Computer Control of
Theater Performance Electronics
Project Plan
Clients:
Iowa State Dance
Co-Motion Dance Company
Faculty Advisors:
Dr. Gerald Sheble
Dr. Julie Dickerson
Team: SDMay06-18
Tarun Bhatia
Amanda Farniok
Sheng Ly
Alex Sills
Submitted: October 11, 2005
DISCLAIMER: This document was developed as a part of the requirements of an electrical and computer engineering course at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. This document does not constitute a professional engineering design or a professional land surveying document. Although the information is intended to be accurate, the associated students, faculty, and Iowa State University make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, quality, or adequacy of the information. The user of this document shall ensure that any such use does not violate any laws with regard to professional licensing and certification requirements. This use includes any work resulting from this student-prepared document that is required to be under the responsible charge of a licensed engineer or surveyor. This document is copyrighted by the students who produced this document and the associated faculty advisors. No part may be reproduced without the written permission of the senior design course coordinator.
iii
Table of Contents
1 Project Overview 1
1.1 Abstract 1
1.2 Acknowledgement 1
1.3 Problem Statement 1
General Problem Statement 1
General Solution Approach 1
1.4 Operating Environment 2
1.5 Intended Users and Intended Uses 2
Intended Users 2
Intended Uses 2
1.6 Assumptions and Limitations 3
Initial Assumptions List 3
Initial Limitations List 3
1.7 Expected End Product and Other Deliverables 3
Documentation 4
Due 1st Week of May 2006 4
2 Proposed Approach 4
2.1 Functional Requirements 4
2.2 Constraint Considerations 4
2.3 Technology Considerations 5
2.4 Technical Approach Considerations 5
2.5 Testing Requirements Considerations 6
2.6 Security Considerations 6
2.7 Safety Considerations 6
2.8 Intellectual Property Considerations 6
2.9 Commercialization Considerations 6
2.10 Possible Risks and Risk Management 7
2.11 Proposed Milestones and Evaluation Criteria 7
2.12 Project Tracking Procedures 9
3 Statement of Work 10
Task 1 – Project Familiarization 10
Task 2 – Research for Transmitter/Receiver 10
Task 3 – Putting Hardware Together 10
Task 4 – Research of Isadora Software Development 11
Task 5 – Testing of Software Environments 11
Task 6 – Understanding 12
Task 7 – Setting up the system for the client 12
Task 8 – Research of auxiliary technologies 13
4 Estimated Resources and Scheduling 13
5 Project Team Information 16
Client Information: 16
Faculty Advisor Information: 16
Team Member Information 18
5.1 Closing Summary 19
5.2 References 20
List of Tables
Table 1. Milestone Evaluation Ratings 8
Table 2. Personal Task Allocation 12
Table 3. Itemized Project Resources Needed 12
Table 4. Estimate, Itemized Cost of Rescources 13
List of Figures
Figure 1. Pie Chart for Weights of Milestones 9
Figure 2. Anticipated Hardware Setup 10
Figure 3. Timeline, Dependencies, and Breakdowns of Tasks 15
List of Definitions
Apparatus - The whole of the end product design which includes all of the hardware on the body of the user combined with the receiver and computer equipment used to control the environment.
Electromagnetic Noise - Interference with data signal as a result of radio wave radiation by other electronic devices.
Isadora - Isadora is a graphic programming environment that provides interactive control over digital media, with special emphasis on the real-time manipulation of digital video.
Piezo - Sensor that sends an impulse through a wire connection when tapped with a slight impact.
SDK - Software development kit
UML(Unified Modeling Language) - A visual language for specifying, constructing and documenting the artifacts of the system.
