupt prayer. The camera moves up and down the track at a repeatable path so a projector replaying the film can exactly map the film on the prayer carpet. An Arduino is used to program a stepper motor using a silent step stick driver. The motor dolly / stepper is started by a remote control so a user can start the rig from the ground. The dolly is programmed to move up/down the track a total of six times at a particular speed and then return to the start position. The film is then replayed using the same programmed track and dolly replacing the camera with a projector. A Raspberry Pi communicating with the Arduino is triggered to play the recorded film in synchronized time and space. The power for the projector is accessed through copper tubes running the length of the track using carbon brushes on the dolly to transfer the current to the projector as well as the Stepper/Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

Powered track and dolly diagram.

Filming at Brick Lane Mosque, main prayer hall.

Detail of powered track with 3mm copper tube to pass current and a delrin rack for the steper motor pinion.

Plan of track installation at Harrow Central Mosque.

Congregation member helping with the installation of track at Harrow Central Mosque.