The concept behind this project was inspired by the turtle. Life is brought to this piece through the use of LEDs and Servo motors as if the piece had the characteristics of a turtle. With the use of touch and light sensors, emotion and reaction, of a turtle, is simulated onto the piece.The Blue LED portraits the calm, and relaxed emotional state of the turtle while the Red LED shows resembles fear, and panic. When the touch sensor is activated the Blue LED turns to Red to show the emotional state of the turtle when it is being touched. The light sensor acts as the eyes of the project. In the light the piece does not move, but when an object, my hand, moves toward the piece and is "seen" by the light sensor, the servo motor is activated and shakes the piece as if it were a turtle returning to is shell for protection.

 

After figuring out how to fold the shapes properly and creating the inital circuit that I would be working with, a few problems had risen. First was the fact that it would be impossible to fit everything within the shape of the origami, and second would be the lack of visibility of the LED through the paper used to fold the origami. The first problem was easily fixed by folding a paper box big enough to fit everything inside. (But I could have easily bought a box)

 

Having been impatient and already completed the paper circuit inside the origami, I had no other choice but to cut open the origami in order not to waste the copper tape. By cutting open the origami I was able to replace the inverted triangle in the middle with clear grafix sheets which allowed for both the LED lights to shine through, and an opening for me to fix the circuit if I needed to.

After opening the origami multiple times to adjust the circuits and servo motor, as well as the terrible rain and transit, the project came out looking less and less refined that I wanted it to look. But most of the functions worked properly which out of all was the most important aspect for this project.