Robot costumes are a fun and interesting niche in the evolving world of robotics that most people may not always consider. Robot costumes, popular among cosplayers and on-stage performers alike (not to mention that one time I went as a bottle robot for Halloween) marry art and science in order to breathe life into our robotic fantasies. This blog covers the design and material as well as a wonderful creativity put down in making of these costumes.
The Design Process
It all start with the idea of a robot costume. From influences in popular culture, to ideas born from science fiction and brand new untried concepts it is all done at the design stage. DesignYou may begin your design process as an ethereal sketchpad or detailed drawings with designs from some great designers that I know and eventually think about taking multiple axes like contemporary aspects to the intended audience. Key questions include:
What kind of robot are we looking at? Inspired by human, animal or other?
The main materials used? Materials that are more likely, lightweight and flexible for mobility or sturdy and relatively immovable to provide a strong presence?
What to Include in the Costume Are there lights, sounds or mechanical movement?
Materials Matter
Choose the Appropriate Materials to Make a Working Robot Costume Commonly Used Materials
Foam (two thicknesses): Soft, lighweight and easy to shape for larger armor as well cuts out smoother than many other materials. It is extremely convenient, as EVA foam pads are quite flexible and long-lasting.
Plastics and PVC: For items needing to be stiffer, plastics can also be used together with PVC pipe for frameworks to essentially form the bones of the costume so that it does not fall apart easily.
Fabrics: Fabrics can be used as the cover of joints or inlay work when a softer, more flexible appearance is required. For mobility, stretch fabrics like spandex are the way to go.
Electronics: Adding LEDs, small motors or sound modules to a costume can really bring it up to the next level by making it interactive
Crafting the Costume
After crafting the design and materials are selected. This often involves:
Pattern Making: The design set into patterns that layed out with the material cut from.
Cut and Form: This is when all the materials are cut out using craft knives, heat guns or dremels to fit them into patterns.
Constituents: Gluing, sewing or fastening the pieces. It requires skill and a lot of patience to make the costume that at is both durable, but can be worn.
Painting & Detail: Paint, Decals and other aesthetic details to make the costume look awesome The second way to distress your costume is by using weathering techniques, which would give the outfit a more realistic look of being worn out.
Bringing the Costume to Life
A characteristic of robot costumes and one their most interesting elements is the ability to animate or perform. Basic designs using hinges and pulleys can produce moving parts, while more sophisticated creations could involve servos and actuators. It can be used to automatically move the costume, turn on and off lights as well set of sound clips that may make it seem almost like its alive. Great for programming microcontrollers such as arduino.
The Impact and Enjoyment
So making a robot costume also is not about the destination, it’s about the process of creating and taking an idea to fruition! To some, it is as much an art in design and engineering. In educational settings, these costumes can kindle awe and inspire curiosity. Cosplay conventions, theater performances and robotics competitions are among the events that they bring cheer to as well.
Conclusion
Robot costumes are proof of a creative and inventive species. They serve as a great example of how art and technology can come together to create something truly awesome. Robot costumes have an infinite number of possibilities available for anyone with some spare free time, whether you are a hobbyist or pro cosplayer to just mere enthusiast! The next time you see a robot costume, know that it took more work to engineer and imagine this than most art projects or anything from fixer upper.
Robot costumes are also a challenge and that is why they can be satisfying to make, especially if you have the kind of robotics team involvement as at Shrewsbury High School. These projects help to improve not only your technical skills but also creativity and team.work. It does not matter if it is to compete or just for fun, building a robotic costume provides the tactile power and visual spectacle of bringing robotics into life with your hands!