MIDI(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) - Standard specifications that enable electronic instruments such as the synthesizer, sampler, sequencer, and drum machine from any manufacturer to communicate with one another and with computers.
iii
1 Project Overview
1.1 Abstract
Performers of modern dance require more dancer interactive means of presenting their productions. Current control of theater visual aids used by Iowa State Dance and Co-Motion Dance Company is limited to preprogrammed routines, camera input, and limited remote input via primitive sensors. This project seeks to use dancer movement as input to control the operation of visual aids in a dance/theater performance. Using sensors on the bodies of dancers, which send a signal via transmitter to a receiver connected to a computer using the software Isadora, the dancers will be able to manipulate the visual equipment of the performance using their own movements. The clients require one working receiver and transmitter pair by the end of the project with the design allowing for expansion to 4 or more receiver and transmitter pairs (dancers). This development will add a new degree of freedom and creativity to the performances of Iowa State Dance and Co-Motion Dance Company.
1.2 Acknowledgement
The design team would like to acknowledge the clients Janice Baker of Iowa State Dance and Valerie Williams of Co-Motion Dance Company. Ms. Williams and Ms. Baker’s dancers will be using the end product. Thanks are also extended to Dr. Gerald Sheble and Dr. Julie Dickerson who are the faculty advisors for the project. They will serve as technical consultants as well as counselors to aid the steady progress of the project.
1.3 Problem Statement
General Problem Statement
The members of Iowa State Dance and Co-Motion Dance Company would like to be able to control their own visual dance environment without the help of stagehands or technicians. To remedy this, the directors of these groups requested a dancer-operated sensor pack which sends input to be received by a computer program called Isadora. Isadora can then be programmed to control lighting, video projection, and other characteristics of the dancer’s stage environment. The clients require an apparatus capable of transmitting four sensor inputs from four different dancers (16 sensors in total) to a computer running Isadora. Isadora will then need to be set up to receive these inputs via hardware and software. It is desired that the different types of sensors (touch, flex, mic) be interchangeable with the rest of the apparatus. Power supply to the transmitters also needs to be as user-friendly as possible, so either common dry cell batteries or a conveniently rechargeable battery pack is desired. In addition, packaging needs to be designed to keep the sensors and transmitters protected from the elements such as sweat, physical impacts, and heat during their use.
General Solution Approach
The clients have demonstrated sensors that have worked in the past and they see no reason for a change in sensor choices. Packaging will need to be considered for the sensors and transmitter pack so that they are adequately protected and also protect the users from electric shock. This will require research of different fabrics and possible stitching/sewing techniques. Wires connecting the sensors to the transmitter will also need to be contained and kept away from distrubances. A large milestone in the project will be finding a transmitter/receiver apparatus that works well and also has the capability for expansion to receive multiple transmitters. The receiver will also need to be set up to send input to the Isadora computer through a USB, firewire, or some other appropriate hardwire connection. A sensor watcher program will need to be designed in Isadora to take the transmitted sensor input and use it effectively to manipulate the stage environment. Interchangeability of batteries and sensors will be a consideration when choosing hardware for the project.
1.4 Operating Environment
The end product will be used extensively in theatrical dance settings such as the Forker Theater, Fischer Theater, Stephens Auditorium, and the Ames City Auditorium. These environments inherently contain much ambient electromagnetic noise caused by the multitude of electrical equipment in the immediate vicinity. Consideration and research will be done on this subject to acquire as much information as possible about this issue in order to prevent any complications. The sensors and transmitter pack will have to be designed to withstand substantial abuse caused by the motion of the dancers, their impact with the floor or wall, and the sweat and heat that their bodies produce during performance.
1.5 Intended Users and Intended Uses
Intended Users
The end product will be designed to be used by a team consisting of members of Iowa State Dance, members of Co-Motion Dance Company, and their directors. The end product will be designed such that any dancer could easily observe its operation or read the documentation and be able to operate the apparatus, given a pre-written Isadora routine with which to handle the input. It will be the responsibility of the users to design an appropriate module in Isadora to deal with the inputs transmitted by the apparatus and subsequently operate the visual aids. As such, designing a completely original visual accompaniment will require the skills of a versed user of Isadora. However, all the hardware connections will be largely intuitive to any user with a beginner’s level computer background.
Intended Uses
Iowa State Dance and Co-Motion Dance Company request they be able to use the end product in their practices, performances, and productions. The apparatus should be usable in any situation analogous to the conditions of these groups’ activities. The device will be designed to work in an environment where the transmitter is at most a range of 60 feet from the receiver, the impacts inflicted on the transmitter and sensor are minor, and the ambient electromagnetic noise is kept to a minimum. As such, the device will not be designed to operate in an environment of increased electromagnetic noise, nor will it be suited to operate in an environment more broad, impact-prone, or otherwise hazardous than that of a dance performance.
1.6 Assumptions and Limitations
Initial Assumptions List
Assumptions are constraints of the project outside of the design team’s control. They have been ascertained through discussion with the clients and advisors.
· The sensors used now are satisfactory and will be used.
· 1/8” mini-plug jacks/plugs will be used for sensor/transmitter connection for ease of use and interchangeability if still possible.
· There will not necessarily be a clear line of sight from the transmitter to the receiver.
· There will be electromagnetic noise present in the operating environment.
· The receiver and computer as well as the visual aids will run on power supplied from an external source.
Initial Limitations List
Limitations are constraints of the project within the control of the design group. They have been compiled through discussion with the clients and advisors.
· The end product will be only one transmitter/receiver pair but will allow for expansion for up to four transmitters.
· The end product shall not exceed the budget of $150.
· The end product must be small and compactly packaged to allow for full range of motion by the user.
· The distance from the transmitter to the receiver will be at most 60 feet.
· The transmitter will need to have sufficient power to operate for at least the duration of an ISU/Co-Motion dance production.
1.7 Expected End Product and Other Deliverables
End product (four-sensor transmitter, receiver with computer interface, sensor watcher program for Isadora)
All end product deliverables will be provided to the clients by the 2nd Week of March 2006.
The final delivered product will consist of three main parts. The first part worn by the dancer will consist of four sensors connected to the transmitter. All these parts will be packaged in appropriate material to prevent damage to the device and harm to the dancer. Next, the receiver will be supplied along with an appropriate interface cable with which to connect it to the Isadora computer. Finally, the sensor watcher written for Isadora will be delivered in software format in order to use the hardware. Batteries/battery pack will be included for the transmitter.
Documentation
Due 1st Week of May 2006
All documentation created and completed throughout the project will be supplied to the end users and clients. This includes the project plan, design report, and final report. The project poster can be made available in software form and smaller hard copy if desired. This documentation should include any schematics and other such technical information relevant to the end product. If requested, a simple “How To” manual could also be written and provided easily.
2 Proposed Approach
This section shall outline the planned method for completing the project. It will include an approach for building a module that reads the piezo and the flex sensors as inputs which manipulates the video from the digital camera in Isadora.
2.1 Functional Requirements
The following functions shall be required to successfully complete the project.
· Designing Module for Isadora
The module (sensor-watcher) should be able to identify the transmitter and identify the data transmitted from the four sensors connected to that transmitter.
· Complete Hardware
The transmitter/receiver should be communicating to the USB port of the laptop and each sensor to the transmitter.
· Additional Requirements
The module should be coded such that it could support four transmitters if so desired.
2.2 Constraint Considerations
The entire project shall run under the following constraints and considerations.
· Safety
The sensors should not rust under sweat or induce shocks to the dancers. The equipment has to have padding between the skin and the circuit to reduce wear and tear.
· Durability
The system must be durable, long lasting, and secure. The soldering should be done properly to prevent breakage of the circuit. The sensors should be of high quality to prevent lag.
· Hardware Requirements
The hardware should be able to able to work in big auditorium settings. It should be able to filter static and produce clean appropriate data. It should not lose data when it’s not in visible range to the receiver.
· Software Requirements
The software should be able to read and identify data input from each sensor connected to the transmitter. The software should also be able to manipulate the range of the flex sensor and the trigger of piezo sensor for video output.